TMC Academy

AFTER taking the O levels, most teenagers would consider the traditional options of junior college or polytechnic.

But Indonesian Candice Chong, 18, who qualified for both, chose neither.

Instead, the student, who scored 18 points for her O levels, decided to enrol in the Diploma in Business course offered by Monash College in Singapore and delivered by TMC Educational Group.

Her 18-month programme puts her on an accelerated track to a banking and finance degree. The course fees of $16,000 were paid by her parents.

If Candice successfully completes her diploma this October, she will go straight into her second year at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

This means she will take 31/2 years to get her degree and diploma. The traditional route would typically take five years.

She said: "Being out in the workforce before my peers will give me a head-start.

"Also, I hope to lighten the burden of my parents if I can come out to work earlier as I have a 10-year-old sister."

Candice added: "Monash is a very good university and known to be reputable for their business courses, so both my mum and dad were very supportive of my decision."

And she is clearly looking forward to going overseas. She feels the foreign study experience will further develop and hone her character.

Said Candice: "I think the experience will make me more independent and stronger. That will certainly help me once I'm out in the workforce."

Candice is enjoying the classes she takes at the school's North Bridge Road campus.

At the school, the small class sizes means she gets "a lot of attention" and support from her lecturers.

She especially enjoys the wide range of topics in her course, including law, macro economics and management.

Said Candice: "It's a very applied course, and the range of subjects will give me a better idea of what to major in for my degree."

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