NS Defer: Lose Interest in Studies, Can Switch Course? How?

Skylegacy SG

Hi, I'm currently a Polytechnic student, I've been granted deferment till April 2015. But I've lose interest in my current course, so I've decided to get into a private school to get my Diploma (something that I've interest in). Instead of 3 years studies, the private school only take 1 and a half years. So, if I do really drop out of my current course and went on presuring for the Diploma at the private school, will my current deferment be denied, and I've to serve the NS first, or could I finish my Diploma and enjoy myself till 2015 then get into NS?

Anyway, I'm still 19..

Lokey SG

No wonder you are stuck. Tricky question.

You just started poly this year. Then this would be considered as a transfer of courses or schools. It is normal for some students to change courses or schools in the first year.

Apply to the private school. And when they approve, transfer to that school. But do read the fine print, you might be taking a private "basic" in that 1 and half year. This is actually a half diploma cert. You might need to take an "advanced" diploma to complete this cert. Usually for private diploma, (basic + advanced) = one standard MOE diploma cert.

eac SG

Source: www.ns.sg

Register for NS - General Information
Deferment for Full-time Studies

Under the Enlistment Act, NS liable persons are enlisted at the earliest opportunity upon turning 18 years old. For those who are studying, MINDEF does allow some flexibility for them to complete their full-time studies up to the GCE 'A' Level or Polytechnic Diploma (or their equivalent), both locally and overseas, before enlisting for NS. Those who have already embarked on their full-time studies but do not meet the deferment conditions, will have to disrupt their studies and be enlisted for NS at the earliest opportunity scheduled by the Central Manpower Base (CMPB).

Local Studies

GCE 'A' Level Studies

NS liable persons will be granted deferment for GCE 'A' Level studies (and its equivalent) if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 Express Stream students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 Normal Stream students) at Junior Colleges/ Centralised Institute, as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

Exceptions may be considered for students who do not meet these deferment cut-off ages, but are able to gain admission into Junior Colleges and Centralised Institute.

NS liable persons may be granted deferment to pursue GCE 'A' level studies at private schools registered with Ministry of Education (MOE) or the Council of Private Education (CPE) if they are able to commence their courses before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

Persons who have obtained less than 3 H2 passes (excluding Knowledge & Inquiry) or failed in GP in one sitting of the GCE 'A' Level examination will be considered further deferment to repeat their GCE 'A' Level studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only.

Polytechnic Diploma Studies

NS liable persons will be granted deferment for Polytechnic Diploma studies (and its equivalent) if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 Express Stream students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 Normal Stream and Institute of Technical Education students) as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

Equivalent diploma courses would include those offered by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and the LaSalle College of the Arts.

Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Certificate Studies

NS liable persons will be granted deferment for NITEC or Higher NITEC courses if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 Express and Normal Stream students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 Normal Stream students) as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

NS liable persons with NITEC qualification will also be granted deferment for Higher NITEC courses if they are able to commence the course before 20 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Diploma Studies

NS liable persons who completed NITEC in Precision Engineering and Higher NITEC in Mechanical Engineering, will be granted deferment for Technical Engineer Diploma (TED) programme if they are able to commence the course before 20 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year. They will be granted deferment to complete the academic phase and be enlisted for full-time NS. Thereafter, they can commence the work experience required for the course.

GCE 'O' and 'N' Level Courses

NS liable persons will generally be granted deferment to pursue GCE 'O' and 'N' level courses at government, government-aided or independent secondary schools.

NS liable persons may be granted deferment to pursue GCE 'O' or 'N' level courses at private schools registered with either the Ministry of Education (MOE) or the Council of Private Education (CPE) if they are able to commence their courses before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

An extension of deferment may be granted for those who wish to repeat their GCE 'N' or 'O' level studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only.

Private Courses

NS liable persons will generally be granted deferment to pursue full-time courses (not leading to a degree qualification) at private institutions, registered with either the Ministry of Education (MOE) or the Council of Private Education (CPE), if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

The deferment is only granted for the completion of the stage of studies (e.g. Certificate, Diploma) commenced before the age of 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

No further extension of deferment will be allowed unless another stage of studies could be commenced before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

Overseas Studies

NS liable persons will be granted deferment for overseas studies (up to GCE 'A' level or Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent) if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year. They will be required to apply for an exit permit for overseas trips of 3 months and longer and will be required to furnish 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.

Application for Deferment

NS liable persons may apply for deferment online at the NS portal (http://www.ns.sg) during NS registration and pre-enlistment documentation.

Those applying for deferment to pursue local studies may be randomly selected to furnish documentary proof for verification. If selected, they will be required to submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study as well as their course commencement and completion dates.

Those applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies must submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study as well as their course commencement and completion dates. In addition, they must submit their parents' Income Tax Notices of Assessment (both local and overseas) for the preceding year.

Those who subsequently wish to pursue or switch to a new course or institution must seek prior approval from CMPB.

Notes: The information provided in this website are general guidelines. For further details, you may wish to contact the NS Call Centre at [email protected] or Tel: 1800-3676767 (eNSNSNS).

Skylegacy SG

No wonder you are stuck. Tricky question.

You just started poly this year. Then this would be considered as a transfer of courses or schools. It is normal for some students to change courses or schools in the first year.

So, this mean that I can transfer to Private School, and Mindef won't send me any enlistment letter till 2015 April?

dukedracula SG

pte diplomas are generally considered a grade or two lower than national poly cert. you sure it's worth the risk, these days folk just study for a cert and then find their way to do something they want...

Rednano SG

So, this mean that I can transfer to Private School, and Mindef won't send me any enlistment letter till 2015 April?

you wrong liao...

once your status in the "joint polytechnics education school system" listed you as a 'dropout', Mindef will be notified asap since the MOE and Mindef's computer systems are interlinked at CMPB...

the government is not stupid, it has already closed this loophole...

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This is the official statement released from www.ns.sg ...

"Private Courses

NS liable persons will generally be granted deferment to pursue full-time courses (not leading to a degree qualification) at private institutions, registered with either the Ministry of Education (MOE) or the Council of Private Education (CPE), if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

The deferment is only granted for the completion of the stage of studies (e.g. Certificate, Diploma) commenced before the age of 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

No further extension of deferment will be allowed unless another stage of studies could be commenced before 18 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year.

Those who subsequently wish to pursue or switch to a new course or institution must seek prior approval from CMPB.

Notes: The information provided in this website are general guidelines. For further details, you may wish to contact the NS Call Centre at [email protected] or Tel: 1800-3676767 (eNSNSNS)."

Skylegacy SG

Hi guys, so if I choose to like not go for Polytechnic, like always. Will I get expelled from school? and if I do get expelled, Mindef will be notify too right? So, is there anyway I could tell my Polytechnic side not to expell me/drop out me till I completed my Private Diploma?

Lokey SG

You must continue to study in your old school. At the same time, apply for the new course in the other school. In fact you can try several schools with the same courses.

When the new school approved your application. You will have official documentation of your new start and end date. You must then email to [email protected], with attached document.

Subjected to Mindef approval, they may allow you to do the transfer. Else you will have to go NS.

SAF is only concerned about their manpower issue, so they hack care about you.

If you dropout, without having a secured place in the other school, you will serve NS in the next round.So it is best of you can transfer the similar course with your current school.

If you cannot make up your mind, I suggest you go NS first. Dont come back in another year's time to say you want to change back to your originial course.

Skylegacy SG

As in I wanna go for the Private Diploma course before serving the NS, is there way that I don't go for Polytechnic and just go for the Private Diploma. As in I'm suppose to go Polytechnic everyday, but I went to the Private school to study. So, will Polytechnic automatic drop me out or expell me from School?

lkidultkitl SG

I guess you are left with 4 choices..

1) continue your current course of studies and find your way to something you want in the future

2) transfer course within your polytechnic now that you are in year 1 (fundamental year)

3) drop out of poly (they will expel u anyway when you fail the attendance requirement, why waste money?) and go to private school, subject to Mindef approval

4) just serve 2 years first and decide during NS, c'mon, u wanna chiong sua when you are starting to get real rusty?

Skylegacy SG

Okay, I have called up the Mindef site, they said that if I wanna defer for Diploma in private school, I would have to be 18 yr old or below.

And according to them, if I do drop out now, I will have to go for another round of medical checkup which I just did recently like oct 2010. Then I'll get enlist into Army/Home Team Acadamy. But anyone know what the duration of this process? How long will it takes?

Let say, during my enrollment into Polytechnic, I was actually given a choice to enlist into Home Team Acadamy, will I be given the same choice again for this upcoming enlistment.

Before that I was also ask to go for V.A too (Vacational Assessment). My friend said it was something to do with commando or some sort of things.

But I were also like to find out if it is wise to Sign on if I get into Home Team Acadamy?

Hahaha.. Thanks everyone for their reply.. I'm really learning some new things here.. :D

JasperFinals SG

Hey Skylegacy, how is it? Did you switch your course and granted deferment from CMPB? I'm somehow in the same situation as you, just that I'm already out of my Poly, waiting to join my private school in October. I'm wondering if they will allow me to defer. This is my D.O.B, 8th Oct 1993.