1. COURSE

How would you describe your course to someone who knows nothing about it? 

I would say that it’s a course that directly prepares you to be a physiotherapist, one that helps you attain the skills to work together with patients and the multidisciplinary team to help patients get to where they want to be. 

 

What subjects did you take in JC, and did it play a part in shaping your Uni course decision?

I took BCMG (4H2s).No, it didn’t play a part in decision making. However, be sure to check entry requirements prior to entering any course. For Physiotherapy, “ Obtained a good pass in two of the following H2 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, and also offer General Paper or Knowledge & Inquiry in the same sitting while satisfying Mother Tongue requirements.” and achieving at least a “D grade for General Paper”. For other qualifications like IB, Diploma, NUS High Diploma and 2nd degree PCP students, please refer to the school website for more comprehensive details as there are certain prerequisites and related courses to take.

 

2. DECISION MAKING

What courses were you considering, and what were the factors that personally shaped your decision (from more important to not as important)?

It is undeniable that both NUS and NTU were in my choices given the repertoire of courses they offer as well as the vibrant school life and rich culture. Courses that were offered included biological sciences with a second major in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences, life sciences with a minor in public healthcare. For overseas courses, it would have been something healthcare related; but I have unfortunately missed the deadlines due to my indecisiveness and financial considerations.

To compare between local and overseas courses, I think one would have to first consider if their family is able to afford tuition fees of about $40k a year, on top of accommodation and food. Overseas schools for physiotherapy do boast rich accreditation and are well-recognised. Ultimately, if you are seeking to practice in Singapore, it would make sense too to study locally, have attachments/clinicals in a local setting and attend modules that are catered towards the healthcare system here.

To put it simply, SIT was the only school offering physiotherapy in Singapore. What more can a course offer with the opportunity to take your modules within the comfort of your home country, yet get an opportunity to visit your partner university? The joint degree program allows a taster for those who want to somewhat  experience overseas schooling/professors but are limited by circumstances to do so.

** From Intake AY 21/22 onwards , the degree has been changed to an SIT degree only.

Read more about the degree at: https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/undergraduate-programmes/health-and-social-sciences/physiotherapy

 

You were considering different courses, so how and why did you ultimately decide on Physiotherapy? What did you like about it?

I guess it would be more of a passion to work in a healthcare setting. I didn’t exactly envision myself to be working in an office job and to stay sedentary at a seat for so long. Furthermore, with job shadowing opportunities, it has broadened my view of this potential career option and garnered interest.

Hence, as a physiotherapist, it is a much more active job whilst being able to help people eventually live the best quality of life they can lead. Since COVID is currently limiting such opportunities, I highly recommend looking at instagram and youtube videos related to physiotherapy to find out more about how rehabilitation services are like! 

 

What were some factors you personally considered when making an informed choice ? Could you elaborate?

For me, I think it started off because I just wanted to work in a hospital… Jokes aside, I think it was valuable for me to spend time off after A-levels to explore various sectors and just try something new. For me, I went for job shadowing, interned at an old folks home and senior day care centres for about half a year just to have a glimpse of what it was like in a senior care/healthcare setting. Also, if I had the patience (to know myself better) and the skills required (socialising, the language etc.) 

Ultimately, choosing a course as specialised as physiotherapy would be something that you have to be really passionate about; and preferably something that can motivate me as a career. It is often not about rote memorisation or regurgitation of knowledge but a growth mindset. As long as you are willing to be humble, admit mistakes and continually learn to improve your skills, any prior proficiency (apart from admission criteria) are redundant. It is really about the heart for your patients as a healthcare professional and the attitude you bring to school, and subsequently your workplace that will help you grow as a person.

 

As an 18 year old fresh out of JC, how can we guide/advice our juniors in making the decision that feels the most right to them? How did you decide?

In short, study something that you are truly interested in; and something that you might see yourself doing for a long time. Don’t just choose something because of your stellar grades, or just because other people are choosing it. Do it for yourself, university fees skyrocket after your first degree…

 

3. TEACHING CURRICULUM

Can you give me a brief idea of what SIT Physio is about?

I would highly recommend using the school website: https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/undergraduate-programmes/physiotherapy as your main source of information for a holistic overview of the modules you will be taking. In short, it is to prepare oneself physically and mentally to manage and enhance the lives of your future clients better. It is to equip yourself with knowledge, techniques, methodology to add life to one’s days (contrary to adding days to one’s life).

 

What’s the structure of your course like?

To summarise, the course is structured into 4 years with 3 trimesters each, and y4 being 2 trimesters. Clinicals will start in Y3T2 and end around Y4T1 (assuming one has cleared all their clinics). Thesis preparation work will start in Y3, to complete both SIT’s thesis paper as well as TCD’s thesis paper. In Y2T3, it is normally a free trimester as there will be an Overseas Exchange Programme to TCD in Ireland for a module lasting about 2 weeks; and most of us will travel around Europe/ work for a few months or so before school starts.

** P.S From Intake AY 21/22, the degree has been changed to an SIT degree only. Read more about the degree at: https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/undergraduate-programmes/health-and-social-sciences/physiotherapy

Check the school website for all the modules that you will be taking. For SIT HSS Cluster, there is no bidding of modules as the school will automatically assign them to you (Fuss-free for indecisive students and friends with poor internet connection).

 

How is a day of a SIT Physio student like?

I am currently on clinical placements now. So my life would be work from 8 – 6pm. So my day consists of seeing patients, assisting my supervisor to see her patients and documentation (lots of them!). This also includes collaborative work with the doctors, nurses, occupation therapists to discuss the patients via multidisciplinary meetings about their plan and treatment progress.

Otherwise, in school, Y1T1 and Y1T2  are normally filled with back to back lectures and tutorials from 9-6pm with a lunch break in between. You will get to visit the anatomy labs in NUS Medicine building (labs and the one with cadavers) for classes and exams for the first 2 trimesters. A short glimpse of practical class will start near the end of Y1T1.

Practical classes are normally 2h to 4h, which covers skills from professors and adjuncts. These are separated into Musculoskeletal (MSK) , Cardiorespiratory, Neurology, Kinesiology etc. After school, I would go for my CCA from 6:45-9:30pm as I am in a varsity sports team preparing for competition.

 

What is the format of your assessments/exams like? What about teaching style?

There will normally be a quiz after recess week, practical paper (skills assessment) followed by a final theory paper (MCQ/written). There are occasional presentations, case reports and oral viva. In all honesty, it is too early to worry about it. MCQ or not, it depends on the setter of the paper.

Teaching and lesson style wise it is usually made up of Lecture, Tutorial, Practicals and Self study. It is rather similar to that of JC, albeit with a bit more freedom. Lectures are carried out in the auditoriums as a large group. Tutorials are carried out in smaller groups of about 10-20.

The professors and adjuncts are often clinicians with outstanding credentials. They are also really passionate about their area of expertise. So most of the students really respect and look up to them a lot!

 

You mentioned practicals, what are the practicals about? What do you usually do in practicals?

Practical classes serve as a means to help one gain hands-on experience and to hone our techniques for the future management of clients. This includes manual blood pressure taking, manipulation, joint assessment, neurological assessments, rehabilitative exercise like sit-to-stand, rolling in bed etc. Of course, that is not all. Rehabilitative exercises also depends on our creativity and ability to make use of our environment to cater towards the patient’s needs.

 

Are there many optional modules / chances for interdisciplinary learning? Do you have opportunities to meet people outside your faculty?

There are no optional modules (Except electives in Y4 like 1 mod). There is a fair bit of interdisciplinary learning amongst health science students in year 1 and 4. The school (SIT Student Life) does provide opportunities to engage in school-wide events/ courses that are both enriching and optional! Personally, I am able to train with team-mates of different faculties during training sessions of my CCA and also meet friends through other SLD events too!

 

How heavy is your workload? How much leisure time do you have out of school?

There are always seasons that are more draining than the others. Yet, it is possible to have a lot of leisure time. I personally had CCA training 2-3x a week, council work, church 2x a week, external commitments and meeting friends. The hard truth is, not everybody is going to approve of how you manage your time.

Some people will demand that you study more, meet up more, put in more effort into different areas. Truthfully, you cannot satisfy everyone! Hence if it is what makes you happy, and it is how you decide to prioritise it, then with assurance, just do it!

 

4. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE / PREFERENCES

What were your most and least favourite/interesting classes/part of your course(s)?

I can’t decide which was my favourite class because all the modules are somewhat different and they build upon existing knowledge. I guess things were more interesting after Y1T1 when we got to start practical lessons.

One of my favourites would be health promotion. My team and I had to design flyers and do door to door knockings for survey data collection for research purposes. We also had to think of ways to tackle a certain health problem and to promote active minutes/lifestyle via innovative measures, coupled with health promotion theories.

 

What are some thing(s) you didn’t know/expect about either of your degrees before starting, and what are some things that surpassed your expectations?

It has been an enriching time so far with surprises here and there. Still on the way to being equipped with the necessary skills to become a good physiotherapist!

 

What do you like and dislike most about the course?

Likes: Don’t need to dress up after Y1T2 started…

Dislike: Some of my coursemates feel that some modules are redundant/ a waste of time. I guess in some sense, it does build up certain knowledge/ aspects of being in a healthcare setting. To each their own!

 

Are there any common misconceptions/stereotypes about your degree(s) that you would like to debunk?

As mentioned, physiotherapy is only offered in SIT locally. However, just a quick disclaimer, physiotherapy is not and was never solely “Sports massage” nor confined to the realms of “ Sports physio”. It is important to have a read as it includes a broader scope of work and expertise like (to name a few) musculoskeletal, neurological rehabilitation, cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation, women’s health, pain management, paediatrics and many more!

 

What sort of student do you think would excel in / be suited for your course(s)?

Coursewise, Gritty students > Hard Working students > Talented students You are in this course not to be a good student but a good physiotherapist!

 

5. CAREER PROSPECTS

What will the career prospects be like by the time you graduate? Where do SIT Physio graduates usually go?

Most of the students will be offered sponsorships and scholarships from hospitals/ministries/community before they graduate. There is not much difference between the tiers but the benefits of scholarships as well as length of bond served depends on when you sign your contract. If you would like to work in a specific hospital, it is somewhat wiser to try for a sponsorship. Otherwise, MOHH scholarship is another competitive scholarship that many students try for too (Mostly awarded pre-university).

For unbonded sponsorships/scholarships, the school has many donors and support in this area where an SIT scholarship is awarded or where a one-time lump sum is awarded. Do refer to https://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/undergrad/scholarships for a more comprehensive outlook.

The first batch of students has just graduated, so many of them have commenced work in hospital/clinical settings as there is an AHPC Provisional registration for a year to get a practising license.

 

How did you apply for the MOHH scholarship? What was the process like? What advice can you give to juniors looking to apply for it?

Apply via Brightsparks. Everything is done via brightsparks. If you are shortlisted, MOHH will contact you for further details and for the interview. For juniors looking to apply for it, you can take a look at https://www.healthcarescholarships.sg/.

Do consider if a scholarship is best for you, or if a sponsorship would be better (with lower academic requirements to maintain but similar benefits and a bond too!) If you don’t get it, don’t worry, you will be more exposed to the different workplace cultures during your placements in Y3 for you to make a more informed decision.

 

What do you plan to do after university?

Take a short break and then I will be proceeding to work in an acute hospital due to my prior bond to a hospital.

 

Any last advice for juniors who wish to study SIT Physio in the future?

Find out more about the job/ know that you are really passionate about this via google, youtube, job shadowing opportunities and asking your seniors. (Aka, know the difference between a PT and an OT etc) Also, attend the annual SIT Open House so that you can direct any questions to the professors too.

6. STUDENT LIFE

Did you stay in campus accommodation?

Everybody stays at home 🙂 There is no accommodation on campus currently as we are scattered across Dover and the various polytechnics in Singapore. However, upon moving to the new campus in Punggol, there are no plans for halls as well due to the nature of the school curriculum.

 

What is the general culture like at SIT Physio? How would you describe the people there as?

We are generally a really friendly bunch who are willing to help each other out! A lot of us often exercise together as well!

 

What were your CCAs?

I am currently in Netball. I was part of the Physiotherapy student management committee in 2019. For 2020/21, I will also be involved in the student ambassador activities for FISU and SUSC.

 

Any parting words or advice for juniors? :,)

Really find out as much as you can about the profession before you decide to choose this course. It isn’t exactly an all glorifying, in-aircon room job per se. It comes with managing and supporting patients when they are in their lows; some may present with low mood, others may dirty themselves as well, and some may not even remember you after 5 min.

Afterall, if you truly believe that you have the heart to serve and to work in a dynamic environment that may not be the easiest, take up this challenge and I hope that you guys will grow as much as I did!