Response to The Straits Times Forum Letters on enabling full-time National Servicemen to enter universities earlier

Local universities offer NSFs options for early entry

MINDEF would like to respond to issues raised from letters to the Straits Times on enabling full-time National Servicemen to enter universities earlier.

MINDEF is mindful that National Service (NS) requires our males to delay their personal pursuits, and will not make the duration of full-time NS longer than necessary. The current two years of full-time NS is necessary to train our national servicemen to the required level of proficiency so that they can be part of the standing force to meet operational needs.

The enlistment for full-time NS takes place during every quarter of the year to accommodate various cohorts of students, who complete their studies in different institutions at different times. Apart from operational considerations and practical capacity constraint, individual circumstances such as the individual's medical condition and physical fitness will also affect when he enlists, and subsequently, completes his full-time NS.

MINDEF grants disruptions to NSFs to allow them to commence their university studies at the same time as the NS-liable males in their local school cohort. We abide by the principle that individuals in the same local school cohort, but in different enlistment intakes, can proceed for their degree studies at the same university at the same time. This ensures that they are no better off or worse off than their peers in the same cohort, who have also served NS.

In terms of entry to local universities, there are more options now. The National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University have Special Terms, starting between April and June each year, to allow NSmen to enrol earlier before the main matriculation in August, to take modules that count towards their degree.

In addition, the Singapore University of Technology and Design has a unique academic calendar that starts in May, ahead of other universities, and its eight-semester course can be completed in 3.5 years. The Singapore Institute of Technology also offers a January intake for some of its programmes.

Tan Kok Yam
Director Manpower
Ministry of Defence

MINDEF's reply was published as "Local varsities offer NSFs options for early entry: Mindef", The Straits Times, 12 Jun 12