National Service

Important Notice: 

If you plan to apply to universities in this academic term, you must adhere to the Class of 2024 UAC Internal Deadlines and contact your University Advisor.

 
If you do not adhere to these deadlines, the UAC will be unable to support your application.

For more information about National Service support at UWCSEA, please click here for an informational video.

FAQs

• The UAC strongly recommends that every NS man complete at least one university application during their Grade 12 (even if you do not actually submit the application). This will provide invaluable experience when you complete your university applications during your NS.

• Each year US universities seem to report record numbers of applications so it could be an advantage to apply to some schools in Grade 12, as entry standards may get harder in subsequent years.  Your current IB grades might not be as competitive a couple of years later if the entry requirements at that university get tougher. However, note that you may not apply to other universities while holding onto a deferred place. You would have to withdraw and start over.  So you should apply only to schools that you love and would definitely attend if you got in.

• Having a confirmed place at university gives you something to look forward to throughout your time in NS. 

A lot!  The UAC recommends that all NS men complete the process at the same time as their peers, even if you don’t submit your applications .  You should participate in the university advising program in exactly the same way as if you were going to university at the end of Grade 12. Meet with your advisor at key times in Grades 11 and 12, go to all the information sessions, attend the essay writing workshops, and take full advantage of university visits and interview opportunities while you are still here. Write preliminary drafts of application essays and get feedback on them.   Attend our special sessions for prospective National Servicemen.

If you are sure you will need SAT or ACT tests, take them while you are still enrolled in school, or immediately after your IB exams (this may be required by some universities). Your brain will not be in peak form during your time away from study.  Test scores are valid for 5 years, so be sure to complete the tests while your brain is still trained for academic thinking!

If you are planning US applications, you will also need to get 2 subject teacher references while you are in school.  Attend the subject reference talk in Grade 11 and complete the paperwork, indicating that you will be liable for NS.   Your university advisor will ensure that your references are completed before you graduate, so that if your teachers leave, you will not suddenly find yourself without references two years later.

There may be a gap.  It depends on when you enlist and when the university term begins in the country you are considering.

• In the southern hemisphere academic calendar (eg Australia, New Zealand), the academic year typically begins in January or February and ends in November.   (Note that in Australia, mid-year entry in July is possible for a few courses; check with your university advisor on the pros and cons.)

• In the northern hemisphere academic calendar (eg UK, US, Canada, Europe), the academic year typically begins in mid-August or September and ends in June.  (Note that in Canada and in some US universities, January entry may sometimes be possible; check with your advisor on the pros and cons.)

• In Singapore, the academic year begins in early August and ends in May or June.

Most of our NS-bound boys enlist within the first 3 months after graduating from our school, between June and September, so they are free to enter a northern hemisphere university at the start of the academic year 2 years later (in the UK, US, or Canada, or in Singapore). But if they enlist in October or later, they may miss the start of the academic year in these countries and may need to wait until the following year to begin their university degree in the northern hemisphere. However, in that case the timing would be perfect for Australian universities, as their term starts in February.

Each year we process university applications for 25—30 National Service men so don’t worry, this is a common situation and we have lots of experience with it. 

We support you fully while you are at school, and we continue to support you as far as we possibly can while you are in NS.  However, be aware that there are logistical challenges once your NS commitment begins. Advisors can email and meet online with you. Most NS men are able to get leave to come in for meetings during the school day.     

However, NS men on active duty often have unpredictable schedules and are sometimes sent to remote locations where email communication is impossible.  Therefore, to make the process go smoothly, you need to be realistic about the logistics and do as much preparation as possible while you are still enrolled at school.

This varies greatly, depending on the country destination and the universities you are considering. Research is the key.Here are examples at five of our most popular destinations:

UK

• applications open in August in the year preceding university entry

• Many UK universities now defer for two years. You must email before applying to check deferral policies at each university. If you do apply, you must indicate at the time of application if you intend to defer.

US

• applications open in August in the year preceding university entry

• deferral policies vary greatly and must be checked on an individual basis with each university

• public universities rarely defer - but check. There may be individual exceptions

• private universities typically defer up to two years for NS

• once you have checked that the university will defer for the required length of time, go ahead and apply. You are usually allowed to request the deferral after you have been offered a place and we recommend that you do it that way (note: this is different from the policy at UK universities).

Canada

• applications open in September in the year preceding university entry

• Canadian universities usually grant two years' deferral for NS

• we recommend you apply to Canadian universities during Grade 12 and then defer your place. You should check their deferral policies first; if they will defer for only two years, time your application accordingly

Singapore

• application windows usually open in September. Note that Yale-NUS has several application rounds

• if you get into a Singapore university, your place will be deferred for as long as necessary while you are completing NS

• at most Singapore universities you may apply to other countries while holding a deferred place - they do not mind. However, this is not the case at Yale-NUS

Australia

• application window typically opens in August/September

• Many Australian universities offer early entry. You must email before applying to check deferral policies at each university.

• Take advantage of any information sessions or resources for students in your particular situation. We have special talks for National Service students, which you are required to attend.

• Be realistic in your expectations once you have left. University advising is often highly nuanced and personal, involving face-to-face discussion. It’s difficult to have a nuanced conversation like that via email and you may not have free time during NS to come to school. The onus is on you, therefore, to make sure that you attend all the information sessions with your peers while you are here, meet your advisor proactively, and go as far as you can with application procedures before you leave.  You will be able to access information on this website during NS. Your UWCSEA email and Maia Learning account will still be active, and you should continue to stay in touch with your advisor.

• You must adhere to the deadlines for the Class your are applying with; do things early and make sure to keep your advisor informed of your plans. 

Universities are generally very impressed with the maturity that students bring to campus with them after a Gap Year or National Service, and you have an excellent chance of gaining more out of your university experience than if you had gone straight to college after completing your IB Diploma.

Best of luck, and please keep us informed about the outcome of your applications!