Admission

As SMU practices rolling admissions, the Admissions process (submitting of application, passing the interview with the Admissions Committee, and accepting the admissions offer) will typically take about two (2) weeks to complete. This is provided that candidates fulfills most of the admission critera stated below.

The admission criteria are:

• A good university degree 
• A good GMAT or GRE score 
• IELTS or TOEFL (required if the medium of instruction of your undergraduate studies was not English)

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 GMF 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.

No. The GMF is designed for fresh graduates and work experience is not a requirement.

For the GMF, 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 July.

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 Programme Office
Singapore 178899
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 a.m. - 5.45 p.m.

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.

The usual application fee of S$100 will be waived for GMF applicants from our partner Universities.

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.

Admissions are done on a rolling basis. A typical applicant willl 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.
Alternatively, you may send an email to maf@smu.edu.sg.

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)
TOEFL: 95 (internet based test)     
IELTS: 6.5 and above

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.

GMAT/GRE is mandatory for all candidates, regardless of their academic background or prior qualifications for a variety of reasons:

• The GMAT/GRE score is a helpful measure for comparison when evaluating potential candidates from all countries and universities.
• All business schools have to provide summary data on applicants/students including their average GMAT/GRE score to various external bodies.
• Exemption of the GMAT/GRE component may lead to inconsistencies and unfairness in our admission processes.

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.