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Guide Series: Post Secondary Options
This Guide Provides Comprehensive Information on Pathways available Post-Secondary. It is simplified and presented in an accessible format for students to make a good and informed decision.
Prepping up for admission to Polytechnic in Singapore
- Written By Seline
- Updated on October 18, 2023
Articles In this Guide
Polytechnics in Singapore offer a wide range of diploma courses in various fields. These courses are typically three years in duration and are designed to prepare students for the workforce.
Here are some common fields of study in Singapore’s polytechnics:
– Applied Sciences
– Built Environment
– Business and Management
– Engineering
– Health Sciences
– Humanities
– Information and Digital Technologies
– Maritime Studies
– Media and Design
1- Admission to Polytechnic vs Junior College
For those who may be wondering, the admission processes for polytechnics and junior colleges (JCs) do differ slightly.
To enter a junior college in Singapore, students must obtain an L1R5 (First Language and 5 relevant subjects) aggregate score that does not exceed 20 points. However, polytechnics in Singapore accept students with an ELR2B2 (English, 2 relevant subjects and 2 best subjects) of up to 26 points.
Polytechnic admission or junior college admission will both involve the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE), which allows students to submit their applications online via the JAE Internet System (JAE-IS) five days after the GCE O-Level results are released. Students can choose up to 12-course choices in order of preference, after which they will be posted to a junior college or polytechnic course based on their results and choices.
Another method of getting into a junior college would be Direct School Admission (DSA), which allows students to use their non-academic talents, achievements or potential to gain entry.
There are two other admission exercises for polytechnic admission – the Early Admissions Exercise (EAE) and the Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE).
The EAE is an admissions process based on aptitude, enabling students to apply for and secure conditional admission offers to polytechnics before they receive their O-Level examination results or final Higher Nitec Grade Point Average (GPA).
On the other hand, each Polytechnic conducts its individual DAE for students holding local or international qualifications who do not meet the eligibility criteria for other admission exercises.
2- Check Your Eligibility For Polytechnic Admission
Check out the tables below to find out the cut-off points of 2023 for applying to polytechnics in Singapore.
2.1- Nanyang Polytechnic – NYP
Location: 180 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Singapore 569830
Niche Subjects/Areas: Information Technology
Cut-off Range (ELR2B2): 9 to 26
| JAE Course Code | Course Name | Net ELR2B2 Cut-Off Points 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| C98 | Accountancy & Finance | 12 |
| C62 | Advanced & Digital Manufacturing | 24 |
| C51 | Aeronautical & Aerospace Technology | 16 |
| C52 | Aerospace Systems & Management | 18 |
| C31 | AI & Data Engineering | 9 |
| C33 | Animation & Visual Effects | 12 |
| C45 | Applied Chemistry | 9 |
| C38 | Architecture | 14 |
| C96 | Banking & Finance | 13 |
| C49 | Biologics & Process Technology | 11 |
| C71 | Biomedical Engineering | 13 |
| C35 | Business & Financial Technology | 15 |
| C43 | Business Intelligence & Analytics | 11 |
| C94 | Business Management | 16 |
| C73 | Chemical & Pharmaceutical Technology | 14 |
| C34 | Common Business Programme | 15 |
| C42 | Common Engineering Programme | 24 |
| C36 | Common ICT Programme | 14 |
| C54 | Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics | 8 |
| C60 | Digital Game Art & Design | 11 |
| C89 | Electronic & Computer Engineering | 16 |
| C41 | Engineering with Business | 15 |
| C32 | Experiential Product & Interior Design | 17 |
| C46 | Food & Beverage Business | 16 |
| C69 | Food Science & Nutrition | 12 |
| C70 | Game Development & Technology | 13 |
| C67 | Hospitality & Tourism Management | 17 |
| C75 | Infocomm & Media Engineering | 20 |
| C80 | Infocomm & Security | 15 |
| C85 | Information Technology | 13 |
| C59 | Interaction Design | 16 |
| C93 | Mass Media Management | 13 |
| C66 | Motion Graphics Design | 13 |
| C50 | Nanotechnology & Materials Science | 14 |
| C97 | Nursing | 26 |
| C72 | Oral Health Therapy | 11 |
| C65 | Pharmaceutical Science | 9 |
| C87 | Robotics & Mechatronics | 18 |
| C47 | Social Work | 12 |
| C81 | Sport & Wellness Management | 15 |
| C63 | Visual Communication | 15 |
2.2- Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
Location: 535 Clementi Rd, Singapore 599489
Niche Subjects/Areas: Film and Media Studies, Mass Communication
Cut-off Range (ELR2B2): 8 to 26
| JAE Course Code | Course Name | Net ELR2B2 Cut-Off Points 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| N51 | Accountancy | 11 |
| N65 | Aerospace Engineering | 19 |
| N91 | Arts Business Management | 13 |
| N50 | Automation & Mechatronic Systems | 19 |
| N53 | Banking & Finance | 11 |
| N60 | Biomedical Engineering | 11 |
| N59 | Biomedical Science | 8 |
| N45 | Business Studies | 8 |
| N56 | Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering | 12 |
| N88 | Chinese Media & Communication | 15 |
| N70 | Chinese Studies | 13 |
| N97 | Common Business Programme | 12 |
| N71 | Common Engineering Programme | 26 |
| N98 | Common ICT Programme | 13 |
| N11 | Community Development | 13 |
| N94 | Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics | 8 |
| N81 | Data Science | 11 |
| N12 | Design | 15 |
| N96 | Early Childhood Development & Education | 21 |
| N43 | Electrical Engineering | 20 |
| N44 | Electronic & Computer Engineering | 16 |
| N93 | Engineering Science | 12 |
| N74 | Environmental & Water Technology | 16 |
| N82 | Film, Sound & Video | 11 |
| N40 | Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management | 18 |
| N55 | Immersive Media | 15 |
| N54 | Information Technology | 15 |
| N85 | International Trade & Business | 13 |
| N57 | Landscape Design & Horticulture | 14 |
| N42 | Marine & Offshore Technology | 25 |
| N67 | Mass Communication | 11 |
| N41 | Mechanical Engineering | 20 |
| N13 | Media Post-Production | 12 |
| N69 | Nursing | 26 |
| N83 | Optometry | 13 |
| N73 | Pharmaceutical Science | 9 |
| N48 | Real Estate Business | 14 |
| N95 | Tamil Studies with Early Education | 17 |
| N72 | Tourism & Resort Management | 17 |
2.3- Republic Polytechnic (RP)
Location: 9 Woodlands Ave 9, Singapore 738964
Niche Subjects/Areas: Sports Science, Engineering Systems and Management
Cut-off Range (ELR2B2): 11 to 26
| JAE Course Code | Course Name | Net ELR2B2 Cut-Off Points 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| R40 | Aerospace Engineering | 26 |
| R17 | Applied Chemistry | 17 |
| R25 | Arts & Theatre Management | 20 |
| R39 | Aviation Management | 25 |
| R14 | Biomedical Science | 11 |
| R16 | Biotechnology | 17 |
| R60 | Business | 21 |
| R13 | Business Information Systems | 26 |
| R57 | Common Business Programme | 26 |
| R42 | Common Engineering Programme | 26 |
| R58 | Common ICT Programme | 26 |
| R59 | Common Science Programme | 18 |
| R63 | Common Sports and Health Programme | 26 |
| R48 | Consumer Behaviour & Research | 18 |
| R34 | Customer Experience Management with Business | 21 |
| R35 | Design for Games and gamification | 17 |
| R36 | Design for User Experience | 20 |
| R47 | Digital Design & Development | 24 |
| R50 | Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 24 |
| R56 | Engineering Design with Business | 26 |
| R54 | Engineering Systems & Management | 24 |
| R62 | Environmental & Marine Science | 13 |
| R18 | Financial Technology | 26 |
| R43 | Health Management & Promotion | 26 |
| R45 | Health Services Management | 26 |
| R37 | Hotel & Hospitality Management | 26 |
| R52 | Human Resource Management with Psychology | 16 |
| R11 | Industrial & Operations Management | 26 |
| R55 | Infocomm Security Management | 22 |
| R12 | Information Technology | 26 |
| R28 | Integrated Events Management | 26 |
| R32 | Mass Communication | 16 |
| R19 | Media Production & Design | 18 |
| R33 | Outdoor & Adventure Learning | 26 |
| R22 | Pharmaceutical Science | 17 |
| R46 | Restaurant & Culinary Operations | 26 |
| R24 | Sonic Arts | 19 |
| R26 | Sport & Exercise Science | 16 |
| R49 | Sport Coaching | 18 |
| R21 | Supply Chain Management | 25 |
| R61 | Sustainable Built Environment | 26 |
2.4- Singapore Polytechnic (SP)
Location: 500 Dover Road Singapore 139651
Niche Subjects/Areas: Biomedical Science, Engineering
Cut-off Range (ELR2B2): 8 to 22
| JAE Course Code | Course Name | Net ELR2B2 Cut-Off Points 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| S75 | Accountancy | 12 |
| S88 | Aeronautical Engineering | 17 |
| S90 | Aerospace Electronics | 13 |
| S30 | Applied AI and Analytics | 8 |
| S64 | Applied Chemistry | 9 |
| S66 | Architecture | 12 |
| S98 | Biomedical Science | 7 |
| S76 | Banking & Finance | 12 |
| S71 | Business Administration | 12 |
| S70 | Chemical Engineering | 13 |
| S68 | Civil Engineering | 20 |
| S31 | Common Business Programme | 12 |
| S40 | Common Engineering Programme | 17 |
| S32 | Common ICT Programme | 13 |
| S53 | Computer Engineering | 12 |
| S99 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 17 |
| S42 | Engineering with Business | 11 |
| S95 | Facilities Management | 19 |
| S47 | Food Science and Technology | 13 |
| S48 | Human Resource Management with Psychology | 12 |
| S54 | Infocomm Security Management | 11 |
| S69 | Information Technology | 14 |
| S50 | Integrated Events & Project Management | 16 |
| S89 | Interior Design | 14 |
| S94 | Landscape Architecture | 15 |
| S63 | Marine Engineering | 22 |
| S74 | Maritime Business | 18 |
| S91 | Mechanical Engineering | 17 |
| S73 | Mechatronics & Robotics | 13 |
| S29 | Media, Arts & Design | 12 |
| DNS | Nautical Studies | – |
| S67 | Optometry | 12 |
| S38 | Perfumery & Cosmetic Science | 11 |
2.5- Temasek Polytechnic (TP)
Location: 21 Tampines Ave 1, Singapore 529757
Niche Subjects/Areas: Veterinary Technology, Law, Design
Cut-off Range (ELR2B2): 8 to 22
| JAE Course Code | Course Name | Net ELR2B2 Cut-Off Points 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| T02 | Accountancy & Finance | 13 |
| T50 | Aerospace Electronics | 18 |
| T51 | Aerospace Engineering | 16 |
| T20 | Apparel Design & Merchandising | 11 |
| T69 | Applied Artificial Intelligence | 12 |
| T29 | Architectural Technology & Building Services | 16 |
| T04 | Aviation Management | 14 |
| T60 | Big Data & Analytics | 12 |
| T38 | Biomedical Engineering | 13 |
| T10 | Business | 14 |
| T43 | Business Process & Systems Engineering | 18 |
| T33 | Chemical Engineering | 15 |
| T01 | Common Business Programme | 15 |
| T56 | Common Engineering Programme | 22 |
| T63 | Common ICT Programme | 16 |
| T59 | Communication Design | 15 |
| T40 | Communications & Media Management | 13 |
| T13 | Computer Engineering | 13 |
| T18 | Culinary & Catering Management | 17 |
| T62 | Cyber security & Digital Forensics | 12 |
| T23 | Digital Film & Television | 14 |
| T68 | Early Childhood Development & Education | 20 |
| T65 | Electronics | 16 |
| T26 | Food, Nutrition & Culinary Science | 14 |
| T58 | Game Design & Development | 14 |
| T08 | Hospitality & Tourism Management | 18 |
| T30 | Information Technology | 16 |
| T28 | Integrated Facility Management | 20 |
| T22 | Interior Architecture & Design | 14 |
| T07 | International Trade & Logistics | 17 |
| T09 | Law & Management | 11 |
| T67 | Marketing | 15 |
| T66 | Mechatronics | 16 |
| T64 | Medical Biotechnology | 10 |
| T25 | Pharmaceutical Science | 11 |
| T35 | Product & Industrial Design | 17 |
| T48 | Psychology Studies | 8 |
| T53 | Social Sciences in Gerontology | 14 |
| T45 | Veterinary Technology | 10 |
Also read : Junior Colleges in Singapore – An overview
3- Things To Know Before Admission To Polytechnic
Each Polytechnic offers a different range of courses for students to choose based on their interests and career goals. Polytechnic admission may have varying entry requirements, including GCE O-Level subject prerequisites and aptitude tests for specific courses.
Before applying to polytechnics in Singapore, it is important for students to be aware of what exactly goes on in each Polytechnic.
3.1- Orientation
Most polytechnics in Singapore organise an Orientation Week for new students before the start of the academic year. During this week, students are introduced to campus facilities, academic resources, extracurricular activities, and student support services. It is an opportunity to get familiar with the campus and meet new friends.
Orientation is also when many students join clubs and societies that align with their interests. These clubs offer opportunities for socialising, skill development, and pursuing hobbies outside academics.
3.2- Examinations
Polytechnics in Singapore operate on a semester system, with two main semesters per academic year. Students should be prepared for continuous assessments throughout each semester, including assignments, projects, quizzes, and mid-term examinations.
At the end of each semester, final examinations assess students’ understanding of the course material. These exams can carry significant weight in determining final grades.
Polytechnics in Singapore commonly use a grading system based on letter grades (e.g., A, B, C, D) and grade points (e.g., 4.0 for A, 3.0 for B). The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is calculated based on these grades.
Students who do not perform well in a particular module may have the opportunity to retake it to improve their grades.
3.3- Industrial Attachments (Internships)
Many polytechnic programmes include industrial attachments, also known as internships. These attachments are a vital part of the curriculum, providing students with real-world work experience in their chosen field.
The duration and structure of industrial attachments can vary depending on the course. They may last several months, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
Industrial attachments are designed to help students gain industry exposure, develop relevant skills, and network with professionals. They provide valuable insights into career pathways and may lead to job offers upon graduation.
Students are assessed during their industrial attachments, and their performance can contribute to their overall grades. It is important to take these placements seriously and seek opportunities for learning and skill development.
4- Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the decision to apply for a polytechnic course depends on a whole range of factors. This guide will serve as a starting point with important information on polytechnic admission, but do visit the official websites of each of these polytechnics to have a more in-depth understanding of what they offer.
Remember, the institute you opt for will shape your entire experience and career trajectory. So, if you are considering applying to polytechnics in Singapore, take the time to explore your options thoroughly. We wish you all the best as you embark on your career journey!
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5- Explore Klassbook to Prepare for Admission to Polytechnic in Singapore
To explore more, delve into the world of polytechnic education in Singapore through our comprehensive resources.
Seline holds a typical 9 to 6 office job but believes that her true calling lies elsewhere. In her free time now, she writes articles and plays with her pet cat, while harbouring the dream of writing a fiction book someday. She is a fan of the underdog (or cat) story and loves every display of grit.
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