National Service and UK University Applications: What Singaporean Students Need to Know

For Singaporean boys, planning for university requires taking into account National Service (NS). This can be frustrating. Many families are uncertain about deferment and when to apply to optimise chances of getting into their dream university. There are a lot of questions around how long you can defer entry, whether candidates are allowed to apply multiple times and how to take leave for admissions tests and interviews. 

This article explains how National Service affects UK university applicants, what deferment means in practice and how Singaporean boys can plan strategically to maximise their opportunities.