NUS, NTU warn they will take action against admissions fraud

High ranking of both schools a contributing factor in fraudulent applications: Observers

- Shermaine Ang

Singapore's two largest universities have put up advisories cautioning prospective applicants against purported study-abroad agencies on Chinese social media platforms offering paid services that claim to help applicants secure “guaranteed” admissions to their postgraduate degree programmes.

The National University of Singapore's (NUS) advisory on its website said the agencies will typically employ fraudulent means such as fabricating academic qualifications and other credentials in application packages to mislead universities.

The university said candidates need to fulfil qualifying criteria and all applications are reviewed based on merit. “There are no ‘guaranteed’, ‘fast track’ or ‘direct’ admission routes to NUS,” it added.

Checks on Xiaohongshu found many such agencies offering “direction admission” to NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Most of the agencies target those with poor high school grades or low undergraduate GPAs, and who have yet to pass English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System.

One agency, Zhongsheng International, offers to help students enter NUS and NTU, among other top universities worldwide, at fees starting from 300,000 yuan (S$55,000).

On its website, the agency claims it was set up in 2017, and that it works with universities to serve more than 1,000 customers annually.

Another account called Flying Career also offers university applicants recommendation letters from professors at top universities, and purports to be able to help applicants pass background checks.

Both agencies did not respond to queries from The Straits Times on the legitimacy of their services.

In response to queries, NUS said it will terminate the candidature of any student found to have gained admission through fraudulent means, and is enhancing its systems to verify credentials.