N(A) Levels

1.      ITE (Nitec)

a.      ITE EAE: Students can use the ITE Early Admission Exercise to apply for a conditional offer for their course. More information on the Early Admission can be found here.

b.      Direct Entry Scheme to Poly Program (DPP): N(A) Holders can apply for the DPP to get direct entry into a Polytechnic. More information on the DPP can be found here.

c.      Competition: Students involved in a CCA can compete in the POL-ITE Games and IVP Games.

d.      ITE also offers sports courses that may interest student-athletes due to their current involvement in sports:

2.      Polytechnic (PFP)

The Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) is a one-year programme that offers a practice-oriented curriculum taught by polytechnic lecturers, to better prepare polytechnic-bound N(A) students for entry into the relevant Polytechnic Diploma courses. This is an alternative to the Sec 5 year. PFP students are given provisional places in diploma programmes, subject to them passing all modules in the one-year PFP.

Structure for Students enrolling in PFP. Source: Temasek Polytechnic.

PFP Courses offered in:

·        Nanyang Polytechnic

·        Ngee Ann Polytechnic

·        Temasek Polytechnic

·        Republic Polytechnic

·        Singapore Polytechnic

3.      Studying Overseas:

The majority of Singaporeans choose to study in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. When choosing a university, it is important to ensure that the course of choice meets Singapore’s accreditation guidelines (Note: Not all degrees/courses require accreditation). These are the select courses that have to be recognized by their respective bodies:

Source: TheRightU, Singapore

If a certain degree does not require accreditation, it is still beneficial to ensure that the degree is recognized from a bonafide educational establishment. To know if an institution/course is recognized, students can check with the relevant professional institutions or seek advice from the Public Service Commission. Ensuring that the degree is accredited/recognised will potentially help increase chances of employment.

Some universities may require students to go through a foundation programme. Foundation programmes are preparation course that prepares students before being admitted to a Bachelor’s degree at an international university.

Apart from accreditation, students should also consider the tuition and living cost, campus environment, location, and support that the university provides.

• Australia

Australia does not have a centralised application portal for universities; students need to apply to schools individually. Common courses in Australia would be in Health Science since they are generally world renowned and well recognized.

o   UniSport: UniSport is the peak governing body of university sport in Australia and currently has 42 members, which represents more than one million students. They cover 40 sports and organise international sporting tours and Australia’s participation in the World University Games. Students can also choose to apply to the university’s sporting team and check with the universities whether they offer athletic scholarships. Click here for eligibility requirements.

• Canada

Canada has 2 main governing sporting bodies – one for colleges and one for universities:

o   Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA): CCAA offers 7 sports at 10 NCAA national championships. There are 94 member institutions governed by 5 member conferences. Click here for eligibility requirements (Article 5 of Operations Code). Students can also choose to apply to the university’s sporting team and check with the universities whether they offer athletic scholarships.

o   U Sports: U Sports represent 56 universities and offer 12 sports. Click here for eligibility requirements. Students can also choose to apply to the university’s sporting team and check with the universities whether they offer athletic scholarships. 

• United Kingdom

UK uses the UCAS system when applying to universities. UCAS is an independent charity that provides information, advice, and admission services. It is important to understand how the UCAS system works and their deadlines. Visit here for tips regarding the UCAS system.

o   British Universities & College Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for Higher Education sport in the UK and organises more than 50 sports for almost 170 member institutions. Students can also choose to apply to the university’s sporting team and check with the universities whether they offer athletic scholarships. Click here to find out the list of participating sports. Click here to find out eligibility requirements.

o   Click here for a list of recognised bodies in the UK. The list is not guaranteed to always be up to date. If a university or college is not listed, contact the Department for Education to check that they are officially recognised.

o   British Council – The British Council organises open events, inviting UK Universities to Singapore. Click here to find out more on university education at the UK.

• United States

As an athlete, there are many opportunities to obtain an education while playing at a competitive level in the U.S. There are 3 collegiate sport governing bodies:

a.      NCAA: The National Collegiate Athletic Association has a total of 1,117 participating universities and colleges in three divisions. The NCAA provides the highest level of competition and has the most scholarship opportunities (Division III does not provide athletic scholarships). Click here to find out the list of participating sports.

b.      NAIA: The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is a governing body for small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletes. There are a total of 250 participating universities and colleges. Scholarships are controlled by the varying schools. Click here to find out the list of participating sports.

c.      NJCAA: The National Junior College Athletic Association fosters two-year college athletics that supports equitable opportunities consistent with the educational objectives of member colleges. Since it is a two-year college, students will transfer to a four-year school after graduating with their Associate Degrees. There are a total of 300 participating Junior Colleges.  Scholarships are available but vary from school to school. Click here to find out the list of participating sports.