Direct School Admission

直接收生计划

Primary 6 students who are keen to join Hwa Chong Institution in 2026 are welcome to apply through the annual Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise.

We encourage parents and students to make informed decisions when selecting schools, taking into account the student’s strengths, interests, and aspirations. It is important to consider each school's distinctive programmes, development opportunities and culture, as well as the specific academic and non-academic requirements for admission and talent development. At Hwa Chong Institution, we are committed to nurturing the holistic development of every student.

In 2026, we are excited to expand our suite of DSA talent areas with the introduction of:

Art Elective Programme (AEP): For students with a passion and potential in the visual arts. Students admitted via this talent area will be enrolled in our Art Elective Programme, a rigorous and enriching curriculum designed to stretch students’ artistic and creative abilities, while deepening their understanding of visual culture and contemporary art practices.

Entrepreneurship: For students who demonstrate initiative, creativity, and an enterprising spirit. This talent area will provide students with platforms to ideate, prototype, and launch innovative solutions to real-world problems, supported by mentorship and learning experiences in business, design thinking, and social impact.

These new domains complement our existing DSA talent areas such as leadership, STEM, humanities, sports, and performing arts.

Students admitted through DSA are expected to honour their commitment to HCI’s six-year Integrated Programme. They are required to actively participate in the talent development activities related to their selected talent area from Year 1 to Year 4.

No Singaporean student will be denied a place at Hwa Chong Institution because of financial circumstances. The school offers a comprehensive range of financial assistance schemes, scholarships, and merit-based awards to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

We welcome students who demonstrate deep interest, aptitude and talents in the following domains:

Entrepreneurship

Language and Humanities

Bilingualism: We welcome bilingual talents who demonstrate any or all of the following attributes:
- Passion and creativity in learning and using both the Chinese and English languages, with a deep appreciation for the cultures, values, and heritage of both the East and the West
- Proficiency in both written and spoken forms of Chinese and English, with the ability to engage thoughtfully across cultural contexts
- Curiosity and openness to engage in interdisciplinary learning and contribute to the bilingual and bicultural environment at HCI
Chinese Language: For students with a strong foundation in Chinese and a passion for deepening their proficiency in the language and culture.
Humanities: For students who show exceptional curiosity and ability in areas such as history, geography, current affairs, and interdisciplinary inquiry within the humanities.

We welcome students with an enterprising mindset - those who are passionate, resourceful, and driven to make a meaningful difference. Students who demonstrate any or all of the following qualities are encouraged to apply:

Innovative Thinking: A curiosity to explore new ideas and challenge the status quo, especially in solving everyday problems.
Creative Problem-Solving: Enjoys identifying needs and opportunities, and is motivated to develop effective, out-of-the-box solutions.
Execution and Initiative: Shows passion and perseverance in turning ideas into impactful projects, whether through prototypes, campaigns, or ventures.

Leadership

We welcome students with leadership potential who demonstrate any or all of the following qualities:

A strong sense of purpose and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Active involvement and leadership in student organisations such as student councils, co-curricular activities (CCAs), or class committees.
Demonstrated ability to lead peers, inspire change, and contribute meaningfully to school life and the wider community.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Infocomm (Programming and/or Robotics): For students with experience or interest in computational thinking, coding, algorithmic problem-solving, or robotics applications.
Mathematics: For students who exhibit strong logical reasoning and mathematical problem-solving skills.
Science: For students with a keen interest in scientific inquiry and experimentation across disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Sports and Games

We welcome student-athletes with passion, commitment, and strong achievements in sports.

Students should demonstrate:

A high level of proficiency and dedication in their chosen sport or game
A strong record of achievement at the zonal, national, or international levels
The discipline, teamwork, and resilience required to balance rigorous training with academic responsibilities

We invite applications from students with talent and experience in the following sports and games:

Badminton
Basketball
Canoeing
Chinese Weiqi
Cross Country
Fencing
Judo
Shooting
Table Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Wushu

Art Elective Programme (AEP)

We welcome students with artistic talents who demonstrate any or all of the following qualities:

A strong passion for visual arts and creative expression, supported by fundamental technical skills and aesthetic sensitivity
Interest in exploring diverse artistic media, techniques, and creative processes, including both traditional and contemporary art forms
Motivation to grow as an artist, scholar, advocate, and leader in the arts community through sustained practice, reflection, and engagement

Click here for more information about the different talent development programmes.

Click here for FAQs on DSA admission at HCI.

Selection Process

Applicants will be shortlisted based on available information from MOE and from applicants’ submitted information via the application process.

Applicants who do not have prior experience may also apply.The school will assess applicants based on the selection criteria, which may include assessing the potential of the applicants.

HCI will be conducting in-person selection for all DSA talent areas for 2026 DSA-Sec.Applicants who are successfully shortlisted will be informed between 23 July to 27 July and they will be required to attend an interview and/or selection tests on 1 Aug 2026.

All applicants will receive their application outcomes between 24 Aug 2026 and 28 Aug 2026.

Due to the large number of applicants and the limited number of DSA places, meeting all the criteria does not guarantee that the student will be shortlisted for an interview or given an offer

Please note that applicants should attend the in-person selection only if they are well. For students who are unwell during the selection period, re-scheduling the in-person selection will be done where possible.

Please direct any queries about DSA to Hwa Chong Institution to dsa@hci.edu.sg.

Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online MOE DSA-Sec Portal.

The application is free of charge and will be open from 06 May 2026 (11:00 AM) to 02 June 2026 (4:30 PM)

Our DSA Categories

Our DSA talent areas are as shown below:

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Entrepreneurship

Language and Humanities

Chinese Language | Bilingualism | Humanities

Leadership and Uniformed Groups

Leadership

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Infocomm | Science | Mathematics

Sports and Games

Visual Arts, Design and Media

Art Elective Programme (AEP)

DSA Schedule 2026

For more information, please visit the MOE website at www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec.

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