As I embark on my final semester in the Bachelor of Accountancy programme at NBS, I often think back fondly on how I have grown and developed since I entered university. In a short span of three years, I was able to hone a wide range of hard and soft skills, and this is largely due to the well-designed and rigorous programme I have experienced here at NBS.

Compared to the typical four-year undergraduate programmes offered in Singapore, the single degree programmes at NBS are three-year direct honours programmes. These allow my schoolmates and I to graduate earlier than many of our peers in other undergraduate programmes. As part of the Bachelor of Accountancy Class of 2022 this year, many of my schoolmates will have a head start in their careers, and I personally will be furthering my studies in a one-year Master’s programme, also at NBS!

Students may also take advantage of the shorter programme duration to gain in-depth knowledge about the industry they are interested in. They may take a Leave of Absence (LOA) to pursue an internship for six months. Some of my friends in NBS have done so, and on top of having a higher chance of converting their internship to a full-time position in that company, they are also able to graduate within three and a half years – giving them an edge over their peers.

Despite the shorter programme duration, it has been a thoroughly rewarding and enriching experience for me. I’m not only equipped with the technical competencies required in the field of accounting but have also been exposed to an assortment of subjects such as business law and marketing. From foundational courses like Accounting to more advanced courses such as Accounting Analysis & Valuation, I was progressively able to gain mastery of the intricacies of accounting.

Apart from these, one interesting module that I recall is the one on programming where I picked up programming and analytical skills, both of which are increasingly important in today’s digital age. Coupled with the dedicated and knowledgeable professors at NBS, I found myself enjoying the classes I attended and being immersed in the content that was taught to me.

In addition to the technical skills acquired from the extensive curriculum, I was also able to sharpen my soft skills in school. Modules in NBS often involve class participation, presentations, and group work, providing us with opportunities to develop our interpersonal and presentation skills so we are better prepared for the working world. Furthermore, group work is one of the special times where we get to meet new people and make new friends in school!

This is not all. Part of our curriculum includes a Professional Attachment, which is scheduled during the summer break of our first year. For my Professional Attachment, I interned at an entrepreneurship education centre where I assisted in performing research and learnt a lot about the FinTech industry. Subsequently, I decided to take up more internships to gain varied experiences in different industries. In my second year, I was a strategy advisory intern in one of the Big Four accounting firms during the winter break, as well as an investment intern in a global asset management company during the summer break.

While it may seem daunting to have to complete numerous modules and requirements within a short three-year time frame, the workload is rather manageable. After accounting for the time taken to study my course materials and attend seminars, I was still able to actively participate in clubs in NTU. As a freshman, I had joined Business Solutions as well as Nanyang Capital, two clubs which gave me the opportunity to learn more about the consulting industry and banking and finance industry respectively. Currently I am also a volunteer under the Welfare Services Club so that I can give back to the community. Interestingly, time management was something I had picked up along the way too, as good time management was critical for me to balance my school commitments with extracurricular activities, and social life.

Looking back, it is amazing to see how much I have learnt and accomplished in university. There is no doubt that the structured and comprehensive programme here at NBS has been instrumental to my holistic development, and I am also glad to be able to earn a highly regarded accountancy degree in three years!

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