The Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) is a one-year programme that offers a practice-oriented curriculum to better prepare you for a polytechnic education. What's more, the PFP serves as an alternative route for you to gain direct entry into RP!
The Polytechnic Foundation Programme Admissions Exercise (PFPAE) is a one-year, hands-on programme designed to better prepare polytechnic-bound N(A) students for entry into the relevant Polytechnic Diploma courses. This is an alternative to Sec 5.
Instead of preparing for your GCE O-Levels, you can use that time to get a head start in your RP journey and prepare yourself for a diploma course. At RP, all our courses are offered for the PFP.
Learn more about PFP Admissions Exercise (PFPAE) and check your eligibility criteria here!
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You can apply for PFP tentatively in January 2026. Posting results and appeal outcomes will be released in January and February 2026 respectively.
If you are eligible for the PFPAE, your school will issue you a Form P. You can apply via the PFPAE Portal tentatively in January 2026.
From the Academic Year (AY) 2026 intake onwards, the PFP will be restructured to a cluster-based programme. Students will first be admitted to the PFP in three broad clusters: the Sciences cluster, the Design, Engineering & Technology (DET) cluster, and the Humanities, Art, Media & Business (HAMB) cluster.
Upon successful completion of the PFP, students will then be streamed into a diploma within the cluster.
Learn More About PFP Clusters
You qualify for the PFP if you are a Secondary 4 Normal (Academic) student who has attained the following:
ELMAB3 (English Language, Mathematics, Best 3 other subjects) raw aggregate score of 12 points or better, excluding CCA Bonus Points at the 2025 GCE N-Level examinations
Meet the subject-specific grade requirements
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Note: If you have sat for the same subjects in the GCE O-Level examinations and your GCE N(A)-Level examinations, only the better grade will be computed towards your ELMAB3 aggregate to determine your eligibility. Please refer to the grade conversion table for computation of your ELMAB3 aggregate.
January 2026: Application Period and Posting Results
You can apply for PFP tentatively in January 2026 after the release of the O-Level results. The PFP posting results will also be released in January 2026 through the PFPAE portal.
February 2026: Acceptance and Appeals
You must accept or reject the offer through the PFPAE portal by February 2026 (tentative).You can submit 3 choices for your appeal through the PFPAE portal. All course postings are based on merit and the availability of vacancies in the selected courses.Please click here for more information.
By April 2026: Enrolment and Start of PFP
As a successful candidate, you must complete the online enrolment for your posted cluster. The programme will commence in April 2026.
Learn more about the application process and apply online through the PFPAE Portal
If you are eligible for the PFPAE, your school will issue you a Form P. You can then apply via the PFPAE Portal.
If you are successful, you need to accept your posting results by the acceptance deadline via the PFPAE Portal. You should only withdraw from Secondary 5 after you have accepted a PFP offer.
If you want to appeal for a change of cluster or polytechnic, you may submit an online appeal through the PFPAE Portal. You do not need to submit a separate appeal to the individual polytechnics.
Once you have successfully accepted your course, you must complete your online enrolment and the one-year PFP for your chosen cluster.
Here's a quick guide to interpreting your Form P.
At RP, all our courses are offered under PFP so you can be sure to find one that suits and interests you.