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Republic Polytechnic

Other Qualifications

Explore the DAE pathway for applicants with international or other qualifications. Placement depends on academic merit, entrance tests, and course availability.

Last updated 27 February 2026
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Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE)

If you hold an international qualification, you can apply for a full-time diploma course at RP through the Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE).

Admission is based on:

  • Academic merit

  • Entrance test results (if required)

  • Availability of course vacancies

Meeting the Minimum Entry Requirements (MER) does not guarantee a place. These requirements ensure fairness for all applicants.

Why apply

To find out more about RP’s vibrant campus life, unique teaching approach, and a wide variety of diploma options, you may:

Note: Some courses have additional requirements, such as medical checks or aptitude tests. Click here [PDF, 144 KB] for full details.

Who can apply

You’re eligible if you hold an international qualification equivalent to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level.

What you need to qualify

To qualify, you must:

  • Hold a College or High School Certificate (equivalent to the Singapore-Cambridge O-Level Certificate)

  • Meet the Minimum Entry Requirements (MER) for your country or qualification listed below.

Returning Singapore Citizens and PRs (SCPR)

At least Year 10 of High School with:

  • English: Minimum Grade B

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade B

  • 1 relevant and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade B each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

IGCSE

  • Same MER as GCE O-levels. Click here for the list of courses and their MER.

  • GCSE/IGCSE Grades A to C are comparable to GCE O-Level Grades 1 to 6, and IGCSE/GCSE Grade D is comparable to GCE O-Level Grade 7.

  • New GCSE/IGCSE Grades 9 to 4 are comparable to GCE O-Level Grades 1 to 6, and IGCSE/GCSE Grade 3 is comparable to GCE O-Level Grade 7.

  • For IGCSE, only English taken as a First Language will be considered.

Note:

  • GCSE/IGCSE qualifications from Cambridge, Edexcel and Oxford AQA are accepted.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Standard Level:

  • English: Minimum Grade 5

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade 5

  • 1 relevant and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade 5 each

Brunei

General Certificate of Education - Ordinary Levels

  • Same MER as GCE O-Level. Click here for the list of courses and their MER.

China

Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 High School results taken in the current year; or National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) (Gao Kao, 高考)*

  • English: Minimum 60%

  • Mathematics: Minimum 60%

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum 60% each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

  • English: Minimum Grade 3

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade 3

  • 1 relevant and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade 3 each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

India

(Year 10) Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) 

(Year 12) Higher Secondary School Certificate

  • English: Minimum 70%

  • Mathematics: Minimum 70%

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum 70% each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Indonesia

National Final Evaluation Examinations:

Ujian Akhir Nasional (UAN)/ Ujian Nasional (UN)/ Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA)/ SMU Ebtanas

  • English: Minimum Grade 7

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade 7

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade 7 each

Indonesian High School results:

Year 11 Semester 2 Results (taken in the current year) 

Year 12 Results (from 2021 onwards):

  • English: Minimum 70%

  • Mathematics: Minimum 70%

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum 70% each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Malaysia

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or Unified Examination Certificate (UEC)

  • Same MER as GCE O-Level. Click here for the list of courses and their MER.

  • SPM Grades A+ to C are comparable to GCE O-Level Grades 1 to 6

  • UEC Grades A1 to B6 are comparable to GCE O-Level Grades 1 to 6

*Applicants with school-based results and who have registered for the 2024 SPM/UEC examinations will be considered if the national examination results are not available.

Shortlisted applicants will be assessed further via the English Entrance Test and/or online interview/competency test.

Myanmar

Basic Education High School (BEHS)

  • English: Minimum 70%

  • Mathematics: Minimum 70%

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum 70% each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Philippines

Year 12 High School Diploma

  • English: Minimum 85%

  • Mathematics: Minimum 85%

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum 85% each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education – Ordinary Level Examination

  • English: Minimum Grade B

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade B

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade B each

Sri Lanka General Certificate of Education – Advanced Level Examination

  • English: Minimum Grade B

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade B

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade B each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Thailand

(Year 12) Mathayom 6

  • English: Minimum Grade 3.0 (70%)

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade 3.0 (70%)

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade 3.0 (70%) each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

USA

Year 12 High School Diploma

  • English: Minimum Grade B

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade B

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade B each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in Mathematics and Science.

Vietnam

Year 12 High School Graduation Certificate of National Examination

  • English: Minimum Grade 7

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade 7

  • 1 relevant subject and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade 7 each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

Other International Qualifications

Assessed on a case-by-case basis, but should have completed Year 12 of High School with:

  • English: Minimum Grade B

  • Mathematics: Minimum Grade B

  • 1 other relevant and 2 best subjects: Minimum Grade B each

Applicants who meet the MER above may be shortlisted to sit for an Entrance Test in English, Mathematics and Science.

English Proficiency Requirement

You must show English proficiency through one of the following:

  • IELTS or TOEFL test results

  • English Entrance Test

The following groups of students with Cambridge O-Level equivalent qualifications are exempted from this requirement:

  • International Baccalaureate (IB)

  • IGCSE (English as a 1st Language)

  • Malaysia (UEC / SPM)

  • Brunei (GCE – Ordinary Levels)

  • Year 12 High School Diplomas from the USA/Australia/New Zealand/Canada with a minimum grade of 70% for English

IELTS and TOEFL Criteria

  • IELTS minimum score of 6 for all individual components (Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking) and overall band score

  • TOEFL Internet-Based Test minimum score of 78

  • The IELTS Indicator / IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL iBT ® Special Home Edition are also accepted

Applicants who meet the above IELTS or TOEFL criteria are deemed to have attained a sufficient level of proficiency in the English Language.

Entrance Test (if applicable)

The harmonised Entrance Test(s) are jointly organised by the five Polytechnics in Singapore. You may be invited to sit for one or more Entrance Tests for English, Mathematics, and/or Science, designed to assess if the course you applied for is the right fit for you. 

The Online Entrance Tests will be held on 28 January 2026. Find out more here [PDF, 165 KB].

DAE application timeline for International Qualifications

  • Upload soft copies of the following documents (maximum of 2MB each):

    1. Your identification document

    2. Your result slip(s)

    3. Other supporting document(s), if any

  • If your documents are in a language other than English, please provide a notarised English translation.

The DAE application schedule based on the respective qualification type is as follows:

Category

Application Period

Release of Outcome (via email)

All International Qualifications except IGCSE/GCSE/IB 

20 Oct - 31 Oct 2025

By 31 Mar 2026

Malaysia Qualifications

SPM/STPM* Qualifications and UEC Qualifications

*SPM/STPM 2025 Registrants with school results (trial/prelim results) may also apply

20 Oct - 31 Oct 2025

14 Jan - 19 Jan 2026

By 31 Mar 2026

International Baccalaureate (IB)

14 Jan - 19 Jan 2026

By 31 Mar 2026

IGCSE / GCSE Qualifications 

22 Jan - 28 Jan 2026

By 31 Mar 2026

For returning Singaporeans/Permanent Residents (SCPR) only with international qualifications

Note: For SPM, UEC & IGCSE, refer to the application dates above

14 Jan - 19 Jan 2026

By 31 Mar 2026

Please note:

  • Make sure your course choices and details are correct before you submit. You will not be able to make any changes after submission.

  • Your valid IELTS or TOEFL results must be sent to RP no later than 30 November 2025.

    • For IELTS submission, log in to your IELTS account and select the option to send your results to Republic Polytechnic. If you face any issues, you can submit your results using the same method as the TOEFL below.

    • For TOEFL submission, upload your results via the DAE Application Portal (before the application period closes) or through the RP Online Enquiry Form (after the application period)

What happens after you apply

1. Assessment

If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited to take the Entrance Test(s) for English, Mathematics, and/or Science to assess your suitability for the courses you applied to. You’ll receive your email invitation for the Entrance Test by 1 December 2025.

2. Online Enrolment

If you’re successfully posted to RP, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to complete your online enrolment.

Click here for enrolment details.

Need help?

If you have any questions about your application or encounter technical issues, please contact us.

Contact us