Comparing your Singapore qualifications with those in the UK

The following information will give you brief advice on comparing your qualifications from Singapore to those awarded in the UK. This includes comparisons between marking systems in both countries.

The Singapore education system is geared towards providing at least ten years of general education for all children. This comprises six years of primary education and four years of secondary education. In addition to the ten years of general education, pupils can undergo technical-vocational, pre-university and tertiary courses after secondary school.

Pupils learn at least two languages, English and their mother tongue in school. The mother tongue, which can be Chinese, Malay or Tamil, is given prominence, as is English, the medium of instruction and language of administration, commerce and technology in Singapore.

Besides the emphasis on language learning, pupils are also streamed at various stages of the system to place them in the course best suited to their abilities.

The academic year is divided into four terms (two semesters) from January to November.

• Evaluation in Britain
  • School
  • Further
  • Higher
• Marking systems
  • School
  • Further
  • Higher

Evaluation in Britain

School

• Singapore/Cambridge GCE N-level - generally considered to be below GCSE standard.
   
• Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level - grades one to six generally equated to GCSE standard (grades A, B and C) on a subject-for-subject basis.
   
• Singapore/Cambridge GCE A-level - generally equated to GCE Advanced standard on a subject-for-subject basis.
   
• Certificate in Business Studies (Vocational and Industrial Training Board) - generally considered comparable to the Final Technician Certificate of the City and Guilds of London Institute and to BTEC National Diploma/N/SVQ level three/Advanced GNVQ/GSVQ standard if the grade of distinction is achieved.

Further

• Diploma (from the polytechnics, two or three years full-time) - may be considered comparable to a standard between BTEC National Diploma/N/SVQ level 3/Advanced GNVQ/GSVQ, and BTEC Higher National Diploma/N/SVQ level four; may be considered to satisfy the general entrance requirements of British higher education institutions; students with high grades may be considered for advanced standing.
   
• Diploma (from the Centre for Computer Studies at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic - generally considered to satisfy the general entrance requirements of British higher education institutions; students may be considered, on an individual basis, for second year entry.
   
• Diploma (from French-Singapore Institute, German-Singapore Institute and Japan-Singapore Institute of Software Technology) - may be considered to satisfy the general entrance requirements of British higher education institutions; students with very good results may be given advanced standing. Exceptionally, diploma holders from the Japan-Singapore Institute of Software Technology with relevant work experience may be considered for admission to taught Master's degree courses.
   
• Advanced diploma (from the polytechnics) - generally considered comparable to a standard between GCE Advanced and British Bachelor degree; may be given advanced standing by British higher education institutions.
   
  Some holders of the Advanced diploma in computer studies awarded by Ngee Ann Polytechnic have been admitted on an individual basis, for entry to an MSc course.

Higher

• Bachelor degree - generally considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard; and is acceptable for entry to postgraduate study.

Marking Systems

School

For information on School Education Marking Systems, please contact your local British Council office.

Further

• Singapore/Ngee Ann/Temasek/Nanyang Polytechnic
   
  

  Distinction	-	Dist	-	For top five per cent
  Excellent	-	A	-	80 to 100 per cent
  Credit	-	B	-	70 to 79 per cent
  Good	-	C	-	60 to 69 per cent
  Pass	-	D	-	50 to 59 per cent
  Subsidiary pass	-	E	-	Applicable to Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic only
  Fail	-	F

  
   
  Students who possess diplomas from the polytechnics and who have achieved an appropriate standard are often admitted directly into the second year of undergraduate courses by British universities. Each case is assessed on its own merits and account is taken of the grades achieved and the local and proposed course of study to be taken at the institution. The advanced diplomas offered by the polytechnics in certain subjects to students with post-diploma working experience has been recognised by some British universities as a sufficient pre-qualification for postgraduate study.
   
• Japan-Singapore Institute of Software Technology
   
  

  Dist	-	Awarded only on recommendation
  A	-	80 to 100 per cent
  B	-	70 to 79 per cent
  C	-	60 to 69 per cent
  D	-	50 to 59 per cent
  Fail	-	Below 50 per cent

Higher

Honours degrees are classified as follows:

• class I
• class II division i
• class II division ii
• class III

Hons (I or II) are awarded for the degrees of BEng, BAcc, BSc (Building), BSc (Estate Management) and the LLB.

Hons (unclassified) are awarded for degrees of BArch, BDS, and MBBS.

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