Admissions FAQs
For Year 1 admission in 2023, 100% of the places are offered via
the DSA-Sec Exercise. Registration for DSA-Sec Exercise is at the MOE
centralised DSA-Sec online portal from 5 May to 1 June 2022. For more details,
please refer to MOE website – https://www.moe.gov.sg/secondary/dsa.
If there are vacancies after the DSA-Sec Exercise, interested
students must indicate their interest and register for the Supplementary Intake
Exercise (SIE) from 1 November 2022 to the third day of release of PSLE
results.
For Year 3 admission in 2023, the registration is from 15 to 29
August 2022 at Year 3 Admission Online Application Portal.
2. How old must an applicant be to qualify for admission?
For admission to Year 1 at NUS High School, Singapore mainstream
schools' applicants must currently be in Primary Six. Non mainstream schools'
applicants must either be currently reading or have completed Singapore Primary
Six education (or its equivalent). In addition, applicants should not be older
than 15 years of age as of 1 January 2023. The Year 1 DSA-Sec
is not open to International Students (IS) not residing in
Singapore.
For admission to Year 3 at NUS High School, Singapore mainstream
schools' applicants must currently be in Secondary Two. Non mainstream schools'
applicants must either be currently reading or have completed Singapore
Secondary Two education (or its equivalent). In addition, applicants should not
be older than 17 years of age as of 1 January 2023. The
Year 3 Admission is not open to Singapore mainstream schools'
Secondary Two students who are currently studying in IP school / IP track or
were posted to a secondary school under the DSA-Sec Exercise or Admissions
Exercise for International Student (AEIS).
3. What if I do not have internet access for online application?
For Year 1 DSA-Sec applicants with no internet access, please
approach MOE Customer Service Centre.
For Year 3 Admission and Year 1 SIE applicants with no internet
access, please approach NUS High School. We have prepared a laptop for you to
apply online.
4. When do I have to submit the supporting documents to NUS High
School?
For Year 1 DSA-Sec applicants:
Before the Selection Camp: The details for submission of the
portfolio including scanned copies of P4, P5 and P6 semester 1 school report
books, achievements, competitions, awards and scholarships certificates will be
announced after the Selection Tests. Only applicants who have been shortlisted
for the DSA Selection Camp are required to do so.
For Year 3 Admission applicants:
Before the Selection Tests: Portfolio including photocopies of the Primary 6, Secondary 1 and Secondary 2 semester 1 school report books, awards, achievements and scholarships certificates are to be uploaded to the Year 3 Admission Online Application Portal by 29 August 2022. All Year 3 Admission applicants are required to do so.
For Year 1 SIE applicants:
From 1 to 14 Nov 2022: Portfolio including scanned copies of the
P4, 5 and 6 school report books, awards, achievements and scholarships
certificates are to be uploaded to the NUS High School Online Indication of Interest by
14 Nov 2022. All SIE applicants are required to do so.
As supporting documents are non-returnable, the applicant is
advised to provide only scanned copies of the original documents.
5. What supporting documents do i need to submit to NUS High
School? In what format should the documents be?
The shortlisted Year 1 applicants and all Year 3 applicants are to
submit the following scanned documents in Jpeg or PDF format before
attending the selection camp / interview.
1. P4 to P6 report books (Year 1) / P6 to Sec 2 report books (Year 3)
2. Achievements certificates (optional)
3. Awards & scholarships certificates
(optional)
4. Any other activities outside schools that showed
the applicants' passion and talent in Math and/or Science (optional)
6. Does NUS High School admit students via DSA sports talents?
No. We only have Mathematics and Science talent areas for DSA-Sec.
7. Is there DSA selection test, camp and interview this year? Is
there Year 3 admission test and interview this year? Is there SIE interview
this year?
Yes. The Year 1 DSA-Sec Selection Tests in Mathematics and Science
will be on the 2 July 2022. The Selection Camp and Interview will be on the 16
and 26 July 2022 respectively. All applicants will sit for the Selection Tests.
Only shortlisted applicants will attend the Selection Camp. Thereafter,
applicants who need to be further assessed will attend a Selection Interview.
The Year 3 Admission Selection Tests will be on the 13 September
2022 and the Selection Interview will be on the 27 September 2022. All
applicants will sit for the selection tests in Mathematics and Science. Only
shortlisted applicants will attend the Year 3 Interview.
The SIE Interview will be between 4th and 6th day
from the release of the PSLE results. Only shortlisted applicants will attend
the SIE interview.
8. How do you shortlist applicants for the selection camp /
interview?
We will shortlist the applicants through their performance in the
Selection Tests, their primary school test and exam results (mastery of primary
school syllabus in math and science), participation and achievements in math
and science related competitions and programmes. We will also look at the
related CCA achievements, awards, scholarships, projects and so on.
9. When will I be informed if I am shortlisted for the selection
camp or interview?
For Year 1 DSA-Sec applicants:
After the Selection Tests. Shortlisted applicants will be informed
by 14 July 2022 for the Selection Camp. The Selection Camp will be held on 16
July 2022.
For Year 3 Admission applicants:
After the Selection Tests. Shortlisted applicants will be informed
by 23 September 2022 for the Selection Interview. The Selection Interview will
be held on 27 September 2022.
For Year 1 SIE applicants:
Shortlisted applicants will be informed by the 3rd day
from the release of the PSLE results.
10. Where will the selection be held?
For Year 1 DSA-Sec applicants
The Year 1 Selection Tests will be conducted at NUS Multi-Purpose
Hall or NUS High School. Applicants will be informed of the exact venue by the
end of June 2022. The Selection Camp and Selection Interview will be held at
NUS High School.
For Year 3 Admission
The Year 3 Selection Tests and Selection Interview will be held at
NUS High School.
For Year 1 SIE applicants
The Year 1 SIE Selection Interview will be held at NUS High
School.
11. What will the selection test, camp and interview be based
on?
NUS High School considers various qualities and attributes and
does not focus on students' past achievements alone. The selection tests, camp
and interview assess the understanding and application of mathematics and
science that have been taught in schools. There will also be general knowledge
questions to assess how widely read students are in the fields of mathematics
and the sciences. We also look for qualities such as problem solving abilities,
passion and motivation, independence, creativity and communication abilities.
12. What if I am unable to attend the selection test, camp or
interview?
Applicants who have registered but are unable to attend the
selection because of official engagement or medical condition will have to
write in to the Principal at least one week in advance. The application will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
13. How would I know if I am accepted by NUS High School?
For Year 1 DSA-Sec, successful applicants will be notified
and given a Letter of Offer (Confirmed Offer / Wait List) by August 2022 via
the main contact email address registered with MOE Centralised DSA-Sec Online
Portal.
For Year 3 Admission, successful applicants will be notified and
given a Letter of Confirmed Offer via e-mail by mid October 2022.
For Year 1 SIE, successful applicants will be notified and given a
Letter of Offer (Confirmed Offer / Wait List) within the Secondary One Option
Phase.
14. If I am posted to a secondary school via DSA-Sec
Exercise, can I still apply for a transfer to other schools after getting the
PSLE results?
No. You are not eligible for transfer unless there is / are
extenuating reason(s).
15. Is ESIS applicable in NUSHS?
Yes. ESIS is awarded to students who are admitted to all
independent schools, based on their PSLE results.
16. Where can we apply to with the NUS High School Diploma?
NUS High school diploma is well recognized by both local and
overseas universities.
17. Is the NUS High School Diploma comparable to the Polytechnic
Diploma?
These are two different
systems were built to serve quite distinct purposes. One prepares students for
further studies in university; the other prepares students for the workforce in
the immediate future.
18. How do you compare the NUS High School Diploma to the GCE A-Level?
NUS High School’s curriculum is designed specifically for the selected 180
students with suitable talent and passion in math and science.
19. What is the percentage of students who study in local and
overseas universities?
Around 60-75% choose to study in the local universities, depending
on the cohort, and the rest will go overseas.
20. What kind of courses can the student study in universities?
Around 80% will move on to do STEM related courses including
quantitative finance. And the rest will go into non STEM related courses.
21. Do you think that it is too early to specialize in math & science?
Can you comment about the pros and cons?
If your child is already showing signs that he/she is math/science
inclined, then NUS High School provides the option broad option to read triple
science.
Our students can choose to do an optional 4th major
in the humanities and art, and they would be similar to a science-stream JC
students. Majority of our students choose to do a triple science
combination, which is not an available option in JCs.
22. Can student go back to mainstream if they cannot cope?
If a child is admitted via DSA, then student are committed to the
school for 6 year unless there is extenuating reason and it will require MOE
approval.
23. Does it mean you stand a greater chance entering NUS
High if you have participated in the local Olympiad?
Anything that the child does to show their passion and strength in
math and science will be considered. Participation in Olympiad is just one
platform.
Questions 24 to 34 are applicable only to Year 1 Supplementary Intake Exercise (SIE).
24. Does NUSHS participate in the Secondary One (S1) posting
exercise?
No. NUSHS does not participate in the S1 posting exercise.
Students who wish to participate in the NUSHS SIE must apply online at
our NUS High School Online Indication of Interest.
25. Do I need to participate in the S1 posting exercise if I’ve
applied for NUSHS SIE?
Yes. You MUST continue to participate in the S1 Posting Exercise
to opt for your six choices of schools and Third Language (if applicable). If
you are successful in the NUSHS SIE and accepted the SIE’s offer, you will not
be posted to another school under the S1 Posting Exercise. However, if you have
opted for Third Language in the S1 Posting Exercise, it will still be processed
based on your Third Language choices.
26. Can I apply SIE if I have applied for DSA-Sec but
unsuccessful?
Yes. You may apply for SIE. Selection of applicants in the SIE
will be based on the PSLE performance, the applicants' primary school's
academic results, portfolio or other indications that show their aptitude and
passion in math and science.
27. When can I register for NUSHS SIE?
You may indicate your interest & register online at NUS High School Online Indication of Interest and
upload your scanned documents from 1 November 2022 to the third day of release
of PSLE results. The SIE application will be open on the day of release of the
PSLE results, if there are vacancies available.
28. Do I need to re-register online for SIE if I have already
completed the online application for DSA-Sec via the MOE Centralised Online
Portal?
Yes. For those who have applied for DSA-Sec via the MOE Centralised Online Portal previously, you MUST apply for the SIE via NUS High School Online Indication of Interest from 1 to 14 November 2022.
If we have vacancies and you are eligible for the SIE, you will need to fill in your P6 prelims, PSLE AL-scores and grades at the PSLE results submission portal from the first to the third day of release of PSLE results.
29. Can I request for an e-interview for SIE if I am overseas
during the SIE interview period?
No. You must attend the interview in NUS High School. Students who
miss the interview is considered as a withdrawal from the SIE application.
30. What will happen to my SIE confirm offer for admission if I
didn't accept within 24 hours?
The SIE confirm offer is considered as invalid if there is no
written response from you within 24 hours. You will be posted to a secondary
school based on your submitted school choices under the S1 Posting Exercise.
31. If I am posted to a secondary school via the DSA-Sec Exercise,
am I still eligible for the SIE?
No. You are not eligible to apply for the Supplementary Intake
Exercise (SIE).
32. I went through the Year 1 DSA-Sec selection but was not
selected. Will the DSA-Sec performance still be taken into consideration in the
SIE?
Selection of applicants in the SIE will be based on the PSLE
performance, the applicants' primary school's academic results, portfolio or
other indications that show their aptitude and passion in math and science.
33. What is the cut-off point for NUS High School?
As NUS High School is not in the S1 Posting Exercise, there is no
cut-off point for NUS High School.
34. What if there is no vacancy available for SIE?
The SIE will not be opened.
Other information related to University and Career options, University Admissions can be found here.