The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is Singapore's post-secondary institution for technical and vocational education, set up in 1992 under the Ministry of Education. It runs three colleges, Central in Ang Mo Kio, East in Simei and West in Choa Chu Kang. Since Academic Year 2026 every Nitec course has become a 3-year course that leads straight to a Higher Nitec, and ITE now offers 49 of them. A Singapore Citizen starting in 2026 pays S$566 a year in fees. From the 2027 polytechnic intake, a Higher Nitec graduate with a raw GPA of 3.5 or better is guaranteed a place in a mapped polytechnic course.
- Colleges: ITE College Central, ITE College East, ITE College West
- 3
- 3-year Higher Nitec courses open for application in 2026
- 49
- Yearly fees for a Singapore Citizen in a Higher Nitec course, AY2026 intake
- S$566
- Full-time students who started at ITE in 2024
- 13,473
The 49 courses sit in six schools: Engineering (17), Business and Services (11), Electronics and Info-comm Technology (10), Design and Media (5), Health Sciences (3) and Hospitality (3). They range from Nursing and Accounting to Cyber and Network Security and Culinary Arts. In 2024, 86.8% of N(T)-Level students went on to ITE the year after their exam, MOE's statistics digest shows.
Nitec vs Higher Nitec: what changed in 2026
Parents who went through ITE remember two certificates: a Nitec for about two years, then, with a good GPA, a Higher Nitec for about two more. ITE began merging the two in 2022, and 2026 completed the move.
| Point | Nitec, then Higher Nitec (old) | 3-year Higher Nitec (from AY2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 2 years, then about 2 more | 3 years, or about 2 on the accelerated pathway |
| Certificate | Nitec, then a second application | Higher Nitec directly |
| Polytechnic entry | Nitec holders need a GPA of 3.5 or better for JPAE | Net GPA of 2.5 or better, and a raw GPA of 3.5 secures a mapped course |
| New intakes | Ended as courses moved across | All courses since AY2026 |
ITE opens the accelerated pathway to O-Level holders and DPP entrants with the aptitude for it. So in 2027 a new student no longer chooses between Nitec and Higher Nitec. The real choice is between course lengths.
| ITE course | Length | Who it is for | How SEC students apply (2028 intake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-year Higher Nitec | 3 years | Students with G1 subjects or better | ITE-EAE in mid-2027, or the PSE in January 2028 |
| 2-year Higher Nitec | 2 years | Students whose ELMAB3, counted in G2 grades, is 19 or better | ITE-EAE, or the PSE in January 2028 |
| 4-year Higher Nitec with Enhanced Foundation Programme | 4 years, starting with a preparatory year | N(T) holders with 0 or 1 N-Level pass | ITE has not yet published the SEC route |
Which SEC profile leads to which ITE course
From 2027 the SEC replaces the O-Level and N-Level, with each subject taken at G1, G2 or G3 (our G1, G2 and G3 explainer covers the levels). ITE entry then depends on the subject mix.
- Four or more subjects at G1 or above3-year Higher Nitec through the 2028 PSE, or ITE-EAE before the exams
- Mostly G2 subjects, with an ELMAB3 of 19 or better in G2 grades2-year Higher Nitec, the faster route to a Higher Nitec
- An ELMAB3 of 12 or better in G2 gradesMay also qualify for the Polytechnic Foundation Programme, so compare both
- Four G3 subjects and one G2Polytechnic Year 1 may be open (net ELR2B2 of 22 or better), ITE still suits a specific course
- Sat the final N-Level in 2026JIE in December 2026, or the last DPP intake
- Sat the final O-Level in 20262-year Higher Nitec through the 2027 JAE
In the 2028 PSE, O-Level, N(A) and N(T) grades count as G3, G2 and G1, and results from up to two exam years can be combined. For ITE against JC or poly, see our JC or poly guide.
How the 3-year Higher Nitec aggregate is worked out
For the 3-year course from 2028, MOE turns every grade into a G1 grade and then into ITE points. Lower is better.
| G3 grade | G2 grade | G1 grade | ITE points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 to B3 | 1 | A | 1 |
| B4 to C6 | 2 | A | 1 |
| D7 | 3 | A | 1 |
| E8 | 4 | B | 2 |
| 9 | 5 | C | 3 |
| none | 6 | D | 4 |
| none | none | E | 5 |
Each course uses one of five aggregate types. R2B2 is English, Mathematics and the two best others. R1B3-A is Mathematics plus the three best. R1B3-B is Mathematics or Science plus the three best. R1B3-C is English plus the three best. B4 is the four best. The named subjects and the first best subject need G1 grade D or better. There is no maximum aggregate, only course requirements.
A worked example. Take a student we will call Wei Jie: English G1 C, Mathematics G1 B, Science G1 A, Mother Tongue G2 grade 3 and a fifth subject at G1 B. In ITE points that is English 3, Mathematics 2, Science 1, Mother Tongue 1 (G2 grade 3 maps to G1 A) and the fifth subject 2.
- R2B2: English 3, Mathematics 2, then Science 1 and Mother Tongue 1. Total 7.
- R1B3-A: Mathematics 2, then the three best others, 1, 1 and 2. Total 6.
- R1B3-B: Science 1 as the stronger of Mathematics and Science, then 1, 2 and 2. Total 6.
- R1B3-C: English 3, then 1, 1 and 2. Total 7.
- B4: the four best, 1, 1, 2 and 2. Total 6.
Wei Jie's weaker English costs a point on both English-based types. Lifting English to G1 B would make every aggregate 6. CourseFinder shows each course's type.
The 2-year course uses ELMAB3 instead: English, Mathematics and three best subjects, counted as G2 grades, with a gross of 19 or better. English G2 grade 3, Mathematics G2 grade 4, Science G3 C6 (G2 grade 2), Mother Tongue G2 grade 2 and History G2 grade 5 make 16, inside the limit.
An ITE student's path to a diploma
This follows a student in the first SEC cohort. MOE has given the 2028 dates only in outline.
- Mid-2027ITE Early Admissions ExerciseBefore the SEC exams. In 2026 students chose up to 3 courses, wrote about 100 words each and were interviewed.
- By Sep 2027CCA records checkedBonus points count for ITE ranking.
- Mid-Jan 2028SEC results and the PSE opensSix calendar days to apply with Singpass.
- Early Feb 2028Posting resultsAccept by end-February.
- Years 2 and 3Two internshipsUsually 3 months in Year 2 and 6 months in Year 3.
- Final termApply to a polytechnicNet GPA of 2.5 to qualify, raw GPA of 3.5 for a guaranteed mapped course.
- After the diplomaUniversity, or workIn 2021 MOE put local university admission at about one in three polytechnic graduates.
Getting from Higher Nitec to a polytechnic
From the AY2027 polytechnic intake, every Higher Nitec student with a raw GPA of at least 3.5 is guaranteed a place in a polytechnic course mapped to their Higher Nitec. MOE says this is about the top 10%, around 1,000 students a year. The minimum to apply rose from a net GPA of 2.0 to 2.5 in the same intake. Net GPA adds up to 0.2 for CCA.
- Joint Polytechnic Admissions ExerciseOn results and net GPA. One in two ITE applicants were offered a place, MOE said in September 2025.
- Polytechnic Early Admissions ExerciseOn aptitude and interest. One in three ITE applicants were offered a place.
- Direct Admissions ExerciseFor relevant work experience. About one in ten of the rest secured an offer.
What ITE jobs data shows
The low full-time permanent share for fresh graduates needs context. Since 2021, ITE graduates going on to further study count in the labour force if they work or look for work, and 35.4% of fresh graduates were in voluntary part-time or temporary work in 2024. MOE warns against year-on-year comparisons. Median full-time pay was S$2,080 for fresh and S$2,400 for post-NS graduates.
What ITE costs in 2026, and the help available
ITE charges per six-month term, and tuition stays fixed for the whole course. These are AY2026 figures for new students. AY2027 fees are not out yet.
| Student | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | S$283 | S$566 |
| Permanent Resident | S$3,791 | S$7,582 |
| International student | S$10,561.17 | S$21,122.34 |
Fees can be paid from the Post-Secondary Education Account. For subsidised Singaporean students, ITE's AY2026 bursaries can exceed the fees:
| Monthly household income (or per capita income) | Yearly bursary |
|---|---|
| Up to S$4,000 (or up to S$1,000) | S$1,850 plus 100% of tuition fees |
| S$4,001 to S$5,500 (or S$1,001 to S$1,375) | S$1,400 |
| S$5,501 to S$9,000 (or S$1,376 to S$2,250) | S$700 |
| S$9,001 to S$12,000 (or S$2,251 to S$3,000) | S$490 |
The ITE Progression Award adds S$5,000 to the Post-Secondary Education Account when a Singapore Citizen with a Nitec or Higher Nitec starts an eligible diploma at age 30 or below, and S$10,000 to the CPF Ordinary Account on completion.
Common questions
Is ITE under MOE?
Yes. ITE was established in 1992 as a post-secondary institution under the Ministry of Education.
What is the difference between Nitec and Higher Nitec now?
A new student no longer takes a stand-alone Nitec. Since AY2026 every Nitec course runs as a 3-year programme that awards a Higher Nitec directly.
Can a student with mostly G1 subjects go to ITE?
Yes. From 2028 the 3-year Higher Nitec is set at G1, with a four-subject aggregate and no maximum score.
What GPA does a Higher Nitec student need for poly?
A net GPA of 2.5 to apply, and a raw GPA of 3.5 for a guaranteed place in a mapped course.
Can ITE students go to university?
Yes, usually through a diploma first. About one in ten Work-Study Diploma graduates went straight to a university degree or poly post-diploma programme, MOE said in 2025.
How much are ITE fees for Singaporeans?
S$566 a year for a Higher Nitec student who started in 2026. Bursaries cover full tuition for lower-income households.
When does an SEC student apply to ITE?
Through ITE's Early Admissions Exercise in mid-2027, or the Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise when results come out in mid-January 2028.
Official sources
- ITE, About ITE
- ITE, 3-year and 4-year Higher Nitec courses
- ITE, 49 three-year courses in 2026, 18 December 2025
- ITE, Early Admissions Exercise
- ITE, Fees and AY2026 fee schedule (PDF), updated 13 October 2026
- ITE, Bursaries, updated 13 October 2026
- MOE, Full SBB FAQ
- MOE, Post-Secondary Admissions Exercise, updated 22 September 2026
- MOE, PSE: ITE 3-Year Higher Nitec and ITE 2-Year Higher Nitec, updated 16 March 2026
- MOE, ITE upgraders to poly from AY2027, 21 July 2023
- MOE, Reply on ITE applicants to poly, 23 September 2025
- MOE, ITE Progression Award, updated 9 September 2026
- MOE, Education Statistics Digest 2025 (PDF)
Written by Dion Tan, Chemistry & Science Tutor, The Singapore Syllabus. MSc (NUS), BSc Chemistry & Biological Chemistry (NTU) · 10 years' teaching experience. More about Dion
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