NUS Singapore
This review was written by Nirvan Gandhi on 4th April, 2025
NUS Singapore: The Asia Hustle MBA
If INSEAD is the global passport, and HEC is that cool European cousin with a long vacation plan… then NUS is that sharp, no-nonsense hustler who knows how to win in Asia.
Let’s cut the fluff.
You don’t pick NUS because it has the most beautiful campus or the wildest student life.
You pick NUS because you’re betting on Asia.
And you want to build your career in the region that’s actually growing.
Piyush Jain (NUS Part-Time MBA Co'23)
- P&Q Verified Review
"I recently worked with Nirvan on my part-time MBA application for NUS, and it turned out to be a fantastic choice. His approach is straightforward and incredibly effective, which I appreciated. He has a special knack for storytelling, managing to combine my personal and professional experiences into a narrative that really made my application stand out. It’s clear he puts a lot of thought into how to best represent your journey in a way that resonates with admissions committees.What really made me happy was his commitment. He was fully invested in my success, dedicating his time and effort as if he were applying himself. I think I probably connected with him more than 60 times during the entire process (sometimes even at 2 am in the night). This level of dedication is rare and made the whole process feel more like a true partnership to me. I think his structured approach towards the application is what you need when you are a little lost and don’t know how you will get that admit that you so desperately need."
Structure: Flexible, Focused, Full of Options
You can finish the MBA in 17 or 20 months.
Your call.
Want an internship? Extend to 20.
Want to wrap it up faster? Stick to 17.
The curriculum is split into 3 layers:
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Core foundation (duh)
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Electives (50+ to choose from—finance, consulting, digital biz, even real estate & healthcare)
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Experiential learning (consulting projects, global immersion, study trips, lean launchpad)
This last bit is what makes NUS interesting.
It’s not just PowerPoint slides and case studies.
You roll your sleeves and get in the mud—pitch startups, solve real business problems, travel across Asia.
And yes, they do have a module called “Launch Your Transformation.”
Cheesy name, solid experience.
Career Outcomes: Not Global, But Asia-Gold
Let me be brutally honest.
You don’t do NUS if your post-MBA goal is MBB in London.
You do it if you want to work in Singapore, SEA, or Hong Kong.
And maybe even Dubai.
Because that’s where the NUS brand opens doors.
94% placement within 3 months.
Average salary? ~$170,000 (3 years post-MBA).
Top hiring sectors? Consulting, Tech, Financial Services.
Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Grab are regular recruiters.
But remember: Singapore is small.
The number of MBA jobs is finite.
And visa rules are always evolving.
So if you’re betting on NUS, build your network from Day 1.
Don’t wait for Career Services to spoon-feed you.
Singapore rewards hustle.
Small Class, Tight Community
Unlike ISB or LBS, you’re not competing with 800 others.
NUS has a small batch—around 100 people.
Which means tighter bonds, more facetime with profs, and a lot more clarity in classroom discussions.
You’re not just another face in the crowd.
And if you play it right, you’ll walk away with 20-30 close friends from across Asia.
Double Degrees & Global Options
Want to flex some more?
You can do dual degrees with:
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HEC Paris
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Peking University
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Yale (though you don’t get an MBA from Yale, you get a Master's)
And if you want that global exposure, there’s also:
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Short-term study trips (Tokyo, London, Shanghai)
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Semester-long exchange with 60+ schools
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GNAM (Global Network for Advanced Management)
Basically, NUS lets you customize your MBA like none other.
What Kind of Student Thrives Here?
Someone who:
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Wants to work in Asia (Singapore/SEA/HK)
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Has clarity on career goals (switchers struggle more)
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Doesn’t need hand-holding
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Values smaller cohorts and tighter circles
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Wants a strong ROI on the MBA
If you’re still figuring out your career path or want a super chill MBA experience—this is not it.
NUS won’t carry you.
But it will give you the tools, brand, and access—if you’re willing to chase it.
The Flip Side (Let’s Not Pretend It’s Perfect)
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Global brand is limited. No weight in US/Europe.
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Singapore job market is small.
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Consulting break-ins are possible, but you need to hustle.
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Social life is quieter compared to Europe/US.
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Alumni network is Asia-heavy.
What I Don’t Like (Especially If You’re Not From Singapore)
Let me be real with you.
What I don’t like about NUS—especially if you’re an international student—is this: there’s very little room to make an error.
You mess up recruiting? Or decide to pivot a bit late? Or want to take a few extra months to figure things out post-MBA?
Tough luck.
Because Singapore, for all its efficiency, plays by strict rules. Employment is mostly reserved for PRs and citizens. If you don’t fall in either category, your options narrow—fast. Visa renewals, job passes, company sponsorships—it all becomes a part of the equation. And honestly, that can get exhausting.
This isn’t like the US where you get 3 years on OPT. Or Canada where you can chill for a couple of years post-graduation and figure your life out. Here, the system is tighter. Way tighter.
So if you're applying as an international candidate, think long and hard. Do your research. Talk to alumni who don’t have PR. Ask about real outcomes. Because if you get it right, NUS can be a game-changer. But if you don’t, you can end up back from where you started.
You just don’t want to be figuring all this out after landing on campus.
Final Take
NUS is for the doers.
The folks who aren’t obsessed with brand perception in the West but want to build in the East.
It’s a practical, ROI-focused program with just the right blend of academics and action.
You won’t get marble floors or castle-like campuses.
But you’ll get proximity to real opportunity.
A Little Thing That Stays With You
There’s a tiny corner inside NUS Business School—just outside the Mokhtar Riady building—where students hang out between back-to-back lectures.
No fancy café, no glass walls. Just some vending machines, some chatter, and a mix of accents bouncing off the walls.
And it’s here—midway between a consulting class and a negotiation role-play—that people start finding their tribe.
That’s what the NUS MBA is really about.
Finding your people. In the middle of Asia. With a plan in hand.