Careers guidance & university admissions at AIS

The Australian International School in Singapore is preparing its students for a global future with a practical yet holistic approach, including how to prepare for university admissions. We ask the school’s team how AIS careers guidance helps students become global citizens.

How does AIS help students prepare for university admission?

Each student receives individualised guidance tailored to their aspirations, academic profile and personal goals. The preparation begins from early exploration of university and careers through to application submission and transition planning.

Our school counsellors work closely with AIS students and their families to explore diverse pathways, including looking at university admissions and courses, technical qualifications, foundation studies and gap-year opportunities. In this way, each student finds their best-fit next step as they grow to become global citizens.

Which universities have AIS students received offers from?

Our students continue to achieve outstanding results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and High School Certificate (HSC). Notably, over the past five years, 30% of our IBDP students achieved an average score of 38.

All our graduates consistently receive offers from top global universities across Australia/New Zealand, the UK, the US, Asia, Europe and Canada. Approximately 99% gain university admission to one of their top two choices. As an example, in 2024, AIS students received early offers to University College London (UCL), University of Melbourne and Pennsylvania State University. In addition, one student secured a spot in the Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine programme at the University of Sydney along with a scholarship for the duration of the study. This is a highly competitive programme where only 40 students are admitted annually.

What goes into preparing students for a career beyond school?

The comprehensive AIS careers guidance programme supports students from Year 9. From that time, the Careers department engages students through presentations, events and workshops. The school also encourages parents to participate actively in these, so students can explore career options early within a collaborative environment.

In Year 10, students engage in one-on-one career counselling sessions. With school counsellors, they focus on identifying their interests, strengths and aspirations. This lays the foundation for subject selection and long-term planning.

Career guidance intensifies in Years 11 and 12. In regular one-on-one meetings with Career Advisors, students receive personalised support for personal statement writing, university applications, interview preparation and admission test readiness.

Year 12 students are also paired with a mentor for career guidance. Together, they meet informally one or two times per term. These sessions address student wellbeing and provide holistic support for life beyond school as global citizens. This helps students feel confident and prepared for the next chapter of their lives.

Throughout each academic year, there’s a wide range of initiatives that support our students as they journey through their planning. Besides university visits, parent coffee mornings and a bi-monthly Careers newsletter, other highlights include:

• January: Orientation week and IB/HSC curriculum overviews
• March: AIS Tertiary Educational Fair presenting institutions from around the world
• April: Lunchtime workshops on UCAS, Common App and UAC applications
• August: UCAT testing preparation and workshops for medical school aspirants

How else do you help students develop skills for the future and become global citizens?

The emphasis at AIS is on self-awareness and reflection, which allow students to identify their strengths, interests and values, and then make informed decisions beyond school.

Through workshops, individual counselling and real world experiences, our students develop future-ready skills such as adaptability, resilience, collaboration and problem-solving.

In addition, students have interactions with university representatives visiting AIS, participate in the annual Tertiary Education Fair, and engage with university academics who conduct guest lectures or workshops, careers events and discussions with industry professionals. All these help students develop communication and interpersonal skills.

Guidance from the school also incorporates career trends and the evolving global landscape. This encourages students to think about long-term employability and purposeful pathways.

Find out how AIS Careers Guidance helps students plan their life beyond school

Call 6517 0247 or go to the AIS website for more information or to book a school tour.

Australian International School in Singapore is at 1 Lorong Chuan.
ais.com.sg

Read more about how the AIS team helps students with their prep for university admission. You can also find out about new facilites at the AIS Early Learning Village.

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