Choosing Your Post‑Secondary Path (Poly or JC)
- berniceloon
- May 7
- 3 min read
One of the most common concerns I hear from students, especially around the end of Secondary 4 or 5, is this: Should I go to a polytechnic or a junior college?
It’s not an easy decision. Some of you feel like you already have a dream career in mind, while others are still figuring things out. You might hear your friends talk about "keeping options open" or “going the fastest route to uni,” but the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each pathway leads somewhere different, and the best choice depends on who you are, how you learn best, and what kind of future you want to build.
This article is here to help you think clearly. I am unable to tell you what to choose but I can help you zoom out, look ahead, and work backwards. By the end, I hope you'll feel a little more confident about what’s next.
Begin with the End in Mind
Before comparing institutions, map the life you hope to live at age 30 or 40. List the skills, income range, networks and autonomy that vision demands, then trace backwards to the qualifications and experiences that make those outcomes likely. Thinking from the future to the present prevents you from inheriting someone else’s default track and clarifies what each pathway can and cannot deliver.
Let's dive into some key differing features of the two common routes:
Features | Polytechnic (Diploma) | Junior College (A‑Levels) |
Duration | 3 years | 2 years (JC) or 3years (MI) + 3–4 years (degree) |
Learning and curriculum style | Applied, industry projects, 20‑week internships | Exam‑centred academic breadth, broad academic preparation for university |
Typical first full‑time entry to labour force | Age 19–20 | Age 23–24 |
Bridges to other routes | Either exit to work or use diploma to progress to local universities, SIT, SUSS and overseas degrees | Mid‑stream exits rare (little exit flexibility); pathway assumes degree |
Sources: ges.polytechnic.edu.sg; NUS News; NYP and NUS fee schedules
Counting the Cost
Direct fees: Three diploma years cost about S$6,500 in total. A standard four‑year degree costs about S$33,000 in fees alone. (Source: NYP and NUS)
Opportunity cost: Entering the labour force three to four years earlier gives diploma holders roughly S$100,000 in cumulative earnings, CPF contributions, and potential investment returns before their JC peers graduate.
Employment and Earnings
Polytechnic graduates: 87.5 per cent were employed within six months of graduation. Median salary rose to S$2,900 in 2024.
Autonomous‑university graduates: Median salary increased to S$4,600 in 2024, with mean salaries above S$5,000 in some clusters.
The absolute gap is clear at entry, yet many diploma holders close part of it over time through industry experience and part‑time degrees.
Key Question: So Do You Need a Degree?
1 in 3 polytechnic alumni now matriculate into local universities, and government policy is lifting lifetime degree participation from 50 to 60 per cent. (Sources: The Straits Times and MOE)
Degrees remain mandatory for medicine, law, and architecture.
Sectors such as software, design, and digital marketing hire primarily on portfolio and proven skill.
A 5‑Step Decision Framework
Define the leverage you want
Labour‑centred trades reward early immersion, while capital‑centred professions still prize degree signalling.
Model cash flow
Project ten‑year income and savings for both paths, including National Service where applicable.
Assess optionality
Diplomas offer both an exit to work and a bridge to university. A‑Levels assume you continue to a degree.
Match learning style
Choose the environment where you learn fastest.
Stress‑test scenarios
Ask how each path fares if your industry automates, you decide to start a business, or family needs shift.
Closing Thoughts
Both Polytechnic and Junior College are viable on‑ramps to meaningful work. You don’t need to have everything figured out. But you do need to think carefully.
Whichever path you choose, make sure it fits you (i.e. your way of learning, your strengths, your dreams). The more clearly you can see where you want to go, the easier it becomes to take the next small step in the right direction.
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p.s. I just begun a journey of writing my thoughts on my personal site. Feel it to check it out.
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