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SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) graduates continue to be highly sought after, with increased employment rates and full-time permanent employment rates. These are the findings from the latest Graduate Employment Survey (GES) released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on 10 September 2018. This survey was conducted in February and March of this year for the various 2017 SIT-DigiPen (Singapore) graduating cohorts.

Employment Rates1

Results from the comprehensive MOE survey show that our graduates saw an overall employment rate2 of 95%, which is an eight-percentage-point increase from 2016’s results. The corresponding full-time permanent employment rate3 was 87%, an increase of 10 percentage points over the previous year. In particular, our computer science graduates secured close to full employment rates, with our BS in Computer Science and Game Design (BSCSGD) graduates enjoying 100% full-time employment. Details of the last two GES results (for 2017 and 2016) are shown in the table below, with employment rates broken down by degree program.

Chart featuring the results of the 2016-17 MOE Graduate Employment Survey Results
Source: https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/education/post-secondary/files/sit.pdf

Type of Companies Our Graduates Join Upon Graduation

Based on our internal study of this surveyed cohort (the internal study is done within six months of each cohort’s graduation), close to 75% of the BSCSGD graduates joined creative companies in game development, animation, UI/UX design, and post-production.

On the other hand, the corresponding internal study for the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (BSCS RTIS) graduates showed that some 72% of that program’s graduates went on to pursue careers in non-creative companies in the fields of finance, e-commerce, technology, and engineering.

Similarly, some 54% and 91% of BA in Game Design (BAGD) and BFA in Digital Art and Animation (BFA) graduates, respectively, joined creative companies upon graduation.

Given DigiPen’s well-established history as an educational pioneer in the digital interactive media industries — as well as DigiPen (Singapore)’s strong relationships with companies like Ubisoft, Koei Tecmo, and post-production houses — it’s no surprise that many of our graduates continue to join the ranks of Singapore’s creative companies. However, as the digital economy surges ahead, we expect that more of our graduates will be heading towards other technology fields where the same capabilities taught by DigiPen (Singapore) are equally in demand. Our RTIS graduates’ employment profile have shown that to be the case.

Salaries

Besides the high employment rates, our graduates also continue to maintain good starting salaries in the fields of computer science and digital arts. The gross median and mean monthly salaries5 of BSCS RTIS graduates remained high at $3,800 and $3,904, and BSCSGD graduates earned $3,250 and $3,291 respectively.

BAGD graduates took home gross median and mean monthly salaries of $3,000 and $3,067, and BFA graduates commanded $2,875 and $2,876 respectively.

“Since coming to Singapore in 2008, DigiPen (Singapore) has differentiated itself as a university for students looking to start a career in the creative industries, especially the game industry,” Mr. Tan Chek Ming, Managing Director of DigiPen (Singapore), says. “Today, our graduates can also pursue careers in other parts of the economy where computational thinking, software engineering, and UI/UX are similarly required.”

“We are heartened that our graduates are well sought after, and their salaries attest to the fact that they are valued by the different companies that hire them. Whether our graduates pursue their passion in creative companies, or venture into technology-driven companies in e-commerce, cyber security, or finance, we at DigiPen (Singapore) are just glad that we have touched their lives and helped them make a difference in society.”

To date, DigiPen (Singapore) has placed approximately 560 graduates in over 100 companies both locally and globally. We are encouraged to see that our graduates retain good market value in the workforce as we continue to educate skilled talent for the digital economy.

Notes:

  1. The employment rates refer to the number of graduates employed as a proportion of graduates in the labor force (i.e. those who were working, or not working but actively looking and available for work) as at 1 Mar 2018 (i.e. approximately six months after completing their final examinations).

  2. Overall employment includes all types of full-time, part-time, temporary, and freelance employment.

  3. Full-time permanent employment refers to employment of at least 35 hours a week and where the employment is not temporary. It includes those on contracts of one year or more.

  4. Basic monthly salary pertains only to full-time permanently employed graduates. It comprises basic pay before deduction of the employee’s CPF contributions and personal income tax. Employer’s CPF contributions, bonuses, stock options, overtime payments, commissions, fixed allowances, other regular cash payments, lump sum payments, and payments-in-kind are excluded.

  5. Gross monthly salary pertains only to full-time permanently employed graduates. It comprises basic salary, overtime payments, commissions, fixed allowances and other regular cash payments, before deductions of the employee’s CPF contributions and personal income tax. Employer’s CPF contributions, bonuses, stock options, lump sum payments, and payments-in-kind are excluded.