More Varsity Places Likely for School-Leavers in 2025

Percentage of applicants admitted estimated to go up from 43.9% in 2024 to 45% this year

- Sandra Davie

Q With the Government promising to increase the cohort participation rate to 60 per cent by 2025, can we expect publicly funded universities to offer more places in 2025 than in 2024?

A Figures from the Ministry of Education (MOE) show that 18,500 A-level graduates, International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma holders and polytechnic diploma graduates were offered undergraduate places in the six local universities in 2024.

The number of places was similar to that in 2023, but the good news is that the percentage of eligible applicants given places - known as the cohort participation rate - went up from 42.9 per cent in 2023 to 43.9 per cent in 2024. According to the Budget Book, it is estimated to go up further to 45 per cent in 2025.

But the demand for university places remains high, with around 36,800 school-leavers (Singapore citizens/permanent residents) applying to full-time undergraduate programmes in the six universities in 2024.

This translates to about two applicants for every university place.

The Government's promise that 60 per cent of the cohort would be in degree programmes by 2025 refers to the lifetime cohort participation rate and includes places given to adult learners enrolling in various degree pathways, including part-time and work-study degree programmes.

MOE told The Straits Times it is working closely with the institutes of higher learning to increase the number of publicly funded university places for adult learners.