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NATIONAL SERVICE
UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS
SINGAPORE (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SUTD, SIT)
Students can apply for the universities before or during NS.
A place will be reserved for students who are accepted.
National servicemen will be given time off their training schedules to admission and scholarship interviews and tests.
Local universities, ministries and scholarship boards schedule their interviews and tests during this allocated time period or on weekends.
National servicemen can request for time off or apply for leave if they need to go for interviews and tests outside the allocated time period.
OVERSEAS UNIVERSITIES
For overseas universities, students will have to check with the university if they would reserve a place for them until they have completed NS.
Otherwise, they would have to submit their university applications at a later date, such as during NS.
ACS INTL will still support your applications even while you serve your NS. Do keep in touch with Higher Ed and read our googlesite regularly, especially when June comes around.
UK Apps- you will use our buzzword to apply.
DOCUMENTS TO PREPARE BEFORE YOU LEAVE ACSINTL
It is a good idea to prepare what you can while still in school. Students currently serving National Service should get the help of their family members in getting all the necessary documents prepared.
NS students must complete the process of requesting for Two Letter of Recommendations before leaving school.
DEFERRING YOUR UNIVERSITY OFFER
Most Universities are aware of the need for the male Singaporean student to perform National Service. Most universities grant one-year deferment for National Service, while some offer it on a case-by-case basis. There are some universities which do not offer deferment at all. Please check the university websites for the relevant information.
DISRUPTION FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES
GENERAL
National servicemen can apply for disruption from NS to start university if they enlisted later than their peers in the same academic cohort (i.e. stop NS temporarily to start studying university at the same time as their peers)
The remaining duration of NS can be completed during school holidays or after graduating from university.
However, the remaining duration of NS must be completed in 1 continuous period.
APPLYING FOR DISRUPTION
Needs to be done at least 3 months before the date of disruption
For Singapore Armed Forces (SAF):
‘Manage Disruption’ e-service on OneNS portal
For Home Team (Singapore Police Force & Singapore Civil Defence Force):
Human Resource Services Centre of the Ministry of Home Affairs via MHA_HRSC-NSSB@mha.gov.sg
Other Cases
STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN:
Accepted into medical school at NUS or NTU
Awarded a Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship may be eligible for disruption
No application is required as shortlisted national servicemen will be informed by their units
NOTE THAT:
Disruption will not be granted for students to pursue pre-university qualifications (e.g. GCE ‘A’ Level, polytechnic diploma, ITE's Work-Study Diploma) as there are sufficient opportunities to attain pre-university qualifications prior to enlistment.
Disruption will not be granted to full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) who are enlisted ahead of their school cohort as they are already ahead of their peers with equivalent qualifications.
Disruption will only be granted for degree courses conducted by educational institutions that confer their own qualifications or are funded by MOE (e.g. Singapore Institute of Technology). Additionally, the offers from the educational institutions must be unconditional
NSFs who do not enlist with their school cohort due to personal reasons will be granted disruption with their enlistment cohort, instead of their school cohort.
Please refer to the websites below for more information:
https://www.cmpb.gov.sg/web/portal/cmpb/home/before-ns/disruption-for-further-studies
GAP YEAR
FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO DURING THE GAP YEAR
It is important to begin a gap year with a strong sense of what you want to explore and learn
During a gap year, you can engage in activities such as internships, volunteering, or travelling
However, an unstructured gap year could result in wasting excessive time because you would not be able to achieve anything meaningful
TRANSITIONING BACK TO STUDYING
Spending your gap year idle or withdrawn from academic engagement could make it harder for you to transition back to studying when you begin university
Therefore, it might be important to keep yourself engaged during a gap year through ways such as acquiring new skills or learning more about a field that interests you
COSTS OF TAKING A GAP YEAR
A gap year can potentially be quite expensive, especially if it involves travelling internationally
Hence, it is important to consider whether you have sufficient financial resources for what you plan to do during your gap year
You can refer to these websites below for more information:
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/what-is-a-gap-year/
https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/6-things-to-consider-before-taking-a-gap-year
OTHER PATHS
MORE INFO COMING SOON... STAY TUNED!
AUSTRALIA
Students can also enroll in a six to twelve months ‘Foundation Programme’ if their qualifications do not meet the entry requirement set by the universities. It is important to do well in this programme to progress to any undergraduate course in any Australian university.
UNITED STATES
Students can enroll in Community Colleges prior to transferring to a University. This helps save cost as well.
Options include -
https://orangecoastcollege.edu/
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