As a student in junior college, Timothy Hoon’s interest in the world of finance was piqued while studying business-related subjects such as Economics and Accounting. With Singapore as a leading financial hub in the region, he was further inspired to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Finance at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) for a future career in the same field.

“I chose SUSS because of its unique learning philosophy of ‘Head Heart and Habit’. We are nurtured to be well-rounded lifelong learners who are not only professionally competent but socially conscious, and have the heart to impact lives,” he said.

“This really resonates with me as I aspire to be someone who can make a positive impact on society. SUSS offers me a lot of opportunities to do so through a host of community engagement and service-learning projects.”

Students also benefit from the flexibility to choose between online and physical classes at different timeslots and the flipped-classroom approach that emphasises self-directed learning.

“Our seminars are conducted only once a week for each module. Each seminar is intense as professors will only go through key concepts before reviewing various examples and applications. This means that we must really be self-directed learners and individually prepare for classes in advance to get the most out of the seminars,” Timothy explained.

 “I enjoy this approach as it challenges us to learn more effectively and independently while strengthening our problem-solving skills and time management.”

Apart from learning fundamental business concepts in his degree programme, Timothy was excited to discover that students are exposed to emerging key areas such as FinTech. The wide variety of modules that are not only industry-relevant but include megatrends open doors for him to build solid fundamentals and secure important internships in the finance industry. 

An Enriching University Experience

Beyond the classroom, Timothy’s experiences as a student have been enriching. He is currently the Lead Analyst, Equity Research for the SUSS Investment Interest Group and guides a team of analysts to prepare company equity reports and construct financial models for business valuations.

“What I enjoy most about being part of this group is the nurturing culture.  Everyone is here to learn and our seniors are always willing to go the extra mile to impart their knowledge.  We also meet many like-minded students and mentors, and often bounce off ideas with each other for greater learning. And I enjoy the friendships I have forged,” beamed Timothy.

Timothy’s self-driven nature and strong desire to sharpen his skills have also seen him participate in competitions such as the iFAST-SUSS ESG Investing Competition 2021. This competition required him to conduct research on companies with good environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings, and calculate the risks and returns, using concepts he learnt from his programme.

He also participated in the SUSS Invest x Futu SG (MooMoo) Portfolio Management Competition 2022, open to students across different universities in Singapore to showcase their portfolio and analytical skills.  His team emerged as runners-up for both these competitions. More recently, he represented SUSS as part of a team in the 2023 CFA Institute Research Challenge, an annual global equity research competition for university students, and beat teams from local universities to clinch the First Prize as well as the Best Report Prize.

“It was a thrill to participate in these competitions and I have learnt a lot from them, especially when I had the chance to watch how other teams pitched their ideas,” Timothy reflected.

“These case competitions are great opportunities for me to practise what I have learnt in school and apply my learning in various scenarios. They help me understand myself and my capabilities amongst my peers in the University and beyond.”

Starting Strong, Finishing Stronger

In recognition of his academic excellence and leadership potential, Timothy was awarded the SUSS Scholarship. He is grateful that the award has helped ease his family’s financial burden. It will also allow him to complete his overseas learning requirement for graduation at a subsidised rate.

“The scholarship has allowed me to finish the rest of my education at SUSS without worry and relieved a huge financial burden for my family. I treat it as a testament to the hard work and effort I have put in since day one, and motivation to finish the remaining journey strong.”

Timothy is currently pursuing an internship at North Ridge Partners, a technology investment bank that operates across Asia-Pacific. His internship has given him first-hand exposure to various Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and capital-raising deals, putting what he has learnt at university into practice.

“My programme provided me with a solid foundation in finance, while my external commitments such as being a part of SUSS Investment Interest Group, partaking in various case competitions and my first internship in Savills Business Valuation & Advisory have helped to sharpen my skills which led to me being able to land my current role in North Ridge Partners. I can apply what I have learnt during my cumulative experience in SUSS while broadening my horizons in North Ridge Partners,” he shared,

Timothy hopes to pursue a career in corporate finance eventually and believes that his student experience at SUSS will set him up for success.

“SUSS has shaped me into who I am today. I am grateful for the flexible course structure, emphasis on self-directed learning, the SUSS Scholarship and the wonderful friends and staff I have met. These are just some of the many things I am thankful for. While SUSS is the newest university in Singapore, it offers many unique experiences that bring out the best in me.”

Keen to embark on a successful career in the field of finance? Find more about the SUSS Bachelor of Science in Finance programme here.