Shaping student success at Dulwich College (Singapore)

How does Dulwich College (Singapore) guide students towards choosing their “best fit” university and career pathways? The University and Careers Counselling (UCC) team tells us how they personalise their approach in an age where definitions of success are shifting and the future of work remains uncertain.

Defining success in choosing university and career pathways

The definition of success at Dulwich is not solely on rankings or university prestige. The College defines success through both the outcome and the quality of the journey students take to get there.

“For us, these are the two important components to success for individual students,” says Dominic Massarella, Deputy Head of Senior School (Upper). “We feel we have been successful if firstly, the UCC journey equips students with skills they will carry into the future. Secondly, when the outcome is one where they will thrive academically, professionally and personally.”

A student-centred journey

At Dulwich, this journey to choosing the best fit university and career pathways begins when students first engage with the UCC team in Year 8. It then continues through to graduation and university placement.

Students are encouraged to take active ownership of their university and careers pathway. They research courses, visit campuses, present their choices to parents and the school, and refine their goals over time. UCC Counsellors act as guides, nurturing in students the confidence to advocate for themselves and evaluate best fit options with clarity.

The College supports this process by hosting visits from university representatives and organising university fairs. The College also creates opportunities for students to connect with alumni, who offer first-hand insights into life at a wide range of institutions. By the end of the process, students are more confident, self-aware and equipped with soft skills that will serve them well long into the future.

The ideal outcome is a university and a course that aligns with a student’s aspirations. One that supports their personal growth and prepares them for future pathways in an environment where they can thrive.

Choosing the best fit university for student success

This “best fit” philosophy is grounded in the belief that the right university for one student may be entirely wrong for another. The UCC programme is deliberately designed to adapt to each cohort, rather than impose a fixed model upon it.

Data reflects the strength of this approach. In the most recent academic year, 91 percent of students received an offer from their first choice university. 100 percent of students received an offer from either their first or second choice.

Additionally, the cohort’s average IB score of 37.6 points sits well above the global average. Five students gained admission to Oxford or Cambridge. A further 15 secured places at London’s Big Four: Imperial, LSE, King’s, UCL.

Beyond these outcomes, the broader picture is one of range and individuality in the definitions of success towards a chosen career pathway.

Eighty percent of students heading to the UK received offers from Russell Group universities. Others found their best fit globally. These include Acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (Australia), Fine Art at Rhode Island School of Design, Mathematics at Tsinghua (China), and Artificial Intelligence in Amsterdam.

There is no fixed formula for this deeply human process. By valuing both the journey and the outcome, the team ensures every student is supported as an individual. This helps them leave the College equipped for a fulfilling life beyond it.

Dulwich College (Singapore) is at 71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8.
6890 1000 | singapore.dulwich.org

This article first appeared in the March 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest issue or an annual subscription, or read the digital version free now.

Like this article about helping students in finding their best fit career pathways to fit their definition of success? Read more about the new Head of School at Dulwich College (Singapore) here. Also, how they prepare Year 6 students to smoothly transition to Year 7 here.

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