Aspiring to be a qualified accountant

A special feature by Kaplan Higher Education Academy
Ms Wishah Baig chose a private education over polytechnic path to fulfil her dream career

Career-minded Wishah Baig has set her sights on becoming a chartered accountant once she graduates.

With her determined and focused outlook, she is currently halfway through her Accounting and Finance degree programme offered by the University of Essex and conducted at Kaplan Singapore.

The University of Essex is ranked in the top 2 per cent of world universities and Essex Business School is ranked second in the United Kingdom (UK) for accounting and finance research.

Despite good results that qualify her to enter local polytechnics, she enrolled in Kaplan after graduating from Holy Innocents' High School to take up Kaplan's Certificate in Foundation Studies. She then took Diploma in Accountancy before embarking on her degree.

"I wanted a UK degree that is recognised worldwide," says Wishah, who expects to graduate next year with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Accounting & Finance.

The degree is a direct honours UK degree with double specialisation. Upon completion, she can qualify as ACCA member and may gain advanced standing in terms of modules exemptions.

Right decision

Her father, Mr Mirza Baig, 51, an operations manager, fully supports her decision.

"Local universities may be more economical in terms of tuition fees, but duration of courses may be longer due to the long term breaks. In Kaplan, the same degree course can be completed in a much shorter time by eliminating the long term breaks," he says.

He did some research about overseas universities that have campuses in Singapore and is convinced that his elder daughter made the right choice to choose the Kaplan route.

"Kaplan has a variety of renowned overseas universities that offer a great variety of programmes," he says.

His younger daughter is also currently taking a diploma course at Kaplan and he hopes that both will be able to embark on their dream careers of becoming chartered accountants when they complete their degrees.

Wishah, in particular, is looking forward to landing a coveted job with her University of Essex degree.

A great way to learn Wishah finds the format of lessons conducive to her learning. She has ample time to digest all the information her lecturers provide.

"The assignments given are also closely linked to modules and tests to prepare us students well. I like that the assignment questions and tutorials are designed to be practical and give real-life cases that are professional and similar to accounting institutes, which help greatly in our understanding of the concepts," she says.

The students are exposed to unique and industry-relevant modules such as Financial Reporting and Analysis, Portfolio Analysis, Risk Management and Advanced Management Accounting.

In these modules, they gain knowledge in preparation of financial statements and budgets, principles of accounting and corporate governance, as well as the intelligent application of management accounting techniques.

Mr Baig says: "The best way to educate young students is to give them the appropriate learning to let them shine and perform well at every event and stage of their professional lives later on.

"It will better equip them to overcome the challenges they may face in their professional lives."

Visit kaplan.com.sg for more information.