Explore pathways with purpose at Dulwich College (Singapore)

In an age where the definition of success is shifting and the future of work remains uncertain, international schools face a clear challenge: how to guide students towards university and career pathways that are both ambitious and personally meaningful. At Dulwich College (Singapore), the University and Careers Counselling (UCC) team has adopted a highly personalised, student-centered approach that nurtures growth, adaptability and self-fulfillment.

Rather than focusing 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. “I define success in terms of the individual student, not by averages, external benchmarks, or generalised targets,” says Dominic Massarella, Deputy Head of Senior School. “There are two components: the journey and the outcome. I believe we have been successful if the UCC journey has equipped students with skills they’ll carry into the future, and the outcome is one where they will thrive academically, professionally, and personally.”

Options with clarity

The journey, in this context, spans from the moment students start their relationship with the UCC team in Year 8 through to graduation and university placement. Students are encouraged to take active ownership of their pathway; researching courses, visiting campuses, presenting their choices to parents and the school, and refining their goals over time. UCC Counsellors act as guides, helping students develop the tools to advocate for themselves and evaluate their options with clarity.

The College supports by arranging visits from university representatives, university fairs, and opportunities for students to connect with alumni who can offer first-hand insights into life at various institutions. By the end, students are more confident, self-aware and equipped with soft skills that will serve them well into the future. Of course, outcomes matter too.

Best fit

The ideal outcome, discovered and defined by the UCC journey, is a university and a course that excites them, in an environment where students feel they will thrive. Ultimately, success means they’re in a course that aligns with their aspirations, supports their personal growth, and prepares them for the roles they want in the future.

If every student achieves their personalised goals, then as a team, we have succeeded. At Dulwich, this is called the ‘Best Fit’ approach. The data supports this ‘Best Fit’ approach. In the most recent academic year – supported by the cohorts’ average IB score of 37.6 points: well above the global average – 91 percent of students received an offer from their first-choice university, and 100 percent from either their first or second choice.

“Eighty percent of students heading to the UK received offers from Russell Group universities”

Human process

While five students were admitted to Oxford or Cambridge, and fifteen more to London’s Big Four – Imperial, LSE, King’s, and UCL – the broader picture is one of range and diversity. Eighty percent of students heading to the UK received offers from Russell Group universities. Others found their own best fit, including Acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Australia, Fine Art at Rhode Island School of Design, Art and Design at Rutgers, and Mathematics at Tsinghua, Costume Design in Australia, and AI in Amsterdam.

You can’t apply a fixed formula to such a human process, and the UCC team recognise that each student brings different strengths, interests, and challenges. The ‘Best Fit’ philosophy is grounded in the idea that the right university for one student may be entirely wrong for another. One year might see a surge in interest in engineering or medicine; another might produce more entrepreneurs or designers. Family, culture, and ambition all play an important role. The UCC programme is structured to adapt to the cohort, not impose on it.

By focusing not only on the outcome but also on the journey, the UCC team at Dulwich ensure that every student is valued as an individual, and that the skills gained throughout the process lead to a fulfilling life beyond the College.

Dulwich College (Singapore)
 71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8, Singapore, 658966

+65 6890 1003,  [email protected],
 www.singapore.dulwich.org