Blog General Singapore Education News Polytechnics in Singapore: Overview, Courses, Admissions

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

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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.

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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.

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 ClusterCourse TitleJAE Course CodePolytechnic- JAE ELR2B21
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAccountancyN51NP3 to 10
ENGINEERINGAerospace EngineeringN65NP6 to 11
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTArts Business ManagementN91NP4 to 8
ENGINEERINGAutomation & Mechatronic SystemsN50NP8 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBanking & FinanceN53NP4 to 10
ENGINEERINGBiomedical EngineeringN60NP6 to 10
APPLIED SCIENCESBiomedical ScienceN59NP3 to 8
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusiness StudiesN45NP3 to 9
APPLIED SCIENCESChemical & Biomolecular EngineeringN56NP4 to 11
MEDIA & DESIGNChinese Media & CommunicationN88NP5 to 12
HUMANITIESChinese StudiesN70NP7 to 10
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCommon Business ProgrammeN97NP6 to 11
ENGINEERINGCommon Engineering ProgrammeN71NP7 to 19
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCommon ICT ProgrammeN98NP5 to 11
HUMANITIESCommunity DevelopmentN11NP4 to 9
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCybersecurity & Digital ForensicsN94NP4 to 8
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESData Science N81NP-
MEDIA & DESIGNDesignN12NP8 to 15
HUMANITIESEarly Childhood Development & EducationN96NP3 to 17
ENGINEERINGElectrical EngineeringN43NP11 to 21
ENGINEERINGElectronic & Computer EngineeringN44NP5 to 15
ENGINEERINGEngineering ScienceN93NP4 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCESEnvironmental & Water TechnologyN74NP10 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGNFilm, Sound & VideoN82NP4 to 8
BUILT ENVIRONMENTHotel & Leisure Facilities ManagementN40NP6 to 13
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESImmersive MediaN55NP7 to 13
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInformation TechnologyN54NP5 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTInternational Trade & BusinessN85NP6 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCESLandscape Design & HorticultureN57NP7 to 15
MARITIME STUDIESMarine & Offshore TechnologyN42NP11 to 18
MEDIA & DESIGNMass CommunicationN67NP3 to 8
ENGINEERINGMechanical EngineeringN41NP8 to 18
MEDIA & DESIGNMedia Post-ProductionN13NP8 to 12
HEALTH SCIENCESNursingN69NP4 to 28
HEALTH SCIENCESOptometryN83NP4 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCESPharmaceutical ScienceN73NP3 to 9
BUILT ENVIRONMENTReal Estate BusinessN48NP10 to 14
HUMANITIESTamil Studies with Early EducationN95NP11 to 22
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTTourism & Resort ManagementN72NP4 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAccountancy & FinanceC98NYP7 to 12
ENGINEERINGAdvanced & Digital ManufacturingC62NYP11 to 26
ENGINEERINGAeronautical & Aerospace TechnologyC51NYP6 to 14
ENGINEERINGAerospace Systems & ManagementC52NYP9 to 15
MEDIA & DESIGNAnimation & Visual EffectsC33NYP4 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCESApplied ChemistryC45NYP6 to 10
BUILT ENVIRONMENTArchitectureC38NYP11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBanking & FinanceC96NYP8 to 13
APPLIED SCIENCESBiologics & Process TechnologyC49NYP9 to 12
ENGINEERINGBiomedical EngineeringC71NYP10 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusiness & Financial TechnologyC35NYP7 to 16
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESBusiness Intelligence & AnalyticsC43NYP6 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusiness ManagementC94NYP7 to 16
APPLIED SCIENCESChemical & Pharmaceutical TechnologyC73NYP6 to 15
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCommon Business ProgrammeC34NYP9 to 16
ENGINEERINGCommon Engineering ProgrammeC42NYP10 to 26
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCommon ICT ProgrammeC36NYP4 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCybersecurity & Digital ForensicsC54NYP4 to 6
MEDIA & DESIGNDigital Game Art & DesignC60NYP5 to 12
ENGINEERINGElectronic & Computer EngineeringC89NYP8 to 22
ENGINEERINGEngineering With BusinessC41NYP9 to 16
MEDIA & DESIGNExperiential Product & Interior Design C32NYP-
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTFood & Beverage BusinessC46NYP5 to 16
APPLIED SCIENCESFood Science & NutritionC69NYP6 to 13
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESGame Development & TechnologyC70NYP6 to 13
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTHospitality & Tourism ManagementC67NYP5 to 14
ENGINEERINGInfocomm & Media EngineeringC75NYP7 to 24
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInfocomm & SecurityC80NYP7 to 16
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInformation TechnologyC85NYP3 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGNInteraction DesignC59NYP11 to 18
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTMass Media ManagementC93NYP5 to 12
MEDIA & DESIGNMotion Graphics DesignC66NYP9 to 16
ENGINEERINGNanotechnology & Materials ScienceC50NYP7 to 16
HEALTH SCIENCESNursingC97NYP4 to 28
HEALTH SCIENCESOral Health TherapyC72NYP9 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCESPharmaceutical ScienceC65NYP5 to 10
ENGINEERINGRobotics & MechatronicsC87NYP5 to 23
HUMANITIESSocial WorkC47NYP4 to 10
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTSport & Wellness ManagementC81NYP5 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGNVisual CommunicationC63NYP4 to 16
ENGINEERINGAerospace EngineeringR40RP10 to 23
APPLIED SCIENCESApplied ChemistryR17RP7 to 21
MEDIA & DESIGNArts & Theatre ManagementR25RP12 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAviation ManagementR39RP11 to 20
APPLIED SCIENCESBiomedical ScienceR14RP8 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCESBiotechnologyR16RP11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusinessR60RP10 to 25
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESBusiness Information SystemsR13RP16 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCommon Business ProgrammeR57RP13 to 26
ENGINEERINGCommon Engineering ProgrammeR42RP11 to 26
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCommon ICT ProgrammeR58RP13 to 26
APPLIED SCIENCESCommon Science ProgrammeR59RP9 to 19
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTConsumer Behaviour & ResearchR48RP15 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCustomer Experience Management with BusinessR34RP15 to 26
MEDIA & DESIGNDesign For Games & GamificationR35RP12 to 19
MEDIA & DESIGNDesign for User ExperienceR36RP17 to 21
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESDigital Design & DevelopmentR47RP18 to 25
ENGINEERINGElectrical & Electronic EngineeringR50RP10 to 26
ENGINEERINGEngineering Design with BusinessR56RP15 to 25
ENGINEERINGEngineering Systems & ManagementR54RP16 to 26
APPLIED SCIENCESEnvironmental & Marine Science R62RP-
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESFinancial TechnologyR18RP16 to 25
HEALTH SCIENCESHealth Management & PromotionR43RP14 to 26
HEALTH SCIENCESHealth Services ManagementR45RP12 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTHotel & Hospitality ManagementR37RP14 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTHuman Resource Management with PsychologyR52RP11 to 16
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTIndustrial & Operations ManagementR11RP13 to 24
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInfocomm Security ManagementR55RP8 to 20
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInformation TechnologyR12RP7 to 26
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTIntegrated Events ManagementR28RP11 to 26
MEDIA & DESIGNMass CommunicationR32RP8 to 17
MEDIA & DESIGNMedia Production & DesignR19RP12 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTOutdoor & Adventure LearningR33RP16 to 23
APPLIED SCIENCESPharmaceutical ScienceR22RP11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTRestaurant & Culinary OperationsR46RP14 to 26
MEDIA & DESIGNSonic ArtsR24RP7 to 20
HEALTH SCIENCESSport & Exercise ScienceR26RP5 to 14
HEALTH SCIENCESSport CoachingR49RP13 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTSupply Chain ManagementR21RP15 to 26
BUILT ENVIRONMENTSustainable Built Environment R61RP-
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAccountancyS75SP5 to 13
ENGINEERINGAeronautical EngineeringS88SP4 to 14
ENGINEERINGAerospace ElectronicsS90SP6 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESApplied AI & AnalyticsS30SP3 to 10
APPLIED SCIENCESApplied ChemistryS64SP3 to 10
BUILT ENVIRONMENTArchitectureS66SP4 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBanking & FinanceS76SP7 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCESBiomedical ScienceS98SP3 to 8
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusiness AdministrationS71SP3 to 13
APPLIED SCIENCESChemical EngineeringS70SP7 to 13
BUILT ENVIRONMENTCivil EngineeringS68SP7 to 22
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCommon Business ProgrammeS31SP4 to 12
ENGINEERINGCommon Engineering ProgrammeS40SP4 to 16
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCommon ICT ProgrammeS32SP5 to 12
ENGINEERINGComputer EngineeringS53SP4 to 14
ENGINEERINGElectrical & Electronic EngineeringS99SP8 to 19
ENGINEERINGEngineering with BusinessS42SP4 to 13
BUILT ENVIRONMENTFacilities ManagementS95SP11 to 17
APPLIED SCIENCESFood Science & TechnologyS47SP7 to 13
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTHuman Resource Management with PsychologyS48SP4 to 10
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInfocomm Security ManagementS54SP4 to 8
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInformation TechnologyS69SP4 to 14
BUILT ENVIRONMENTIntegrated Events & Project ManagementS50SP6 to 15
MEDIA & DESIGNInterior DesignS89SP7 to 16
BUILT ENVIRONMENTLandscape ArchitectureS94SP12 to 15
MARITIME STUDIESMarine EngineeringS63SP6 to 22
MARITIME STUDIESMaritime BusinessS74SP7 to 17
ENGINEERINGMechanical EngineeringS91SP7 to 16
ENGINEERINGMechatronics & RoboticsS73SP5 to 11
MEDIA & DESIGNMedia, Arts & Design S29SP-
HEALTH SCIENCESOptometryS67SP6 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCESPerfumery & Cosmetic ScienceS38SP6 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAccountancy & FinanceT02TP5 to 11
ENGINEERINGAerospace ElectronicsT50TP7 to 16
ENGINEERINGAerospace EngineeringT51TP6 to 14
MEDIA & DESIGNApparel Design & MerchandisingT20TP7 to 14
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESApplied Artificial Intelligence T69TP-
BUILT ENVIRONMENTArchitectural Technology & Building Services T29TP-
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTAviation ManagementT04TP4 to 14
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESBig Data & AnalyticsT60TP4 to 12
APPLIED SCIENCESBiomedical EngineeringT38TP9 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusinessT10TP6 to 13
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTBusiness Process & Systems EngineeringT43TP13 to 17
APPLIED SCIENCESChemical EngineeringT33TP7 to 15
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCommon Business ProgrammeT01TP6 to 15
ENGINEERINGCommon Engineering ProgrammeT56TP6 to 21
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCommon ICT ProgrammeT63TP6 to 16
MEDIA & DESIGNCommunication DesignT59TP5 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCommunications & Media ManagementT40TP7 to 13
ENGINEERINGComputer EngineeringT13TP8 to 16
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTCulinary & Catering ManagementT18TP7 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESCybersecurity & Digital ForensicsT62TP3 to 9
MEDIA & DESIGNDigital Film & TelevisionT23TP8 to 13
HUMANITIESEarly Childhood Development & EducationT68TP6 to 15
ENGINEERINGElectronicsT65TP11 to 20
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTFinancial Business InformaticsT17TP10 to 14
APPLIED SCIENCESFood, Nutrition & Culinary ScienceT26TP5 to 15
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESGame Design & DevelopmentT58TP5 to 14
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTHospitality & Tourism ManagementT08TP5 to 17
INFORMATION & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIESInformation TechnologyT30TP6 to 16
BUILT ENVIRONMENTIntegrated Facility ManagementT28TP8 to 18
MEDIA & DESIGNInterior Architecture & DesignT22TP4 to 15
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTLaw & ManagementT09TP5 to 12
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTLogistics & Operations ManagementT07TP11 to 17
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENTMarketingT67TP9 to 15
ENGINEERINGMechatronicsT66TP12 to 20
APPLIED SCIENCESMedical BiotechnologyT64TP5 to 11
APPLIED SCIENCESPharmaceutical ScienceT25TP4 to 11
MEDIA & DESIGNProduct & Industrial DesignT35TP9 to 17
HUMANITIESPsychology StudiesT48TP5 to 8
HUMANITIESSocial Sciences in GerontologyT53TP9 to 13
APPLIED SCIENCESVeterinary TechnologyT45TP3 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?

 

 

Rum Tan

Rum Tan is the founder of SmileTutor and he believes that every child deserves a smile. Motivated by this belief and passion, he works hard day & night with his team to maintain the most trustworthy source of home tutors in Singapore. In his free time, he writes articles hoping to educate, enlighten, and empower parents, students, and tutors. You may try out his free home tutoring services via smiletutor.sg or by calling 6266 4475 directly today.