Most foreign Universities offering degree courses in Singapore are represented by "local agents" which administer and market the course.

There is intense competition among local agents to recruit students for these courses. 

Two of the main areas in which local agents compete are (i) price and (ii) duration -- (i.e. how long it takes to earn a degree).

Students are often persuaded to take up a course because it can be completed cheaply and quickly. 

QUALITY

Unfortunately, there is no easy way for students to assess the quality of these degree programmes.  Government ministries and statutory boards do not rank or accredit foreign Universities.

Local agents will often reassure students by citing awards the University has won in its home country -- but the significance of these awards is difficult to determine.

Often, students will simply believe quality assurances offered by agents.  There is little alternative since published rankings are not easy to come by. (Most published rankings are for MBA programmes of top Universities only.)

It is also difficult for students to obtain (i) information about the accreditation of Universities they are considering and (ii) the standing of the groups making the accreditation. 

For example, business students should favour Universities which are accredited by either AACSB or EQUIS.  (These are the top business accreditation bodies.)

CONSENSUS RANKING

The "consensus" ranking scheme, used here,  summarizes information about a University's standing from many sources. 

It combines this information into a 4-tier ranking scheme.  (See Methodology section.)

CHANGING THE BASIS OF COMPETITION

Hopefully, when students have accurate information about the quality of Universities, it will influence their enrollment decisions. 

This, in turn, will require agents to compete on the basis of quality.

Local agents who survive and prosper will be those which are most successful at bringing top-ranked Universities into Singapore.