Polytechnics in Singapore: Overview, Courses, Admissions

Looking to enrol into 1 of the 5 polytechnics after completing your N/O Levels, Nitec or Higher Nitec Diploma?

There’s a ton of information you should know before deciding which polytechnic to choose.

After all, you do not want to regret making the wrong choice and spending the next 3 years in misery.

If you’re unsure about which poly to choose, what courses to take, as well as what are the various poly admission, this article is for you.

1.0 Overview of Polytechnics in Singapore
     1.1 What polytechnic education is about
     1.2 Is Poly or JC better?
     1.3 How stressful is Poly?
     1.4 Benefits of being a Poly Student
     1.5 Which is the best Poly?
2.0 What to Know About Each Poly in Singapore
     2.1 Singapore Polytechnic (SP)
     2.2 Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
     2.3 Temasek Polytechnic (TP)
     2.4 Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
     2.5 Republic Polytechnic (RP)
3.0 Polytechnic Courses to Choose From
     3.1 Applied Sciences
     3.2 Built Environment
     3.3 Business and Management
     3.4 Engineering
     3.5 Health Sciences
     3.6 Humanities
     3.7 Information and Digital Technology
     3.8 Maritime Studies
     3.9 Media Studies
4.0 Things to Know Before Entering Poly
     4.1 Orientation
     4.2 Examination
     4.3 Industrial Training/Attachments
5.0 Admission Exercises
     5.1 Early Admissions Exercise (EAE)
     5.2 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE)
     5.3 Joint Polytechnic Admissions Exercise (JPAE)
     5.4 Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP)
     5.5 Joint Admissions Exercise Appeal (JAE Appeal)
     5.6 Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE)
     5.7 Post Admission Activities
6.0 Conclusion

1.0 Overview of Polytechnic

There are currently 5 polys in Singapore. 

1. Singapore Polytechnic (SP)

2. Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)

3. Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)

4. Temasek Polytechnic (TP)

5. Republic Polytechnic (RP)

Each poly has its own unique facilities, courses, and student culture.

But before we go in-depth into the comparison between each polytechnic, let’s first talk about poly education so you can decide if poly is the right path for you!

1.1 What poly education is about

Polytechnics in Singapore are tertiary institutions that focus more on project-based learning. Generally, poly education spans over 3 years for students to learn the fundamentals of the course they’ve enrolled in.

In the final year, poly students then get an opportunity to intern at companies related to their course to apply whatever they’ve learned.

Students tend to gain technical knowledge and immerse themselves in industries related to the course that they’re studying in.

1.2 Is Poly or JC better?

For most students, the choice is between Poly vs JC. Enrolling in either a polytechnic or JC has its fair share of pros and cons.

If you’ve the luxury of choosing to enrol into either of these 2 institutions, there are some factors you might want to consider:

Programme Length and Focus

Poly curriculum spans over 3 years, but the JC curriculum spans only over 2 years.

The emphasis for polytechnic education is geared towards preparing students to be ready for the workforce whereas the emphasis for JC education is to prepare students for their A-Levels.

Due to the difference in the length of the school term and what the students are geared towards, poly and jc students face different levels of stress.

In the next point, I’ll be going through the factors that affect how stressful poly and JC are.

Stress Levels

Life in poly is generally much more relaxed than life in Junior College (JC). 

Excluding the long breaks in between modules, poly lessons usually take up 20 hours a week, while JC lessons can be as long as 35 hours a week!

On top of that, JC students also have to juggle between their academics and CCA commitments.

Many JC students often complain about how 2 years is too short as schools tend to cramp all the syllabus together.

Monetary Factors

As of 2020, Poly fees are more expensive at $3,000 per year, while JC fees are around $200 per year.

Depending on the course you took in poly, you might not have to take up similar modules that you’ve learned previously when you enrol in university, this means cheaper university school fees!

School fees aside, poly students are not required to wear uniforms, which means you would have to spend on buying new clothes during your 3 years stint (unless you want your classmates to make fun of you for wearing the same thing every week!)

On the other hand, it’s mandatory for JC students to wear school uniforms, which means not needing to spend on new clothes, just make sure you buy enough sets of uniforms to last you for at least a week.

Transportation is also another important monetary factor for students, JC students will get the privilege of paying student-priced fees.

Poly students, however, have to pay adult fares unless they were to buy a concession scheme, which will allow them to travel as much as they want for around $50 a month for both train and bus or $25 for either train or bus.

Subjects and Courses

There’s a plethora of courses that polys in Singapore offer. The courses are meant to equip students with real-world and relevant skills when they enter the workforce after graduating.

JC students are able to choose which subjects they’d like to take and learn. The subjects you can learn in JC are

–        Economics

–        Math

–        Further Math

–        Physics

–        Chemistry

–        Biology

–        English Literature

–        Geography

–        History

–        Art

–        Art with Higher Art

–        Theatre Studies and Drama

–        Computing

–        Mother Tongue

With that being said, what you’ll learn in JC is less practical when it comes to entering the workforce unless you’re keen on working jobs that deal with economics, maths, and sciences.

Chances of Making it to University

Are you looking into enrol into a local university after your tertiary education?

If you’re considering it, statistics have shown that the admission rate for JC students to local universities is 75%, while it’s only 17% for poly students.

If you’re a poly student looking to further your education in universities, you’ve to be one of the few top students graduating from your cohort due to the stiff competition.

1.3 How Stressful is Poly?

Poly is definitely less stressful as compared to JC as you don’t have to study as much and as hard in order to get decent grades.

In poly, you’ll be given 3 years’ exposure to the course you’ve enrolled into, which means it is less compact and you’ll probably have more free time for leisure activities.

As mentioned above, JC students have to cramp their A-Level syllabus into 2 years and still commit to their CCAs, hence you’ll definitely have less time for leisure activities.

This would mean that JC students have less time to unwind from their stressful schedules as well.

Having said that, I wouldn’t say poly life isn’t stressful, but it’s definitely less stress as compared to JC.

1.4 Benefits of being a Poly Student

There are several benefits of being a poly student, ranging from freedom to future work skills.

Wear Any Clothes You Want

As a poly student, you’re free to dress up however you like.

No more uniforms, no more baggy school pants, no more skirts that have to cover your knees.

Despite this given freedom, you should still dress up appropriately. Try avoiding being lazy to dress up in the morning before your class.

Be presentable, at the very least you should wear a plain t-shirt and a pair of jeans with some clean sneakers.

And you know what they say.

Look Good, Feel Good!

 More Time For Leisure

Another benefit of being a poly student is that you’ll have more leisure time as compared to JC students.

As mentioned, poly lessons usually take up about 20 hours per week, assuming that you need 8 hours of sleep every day, you’ll be left with 92 hours each week to go out and chill with your family and friends!

You can also use the time to catch up on your favourite Netflix series or use it to play the game you’ve been itching to play.

Whatever it is, you should enjoy the time while it lasts!

BLUE (Free Time) : 54.8%

ORANGE (Sleep)  : 33.3%

GREY (Lessons)  : 11.9%

Enter the Workforce Early

After graduating from poly with a diploma, you’ll be able to find work straight away.

Practically speaking, if you’re not going to a university, a diploma holds more worth than an A-Level certificate.

There aren’t many jobs that are willing to hire people with just A-Level certificates as whatever they’ve learned in JC wouldn’t be practical.

On the other hand, many jobs are more willing to hire diploma holders as what poly students learned in poly is more practical and students at least have the basic skills needed for various jobs after graduating.

1.5 Which is the best Poly?

Now that you know about poly life, let’s move to the juicy bits and talk about which poly is the best.

I’m sure every student, even those who are already studying in poly, is interested in knowing the rankings of each polytechnic in Singapore.

Before going further, let me just say that all the polys in Singapore provide quality education and that there is no bad school. I say this both objectively and subjectively.

The ranking shown below is done in accordance with L1R4/L1B4 Cut-Off Points and is also based on the general consensus of the public for the past few years.

1) Singapore Polytechnic

Cut-Off Point

The cut-off point for the courses that SP offers are as low as 8 points, with the highest being 22 points.

Most of the courses accept students who score around 15 or better.

Popularity

Popularity wise, SP is the among the top most popular poly with NP. 

SP is ranked 1st as it’s a bigger school compared to NP, and offers more facilities for students to enjoy. 

SP is also very well-known for their student camps that happen pretty often, some camps even require them to overnight in school!

2) Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Cut-Off Point

The cut-off point for the courses the NP offers are as low as 8 points, with the highest being 26 points.

Most of the courses accept students who score 16 or better.

Popularity

NP is also another poly renowned for their student camps which often play a major role in a student’s stint in NP. 

Based on what NP students have told me, most of them have at least participated in 1 overnight camp.

Some even said they were not allowed to participate due to high demand and first come first serve basis.

3) Temasek Polytechnic

Cut-Off Point

The cut-off point for the courses that TP offers are as low as 8 points, with the highest being 21 points.

Most of the courses accept students who score 18 or better.

Popularity

As compared to SP and NP, TP is relatively smaller in terms of campus size. 

However, TP is well-known for their niche courses such as design, and law, which is rare to find in other polys.

Since TP is the only poly located in the east side of Singapore, most students residing there look to enrol into TP due to proximity reasons.

TP is also well-known for their student-initiated camps.

4) Nanyang Polytechnic

Cut-Off Point

The cut-off point for the courses that NYP offers are as low as 7 points, with the highest being 26 points.

Most of the courses accept students who score 18 or better.

Popularity

NYP is also relatively smaller than SP and NP, but it’s distinctive as the entire school is painted in white.

In terms of popularity, students who are passionate about IT would usually think of NYP first as it’s renowned for their IT courses.

5) Republic Polytechnic

Cut-Off Point

The cut-off point for the courses that RP offers are as low as 13 points, with the highest being 26 points.

Most of the courses accept students who score 22 or better.

As mentioned above, the ranking is done objectively based on the cut-off points of the courses.

Although RP offers courses with high cut-off points, it doesn’t mean that it’s a bad poly.

Popularity

Although RP’s the smallest poly in Singapore, it’s known to be fully air-conditioned. 

RP goes by a paperless policy, so students who dislike writing might be interested in enrolling into RP or the students might take help from an Edu Writer.

Students who are interested in Sport will also be interested in choosing RP as their choice as most of the modules are practical based where students go outdoors to learn, instead of staying in the classrooms.

2.0 What to Know About Each Poly in Singapore

Now that we’ve ranked each poly according to their cut-off points, let’s dive more in-depth into each of them!

In this section, I’ll be going through each poly’s history, location & surrounding amenities, faculties & facilities, and what they’re known for!

2.1 Singapore Polytechnic

History

SP is the first poly that’s built in Singapore. It was established in 1954.

I even have some older relatives past the age of 50 who are SP graduates!

SP has also received several awards since its establishment,

• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• OHSAS 18001
• President’s Award for the Environment
• BizSafe Star
• SCDF Strategic Partner Award
• Watermark Award
• Water Efficiency Building Certificate

Here’s a list of SP notable alumni

• Tanya Chua – Award-winning singer/songwriter
• Taufik Batisah – Winner of Singapore Idol
• Shih Choon Fong – Ex-President of National University of Singapore, Founding President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
• Liang Eng Hwa – Singapore Member of Parliament

Location & Surrounding Amenities

It’s located at 500 Dover Road Singapore 139651, west side of Singapore. It’s right beside Dover MRT which is situated on the East West MRT Line (EWL).

Since it’s right beside Dover MRT, you can expect Dover to be extremely crowded in the morning and evening. Trains coming from Jurong East (JE) can also be very crowded in the morning as JE is where commuters can change lines.

Planning on spending some time with your friends after school? Well, The Star Vista, which is located at Buona Vista, an MRT stop away from Dover is a place you and your friends can go to chill and hang out.

There’s a wide variety of cuisine available for you to indulge!

If you and your friends are feeling it, you can go to the KTV which is located on the 1st floor to sing your lungs out after a hearty meal!

Faculties & Facilities

SP offers 37 full-time courses spanning across 11 academic schools.

1. School of Architecture & The Built Environment (ABE)

2. School of Business

3. School of Chemical & Life Sciences (CLS)

4. School of Computing (SoC)

5. School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE)

6. School of Life Skills & Communication (LSC)

7. Media, Arts & Design School (MAD)

8. School of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering (MAE)

9. School of Mathematics & Science (MS)

10. Professional & Adult Continuing Education (PACE) Academy

11. Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA)

SP also has quite a few sports facilities at their arsenal for students to use, such as:

–        Sports Complex with a full-size football field and running track

–        Swimming Complex

–        3 Basketball Courts

–        3 Badminton Courts

–        4 Tennis Courts

–        1 Gym

 The Sports Arena, SP’s latest recreational spot has:

–        12 Badminton Courts

–        4 Squash Courts

–        2 Volleyball Courts

–        2 Basketball Courts

–        2 Rooftop Basketball Courts

–        1 Multipurpose Hall

–        1 External Rock-Climbing Wall

 What’s SP Known for?

Apart from the location and facilities, SP is well-known for their engineering courses due to the wide array it offers.

If engineering is what you’re interested in, SP is the school for you!

2.2 Ngee Ann Polytechnic

History

NP is the 2nd poly built in Singapore, established in 1963.

Upon its establishment, NP has won a few awards and accolades

• Medallion for Excellence (Electronics Category)
• Best Design and Idea Award at the Tsuyama Robocon Contest
• Lee Hsien Loong Interactive Digital Media Smart National Award 2018
• Singapore Press Holdings Excellence
• Cellini Industry Collaboration Awards
• Best Practice Award for Inter-Agency Collaboration

Here’s a list of NP’s notable alumni

• Alaric Tay – Mediacorp Actor
• Andie Chen – Mediacorp Actor
• Anthony Chen – 1st Singaporean to win Camera d’Or award in Cannes Film Festival
• Gerald Koh – Radio DJ at 987FM
• Jean Danker – Radio DJ at 95FM
• Mohd Fahmi Aliman – Singapore Member of Parliament

Location & Surrounding Amenities

It’s located at 535 Clementi Road Singapore 599489, also the west side of Singapore. The nearest MRT station to NP will be Beauty World which is part of the Downtown Line (DTL).

There’s a bus stop just outside NP, you can expect these few buses to be extremely crowded in the morning and evening.

–        61

–        75

–        77

–        151

–        154B

–        184

–        961

–        985

 A few bus stops away from NP next to Beauty World MRT, at 11 Cheong Chin Nam Road, there’s a stretch of food stalls that opens till 12 am or later!

If you don’t feel like eating NP’s food, these food stalls will surely have something that fit your palette!

The frog porridge there is one of Singapore’s most famous stalls! It’s tender and fresh, perfect for any time of the day, any weather!

NP is pretty near Clementi Mall, so if you’ve some shopping to do, you know where to go!

Faculties & Facilities

NP offers 39 full-time courses spanning across 8 academic schools.

1. School of Business & Accountancy

2. School of Design & Environment

3. School of Engineering

4. School of Film & Media Studies

5. School of Health Sciences

6. School of Humanities & Social Sciences

7. School of InfoComm Technology

8. School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology

If you want to spend your free time after school in school, here’s a list of recreational places NP has,

–        Sports Complex

–        Olympic-sized Swimming Pool

–        Basketball Court

–        Rooftop Tennis Court

–        Futsal Court

–        Squash Court

–        Netball Court

–        Track and Field

–        Adventure Park

–        Gym (GymWerkz)

–        The Loft@94

–        Studio27

–        Lifestyle Library

And many more!

What’s NP Known for?

Aside from the location and facilities, NP is known for its School of Film & Media Studies. It’s one of the first few schools to offer modules in filmmaking!

If you’re a student with a passion for film, NP is the school for you!

2.3 Temasek Polytechnic

History

TP, the 3rd poly in Singapore, which was established in 1990.

Here are some awards and achievements TP has garnered since its establishment,

• Crowbar Awards
• Singapore Space Challenge Gold Award
• British D&AD Awards 2019
• National Youth Achievement Award (Gold) 2019
• New Festivals TV & Film Awards 2019

Here’s a list of TP’s notable alumni,

• Priscelia Chan – Mediacorp Actress
• Xu Bin – Singer and Actor
• Faris Ramli – Singaporean Footballer
• Hany Soh – Singapore Member of Parliament
• Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah – Singapore Member of Parliament

Location & Surrounding Amenities 

It’s located at 21 Tampines Avenue 1 Singapore 529757, the only poly located on the east side of Singapore. The nearest MRT to TP will be Tampines West situated at the DTL.

There are a few ways you can get to TP if you’re commuting by MRT. If you’re alighting at Tampines, walk to Tampines Bus Interchange and take either of these buses.

–        8

–        23

–        69

Or you can board Bus 129 at Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange.

If you’re alighting at Bedok, walk to Bedok Bus Interchange and board Bus 69.

If you’re alighting at Tampines West which is situated at the DTL, you can simply walk to school.

If you’re commuting by bus, these are the buses that go to or pass by TP,

–        8 (Tampines Bus Interchange/ Toa Payoh Bus Interchange)

–        15 (Pasir Ris Bus Interchange/ Marine Parade Road)

–        23 (Tampines Bus Interchange/ Rochor MRT Station)

–        69 (Tampines Bus Interchange/ Bedok Bus Interchange)

–        118 (Punggol Bus Interchange/ Changi Business Park Bus Terminal)

–        129 (Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange/ St Michael’s Bus Terminal)

–        518 (Pasir Ris Bus Interchange/ Bayfront Ave)

There are few places near TP you can go to after school or during your long breaks.

If you’re looking to stretch your legs after sitting down for long hours in school, Bedok Reservoir Park is just right beside TP! It’s a good place for you and your friends to unwind and be one with nature.

If shopping is your way to unwind, taking just 1 MRT stop from Tampines West to Tampines, you’ll be able to go to Tampines Mall to shop and grab something to eat along the way!

Faculties & Facilities

TP offers 37 full-time courses spanning across 7 academic schools.

1. School of Applied Science

2. School of Business

3. School of Design

4. School of Engineering

5. School of Humanities & Social Sciences

6. School of Informatics & IT

7. Centre For Foundation Studies (PFP Students)

There are many recreational facilities that TP offers!

If you want to play and chill but want to avoid the hot sun, here’s a list of indoor facilities:

–        Badminton Court

–        Table Tennis

–        Student Lounge

–        Alumni Lounge

–        Alumni and Student Lounge

If the sun is the least of your concern when playing sports, here’s a list of outdoor facilities:

–        Basketball Court

–        Tennis Court

–        Swimming Pool

–        Stadium Track

What’s TP Known for?

If you’re wondering what TP is known for, it’s known for its designing course known as the Diploma in Apparel Design.

If fashion design is your thing, you know where to go!

2.4 Nanyang Polytechnic

History

The 4th poly built in Singapore is NYP which was established in 1992.

Since its establishment, NYP has won some notable awards,

• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• Singapore Quality Class
• Singapore Service Class
• People Developer Standard
• People Excellence Award
• Public Service Award for Organisational Excellence
• Distinguished Public Service Award for Organisational Excellence
• SHRI leading Corporate HA Award
• Singapore Health Award (Gold)
• Hewitt Best Employers Award
• Public Service Achievement Award
• Public Service Premier Award
• Work-Life Achiever Award
• Work-Life Excellence Award
• Human Resource Excellence Award : Gold for Excellence in HR Technology
• Human Resource Excellence Award : Gold for Excellence in Workplace Well-Being

Here’s a list of NYP’s notable alumni

• Romeo Tan – Mediacorp Actor
• Carrie Wong – Mediacorp Actress
• Hariss Harun – Singapore National Footballer
• Vanessa Peh – Miss Singapore World 2018
• Anupama Aura Gurung – Miss Nepal Earth 2011

Location & Surrounding Amenities

It’s located at 180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 Singapore 569830, it’s located on the north-east side of Singapore. The nearest MRT station to NYP will be Yio Chu Kang situated at the North-South Line (NEL).

Getting to NYP is rather easy as it’s just a 5 minutes walk from Yio Chu Kang bus terminal.

If you’re commuting by bus, these are some that stops by Avenue 5,

• 5
• 45
• 50
• 159
• 265

And these are some that stops by Avenue 6,

• 45
• 86
• 128
• 851
• 853
• NR1

 AMK Hub, which is located at Ang Mo Kio, just 1 MRT stop away from NYP, is a place you can go to shop and dine!

It’s an everyday occurrence that you can see a group of people dressed in sports attire working out doing standing pilates and dancing at AMK Hub.

It’s free for anyone to join! Might as well stretch your muscles after a long day in school!

If standing pilates and dancing is not your thing, what about taking a walk at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West?

The long flight of stairs at the park is a good place for you to stretch your legs or clock in some exercise for you to stay healthy!

Faculties & Facilities

NYP offers 40 full-time courses spanning across 8 academic schools.

1. School of Business Management

2. School of Chemical & Life Sciences

3. School of Design

4. School of Engineering

5. School of Health & Social Sciences

6. School of Information Technology

7. School of Interactive & Digital Media

8. Foundation & General Studies (PFP Students)

If the places mentioned above doesn’t entice you, NYP does offer some sports facilities for you to unwind, here’s a list:

–        Adventure Challenge Park

–        Track and Field

–        Olympic-sized Swimming Pool

–        Tennis Courts

–        Rock-climbing Walls

–        Gym

Not forgetting to mention, these are some facilities you can find in NYP’s air-conditioned sports hall:

–        Badminton Court

–        Basketball Court

–        Table Tennis

What’s NYP Known for?

If you’re interested in Information Technology and Digital Media courses, NYP is the school for you as it’s well known for courses in the digital and technology field.

2.5 Republic Polytechnic

History

RP being established in 2002, is Singapore’s most modern poly. The teaching methods done are very different as compared to the 4 other polys.

Everything is done online, meaning RP doesn’t use paper at all. Assignments and exams are done on laptops that students must buy prior to enrolling into RP.

Here’s a list of RP’s notable alumni

• Yip Pin Xiu – 3 time Paralympics Gold Medallist 2016 & 2018 and Nominated Member of Parliament
• Shanti Pereira – Record holding track and field athlete
• Benjamin Kheng – Actor and Singer
• Tosh Zhang – Actor, Rapper, and YouTuber

Location & Surrounding Amenities

Located at 9 Woodlands Avenue 9 Singapore 738964, it’s located at the North side of Singapore. The nearest MRT station is Woodlands North situated at the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

There are also a few ways to get to RP.

If you’re commuting by train, alight at Woodlands and walk to Woodlands Bus Interchange and board these buses,

• 169
• 902 (last bus 10 a.m.)
• 903 (stops opposite Admiralty Park)

Buses 169 and 902 will stop by RP’s South Entrance.

Bus 903 will stop by the opposite of Admiralty Park which’s a 3-minute walk to RP’s West Entrance.

You can also alight at Woodlands, walk to Woodlands South, and board the train. Alight at Woodlands North and walk to the exit which will lead to the RP’s North entrance.

If you want to avoid the bus crowd in the morning, you can also take a 10 minutes walk to RP from Woodlands MRT.

Admiralty Park, which has one of the longest slides in a park, is just right beside RP. You can go there with your friends to unwind during break or after school and enjoy sliding down the slides!

Causeway Point, a shopping mall located beside Woodlands MRT is a place where RP students would usually walk past if they’re taking the train back.

Despite being a small shopping mall, it still has several food stalls to offer and a cinema if you’re looking to catch a movie after school.

Faculties & Facilities

RP offers 45 full-time courses spanning across 7 schools.

1. School of Applied Science

2. School of Engineering

3. School of Hospitality

4. School of Infocomm

5. School of Management and Communication

6. School of Sports, Health and Leisure

7. School of Technology of the Arts

Although RP is the most modern poly, it’s also the smallest one.

However, there are quite a few sports facilities that RP offers, here’s a list:

–        Indoor Hall for sports such as volleyball, netball, and basketball

–        Multipurpose Outdoor Courts

–        Multipurpose Indoor Courts

–        Swimming Complex with an Olympic-size swimming pool, warm-up pool, and baby pool

–        6 Table Tennis Tables

–        6 Badminton Courts

–        4 Tennis Courts

–        Football Field

–        Martial Arts Room

–        Aerobics Studio

–        Gym

–        Adventure Learning Centre

What’s RP Known for?

RP is well known for the sports courses it offers. As compared to other schools, RP offers the most sports courses and modules.

As mentioned previously, RP’s also well-known as a fully air-conditioned poly, and their paperless policy.

3.0 Polytechnic Courses to Choose From

Now we’ll be moving on to the courses you can choose from in poly. 

There’s a lot of courses in 9 different fields you can choose from, I’ll be going through each field to give you an idea on what courses you can expect from it.

JAE Course Cluster	Course Title	JAE Course Code	Polytechnic	- JAE ELR2B21
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Accountancy	N51	NP	3 to 10
ENGINEERING	Aerospace Engineering	N65	NP	6 to 11
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Arts Business Management	N91	NP	4 to 8
ENGINEERING	Automation & Mechatronic Systems	N50	NP	8 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Banking & Finance	N53	NP	4 to 10
ENGINEERING	Biomedical Engineering	N60	NP	6 to 10
APPLIED SCIENCES	Biomedical Science	N59	NP	3 to 8
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business Studies	N45	NP	3 to 9
APPLIED SCIENCES	Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering	N56	NP	4 to 11
MEDIA & DESIGN	Chinese Media & Communication	N88	NP	5 to 12
HUMANITIES	Chinese Studies	N70	NP	7 to 10
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Common Business Programme	N97	NP	6 to 11
ENGINEERING	Common Engineering Programme	N71	NP	7 to 19
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Common ICT Programme	N98	NP	5 to 11
HUMANITIES	Community Development	N11	NP	4 to 9
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics	N94	NP	4 to 8
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Data Science	N81	NP	-
MEDIA & DESIGN	Design	N12	NP	8 to 15
HUMANITIES	Early Childhood Development & Education	N96	NP	3 to 17
ENGINEERING	Electrical Engineering	N43	NP	11 to 21
ENGINEERING	Electronic & Computer Engineering	N44	NP	5 to 15
ENGINEERING	Engineering Science	N93	NP	4 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCES	Environmental & Water Technology	N74	NP	10 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGN	Film, Sound & Video	N82	NP	4 to 8
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management	N40	NP	6 to 13
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Immersive Media	N55	NP	7 to 13
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Information Technology	N54	NP	5 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	International Trade & Business	N85	NP	6 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCES	Landscape Design & Horticulture	N57	NP	7 to 15
MARITIME STUDIES	Marine & Offshore Technology	N42	NP	11 to 18
MEDIA & DESIGN	Mass Communication	N67	NP	3 to 8
ENGINEERING	Mechanical Engineering	N41	NP	8 to 18
MEDIA & DESIGN	Media Post-Production	N13	NP	8 to 12
HEALTH SCIENCES	Nursing	N69	NP	4 to 28
HEALTH SCIENCES	Optometry	N83	NP	4 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCES	Pharmaceutical Science	N73	NP	3 to 9
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Real Estate Business	N48	NP	10 to 14
HUMANITIES	Tamil Studies with Early Education	N95	NP	11 to 22
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Tourism & Resort Management	N72	NP	4 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Accountancy & Finance	C98	NYP	7 to 12
ENGINEERING	Advanced & Digital Manufacturing	C62	NYP	11 to 26
ENGINEERING	Aeronautical & Aerospace Technology	C51	NYP	6 to 14
ENGINEERING	Aerospace Systems & Management	C52	NYP	9 to 15
MEDIA & DESIGN	Animation & Visual Effects	C33	NYP	4 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCES	Applied Chemistry	C45	NYP	6 to 10
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Architecture	C38	NYP	11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Banking & Finance	C96	NYP	8 to 13
APPLIED SCIENCES	Biologics & Process Technology	C49	NYP	9 to 12
ENGINEERING	Biomedical Engineering	C71	NYP	10 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business & Financial Technology	C35	NYP	7 to 16
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Business Intelligence & Analytics	C43	NYP	6 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business Management	C94	NYP	7 to 16
APPLIED SCIENCES	Chemical & Pharmaceutical Technology	C73	NYP	6 to 15
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Common Business Programme	C34	NYP	9 to 16
ENGINEERING	Common Engineering Programme	C42	NYP	10 to 26
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Common ICT Programme	C36	NYP	4 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics	C54	NYP	4 to 6
MEDIA & DESIGN	Digital Game Art & Design	C60	NYP	5 to 12
ENGINEERING	Electronic & Computer Engineering	C89	NYP	8 to 22
ENGINEERING	Engineering With Business	C41	NYP	9 to 16
MEDIA & DESIGN	Experiential Product & Interior Design	C32	NYP	-
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Food & Beverage Business	C46	NYP	5 to 16
APPLIED SCIENCES	Food Science & Nutrition	C69	NYP	6 to 13
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Game Development & Technology	C70	NYP	6 to 13
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Hospitality & Tourism Management	C67	NYP	5 to 14
ENGINEERING	Infocomm & Media Engineering	C75	NYP	7 to 24
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Infocomm & Security	C80	NYP	7 to 16
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Information Technology	C85	NYP	3 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGN	Interaction Design	C59	NYP	11 to 18
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Mass Media Management	C93	NYP	5 to 12
MEDIA & DESIGN	Motion Graphics Design	C66	NYP	9 to 16
ENGINEERING	Nanotechnology & Materials Science	C50	NYP	7 to 16
HEALTH SCIENCES	Nursing	C97	NYP	4 to 28
HEALTH SCIENCES	Oral Health Therapy	C72	NYP	9 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCES	Pharmaceutical Science	C65	NYP	5 to 10
ENGINEERING	Robotics & Mechatronics	C87	NYP	5 to 23
HUMANITIES	Social Work	C47	NYP	4 to 10
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Sport & Wellness Management	C81	NYP	5 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGN	Visual Communication	C63	NYP	4 to 16
ENGINEERING	Aerospace Engineering	R40	RP	10 to 23
APPLIED SCIENCES	Applied Chemistry	R17	RP	7 to 21
MEDIA & DESIGN	Arts & Theatre Management	R25	RP	12 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Aviation Management	R39	RP	11 to 20
APPLIED SCIENCES	Biomedical Science	R14	RP	8 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCES	Biotechnology	R16	RP	11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business	R60	RP	10 to 25
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Business Information Systems	R13	RP	16 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Common Business Programme	R57	RP	13 to 26
ENGINEERING	Common Engineering Programme	R42	RP	11 to 26
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Common ICT Programme	R58	RP	13 to 26
APPLIED SCIENCES	Common Science Programme	R59	RP	9 to 19
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Consumer Behaviour & Research	R48	RP	15 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Customer Experience Management with Business	R34	RP	15 to 26
MEDIA & DESIGN	Design For Games & Gamification	R35	RP	12 to 19
MEDIA & DESIGN	Design for User Experience	R36	RP	17 to 21
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Digital Design & Development	R47	RP	18 to 25
ENGINEERING	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	R50	RP	10 to 26
ENGINEERING	Engineering Design with Business	R56	RP	15 to 25
ENGINEERING	Engineering Systems & Management	R54	RP	16 to 26
APPLIED SCIENCES	Environmental & Marine Science	R62	RP	-
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Financial Technology	R18	RP	16 to 25
HEALTH SCIENCES	Health Management & Promotion	R43	RP	14 to 26
HEALTH SCIENCES	Health Services Management	R45	RP	12 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Hotel & Hospitality Management	R37	RP	14 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Human Resource Management with Psychology	R52	RP	11 to 16
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Industrial & Operations Management	R11	RP	13 to 24
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Infocomm Security Management	R55	RP	8 to 20
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Information Technology	R12	RP	7 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Integrated Events Management	R28	RP	11 to 26
MEDIA & DESIGN	Mass Communication	R32	RP	8 to 17
MEDIA & DESIGN	Media Production & Design	R19	RP	12 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Outdoor & Adventure Learning	R33	RP	16 to 23
APPLIED SCIENCES	Pharmaceutical Science	R22	RP	11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Restaurant & Culinary Operations	R46	RP	14 to 26
MEDIA & DESIGN	Sonic Arts	R24	RP	7 to 20
HEALTH SCIENCES	Sport & Exercise Science	R26	RP	5 to 14
HEALTH SCIENCES	Sport Coaching	R49	RP	13 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Supply Chain Management	R21	RP	15 to 26
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Sustainable Built Environment	R61	RP	-
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Accountancy	S75	SP	5 to 13
ENGINEERING	Aeronautical Engineering	S88	SP	4 to 14
ENGINEERING	Aerospace Electronics	S90	SP	6 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Applied AI & Analytics	S30	SP	3 to 10
APPLIED SCIENCES	Applied Chemistry	S64	SP	3 to 10
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Architecture	S66	SP	4 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Banking & Finance	S76	SP	7 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCES	Biomedical Science	S98	SP	3 to 8
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business Administration	S71	SP	3 to 13
APPLIED SCIENCES	Chemical Engineering	S70	SP	7 to 13
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Civil Engineering	S68	SP	7 to 22
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Common Business Programme	S31	SP	4 to 12
ENGINEERING	Common Engineering Programme	S40	SP	4 to 16
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Common ICT Programme	S32	SP	5 to 12
ENGINEERING	Computer Engineering	S53	SP	4 to 14
ENGINEERING	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	S99	SP	8 to 19
ENGINEERING	Engineering with Business	S42	SP	4 to 13
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Facilities Management	S95	SP	11 to 17
APPLIED SCIENCES	Food Science & Technology	S47	SP	7 to 13
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Human Resource Management with Psychology	S48	SP	4 to 10
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Infocomm Security Management	S54	SP	4 to 8
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Information Technology	S69	SP	4 to 14
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Integrated Events & Project Management	S50	SP	6 to 15
MEDIA & DESIGN	Interior Design	S89	SP	7 to 16
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Landscape Architecture	S94	SP	12 to 15
MARITIME STUDIES	Marine Engineering	S63	SP	6 to 22
MARITIME STUDIES	Maritime Business	S74	SP	7 to 17
ENGINEERING	Mechanical Engineering	S91	SP	7 to 16
ENGINEERING	Mechatronics & Robotics	S73	SP	5 to 11
MEDIA & DESIGN	Media, Arts & Design	S29	SP	-
HEALTH SCIENCES	Optometry	S67	SP	6 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCES	Perfumery & Cosmetic Science	S38	SP	6 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Accountancy & Finance	T02	TP	5 to 11
ENGINEERING	Aerospace Electronics	T50	TP	7 to 16
ENGINEERING	Aerospace Engineering	T51	TP	6 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGN	Apparel Design & Merchandising	T20	TP	7 to 14
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Applied Artificial Intelligence	T69	TP	-
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Architectural Technology & Building Services	T29	TP	-
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Aviation Management	T04	TP	4 to 14
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Big Data & Analytics	T60	TP	4 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCES	Biomedical Engineering	T38	TP	9 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business	T10	TP	6 to 13
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Business Process & Systems Engineering	T43	TP	13 to 17
APPLIED SCIENCES	Chemical Engineering	T33	TP	7 to 15
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Common Business Programme	T01	TP	6 to 15
ENGINEERING	Common Engineering Programme	T56	TP	6 to 21
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Common ICT Programme	T63	TP	6 to 16
MEDIA & DESIGN	Communication Design	T59	TP	5 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Communications & Media Management	T40	TP	7 to 13
ENGINEERING	Computer Engineering	T13	TP	8 to 16
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Culinary & Catering Management	T18	TP	7 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics	T62	TP	3 to 9
MEDIA & DESIGN	Digital Film & Television	T23	TP	8 to 13
HUMANITIES	Early Childhood Development & Education	T68	TP	6 to 15
ENGINEERING	Electronics	T65	TP	11 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Financial Business Informatics	T17	TP	10 to 14
APPLIED SCIENCES	Food, Nutrition & Culinary Science	T26	TP	5 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Game Design & Development	T58	TP	5 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Hospitality & Tourism Management	T08	TP	5 to 17
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES	Information Technology	T30	TP	6 to 16
BUILT ENVIRONMENT	Integrated Facility Management	T28	TP	8 to 18
MEDIA & DESIGN	Interior Architecture & Design	T22	TP	4 to 15
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Law & Management	T09	TP	5 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Logistics & Operations Management	T07	TP	11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT	Marketing	T67	TP	9 to 15
ENGINEERING	Mechatronics	T66	TP	12 to 20
APPLIED SCIENCES	Medical Biotechnology	T64	TP	5 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCES	Pharmaceutical Science	T25	TP	4 to 11
MEDIA & DESIGN	Product & Industrial Design	T35	TP	9 to 17
HUMANITIES	Psychology Studies	T48	TP	5 to 8
HUMANITIES	Social Sciences in Gerontology	T53	TP	9 to 13
APPLIED SCIENCES	Veterinary Technology	T45	TP	3 to 9

 

3.1 Applied Science (AS)

Definition of AS

AS is the utilisation of modern scientific knowledge for technology advancements and new inventions.

There are some fields such as engineering and medicine that might overlap with AS.

AS Courses

If you’re venturing into AS, here are some courses

• Applied Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Biomedical Science
• Pharmaceutical Science
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Perfumery & Cosmetic Science
• Food Science & Technology
• Environmental & Water Technology
• Veterinary Technology

AS Career Paths

Here are some AS career options you can look into after graduating

1) Chemical Technician (CM)

CMs are the ones who do laboratory tests, which will help in the research and development of products. 

CMs are usually tasked to assist a chemist or chemical engineer to document results for their experiments.

2) Veterinarians

Vets are also known as animal doctors.

They’re the ones who check and diagnose animals based on their health conditions.

Vets also treat animals and nurse them back to health. Apart from diagnosis and treatment, they also research on medical conditions and diseases found in pets, livestock, and animals in general.

3) Radiation Therapist (RT)

RTs are involved in aiding cancer patients with their radiation treatments, under the advice of an oncologist.

They’re in charge of evaluating how patients react to the radiation treatments and report their findings to physicians and oncologists.

3.2 Built Environment (BE)

Definition of BE

BE is involved in human-made environments where there are man-made structures and facilities for human needs and activities.

BE Courses

If BE is what you’re interested in, here are some of the courses

• Architecture
• Landscape Architecture
• Facilities Management
• Integrated Events & Project Management
• Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management
• Green Building & Sustainability
• Civil Engineering
• Real Estate Business

BE Career Paths

Here are some career options under BE,

1) Architects

Architects are the ones who plan and design buildings, working together with civil engineers to make sure that their plans are manfistable.

2) Civil Engineers (CE)

CEs are in charge of designing, building, and maintaining infrastructures. 

As a CE, you can expect to play a part in every aspect of an architecture project, from ensuring that a project is feasible, to the completion of the construction.

3) Surveying

Before architects and CEs start on a development project, surveyors would usually give their expert opinions and advice.

There are 3 types of surveyors, Land Surveyors (LS) who would give the precise measurements of the structures.

Quantity Surveyors (QS) are the ones who advise on the budget and costs of a development project.

Building Surveyors (BS) are in charge of providing expert opinions on design, maintenance, and repairing of buildings.

3.3 Business and Management (BM)

Definition of BM

BM covers activities that are used to run business operations in a company. 

BM Courses

Since BM is such a broad term, you can expect multiple courses under the business sector.

• Accountancy
• Banking & Finance
• Business Administration
• Common Business Programme
• Business Studies
• Human Resource Management with Psychology
• Arts Business Management
• Tourism & Resort Management
• Law & Management
• Aviation Management
• Culinary & Catering Management
• Food & Beverage Management
• Mass Media Management
• Sports & Wellness Management
• International Trade & Business
• Business Process & Systems Engineering
• Financial Business Informatics
• Marketing
• Consumer Behaviour & Research

BM Career Paths

If you’re a BM graduate, you’ll be surprised at the amount of job roles available for you!

For the sake of this article, I’ll just be listing a few.

1) Sales Associate (SA)

SAs are usually in charge of helping a company sell their products or services. 

They’re usually good at communicating as it’s a necessary skill needed to upsell their agenda.

SAs must also know their products or services well in order to answer customer questions. 

2) Administrative Assistance (AA)

The job scope of AAs usually involves picking up phone calls, managing company’s email, scheduling company meetings, preparing invoices, etc.

AAs must have an eye for details as missing information when preparing invoices can lead to potentially huge losses for a company. 

They also shoulder a huge responsibility for clerical tasks to ensure that a company runs as smoothly as possible.

3) Personal Banker (PB)

PBs are usually hired to handle their client’s relationships and transactions with a retail bank. 

These transactions involve loans, trust funds, investments, personal accounts, etc.

As a PB, you should’ve a deep understanding of a bank’s policies, and their products and services. 

This way, you’ll be able to provide the best customer service for your clients by helping them make the right decision with regards to their finances.

3.4 Engineering (ENG)

Definition of ENG

ENG involves the use of science, math, and technology to innovate, design, build, and use engines, machines, and structures.

ENG Courses

Like BM, ENG is also a broad subject with many courses available.

• Aeronautical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace Electronics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Common Engineering Programme
• Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Infocomm & Media Engineering
• Engineering with Business
• Mechatronics & Robotics
• Engineering Science
• Nanotechnology & Materials Science
• Engineering System & Management
• Clean Energy

ENG Career Paths

I’ll also be listing a few career paths from the tons of options available for the sake of this article.

1) Mechanical Engineer (ME)

As an ME, you’ll be tasked to handle machines and mechanical systems.

You’ll be able to branch out to different engineering fields such as aeronautical engineering, biomedical engineering, automotive engineering, etc.

2) Electrical and Electronic Engineer (EEE)

EEEs tend to handle electrical and electronic equipment, communications, and interfaces.

Electrical engineering focuses more towards large-scale electrical equipment like electrical power grids, while electronic engineering focuses on small electronic devices and circuits like computers, calculators, game systems, etc.

3) Aeronautical Engineer (AE)

AEs are the ones who work with aircraft, such as designing aircraft, propulsion systems, and studying the aerodynamic performance of aircraft and it’s materials.

3.5 Health Sciences (HS)

Definition of HS

HS is the study of health, healthcare, and diseases.

Being part of the HS industry is to gain knowledge, develop technologies, and cures in healthcare.

HS Courses

There aren’t many HS courses offered by polys in Singapore, but here are some,

• Optometry
• Nursing
• Oral Health Therapy

HS Career Paths

Despite the limited HS courses offered to poly students, there are still quite a few career paths you can take,

1) Paramedic

Paramedics are healthcare professionals who mainly attend to medical emergency needs outside of a hospital. They often work in ambulances.

2) Optometrist

Optometrists are “Eye Doctors”, the ones you pay a visit when in need of an eye checkup or when you need a new pair of spectacles.

They can also perform surgery and prescribe medicine for patients suffering from eye injuries, diseases, and disorders.

3) Nurse

Nurses play a huge role in hospitals and clinics. The job scope of a nurse is lengthy but here are some, caring for patients, helping doctors, giving patients the correct medicine.

Currently, the demand for nurses is high, however, not many people want to work as one. Hence, the pay for nurses is getting higher these days.

Not such a bad career option if you’re passionate about helping patients in general.

3.6 Humanities

Definition of Humanities

Humanities is the study of geography, history, philosophy, literature, ancient language, etc. Basically humanities is the study of human culture.

Humanities Courses

Humanities courses are pretty rare but here are some of the courses offered

Here are the available ones

• Applied Drama & Psychology
• Creative Writing for Television & New Media
• Early Childhood Development & Education
• Chinese Studies
• Tamil Studies with Early Education
• Community Development
• Psychology Studies
• Social Sciences in Gerontology

Humanities Career Paths

Here are a few career options you can try out after attaining your humanities diploma

1) Travel Agent (TA)

 A TA’s job is to organise, plan, and manage their client’s travel itinerary. They should know well about their country’s geography to ensure their clients get to see the best sights.

Apart from geography knowledge, TAs should know how to plan their client’s schedule wisely in order for them to maximise their time and energy during their trip.

2) Editor

After the hours put into reading and writing literature articles, you’ve probably developed some serious skills as a reader and writer.

Being an editor, your job’s to review content before it gets published. 

Editors review content by checking reading the contents, spotting and changing grammar, punctuation,and spelling errors.

Apart from spotting errors, editors also make the content easier for readers to read and absorb. 

Also, editors make sure that the sources used as references are credible to make sure the article is as factual as possible.

3) Archaeologist

Archaeologists find and use evidence that is left behind by ancient civilisations to study about the past existence of humans, animals, or buildings.

They are often at excavation sites to recover and analyze artifacts found.

After recovering the artifacts, they’ll bring it back to laboratories for further research and study with their team.

If history is something that interests you, this might be the job for you!

3.7 Information and Digital Technology (IDT)

Definition of IDT

IDT revolves around digital technologies such as systems and devices that are able to generate, process, and store data.

IDT Courses

As the world is modernising and moving towards technology. Polys are now opening up more IDT courses to prepare the future generation for IDT jobs.

Here are some IDT courses offered in poly

• Applied AI & Analytics
• Common Infocomm Technology Programme
• Infocomm Security Management
• Information Technology
• Data Science
• Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
• Immersive Media
• Game Design & Development
• Business Intelligence & Analytics

IDT Career Paths

As mentioned above, since the world is modernising and moving towards technology, more ICT jobs are opening up.

1) IT Specialist

IT Specialists are required to maintain and improve a company’s technical systems to make sure that employees have the most up to date technology needed to complete their tasks.

IT Specialists also have the responsibility for making sure that sensitive information and files are safe from hackers by implementing security measures and features.

2) IT Product Specialists (ITPS)

ITPS works in teams to make sure that there’s smooth product delivery. 

In depth knowledge about a company’s product is needed as they need to ensure that the products are for the right target audience.

ITPS needs to be able to analyse market trends, so they can identify opportunities to help a company develop sales and increase revenue.

3) Web Developer (WD)

WDs are the ones who code, and design the layout of a website. 

They’ve to make sure the website they’re creating is functional and attractive.

WDs need to be efficient in code writing, have knowledge on using HTML/CSS practices. 

Knowledge in graphic design is a must in order for them to be able to make a website look attractive.

3.8 Maritime Studies (MS)

Definition of MS

MS is the study of using business or liberal arts to explore the relationship between human, and waterways and watersheds.

MS Courses

MS courses are pretty limited in poly as it’s considered to be quite a niche subject.

Here’s a list of MS courses offered by polys in Singapore

• Maritime Engineering
• Maritime Business
• Nautical Studies (Offered under DAE in SP)
• Marine & Offshore Technology

MS Career Paths

Here are some career options you can consider if you’re interested in MS.

1) Harbour Management (HM)

Working in HM requires you to have a vast knowledge of seamanship and harbour operations.

Apart from the knowledge, regulating and monitoring port policy, traffic, safety and environmental factors of the harbour is in the job scope.

2) Marine Engineer (ME)

Being an ME is about building and maintaining ships.

MEs maintain ships by ensuring that all mechanical and electrical equipment onboard are working properly.

They usually also provide technical support to ship operations.

3) Supply Chain Management (SCM)

SCM is about ensuring there are minimal shortages and costs are kept as low as possible.

As an SCM manager, you’re required to find the best price and quality for components in products that you’re overseeing.

SCM managers usually work in various industries which includes aerospace, manufacturing, defense, and energy.

3.9 Media Studies (MS)

Definition of MS

MS is a field of study that involves content, effects of media, filmography, etc.

MS Courses

Here are the MS courses offered in poly

• Digital Animation
• Game Design & Development
• Media, Arts & Design
• Media & Communication
• Chinese Media & Communication
• Media Post-Production
• Music & Audio Technology
• Film, Sound & Video
• Visual Effects & Motion Graphics
• Sonic Arts
• Arts & Theatre Management

MS Career Paths

Here are some career options you can consider if you’re into MS,

1) Radio Hosts (RH)

RHs are the ones who you hear on the radio when driving a car or simply just listening to the radio at home.

They entertain their audience during a time slot, such as a short frame of time in between songs.

During these times, RHs usually tell jokes or give live traffic updates to their audiences.

2) Video Editor (VE)

VEs are the ones who assemble and edit the raw footage into a finished product ready to broadcast. 

As a VE, you need to be proficient in using video editing softwares such as Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro X, etc.

Apart from the video editing softwares, they need to have an understanding of motion graphics and have a knack for creative thinking, in order to edit and produce the best video.

3) Game Developer (GD)

GDs are the ones who design and develop video games that can be played on platforms such as computers, consoles, and mobile phones.

Whatever ideas the game’s design team throws to them, GDs will code it into the game’s base engine and bring it to life. 

GDs also settle the game’s bugs and troubleshooting issues.

They do also partake in animation, character design, unit testing, story development, etc. 

4.0 Things to Know Before Entering Poly

Poly curriculum can be very different from your typical secondary school timetable. 

For all 5 of the polys in Singapore, the academic year starts from mid-April to mid-April of the next year.

In poly, 1 academic year is broken down into 2 semesters.

And in each semester, you’ve to sit for 2 major exams. Meaning that in 1 academic year of poly, you’ve to sit for 4 major exams!

The academic year for poly starts from Mid-April to Mid-April of the following year.

There are 2 semesters in 1 academic year.

You’ve to sit for 1 mid-semester exam, and 1 end-semester exam per semester. Meaning that you’ve to sit for 4 exams in total every academic year in poly! (edited)

I recommend that you refer to the individual polytechnic’s website as the exact opening day and exam dates may differ.

4.1 Orientation

In the week before the very first day of the academic year in polys, institutions will host an orientation programme that can last a few days depending on the individual school.

The point of the orientation programme is to expose freshmen to the school’s environment and their peers.

Freshmen will be broken up into groups where they’ll stick together for the duration of the orientation. They’ll introduce themselves to each other and play ice-breaker games.

Orientation programmes are usually where you’ll find your very first few poly friends who may stick with you throughout your poly stint!

Most of my friends who attended poly told me that they’ve met their best-friends due to poly orientations and managed to live the best poly life!

4.2 Examinations

If you thought that by entering poly, you’ll be able to escape from sitting for exams…You’re wrong!

As mentioned above, if you’re enrolling into poly, you have to sit for at least 2 major exams each semester, totalling up to at least 10 major exams by the time you graduate.

The 1st exam period of the semester usually falls in August/September/October and the 2nd period would fall in February/March.

Every exam, with the exception of RP, is a written and closed book exam. RP’s exam is mostly open-book and done on laptops instead. Despite the added benefit, it isn’t easy to score As in RP as the lecture notes usually only contain very basic information.

When poly students fail their exams, in most cases, they are required to re-mod and sit for the same lessons and exams the following semester.

This would either mean that the students would have to take 6 modules for the following semester, or 1 of the modules they’re about to take the following semester would be pushed forward to another semester.

If students are required to stay an extra year to complete their modules, they still have to pay for the extra semester’s tuition fee.

Oh, there’s also a chance that you’ll be expelled from your school if you fail more than a certain number of modules. Better not take the chance and graduate with that diploma you’re studying for!

My advice will be to not take your chances and study for your exams. Nobody likes to waste a year studying and paying for extra tuition fees when they can be using that year to travel the world or do things they enjoy before entering the working life.

4.3 Industrial Training/Attachment Period

Every poly student will get an opportunity to intern at a company that is related to the course they’re studying in for exposure.

The purpose of internships is for you to explore career options that may interest you.

It’ll help you to apply whatever you’ll learn in school into action. There’s no point learning and learning if you don’t apply them into your real-world experience.

Applying what you’ll learn in school is very important especially if you’ve no work experience. It’ll expose you to what working is like since it’s very different from being a student.

Being a student, you’re required to study and do well for your exams so you can be more successful in life. 

However, when entering the workforce, companies will only hire you if you’re able to bring in benefits for them, they wouldn’t want to waste salary expenses on someone who isn’t able to help progress their company.

Hence, when you enter the workforce, you’re not just doing your work for yourselves, you’re doing it for the whole company.

Internships also help you to make useful connections that’ll assist you in your career after graduating. During your stint in a company, you’ll be able to learn a lot from your managers/supervisors as they’ll be assisting you.

Make sure to foster a good relationship with them! You never know what benefits it may bring.

Maybe their comments can add credibility to your resume and portfolio, which will help you land a job easier in the future!

Poly students usually intern during their final year, but there are some exceptions of students interning during their 2nd year, so you can expect to start your internship anytime during your 2nd to final year.

Remember that your internship during poly is graded by both your school and company supervisors.

Company supervisors are usually asked to assess and provide comments about their interns’ performance towards the end of your internship programme.

You’ll be graded on your abilities and skills, attitude during work, teamwork capabilities, and attendance.

Make sure to do your best during your internship so your company supervisors can add good comments!

5.0 Admission Exercises

There are multiple ways for you to get admitted into a poly depending on several factors.

I’ll be listing all the admissions paths you can take when enrolling into poly.

5.1 Early Admissions Exercise (EAE)

EAE is an admission that allows polys to recognise a wider range of talent as they’ll select and admit students judging from their interests and skills, and not their academic grades.

All five polys in Singapore are participating in Poly EAE.

Graduating O Level, NITEC and Higher NITEC students can apply for EAE.

Adults who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents with 2 years and above worth of relevant work experience can also apply for EAE.

 Eligibility Criteria

–        O Level Student

•       ELR2B2 net score of 26 points or better
•       Attain the Minimum Entry Requirements (MERs) for the poly course you’ve been selected for

–        NITEC Students

•       Net accumulated GPA of 3.5 or higher
•       Net accumulated GPA of 3.0 or higher (Nursing Students)

–        Higher NITEC Students

•       Net accumulated GPA of 2.0 or higher

O Level and ITE Students will go through a 4-stage process

1. Application Stage

2. Selection Stage (shortlisted for interview)

3. Offer & Acceptance Stage

4. Withdrawal Stage

Working Adults will go through a 3-stage process

1. Application Stage

2. Selection Stage (shortlisted for interview)

3. Offer & Acceptance Stage or Withdrawal

Students and working adults have to go through an interview during the selection stage.

Students and working adults who are successfully placed in a poly through EAE are required to confirm the acceptance via an online portal.

Failure to confirm the acceptance will be deemed as a rejection of offer.

5.2 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE)

JAE is an admission for O Level students who have just gotten their results.

Students will be able to apply for the courses they’re eligible for once they get back their results. Click on this link for more information on the dates.

 Eligibility Criteria

–        Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

–        O Level results from any year

–        International students studying in government schools, government-aided school, or an independent school in Singapore with most recent O Level results

–        Have not confirmed a place through EAE or DAE

–        Not a current or ex-student of JC, MI or Polytechnic

5.3 Joint Polytechnic Admissions Exercise (JPAE)

All 5 polys are participating in JPAE.

You’re allowed to choose up to 8 polytechnic diploma courses for your choices.

 Eligibility Criteria

–        Relevant Higher NITEC, Industrial Technician Certificate (ITC), Certificate in Business Studies (CBS) holder

–        Relevant NITEC, National Technical Certificates (NTC) Grade 2 holder

–        Graduating Higher NITEC students, including Direct Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (DPP) students

–        Graduating NITEC students 

5.4 Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP)

PFP is a 1-year programme that prepares N(A) students who are progressing to relevant poly diploma courses after sitting for their N(A) Level exam.

PFP is an alternative for N(A) students to go Sec 5 and sit for O Levels.

Students accepted into PFP are required to pass all modules in order for them to transit into Year 1 of poly.

Should you fail the PFP, you may apply for ITE NITEC courses or approach your secondary school for re-admission to sit for O Level as a student or private candidate.  

 Eligibility Criteria

–        N(A) students must attain a raw ELMAB3 score of 12 or better, scoring at least B3 for English, Maths, Science, Coursework subject, for courses featured in Group 1

–        N(A) students must attain a raw ELMAB3 score of 12 or better, scoring at least A2 for English, B3 for Maths, Science, Coursework subject, for courses featured in Group 2

 For N(A) students who have sat for O Level the same academic year as their N Level, you can convert your O Level Grade to Aggregate Point for PFP.

A1 – B3 →  1

B4 – C6 →  2

D7        →  3

 Click on this link to find out more about the courses offered in Group 1 and 2.

5.5 Joint Admissions Exercise Appeal (JAE Appeal)

JAE Appeal is open to applicants who’ve taken part in JAE.

However, if you did not take part in JAE but would like to appeal for a spot in poly or ITE, you’re required to approach the institutions to submit an appeal directly.

 Eligibility Criteria

–        Met the minimum entry requirements of the course of choice

–        Aggregate score is same or better than the last student admitted into the course in JAE

You’ll receive an SMS and email to log into the JAE Appeal portal upon the release of your appeal results.

Click on this link to find out more about Release of JAE Appeal Results.

Do take note that your original posting will automatically be revoked if your appeal result is successful.

If your appeal result is unsuccessful, you’ll remain in your original posting.

5.6 Direct Admission Exercise (DAE)

DAE is an admission exercise for students who are not eligible to participate in JPAE.

Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents who are returning from overseas due to various reasons can also apply for DAE.

To find out more about DAE from SP, click on this link. 

To find out more about DAE from NP, click on this link.

To find out more about DAE from TP, click on this link.

To find out more about DAE from NYP, click on this link.

To find out more about DAE from RP, click on this link.

5.7 Post Admission Activities

After getting posted into your poly course, you’re required to be certified physically and mentally fit.

A medical report which complies with the polys’ requirement and an X-ray report done by a registered medical practitioner must be submitted by students to their respective poly.

Students of NP apart from those in Child Psychology & Early Education, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing courses, need to complete a Health Record form instead of a medical examination.

5.8 National Service (NS)

If you’re thinking of completing your NS before enrolling into any of the polys and wish to secure a spot beforehand, we’ve bad news for you.

Polys in Singapore reserve places only for those who’ve enlisted for full-time NS, and the course will commence in the academic year closest to their ORD date.

6.0 Conclusion

I hope that the information found in this article has helped you in your decision with regards to enrolling into a polytechnic.

If you ever need help with your poly modules, SmileTutor can provide you with poly tuition!

Cheers to the 3 potentially best years of your lives!

Here are some related articles you might be interested in:

What Happens When I Fail a Subject in Poly? – SmileTutor

How to use your CPF to pay for University and Poly School fees?