List of STEM Domain DSA Schools in Singapore (Updated 2024)

Direct School Admission (DSA) in Singapore is a unique scheme that allows primary and secondary students to gain admission to secondary schools or junior colleges (JCs) based on their talents, achievements, and interests beyond the regular academic criteria. This initiative, established by the Ministry of Education (MOE), aims to recognize and nurture diverse talents in areas such as sports, arts, music, leadership, and specific academic subjects.

Starting in 2018, secondary schools are permitted to accept up to 20% of their Secondary One students for the four-year O-Level track via the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme (Source).

Specialised Independent Schools, such as NUS High School, School of the Arts, and School of Science and Technology, have complete autonomy in their admissions process, enrolling all of their students through the DSA. Schools offering the Integrated Programme (IP) also have full control over admissions for the IP, though the percentage of students admitted through the DSA varies by school.

Key Features of DSA

Talent-Based Admission

  • Primary to Secondary: Primary 6 students can apply to secondary schools through the DSA-Sec, which focuses on their talents in non-academic areas.
  • Secondary to Junior College: Secondary 4 or equivalent students can apply to JCs through the DSA-JC, showcasing their strengths in specific areas.

Holistic Selection

  •  Schools look beyond Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or GCE 'O' Level results.
  •  They consider a range of talents and achievements, including sports, arts, leadership, and specific academic strengths.

School-Specific Criteria

  •    Each participating school sets its own criteria and selection process.
  •    Schools may conduct interviews, auditions, or trials as part of the assessment.

Early Commitment

  •  Successful DSA candidates are given a place in the school before the release of their PSLE or 'O' Level results.
  •  They must commit to the school, and their choice is binding once they accept the DSA offer.

Diverse School Options

    • Both mainstream and specialized independent schools participate in DSA.
    • This includes schools with niche programs such as sports academies or arts schools.

    No Impact on National Exams

      • DSA offers are made independently of the national exams.
      • Students still need to meet the minimum academic requirements set by the schools to confirm their placement.

       

      Benefits of DSA

      1. Recognising Diverse Talents: The DSA scheme provides opportunities for students with exceptional talents to develop their strengths in a supportive environment.
      2. Personalised Education Pathways: It allows students to choose schools that align with their talents and interests, promoting a more customized educational journey.
      3. Encouraging Holistic Development: The focus on non-academic areas encourages students to pursue and excel in co-curricular activities.

       

      There are 2 different DSA Domains that have been included in this list:

      1. STEM
      2. Entrepreneurship & Innovation

       

      There are 26 DSA Talent Areas included in this list:

      1. Aerospace
      2. Applied Sciences - Forensic Science
      3. Chemical and Applied Sciences (Fragrance)
      4. Coding
      5. Computational Thinking
      6. Design Technology Innovation
      7. Design Thinking and Engineering
      8. Digital Media
      9. Electronics
      10. Environmental Science
      11. Food Science and Technology
      12. Infocomm
      13. Innovation
      14. Mathematics
      15. Mechatronics, Aeronautics and Robotics
      16. Programming and 3D Modelling
      17. Robotics
      18. Science
      19. Science & Technology
      20. Science for Sustainable Development
      21. Scientific Investigation
      22. STEAM
      23. STEM
      24. STEM - Aeronautics
      25. STEM - Aerospace and Aviation
      26. STEM - Creative Engineering and Modelling

       

      List of DSA Schools 

      School Name Level Area DSA Domain DSA Talent Areas Co-Ed (Y/N) Integrated Programme
      Admiralty Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM Robotics Y N
      Admiralty Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM STEM Y N
      Admad Ibrahim Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      Anderson Secondary School Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM Robotics Y N
      Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM
      Anglican High School Secondary Bedok STEM Robotics Y N
      Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) Secondary Novena STEM Robotics N (Boys) N
      Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Roaf) Secondary Novena STEM Digital Media N (Boys) N
      Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Secondary Queenstown STEM Mathematics N (Boys) Y
      Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Secondary Queenstown STEM Robotics N (Boys) Y
      Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Secondary Queenstown STEM Science N (Boys) Y
      Assumption English School Secondary Bukit Panjang STEM
      Assumption Pathway School Secondary Bukit Panjang STEM
      Bartley Secondary School Secondary Toa Payoh STEM Chemical and Applied Sciences (Fragrance) Y N
      Beatty Secondary School Secondary Toa Payoh STEM STEM Y N
      Bedok Green Secondary School Secondary Bedok STEM STEM Y N
      Bedok South Secondary School Secondary Bedok Entrepreneurship & Innovation Innovation Y N
      Bedok View Secondary School Secondary Bedok STEM
      Bendemeer Secondary School Secondary Kallang STEM
      Boon Lay Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM Science Y N
      Bowen Secondary School Secondary Hougang STEM
      Broadrick Secondary School Secondary Geylang STEM STEM Y N
      Bukit Batok Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM Robotics Y N
      Bukit Merah Secondary School Secondary Bukit Merah STEM STEM Y N
      Bukit Panjang Govt. High School Secondary Choa Chu Kang STEM
      Bukit View Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM Coding Y N
      Bukit View Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM Environmental Science Y N
      Bukit View Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM STEM - Aerospace and Aviation Y N
      Canberra Seconddary School Secondary Sembawang STEM
      Catholic High School (Secondary) Secondary Bishan STEM Mathematics N (Boys) Y
      Catholic High School (Secondary) Secondary Bishan STEM Science N (Boys) Y
      Cedar Girls' Secondary School Secondary Toa Payoh STEM
      Changkat Changi Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM STEM - Aerospace and Aviation Y N
      CHIJ Katong Convent Secondary Marine Parade STEM
      CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) Secondary Toa Payoh STEM
      CHIJ St Joseph's Convent Secondary Seng Kang STEM
      CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School (Secondary) Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM Science N (Girls) IP
      CHIJ St Theresa's Convent Secondary Bukit Merah STEM
      Christ Church Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM
      Chua Chu Kang Secondary School Secondary Choa Chu Kang STEM
      Chung Cheng High School (Main) Secondary Marine Parade STEM
      Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) Secondary Yishun STEM
      Clementi Town Secondary School Secondary Clementi STEM Coding Y N
      Commonwealth Secondary School Secondary Jurong East STEM Coding Y N
      Commonwealth Secondary School Secondary Jurong East STEM Environmental Science Y N
      Compassvale Secondary School Secondary Seng Kang STEM STEM - Aeronautics Y N
      Crescent Girls' School Secondary Bukit Mera STEM
      Damai Secondary School Secondary Bedok STEM
      Dunearn Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM Food Science and Technology Y N
      Dunman High School (Secondary) Secondary Kallang STEM STEAM Y Y
      Dunman Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM
      East Spring Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM
      Edgefield Secondary School Secondary Punggol Entrepreneurship & Innovation Innovation Y N
      Evergreen Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM
      Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) Secondary Queenstown STEM
      Fuchun Secondary School Secondary STEM
      Fuhua Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM Applied Sciences - Forensic Science Y N
      Gan Eng Seng School Secondary Bukit Merah STEM STEM Y N
      Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) Secondary Geylang STEM Science for Sustainable Development Y N
      Greendale Secondary School Secondary Punggol STEM Design, Technology and Engineering (DTE) Y N
      Greenridge Secondary School Secondary Bukit Panjang STEM
      Guangyang Secondary School Secondary Bishan STEM
      Hai Sing Catholic School Secondary Pasir Ris STEM Robotics Y N
      Hillgrove Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM STEM Y N
      Holy Innocents' High School Secondary Hougang STEM
      Hougang Secondary School Secondary Hougang STEM
      Hua Yi Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM
      Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) Secondary Bukit Timah STEM Infocomm N (Boys) Y
      Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) Secondary Bukit Timah STEM Mathematics N (Boys) Y
      Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) Secondary Bukit Timah STEM Science N (Boys) Y
      Junyuan Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM
      Jurong Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM Science Y N
      Jurong West Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM
      Jurongville Secondary School Secondary Jurong East STEM Electronics Y N
      Juyng Secondary School Secondary Jurong East STEM
      Kent Ridge Secondary School Secondary Clementi STEM Computational Thinking Y N
      Kranji Secondary School Secondary Choa Chu Kang STEM Science Y N
      Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School Secondary Bishan STEM
      Loyang View Secondary School Secondary Pasir Ris STEM STEM Y N
      Manjusri Secondary School Secondary Geylang STEM Science & Technology Y N
      Maris Stella High School (Secondary) Secondary Toa Payoh STEM Robotics N (Boys) N
      Marsiling Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM Environmental Science Y N
      Mayflower Secondary School Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM
      Meridian Secondary School Secondary Pasir Ris STEM
      Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) Secondary Bukit Timah STEM STEM N (Girls) Y
      Montfort Secondary School Secondary Hougang STEM
      Nan Chiau High School Secondary Clementi STEM
      Nanyang Girls' High School Secondary Bukit Timah Entrepreneurship & Innovation Innovation N (Girls) Y
      Nanyang Girls' High School Secondary Bukit Timah STEM Science N (Girls) IP
      National Junior College (Secondary) Secondary Bukit Timah STEM STEAM Y Y
      Naval Base Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      New Town Secondary School Secondary Queenstown STEM
      Ngee Ann Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM Coding Y N
      North Vista Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      Northbrooks Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM Aerospace Y N
      Northland Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      NUS High School of Mathematics and Science Secondary Clementi STEM Mathematics Y Y
      NUS High School of Mathematics and Science Secondary Clementi STEM Science Y Y
      Orchid Park Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School Secondary Pasir Ris STEM
      Pasir Ris Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM Digital Media Y N
      Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) Secondary Hougang STEM
      Pei Hwa Secondary School Secondary Seng Kang STEM Robotics Y N
      Peicai Secondary School Secondary Serangoon STEM
      Perice Secondary School Secondary Bishan STEM
      Presbyterian High School Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM
      Punggol Secondary School Secondary Punggol STEM Environmental Science Y N
      Queenstown Secondary School Secondary Queenstown STEM
      Queensway Secondary School Secondary Queenstown STEM Scientific Investigation Y N
      Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) Secondary Central STEM Science N (Girls) IP
      Raffles Institution (Secondary) Secondary Bishan STEM Mathematics N (Boys) Y
      Raffles Institution (Secondary) Secondary Bishan STEM Science N (Boys) Y
      Regent Secondary School Secondary Choa Chu Kang STEM Robotics Y N
      River Valley High School (Secondary) Secondary Jurong West STEM Coding Y Y
      River Valley High School (Secondary) Secondary Jurong West STEM Design Technology Innovation Y Y
      River Valley High School (Secondary) Secondary Jurong West STEM Environmental Science Y Y
      River Valley High School (Secondary) Secondary Jurong West STEM Robotics Y Y
      River Valley High School (Secondary) Secondary Jurong West STEM Science Investigation Y Y
      Riverside Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM
      School of Science and Technology, Singapore Secondary Clementi STEM STEAM Y N
      School of the Arts, Singapore Secondary Central STEM
      Sembawang Secondary School Secondary Sembawang STEM Coding Y N
      Sembawang Secondary School Secondary Sembawang STEM Environmental Science Y N
      Sembawang Secondary School Secondary Sembawang STEM Robotics Y N
      Seng Kang Secondary School Secondary Seng Kang STEM
      Serangoon Garden Secondary School Secondary Serangoon STEM
      Serangoon Secondary School Secondary Hougang STEM Programming & 3D Modelling Y N
      Singapore Chinese Girls' School Secondary Novena STEM Robotics N (Girls) Y
      Singapore Chinese Girls' School Secondary Novena STEM Science N (Girls) IP
      Springfield Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM
      St. Andrew's Secondary School Secondary Toa Payoh STEM STEM N (Boys) N
      St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School Secondary Bedok STEM
      St Gabriel's Secondary School Secondary Serangoon STEM
      St Hilda's Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM
      St. Joseph's Institution (Secondary) Secondary Novena Entrepreneurship & Innovation Innovation N (Boys) Y
      St. Joseph's Institution (Secondary) Secondary Novena STEM
      St Margaret's School (Secondary) Secondary Bukit Timah STEM
      St Patrick's School Secondary Tampines STEM
      Swiss Cottage Secondary School Secondary Bukit Batok STEM Science Y N
      Tampines Secondary School Secondary Tampines STEM STEM - Creative Engineering and Modelling Y N
      Tanjong Katong Secondary School Secondary Marine Parade STEM Mathematics Y N
      Tanjong Katong Secondary School Secondary Marine Parade STEM Science Y N
      Teck Whye Secondary School Secondary Choa Chu Kang STEM Science for Sustainable Development Y N
      Temasek Junior College (Secondary) Secondary Bedok STEM Mathematics Y Y
      Temasek Junior College (Secondary) Secondary Bedok STEM Science Y Y
      Temasek Secondary School Secondary Bedok STEM
      Unity Secondary School Secondary Bedok STEM
      Victoria School Secondary Bedok STEM Mathematics N (Boys) Y
      Victoria School Secondary Bedok STEM Science N (Boys) Y
      West Spring Secondary School Secondary Bukit Panjang STEM
      Westwood Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM
      Whitley Secondary School Secondary Bishan STEM
      Woodgrove Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM Science for Sustainable Development Y N
      Woodlands Ring Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM Robotics Y N
      Woodlands Ring Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM STEAM Y N
      Woodlands Secondary School Secondary Woodlands STEM STEM Y N
      Xinmin Secondary School Secondary Hougang STEM
      Yio Chu Kang Secondary School Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM Coding Y N
      Yio Chu Kang Secondary School Secondary Ang Mo Kio STEM Mechatronics, Aeronautics and Robotics Y N
      Yishun Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      Yishun Town Secondary School Secondary Yishun STEM
      Yuan Ching Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM Robotics Y N
      Yuhua Secondary School Secondary Jurong West STEM Robotics Y N
      Yusof Ishak Secondary School Secondary Punggol STEM Mathematics Y N
      Yusof Ishak Secondary School Secondary Punggol STEM Robotics Y N
      Yusof Ishak Secondary School Secondary Punggol STEM Science Y N
      Yusok Ishak Secondary School Secondary Punggol Entrepreneurship & Innovation Innovation Y N
      Yusok Ishak Secondary School Secondary Punggol STEM STEM Y N
      Yuying Secondary School Secondary Hougang STEM
      Zhenghua Secondary School Secondary Bukit Panjang STEM

       

      Application Process

      1. Research and Preparation
      •  Students and parents should research the schools' DSA offerings and requirements.
      • Preparation may include building a portfolio of achievements, training for auditions, or practicing for interviews.
      1. Application Submission
      • Applications are usually submitted online via the DSA-Sec or DSA-JC portals.
      • Each school may have specific forms and documentation requirements.
      1. Selection Process
      • Schools conduct their own selection processes, which may include interviews, auditions, trials, or submission of portfolios.
      • The selection process is designed to assess the applicants' fit with the school's programs.
      1. Offer and Acceptance
      • Schools make DSA offers based on their assessments.
      • Students and parents decide whether to accept the offer, which becomes binding upon acceptance.

       

      Challenges and Considerations

      Competitive Process

      DSA can be highly competitive, with many applicants vying for limited spots in sought-after schools.

      Early Specialization

      There are concerns about early specialization and pressure on young students to excel in specific areas.

      Binding Commitment

      The binding nature of DSA offers means that students must be sure of their decision before accepting a place.

       

       Examples of DSA Pathways

      1. Sports: Admission to schools with strong sports programs based on athletic prowess.
      2. Arts and Music: Entry into schools that specialize in performing arts or music based on artistic talent.
      3. Academic Excellence: Selection by schools that offer advanced programs in specific subjects like mathematics or science. It is recommended for students to build a STEAM related portfolio if there is a passion for engineering or technology. STEAM Engine is able to provide guidance for students age 4 and above to create a specialised portfolio for DSA admissions. Find out more with Hani at steamengine@ducklearning.com or Whatsapp her at +65 9822 5921.

      The DSA scheme in Singapore supports the development of a more diverse and holistic education system by valuing students' unique talents and interests. It offers an alternative pathway to admission, encouraging schools to cultivate a broad range of abilities and fostering a richer learning environment for all students.

      Also check out - Portfolio for STEM Talent Domain: Building an Outstanding Portfolio

      Each school has their own set of selection criteria and processes.

      You can find more info of the schools through the official Ministry of Education SchoolFinder Database: https://www.moe.gov.sg/schoolfinder/


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