Maritime Studies (Career Dilemma)
 

I'm at the stage in my life in choosing an university course. I aspire to enter the ship broking/chartering industry. Will pursuing a degree from NTU MS or a general Business degree make me more employable in these industry?

Also would like to hear constructive opinion from people from these courses/industry. Is this a dead-end industry for prospective students? Does it entail good income opportunities?

Go for a general business degree, why limit yourself to shipping only? It is definitely not a dead-end industry but a general business degree will leave you with more options.

If you are able to get into NUS Business School, you are pretty much set in life. Do not pursue an engineering degree.

Precisely my thought as well. I have submitted my university applications, hopefully I made the cut.

I hve read ship broking provides attractive commission + bonuses, that is pretty much whats alluring me to that industry..and the fact that I get to travel a lot :D

eh? wtf? plz dont sprout nonsense to mislead someone making such an important decision in life.
getting into nus biz does not guarantee u anything. so many of them ended up selling insurance or became RM/WM or whatever u called it.

The course itself is nothing but fluff too. If you are not among the more outstanding one who talk your way through to a better paying career, that's basically ur end zone for you with your general degree.

Aint there an oversupply of business grads in the market today?

(1) You don't need a maritime degree to go into shipbroking.
(2) What is your backup plan if you cant find a job in shipbroking? There aren't that many shipbroking positions in singapore.

business grads from private schools/ or with lacklustre results/ or with no work/internship experience - yes oversupply.

business grads from the local unis with good results and good work/internship experience - absolutely no oversupply.

(1) Yeah I know that. But wouldn't that degree pertain to that industry?
(2) Getting a maritime degree means its very specialized - only able to find jobs in that industry itself right?

I am a maritime grad from NTU. Am currently doing shipbrokering. Yes, you would require a shipping specialised degree to get in. But probably the questions you should ask yourself before jumping headfirst are:

a) Do you have a outgoing personality?
b) Do you enjoy drinking with clients?
c) You must be able to work in a fast paced environment.
d) Do you mind working 24/7? Emails would be synced to your mobile and you have to check after work as well.

So many of them ended up selling insurance? Are you sure?? I know of many, the bulk in fact, who end up at top MNCs/Banks/GLCs etc. Only the outliers, like in all schools, get nothing.