Deferment for studies

Deferment cut-off age for further studies

Pre-enlistees can be granted deferment from full-time National Service (NS) to pursue full-time studies only up to a first education bar qualification (i.e. GCE ‘A’ Level, polytechnic diploma, or their equivalent). If you have already attained a first education bar qualification, be it locally or overseas, you will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below the first education bar. Deferment will not be granted for degree courses, regardless of whether your studies have begun.

Please also note that you will have to meet the cut-off age to be eligible for deferment.

If you have just returned from an overseas course of study, please contact us to make arrangements to submit documentation of your overseas education. We will advise you on your eligibility for deferment from full-time NS for further studies.

Type of course you wish to pursue	School	Deferment cut-off age
GCE ‘A’ Level, NUS High School Diploma or International Baccalaureate Diploma course	Junior Colleges Millennia Institute Integrated Programme schools NUS High School School of the Arts Singapore Sports School Saint Joseph’s Institution International, Hwa Chong International School or Anglo Chinese School (International)	19 years old for Secondary 4 students 20 years old for Secondary 5 students
Diploma course	Local polytechnics Institute of Technical Education (ITE)¹ Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts LASALLE College of the Arts	19 years old for Secondary 4 students 20 years old for Secondary 5 students 21 years old for Nitec or higher Nitec students²
Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP), followed by Diploma course	Local polytechnics
National ITE Certificate (Nitec) course	ITE	19 years old for Secondary 4 students 20 years old for Secondary 5 students
Higher Nitec course	ITE	19 years old for Secondary 4 students 20 years old for Secondary 5 or Nitec students
ITE Traineeship Scheme	ITE	19 years old
GCE ‘N’ or ‘O’ Level course	Government schools	No deferment cut-off age
Other courses³	Private Education Institutions registered with the Committee for Private Education Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Academy⁴	19 years old for Secondary 4 students 20 years old for Secondary 5, Nitec or higher Nitec students

¹ For Technical Engineer Diploma and Technical Diploma at ITE, deferment will be granted for the academic phase of the courses only.

² If you are a Nitec or Higher Nitec student but do not meet the deferment cut-off age for diploma courses or PFP, your request for deferment will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

³ Deferment for other courses will be considered on a stage-by-stage basis (e.g. a Certificate course and a diploma course, if packaged together, will be treated as separate courses for the purpose of granting deferment). A new application for deferment must be made to us before the commencement of a new stage of studies.

⁴ For BCA Academy’s Diploma courses and Pre-Diploma Foundation Programme.

Deferment for overseas studies

You may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A’ Level, polytechnic diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if you are younger than 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 and ITE students) as at 1 January of the year you commence your course.

You may be required to apply for an Exit Permit and furnish a bond. Please refer to our page on Exit Permit and bond for the requirements.

Determine your eligibility for deferment

You can use our deferment calculator to determine if you are eligible for deferment.

For Technical Engineer Diploma and Technical Diploma at ITE, deferment will be granted for the academic phase of the courses only. ↩
If you are a Nitec or Higher Nitec student but do not meet the deferment cut-off age for diploma courses or PFP, your request for deferment will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ↩
Deferment for other courses will be considered on a stage-by-stage basis (e.g. a Certificate course and a diploma course, if packaged together, will be treated as separate courses for the purpose of granting deferment). A new application for deferment must be made to us before the commencement of a new stage of studies. ↩
For BCA Academy’s Diploma courses and Pre-Diploma Foundation Programme. ↩

Am I eligible for deferment?

Find out if you are eligible for deferment for studies.

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Note to applicants:

Deferment is only granted for full-time studies leading to the GCE 'A' Level, International Baccalaureate Diploma, polytechnic or Institute of Technical Education (ITE) diploma, National ITE Certificate (Nitec), Higher Nitec, or equivalent qualification. Deferment is not granted for university studies.

Please note that this serves as a guide for you to know whether you may be eligible for deferment. This does not constitute a formal request or approval of any form.

Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 if you wish to find out how the deferment guidelines apply specifically to your circumstances or if you are seeking an extension of deferment to repeat your studies.

Click 'OK' to proceed.

OK Submit enquiry

Have you already attained a first education bar (i.e. GCE 'A' Level, polytechnic diploma, or equivalent pre-university qualification)?

Yes No

You will not be allowed deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification (i.e. GCE 'A' Level, polytechnic diploma, or equivalent pre-university qualification) if you have already attained a first education bar qualification.

Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 for clarification.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

Have you just returned from an overseas course of study?

Yes No

Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 to make arrangements to submit documentation of your overseas education. We will advise you on your eligibility for deferment from full-time National Service for further studies.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

Select the intended or current full-time course that you are seeking deferment for.

Enter

If you are pursuing one of the following courses:

GCE 'A' Level course at Junior Colleges, Millennia Institute or Integrated Programme (IP) schools
NUS High School Diploma
International Baccalaureate Diploma at IP schools, School of the Arts, Singapore Sports School, Saint Joseph's Institution International, Hwa Chong International School or Anglo Chinese School (International)

Click 'OK' to proceed.

If you are not pursuing any one of the above courses, please return to the previous page to select a different course option.

For e.g. if you are pursuing a GCE 'A' Level preparatory course at a private education institution or if you are pursing the International Baccalaureate Diploma at other local international schools or private education institutions, please return to the previous page and select 'Course at private education institutions registered with the Committee for Private Education'.

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If you are pursuing one of the following courses:

Diploma at local polytechnics (including the Polytechnic Foundation Programme), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts or LASALLE College of the Arts
Academic phase of the Technical Engineer Diploma (TED) or Technical Diploma (TD) at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE)

Click 'OK' to proceed.

If you are not pursuing any one of the above courses, please return to the previous page to select a different course option.

Back

You will be eligible for deferment from full-time National Service (NS) to pursue the GCE 'N' or 'O' Level course as long as you are accepted by a government school. Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 to start your application. You may also apply for deferment when you are called to register for NS.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

If you are pursuing one of the following courses:

Studies at local private institutions registered with the Committee for Private Education
Pre-Diploma Foundation Programme at the Building and Construction Authority Academy (BCAA)
Diploma at BCAA

Deferment for courses will be considered on a stage-by-stage basis (i.e. a Certificate course and a diploma course, if packaged together, will be treated as separate courses for the purpose of granting deferment). You must submit a new application for deferment to us before you commence a new stage of studies.

Click 'OK' to proceed.

If you are not pursuing any one of the above courses, please return to the previous page to select a different course option.

Back

Deferment for courses overseas will be considered on a stage-by-stage basis (i.e. a Certificate course and a diploma course, if packaged together, will be treated as separate courses for the purpose of granting deferment). You must submit a new application for deferment to us before you commence a new stage of studies.

If you are applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies, you must submit to us a letter from your school certifying your enrolment, course of study as well as course commencement and completion dates.

In addition, if you are above 16.5 years old, you will be required to apply for an Exit Permit for overseas trips of three months and longer. You must submit your parents' Income Tax Notices of Assessment (both local and overseas) for the preceding year. A bond of $75,000 or an amount equivalent to 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher, will be required.

Click 'OK' to proceed.

MINDEF does not grant deferment for degree courses. Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 for clarification.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

What is the highest qualification that you have attained or will attain before proceeding for the course that you are seeking deferment for?

For example, if you are currently pursuing a Higher Nitec course, and expect to complete it before proceeding for your polytechnic diploma course, which you require deferment for, please choose 'Higher Nitec'.

Click 'OK' to proceed.

If the highest qualification that you have attained or will attain is not in the above list, please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767.

OK Start over Submit enquiry

Enter your year of birth.

*Please check with us on your deferment eligibility when you are nearer the enlistment age.

Back Enter

Enter the year of commencement for the course that you are seeking deferment for.

*Range to .

Back Enter

You will be eligible for deferment from full-time National Service (NS) to pursue the course. Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 to start your application. You may also apply for deferment when you are called to register for NS.

You may require an Exit Permit and/or bond if you remain overseas exceeding a stipulated duration, depending on your age.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

You may require an Exit Permit and/or bond if you remain overseas exceeding a stipulated duration, depending on your age.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

You do not meet the criteria for deferment from full-time National Service to pursue the course. Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 if you require clarification.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

Your request for deferment will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please click on the 'submit enquiry' button below or call 1800-367-6767 if you require clarification.

Back Start over Submit enquiry

Documentary proof for deferment applications

If you are applying for deferment to pursue local studies, you may be required to submit a letter from your school certifying your enrolment, course of study, as well as your course commencement and completion dates.

If you are applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies, you must submit to us a letter from your school certifying your enrolment, course of study, as well as your course commencement and completion dates. Should you have any queries, please contact us. Should you need further information on deferment policies, please refer to our FAQ on deferment for studies.

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