• 18- MONTH DURATION (FULL-TIME)
      24- MONTH DURATION (PART-TIME)

    • S$54,500

      Tuition Fee (inclusive of GST)

      Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax collected on behalf of the Singapore Government and will be charged at the prevailing rate

    • Application Closes

      Full-time and Part-time: May (for August intake)

    • Pre-requisites

      Bachelor's Degree
      GMAT / GRE / SMU Admissions Test
      TOEFL / IELTS (if the medium of instruction of your undergraduate studies was not in English)

    • Working experience

      Fresh graduates are welcome to apply

About the Master of Science In Applied Finance (MAF)

The industry-relevant curriculum of the MAF is designed to provide you with a strong foundation in the principles, practices and operations of international and domestic financial markets. Learn how to apply updated and relevant knowledge in real-world situations through internship opportunities in our network of more than 3,000 companies worldwide.

Why pursue the MAF?

  • 1

    Stellar industry partnerships

    As a collaborative partner with Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, the curriculum aligns with the CAIA and full CFA curriculum and is an ideal form of preparation if you wish to pursue your CAIA or CFA designation.

  • 2

    Learn from eminent faculty and leading industry leaders

    Benefit from the experience and expertise of eminent faculty members with PhDs from top-ranked universities around the world. Gain valuable career insights from thought leaders with deep industry experience and network and share their passion for learning.

  • 3

    Stand among giants

    Be nurtured by one of the top business schools in Asia (ranked 6th in the 2018 Financial Times Top 25 Business Schools: Asia-Pacific region) providing cutting- edge knowledge in applied finance.

  • 4

    Accelerate growth and widen horizons

    Deepen your expertise with the opportunity to specialise in Fintech, Fund Management or Real Estate.

Class Profile

  • Gender

    1:1

  • Average Age

    25

  • International Students

    81%

  • Nationalities

    13

  • Average Years of Work Experience

    1.8

Student profiles taken from Classes of 2018-2021 (Full-time & Part-time).

Industries that MAF Graduates Work In

  • Audit / Accounting

    9%

  • Consulting

    7%

  • Business / Financial Services

    58%

  • Real Estate

    3%

  • Technology

    11%

Industry diversity data collated from graduating students from 2020 and 2021.
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Programme Calendar

Designed for flexibility, the MAF programme is available in both full-time (12 months + internship) and part-time (24 months) modes of study. Students will be able to choose from 3 tracks: Fintech, Fund Management, and Real Estate.

You are required to complete 15 Credit Units which include 9CU Core Modules, 4CU Elective Modules, 1CU Open Module (Internship or Capstone Project or MAF elective or other modules offered by other schools), 1CU Postgraduate Professional Development Course in order to be awarded the Master of Science in Applied Finance degree. You may choose to specialise in one of the following elective tracks: Fintech, Fund Management or Real Estate. 

 

Full-time

12

Months + internship

 

TERM 1

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

TERM 5

5 Core Modules

4 Core Modules

4 Electives

1 Open* Module

 

Part-time

24

Months

 

TERM 1

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

TERM 5

3 Core Modules

2 Core Modules

4 Electives

2 Core Modules

2 Core +

1 Open* Module

Full-time

15

Months + intership

TERM 1

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

TERM 5

5

Core Modules

4

Core Modules

4

Elective

1

Open* Module

 

Part-time

20

Months

TERM 1

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

TERM 5

3

Core Modules

2

Core Modules

4

Elective

2

Core Modules

2

Core +

1

Open* Module

*The Open Module refers to an Internship OR Capstone project OR MAF elective OR other modules offered by other Schools.

Programme Information

9 Core Modules

  • Advanced Equity Analysis & Portfolio Management
  • Advanced Financial Statement Analysis
  • Advanced Fixed Income & Derivatives Analysis
  • Advanced Quantitative Methods & Economic Analysis
  • Corporate Finance
  • Equity Analysis & Portfolio Management
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Fixed Income & Derivatives Analysis
  • Quantitative Methods & Economic Analysis

Students will cover curriculum spanning CFA Levels 1 to 3 upon graduation. Do note that CFA Level 3 requires 48 months of work experience.

4 Elective Modules

Students can opt to do any 4 elective modules from the list below or choose to specialise in a track by completing 4 elective modules offered in the same track.

FIELD-SPECIFIC ELECTIVE MODULES

Modules offered
in the Fintech Track

Modules offered
in the Fund Management Track

Modules offered
in the Real Estate Track

Financial Data Science

Machine Learning & Financial Application

Quantitative Trading Strategies

Fintech for Finance

Financial Analytics & Innovation

 

Sustainable Finance & Alternative Investments

Structured Products

Hedge Funds

PE & VC Investing

Advanced Corporate Finance

Bank Risk Management

Investment Advisory and Wealth Management

Financial Modelling

Real Estate Investments & Finance

Analytics in Finance & Real Estate

Project & Infrastructure Financing

Real Estate Valuation & Taxation​

Modules offered are subject to change.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS
This module provides an introduction to the framework for financial statement analysis and financial statements (i.e. statement of financial position, statement of financial performance and comprehensive income, and statement of cash flows). In order to understand financial statements, you will learn the key accounting concepts and policies that determine the ‘numbers’ presented in financial statements. You will also be introduced to basic financial analysis techniques and specific areas of financial statements (e.g. inventory, receivables, PPE, income taxes, financing liabilities, off-balance sheet financing, etc.); need for analytical adjustments in analysing financial statements; and the differences in US and IFRS GAAP and the convergence of accounting standards.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
This module provides the basics of quantitative analysis, probability theory and data analysis, with special reference to finance. Topics include the time value of money, theory of interest, probability theory, descriptive data analysis, decision trees, estimation and hypothesis testing, and simple statistical analysis such as correlation analysis, regression analysis and time series analysis. It also aims to equip you with the basic knowledge and skills to understand and analyse the economic issues. It is about understanding how the economic world works – the big picture and the fine details – and how the actions of individuals, corporations and governments play out at the microeconomic, macroeconomic and international economic levels.

CORPORATE FINANCE
This course aims to provide you with a basic understanding of corporate finance. You will be exposed to key financial concepts and tools commonly used by managers in making sound financial decisions. These include time value of money, risk-return trade-off analysis and cost of capital. The course also reviews the basic financial activities undertaken by firms to create value for their shareholders. These activities include investing, financing and the dividend policy.

FIXED INCOME AND DERIVATIVE ANALYSIS
This module focuses on the fixed-income markets and basic analytical tools used in analysing fixed-income securities. Features of fixed-income securities and credit rating will be covered in detail. Topics on basic analytical tools include interest rates and yield curve mathematics, duration analysis and convexity. Theories on the term structure of interest rates will also be discussed. You will also be introduced to the concept of derivative pricing based on the idea of an arbitrage-free market as well as basic derivative instruments such as forwards, futures, options and swaps; valuation models for forwards; and the Black-Scholes model for options. You will also get to understand the difference between forwards and futures. In addition, the module contents will address hedging and the trading issues. From a hedging perspective, you will study option Greeks, interest rate and currency swaps versus exposures, and forward-spot basis risks. For trading, arbitrage opportunities, you will review violations of parities such as put-call parity and other options strategies.

EQUITY ANALYSIS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
This module covers basic techniques of the valuation and management of securities in a portfolio context. You will learn about valuation of stocks, models like discounted cash flow models, P/E multiples and alternative-pricing models. Implications of efficient market theory on fundamental and technical analysis will also be examined, and global and local equity market features will be incorporated to add depth to the module. For portfolio management, concepts of risk and return will be analysed in the context of formal pricing models such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Arbitrage Pricing Theory. You will also cover aspects of efficient market theory and anomalies, the concept of portfolio diversification and the construction of optimal portfolios such as mean-variance efficient portfolios, and international diversification and investments, where currency risks and interest rate risks need to be evaluated.

ADVANCED FIXED-INCOME AND DERIVATIVES ANALYSIS
This module is the continuation of Fixed-Income Analysis and focusses on fixed income derivatives and risk management. Valuation models on fixed-income securities with embedded options, such as callable and convertible bonds will be discussed in detail. You will also learn about issues in securitisation, asset-backed securities and options pricing theory with applications to fixed-income market. The module builds on and extends the coverage of the module Derivatives Analysis. The basic concepts will be reinforced with some degree of modelling skills, including the building of simple PDEs using Ito’s lemma. We will also provide some ideas to extend Black-Scholes and other adaptations to different commodities and financial instruments. You will also be exposed to more sophisticated theories such as forwards versus futures pricing, and interest rate swaps versus interest rate futures as well as interest rate derivatives such as caps, floors and others in addition to the analysis of the use of derivatives in risk management.

ADVANCED EQUITY ANALYSIS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
This course is the continuation of Equity Analysis. It aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of valuation and equity analysis. The course will equip you with the conceptual and analytical skills necessary to make valuations on any publicly traded firm and create a value-enhancement strategy for a firm’s management. This module also examines various advanced equity valuation models including contingent claim valuation using the Option Pricing Model. We will build on and extend Portfolio Management and cover the complete investment process from constructing investment objectives and policies to broad class asset allocation, portfolio selection, revisions, monitoring, and performance measurement and attribution. We will also discuss practical issues relating to investment management philosophy and style, active and passive management and advanced techniques in portfolio construction involving the use of single index, multi-factor and Arbitrage Pricing Theory models.

ADVANCED FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS
This module builds on and extends the coverage of the Financial Statement Analysis module and features advanced topics including corporate restructuring, accounting for inter-corporate investments, mergers and acquisitions, distress analysis, accounting for multinational operations and the use of financial statements as a tool for valuation and forecasting.

ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
This module builds on and extends the coverage of the earlier modules of Economic Analysis and Quantitative Methods and Statistics. You will learn advanced topics on the analysis of economic data including multiple regression model, time series and econometric modelling, nonparametric statistics and multivariate analysis. You will also get to examine the applications of these techniques in portfolio management, economic forecasting, term structure modelling, asset pricing theories performance measures and interest rate management.

You have the option to specialise in one of the following tracks.

FUND MANAGEMENT (CHOOSE FOUR OUT OF EIGHT)
  1. Sustainable Finance & Alternative Investments
  2. Structured Products
  3. Hedge Funds
  4. PE & VC Investing
  5. Global & Asian Financial Markets
  6. Advanced Corporate Finance
  7. Bank Risk Management
  8. Investment Advisory and Wealth Management
FINTECH (CHOOSE FOUR OUT OF SEVEN)
  1. Financial Analytics & Innovation
  2. Financial Data Science
  3. Machine Learning & Financial Application
  4. Quantitative Trading Strategies
  5. Fintech for Finance
  6. Financial Analytics & Innovation
  7. Financial Modelling for Fintech
REAL ESTATE
  1. Real Estate Investments and Finance
  2. Analytics in Finance and Real Estate
  3. Project and Infrastructure Financing
  4. Real Estate Valuation and Taxation

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How to Apply

Application Period

 

INTAKE APPLICATION DEADLINE

August 2024

Now to end-May 2024

(Admissions are awarded on a rolling basis)

Apply Now

Please read the instructions carefully before completing your application. Supplementary instructions are given in each section of the application form. Once you have completed the form, we suggest you keep a copy for your records. Your application will only be processed when we have received all the documents and payment.

 

  • Work experience is not required.
  • Good undergraduate degree from a reputable institution (in any field).
  • Practitioners in finance or related fields who wish to pursue their CFA designation.
  • Professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in applied finance.
  • Those who wish to attain the relevant qualifications in order to obtain an ideal job or enhance their career in the banking and finance industry.
  • A good GMAT (try a GMAT mini quiz) / GRE / *SMU Admissions Test (SMUAT) score (click here to view the SMUAT Factsheet)
  • A valid TOEFL / IELTS score is required if the medium of instruction of your undergraduate studies was not English.
  • An updated Resume
  • Your official academic transcripts of all educational institutions attended.
  • Certified True Copies of CFA / ACCA certificates (if any)
  • 2 Personal Statements (approximately 500-600 words each) on the following topics:
    1. Explain your career and personal aspirations, and your motivation for pursuing the MSc in Applied Finance (MAF) programme.​
    2. Discuss one of the following topics:​​
      1. Describe your greatest weakness and how you have tried to overcome it.​
      2. Describe your outstanding talents, skills and inherent abilities that are not reflected in your academic qualifications and records. ​​
  • 2 Referee Reports - Submit 2 complete sets of referee details during the online process of applying for the SMU MAF. The application portal will automatically send an email to your referees and collect your recommendation forms on your behalf once you have submitted the application.
  • Copy of NRIC/FIN/Passport (in PDF or JPEG format)
  • Any other supporting documents
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview within two weeks of the online application.

* SMU UG Alumni with cumulative GPAs of 3.40 or better, and non-SMU candidates from local Autonomous Universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SUTD and SIT) with cumulative GPAs of 3.50 or better will not require a GMAT or GRE score for admission. An undergraduate GPA is valid for five years after graduation. Contact our Admissions Advisor to find out more.

After Submitting Your Application
The Admissions Team will follow up with your application within 3-5 working days. More information on how to practice and sit for the SMU Admissions Test will be provided during this time.

Important Notes:

  • Verification of original documents is required upon matriculation into the programme. Failing to do so may result in applicants having to withdraw from the programme.
  • If you have not taken the SMU Admissions Test/GMAT/GRE, you may first submit your online application and arrange for the test to be taken as soon as possible.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview within two weeks of the application.

Once you have submitted your application and have received the application number confirmation email, you can use the Applicant Self Service functions to check your application status or update your contact information.

Please refer to the Applicant's Self Service Guide.

Want to Know If You are Eligible for the Programme?

If you would like us to assess your suitability for the MAF programme, please contact our Admissions Advisor and we will contact you within three working days.

Speak to Admissions Advisor

Programme Fees

Application Fee*

Registration / Advance Tuition Fee*

Tuition Fee

S$100 (inclusive of GST)

  • Singaporeans and PRs: S$400 (inclusive of GST)​

  • International Applicants: S$500 (inclusive of GST)

  • Advance Tuition Fee: S$5,000​

Amount payable upon acceptance to the programme. The registration fee covers matriculation, examination fees, orientation activities, library and computer account. 

S$54,500 (inclusive of GST)

 

Fees are subject to change from year to year

Application Fee*

S$100 (inclusive of GST)

Registration Fee*

  • Singaporeans and PRs: S$400 (inclusive of GST)
  • International Applicants: S$500 (inclusive of GST)

The amount payable upon acceptance of the programme.

Tuition Fee

S$54,500 (inclusive of GST)

 

Fees are subject to change from year to year

*All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The Advance Tuition fee of S$5,000 will contribute to the first billing of the tuition fee. The remaining tuition fees would be payable over 3 billings, over the duration of the programme. The tuition fee does not include meals, air travel, travel insurance, living and accommodation expenses incurred for the overseas exchange. Singapore Management University reserves the right to alter tuition and other fees as deemed appropriate. SMU alumni will be entitled to a S$5,000 discount off the tuition fee. 9% GST of the discounted tuition fee will apply.

*Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax collected on behalf of the Singapore Government and will be charged at the prevailing rate.

 

BILLING SCHEDULE
 

Billing

Full-Time

Part-Time

S$5,000

At Admission

At Admission

Remaining Tuition Fees Start of Programme Start of Programme
By the 4th Month By the 5th Month
By the 7th Month By the 10th Month

Scholarships and Financial Aid

AGL Irudayaraj Scholarship* | Academic Excellence | Global Awareness | Leadership Potential* | Community Impact* | Impact on Asia* | Women in Business* | Mapletree Postgraduate Scholarship*
* Denotes Scholarships that students can apply for upon admissions into the programme

Students may apply for our SMU MAF Programme Scholarships upon admission. These Scholarships entail award amounts up to 30% of the tuition fee, with no bonds attached.

The AGL Irudayaraj Scholarship is established by Professor Gerard George (Donor), Dean at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at SMU, and his wife Mrs. Hema George. The Scholarship is named in honour of Professor George’s father-in-law who passed away in 2018. Mr AGL Irudayaraj was an entrepreneur and a champion for underprivileged Tamil Christian minorities in India, helping them in his own big and small ways. The scholarship is a tribute to his kind, selfless and enduring efforts in helping others towards a better life.

The purpose of the AGL Irudayaraj Scholarship is to motivate outstanding postgraduates of Indian ethnicity at the University to greater heights of academic excellence.

The Admissions Scholarship Committee will assess the following:

  1. Interview Performance
  2. Essay: “Please describe in 500 words why you should receive the AGL Irudayaraj Scholarship. You should elaborate on your leadership experience, community involvement and financial need, if any."

The SMU MAF will offer the Academic Excellence Award to high-quality candidates with exceptional academic performance. Awards are based on academic merit, final grades and GMAT score.

  • Tier One: Awardees must have achieved a GMAT of 720 or above and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
  • Tier Two: Awardees must have achieved a GMAT of 700 or above and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

SMU MAF Programme is committed to crafting a very diverse and global academic environment that will contribute to the student’s personal and professional journey.

The Global Awareness Award is given to individuals who will contribute to the class room diversity and enrich the learning experience of students by way of cultural, personal or professional backgrounds.

With the Leadership Award, the SMU MAF Programme recognises individuals who have exhibited outstanding leadership potential during their studies, or in their community or organisation. Applicants must demonstrate strong leadership potential in personal and professional instances.

The Admissions Scholarship Committee will assess the following:

  1. Interview Performance
  2. Essay: “Please explain in 500 words why you consider yourself a leader"
  3. Leadership quality recognition such as:
    • In the workplace: demonstrated career progression, line management progression, professional recognition such as awards, project success and team leadership
    • Leadership qualities during student days: e.g. Chairperson of an interest group, class representation, etc.
    • Attainment of any non-academic awards and scholarships.

The SMU MAF nurtures keen minds profoundly committed to leaving a positive impact on the community. The "Community Impact Award" recognises candidates who have contributed to society through outstanding community work (e.g. volunteerism, social and non-paid work, etc.) and through their actions, have impacted members of the community/society in a positive manner.

The Admissions Scholarship Committee will assess the following:

  1. Interview Performance
  2. Essay: “Please share an example of how you have impacted your greater community and what you think is the best way to serve society”.
  3. Impact of Community Work: frequency and reach. Awards and recognition will be considered.

The SMU MAF is creating a significant impact in Singapore, extending now to Asia. We look forward to welcoming students who can demonstrate achievements in their professional, social and personal life that have created an impact on Asia, such as:

  • Professional development or personal projects that have contributed positively to Asian regions or companies.
  • Entrepreneurial projects with an Asian focus.
  • Increased the awareness of Asia in other locations.

The Admissions Scholarship Committee will assess the following:

  1. Interview Performance
  2. Essay: “Please explain in 500 words the professional development, entrepreneurial or personal projects of an Asian focus, that have contributed positively to Asian regions or companies or have increased awareness of Asia in other locations."
  3. Impact: reach of impact, entrepreneurial projects, awards and helping the increased awareness of Asia will be taken into consideration.

The SMU MAF aims to recognise exceptional women with the “Women in Business” Award, those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership capabilities or potential in their professional or personal endeavours. Applicants must have successfully received an admissions offer.

The Admissions Scholarship Committee will assess the following:

  1. Interview Performance
  2. Essay: “Please explain in 500 words why you should be awarded with the Women in Business Scholarship”.
  3. Leadership quality recognition such as:
    • In the workplace: demonstrated career progression, line management progression, professional recognition such as awards, project success and team leadership.
    • Leadership qualities during student days: e.g. Chairperson of an interest group, class representation, etc.
    • Attainment of any non-academic awards and scholarships.

The Mapletree Postgraduate Scholarship is funded by a donation from Mapletree, made for the purpose of education and towards enhancing the Mapletree Real Estate Programme at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Scholarship awardees must be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in the MAF programme and commit to complete the Real Estate specialization track within the MAF programme.

The Admissions Scholarship Committee will assess the following:

  1. Admissions Performance
  2. Essay: “In 600 words, explain why you should receive the Mapletree Postgraduate Scholarship. You should elaborate on your interest in real estate, relevant career plans, and past or current exposure to the industry if any"

SMU is committed to lifelong learning. Graduates from SMU undergraduate or postgraduate programmes are automatically eligible for a discount of $5,000 when applying to the MAF programme.

This loan carries a low interest rate of 3.02% p.a. For more information, please call 6333 7777.

For enquiry on this, please contact:
Yvonne Tan
Contact details: 9646 8808 / (65) 6661 2157
Email: Yvonnesg.tan@cimb.com
This study assistance loan carries an interest rate of 4.60% p.a. For more information please call 6333 0033.

The application must be with a joint applicant who is a Singaporean or Singapore PR.

For enquiry, please contact:
Cheong Yu Shan / Sandy Chenxu,
Direct Sales Management, Community Financial Services
DID: (65) 9691 5134 / 9221 5148
Email: yscheong@maybank.com.sg / wpchenxu@maybank.com.sg
For more information please call +65 6595 9723.
For more information,please call 1 800 363 3333.

SBI provides student loans exclusively for students from India who have secured admission in selected educational institutions for higher studies in Singapore. Your loan is secured against a Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC) issued by SBI branch in India, backed by mortgage of property or cash deposits in India.


For enquiry, please email: studentloan@sbising.com.
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FAQ

FAQ

SMU is set up as Singapore's first publicly-funded private university offering a style of education modelled after The Wharton School.

SMU has established a reputation for pushing the boundaries of innovation, creativity and academic excellence in redefining tertiary education. SMU introduced pedagogy previously unseen in Singapore, and has shown how a broad-based education and interactive teaching environment in small class sizes produces graduates well-prepared for the demands of the real world.

SMU is also known as a pioneer in its holistic admissions approach of recruiting all-rounded, multi-talented students and incorporating leadership and soft skills training in the curriculum.

Visit our SMU's main website for more information.

There are six schools in SMU: the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, the School of Accountancy, School of Economics, School of Information Systems, School of Law and School of Social Sciences.

Please click here for a list of our postgraduate programmes.

As an international student, you should hold a valid employment pass or dependant's pass if you wish to enrol in a part-time programme offered by SMU.

These three courses lead to different career paths. There are some overlaps among these programmes. Please check with the respective programme administrator for more details.

The MAF Part-Time and MAF Full-Time are two different tracks available under the MAF programme. However, all candidates will receive the same degree i.e. the Master of Science in Applied Finance degree, fully conferred by SMU.

The MAF Part-Time track is an 20-month part-time course spanning over six terms at SMU. This track admits Singaporeans, Singapore permanent residents and foreigners holding a valid employment or a dependant's pass.

The MAF Full-Time track is a 12-month full-time course + internship (4-6months) and spans over four terms at SMU. This track admits Singaporeans, Singapore permanent residents and international students. The internship component will start at the end of the 12 months full-time course.

The MAF programme was launched in 2002, offering only the MAF Part-Time track.
The MAF Full-Time track was launched in July 2011.

As of October 2016, we have more than 900 graduates from the programme.

Successfully securing a job offer is subject to numerous factors, ranging from the performance of a candidate during his or her job interview, the economy, the candidate’s personality and expectations.

To date, our graduates have been well sought-after locally and internationally.

The programme provides a stepping-stone for those who want to enter the finance and banking industries. Most of our graduates venture into the fund management, banking and consultancy sectors.

The immediate return is a chance to get into the finance industry. The rest depends on the individual, i.e. job performance

An SMU degree is recognised worldwide. Kindly check with the education ministry in your home country to be sure.

As SMU practices rolling admissions, the Admission process (submitting of application, passing the interview with the Admissions Committee, and accepting the admission offer) will typically take about 3 - 4 weeks to complete. This is provided that candidates fulfills most of the admission critera stated below.

The admission criteria are:

  • A good university degree in ANY discipline (Applicants in the process of earning a degree and are about to graduate are welcome to apply)
  • A good GMAT/GRE or SMU Admission Test score
  • IELTS or TOEFL (required if the medium of instruction of your undergraduate studies was not conducted in English)
  • Some working experience is preferred (For Part-Time Track Only)

The MAF programme is open to all Singaporeans, Singapore permanent residents and foreigners. Foreigners who are interested to apply for the Part-Time track must hold a valid Employment Pass (EP), Dependant's Pass (DP), S Pass, or valid visa to allow them to stay in Singapore during the study period.

Student visas will not be issued to international students taking the MAF Part-Time track.

We would expect applicants to have a good basic degree. However, we look at many other aspects of your application such as your drive and motivation. We also conduct interview sessions to select each cohort of students.

All the courses require no previous formal training. However, the pace builds up quickly, and is rapid and demanding. Preparatory classes will be available before classes commence.

Applicants from all backgrounds and working experience are eligible to apply for the MAF programme. In fact, some of our students are using their knowledge and skills learnt in the programme to enable them to enter the banking and finance industry.

You need to be numerate, rather than having particularly strong mathematical skills. You certainly do not need to have an undergraduate degree in mathematics or the pure sciences. Some calculus will be required for certain modules in the programme.

For the MAF Part-Time track, applicants with some work experience after graduation are preferred. Based on past intakes, students typically have, on average, four to five years of working experience. We are looking for individuals for whom the programme is a good career fit, and who are likely to have successful future careers. Above all, candidates will need to demonstrate that they have the commitment, experience, motivation and potential to benefit from, and contribute to the programme.

Applicants who do not have any work experience can consider taking up the MAF Full-Time Track.

In general, we regard sponsorship by current or future employers as an important additional piece of evidence of your value to the employer and future career potential, but the admissions committee will not place undue weight on this.

For the MAF Part-Time track, the average age of students entering the programme is 30. The students' professional backgrounds and work experience are varied as they work in a rich diversity of sectors and hold different job responsibilities. Hence, each student brings a wealth of experience to the programme.

For the MAF Full-Time track, the majority of the students come straight into the programme after getting their first degree, and the average age upon entry to the programme is 24.

There is only one intake per year, commencing in August for all MAF Tracks.

Supporting documents can be delivered to us either by hand or by mail. Our address is as follow:

SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business
50 Stamford Road
Level 4 Graduate Programmes Office
Singapore 178899
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.45 pm.

To expedite your application process, applicants are encouraged to email a softcopy of their supporting documents after submitting their applications to maf@smu.edu.sg.

If your certificates are certified 'true copies', you do not need to bring the originals for verification.

You will have to translate all documents to English, and have them certified.

An application fee of S$100 (inclusive of GST) is applicable.

Of the two personal references, one should typically be from a current or previous employer, a colleague, or someone else who knows you well at work; the other referee could be someone who taught you at university or college, or another person who knows you in a professional capacity.

For fresh graduates, both referees can be your professors.

Upon submitting your online application, a link will be sent to your referees via email to submit their recommendations online. You will be required to fill in your referees' particulars accordingly.

Applicants are encouraged to notify their referees before or after submitting their online application to complete the online recommendation form.

Only shortlisted applicants are invited for an interview.

The admission interview is about 20 to 30 minutes.

This is subject to the schedule of the interviewer(s).

Shortlisted applicants may check the status of the interview outcome via email from the Admissions Committee, and are encouraged to check their mailboxes regularly.

Admissions are done on a rolling basis. A typical applicant will be notified of their application outcome within 2 weeks after applying.

You can check the status of your application online. Please logon to our Applicant Self Service function with your user id and password.

You can apply again even though your previous application was rejected.

You have to submit two online application forms.

We require applicants to take the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test). The GMAT measures general verbal and mathematical skills, and the score report gives separate scores for the quantitative and verbal sections of the test, as well as a total score. There is also a short analytical writing section. The GMAT is used to promote fairness, objectivity and validity in selection and provides supplementary information to that contained in the application form.

Please logon to the GMAT website. The website provides information about preparing and registering for the GMAT test.

There is no minimum GMAT/GRE score required. We will view your application for admission to this programme holistically to gauge your suitability.

However, to make your application more competitive, we encourage applicants to achieve the following:

  • GMAT/GRE: 600 and above (with a strong Quantitative Score)

You can retake GMAT 16 days after your first attempt, but retaking the test is only recommended if you believe you have under-performed significantly. You are strongly encouraged to be well prepared for your test, as you will be allowed a maximum of five attempts within a calendar year.

If the rest of your application is complete, you can send it to us, even if you have not taken the GMAT. Do note that we will process your application only after receiving your GMAT score.

Email us the unofficial score report, which you will receive a hardcopy of immediately after the test. Please also arrange with the test centre for the official score report to be sent to SMU via the institution code F8D-7V-27.

All candidates are required to complete an admissions test for consideration. If you have not prepared for the GMAT or GRE, you may opt for the SMU Admissions Test instead. Please check with your Admissions Advisor for more details on the SMU Admissions Test.

A GMAT score is valid for five years after the test date.

GMAT can be taken at:

Pearson Professional Center
10 Anson Road, Level 30, Unit 3,
International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Tel: +65 6225 2027

SMU's GMAT institution code for the MSc in Applied Finance is F8D-7V-27.

You can submit your GRE score instead of GMAT. Your GRE score is valid for five years after the test date.

SMU's GRE institution code is 5757.

You should submit your highest score if the score is still within the 5 years validity period after the test date.

The TOEFL/IELTS test is required if the medium of instruction in your undergraduate education was not in English.

SMU’s institution code for TOEFL is 9014.

Your TOEFL score is valid for two years after the test date.

Applicants will receive an acknowledgement letter at least latest, by end June. Please notify the Admissions Team at maf@smu.edu.sg if you do not receive the letter within the stipulated period.

Students of the MAF programme are required to complete 9 core modules, 4 electives, and a career management skills course.

There are two tracks available for the MAF programme: Part-Time, and Full-Time tracks.

The MAF Part-Time track is an 20-month programme spread over four (4) terms, each 10-12 weeks in duration.

The MAF Full-Time track is a 12-month programme spread over four (4) terms, each 8-12 weeks in duration. There will also be a 3-5months internship at the end of the programme.

There is only one intake per year which commences in August.

Exemption is not possible. Students are required to complete 9 core modules and 4 elective modules to meet the requirements of a Singapore Management University (SMU) MAF degree.

In order to graduate, you will have to complete all 13 modules, maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 and above, and complete the SMU Postgraduate Professional Development Series (PDS).

All lessons and examinations are conducted in English for all the tracks under the MAF programme.

You are expected to attend all the classes scheduled for each of the core and elective courses. The pace is rapid, and sessions follow a building-block approach, with each lecture building on material covered earlier.

You will need to set aside a considerable amount of time for preparation, reading, group work, project work, private study, the completion of assignments, and revision/consolidation for examinations.

The pace at which individuals work will obviously vary, but as a rough rule of thumb, you will need to put in two to three hours of work outside of the classroom for every hour actually spent in the formal sessions.

A typical class size is about 50 to 60 students.

You may defer for a year only, and the candidature lapses automatically if you do not return the following year.

Students who wish to request for leave of absence have to write in to the Programme Director with valid reasons.

As the programme is only offered on a yearly basis, the minimum leave of absence is one year.

You may defer for a year only, and the candidature lapses automatically if you do not return the following year.

Yes, you may withdraw from the programme upon approval from the Programme Director. A student who leaves / requests to withdraw from the University and/or Programme two weeks or more after the commencement of a term is liable for the payment of fees for the entire term.

Request for partial payment will not be considered.

You will have to write in to seek permission from the Programme Director.

The programme will be taught by well-qualified and experienced SMU and industry professionals. The syllabus is customised for the local and regional financial environment with international perspectives.

SMU has a four-point grading system. If computations result in the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) exceeding the four-point grading system, a round down approach will be adopted. The highest cumulative GPA attainable by a student is 4.0.

All students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and above in order to graduate from the programme. If a student does not meet the GPA requirement in any particular term, he or she will be issued a warning letter. Those with GPAs below 2.5 for two consecutive terms will be asked to leave the programme.

A student may, upon the recommendation of the Course Instructor and approval of the Programme Director, re-sit a written assessment component of a course in which an overall fail grade was registered.

The re-sit, being a replacement assessment, must be of the same format, scope, and rigour as that of the original assessment. For each course, only one re-sit examination or written assessment will be arranged per term. Requests for alternative re-sit arrangements will not be entertained.

A student who passes a course on re-sit will receive an overall grade of "D", which will override the original fail grade.

In the event a student fails a re-sit, he/she must retake the course or take an alternative elective (subject to compliance of the academic standing policy). No further appeals will be considered.

CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst. You may click here to find out more.

No, but the MAF curriculum is designed to meet the CFA examination requirements for those who wish to pursue their CFA designation.

No, the tuition fees do not include the CFA examination fee.

It is important to have proper guidance from professors and industry professionals throughout the course of your studies. Our American-style pedagogy, the emphasis on soft skills training and the ability to communicate knowledge in a compelling manner provide our students a competitive edge.

You may log on to CFA’s website, and obtain more information pertaining to the CFA examination.

Our students have performed well, with a higher pass rate compared to the world wide pass rate in most examinations.

The CFA examination is available in Singapore. Please click here for a list of CFA examinations centres around the world.

SMU will assist in the application of student passes for all international students studying full-time in SMU.

SMU will assist you with the application of your student visa in April before you arrive in Singapore.

All applicants will have to log onto the ICA's website to fill up the Student's Pass Application Form (eform 16) and submit it online.

The processing fee is S$30; upon approval by ICA, you will have to pay a S$60 issuance fee for the student pass, and S$30 for a multiple-entry visa.

No, you cannot extend your student pass after you have graduated.

Generally, all students will get their student visa. In the unforeseen event that it happens, we will look into it on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, the medical examination can either be done in your home country or in Singapore by a qualified doctor. However, medical examinations required for subsequent renewals of the Student's Pass must be done in Singapore. The doctor must record and certify the results of your medical examination in the designated medical report form.

The medical report should not be issued more than three months from the submission or renewal date of your application; it should also be translated into English. If you have submitted a medical report to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority or Ministry of Manpower not more than two years ago, there is no need to re-submit a fresh medical report.

We do not arrange accommodation for students. However, there is a wide selection of accommodation choices available in Singapore. Students are encouraged to look for their own accommodation before coming to Singapore. The SMU campus is conveniently located in the city and is well-served by public transport. You may refer to our Student Life page for more information on accommodation.

Yes, there will be an orientation programme for students of the MAF programme.

There are a lot of student associations / clubs in SMU.

There is also the Mrs Wong Kwok Leong Student Wellness Centre. You may click here to find out more.

Unless otherwise advised by their programme offices, SMU students are covered under a Group Personal Accident Policy, and a Medical and Group Hospitalisation & Surgical Policy. For more information such as the procedures for claims and coverage, please refer to your respective graduate programme offices. Students who require additional coverage may approach the SMU appointed insurance company directly to make the purchase themselves.

The living costs you incur will depend on your lifestyle. An international student may expect to incur the following per month:

Accommodation Meals Transportation Miscellaneous

S$400 – S$2,000

S$300 – S$500

S$150 – S$300

S$500 – S$1,500

SMU full-time matriculated international students holding a valid student pass may take up employment in Singapore during their vacation and are exempted from applying for a work permit as stated in the Work Permit Exemptions Notification.

However, during term time, a student holding a valid student pass is only allowed to work part-time, i.e. less than 16 hours per week. A letter of consent is not required from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore or the university.

Upon graduation, you may apply for a permanent job in Singapore if you meet the requirements for obtaining an employment pass or permanent residence.

You may click here to find out more about the various kind of employment passes and work permits in Singapore.

You may click here to find out more.

SMU has an annual university-wide commencement ceremony; all undergraduate and postgraduate students will attend the ceremony in July.

Yes, the commencement ceremony is held solely in Singapore.

The Office of Registrar will send you information on the collection of your degree scroll and official transcript.

This should not happen. However, in the unforeseen event that it does, we will look into it on a case-by-case basis.

Your SMU email account is a life time account.

You may keep your SMU student card.

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