Higher Education

As mentioned, non-university (post-secondary) education is offered by fourteen junior colleges, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), centralized institutes, pre-university centres and four polytechnics.

The Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), established in April 1992, offers twenty diploma programmes as well as a wide variety of advanced diploma and specialist courses designed for professionals. In 1996/97, it had an enrolment of over 7,700 full-time students in its four schools.

The Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Singapore Polytechnic and the Temasek Polytechnic offer a wide range of full-time and part-time courses at the certificate, diploma and advanced diploma levels. In 1996/97, the total full-time enrolment was 14,480, 19,787 and 7,463, respectively. 

University education is provided by two universities. The Nanyang Technological University (NTU), through its six schools, offers undergraduate courses in accountancy, business, communication studies, engineering and applied science. It also offers post-graduate programmes leading to the degrees of Master, Doctor of Philosophy and post-graduate diplomas. The National Institute of Education (NIE) is part of NTU and provides professional training for teachers, as well as the study of science, physical education, the humanities and fine arts in its four schools. The NIE offers courses leading to either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree with a Diploma in Education/Physical Education. It also offers a post-graduate diploma in education programme for university graduates, and a two-year diploma in education/physical education programme for holders of GCE A-level qualifications.

In 1996/97, the undergraduate enrolment in NTU amounted to 12,186 students and the post-graduate enrolment was 3,233.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has eight faculties (architecture and building, arts and social sciences, business administration, dentistry, engineering, law, medicine and science) comprising more than fifty teaching departments. In addition to undergraduate courses, NUS faculties and four post-graduate schools offer courses and research work at the post-graduate level. The University also hosts several national research institutes and centres in the fields of engineering, medicine, science and information technology. In 1996/97, the undergraduate enrolment was 17,960, while a total of 4,318 students were pursuing post-graduate studies in the various disciplines. In the same year, the University had more than 2,700 teaching and research staff.

The SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC) is an educational project of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Its members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand are associate members. The centre conducts advanced courses in language teaching, undertakes and promotes research, disseminates information, and provides library and information services. The regular post-graduate courses lead to the Diploma in Applied Linguistics or the Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics. Shorter courses lead to the Certificate in Applied Linguistics, the Teaching of English for Business and Technology and specialized areas.