15 July 2019

A new “through-train” programme will be implemented in Singapore’s polytechnics to allow students to get a place in a local university, and also be assured of a job.

Under this scheme, students will also graduate from university up to a year earlier than their peers. This is the first such programme in Singapore that gives full-time diploma students a guaranteed route to a degree.

As an example of an implementation of this programme, Temasek Polytechnic has tied up with the Singapore University of Social Sciences and the Singapore Institute of Technology to offer this new pathway in April next year for 40 students in the building services and mechatronics sectors.

Students in TP’s mechatronics diploma will go on to study SIT’s bachelor of engineering in mechanical design and manufacturing engineering, while those in TP’s integrated facility management or green building and sustainability course may move on to SUSS’ bachelor of science in facilities management.

These students will take three or more university modules in their third year of polytechnic, go on an internship with their sponsoring companies, and graduate with a diploma.

During their undergraduate years, they will study and work concurrently for the company, and after graduation will return as full-time employees.