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So you’ve graduated from polytechnic finally after three eventful years. Congrats! What’s next after getting your diploma? Well, here are some options that you may want to consider.
Key Takeaways
- Completing your diploma opens up multiple pathways, whether you choose to work, study further, or take time off.
- Options range from gap years and internships to full-time university study or private education.
- Private education institutions (PEIs), like PSB Academy, provide flexible options, including full-time, part-time, and fully online courses.
- The best choice depends on your goals, pace, and readiness for the next chapter of your life.
Congratulations on Completing Your Diploma
Finishing your diploma is a big achievement, and it marks the start of new opportunities ahead! For many students, this is the stage where the scope of polytechnic learning broadens into real-world possibilities.
Moving at Your Own Pace
Of course, deciding what comes next doesn’t have to happen overnight. Everyone’s journey looks different, and that’s perfectly okay. Whether you’re eager to dive straight into work or want to take some time to recharge, your path through tertiary education in Singapore doesn’t have to be rushed. What matters most is choosing the option that fits your goals, your lifestyle, and the pace you’re comfortable with.
1. Take a Gap year to do something you like
That’s right. Life is after all about enjoying your journey and doing what you like. Taking a Gap year can be that much needed “rest and reset” period you have been waiting for. By the end of the Gap year, you may find yourself not only refreshed and recharged, but also brimming with creative ideas for your life’s goals to make a positive difference in the world.
“Wait a minute — what’s a Gap year?” As the word “gap” implies, a Gap year is a year between leaving school and starting university that is usually spent travelling or volunteering or learning new skills, etc. There is no hard and fast rule on how to spend your Gap year.
Studies have shown that rest boosts health and creativity. By the end of the Gap year, you may find yourself not only refreshed and recharged, but also full of creative ideas for your life’s goals to make a positive difference in the world.
2. Find your first job or look for an internship
Some polytechnic graduates choose to find their first job or look for an internship. While waiting to enter university, you can look for a part-time job to gain industry experience. The 2022 Polytechnic Graduate Employment Survey (GES) found that 91.8% of polytechnic graduates in the labour force found jobs within six months of graduation or after completion of full-time National Service within six months of their graduation in 2020.
On the other hand, you may explore an internship or traineeship with a company in order to get experience of a particular type of work. Doing an internship or traineeship has several benefits, such as allowing you to know yourself better, earning spare cash, networking professionally, learning new hands-on skills, and picking up soft skills such as building relationships with colleagues and working in a team effectively.
3. Further your full-time studies with an autonomous (publicly-funded) university
The six autonomous universities in Singapore are the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Together, they provide a wide range of academic, research, work-learn and student life options to cater to your diverse interests and learning styles. You get to study and acquire knowledge and skills both inside and outside of the classroom.
What can a university education do for you? Besides boosting your chances of landing a good, well-paying job, it can prepare you to be future-ready. For example, some degree programmes emphasise on applied learning and challenge students to use their academic knowledge to solve problems around them. They do so by collaborating with industry partners, where students get to reinforce their understanding of basic theories through practice.
4. Further your studies with a Private Education Institution
PEIs also provide a strong pathway for diploma graduates. According to Graduate Employment Survey (GES) 2024 by PSB Academy, 8 in 10 graduates were employed within 6 months of the final exam. This demonstrates how private education can equip students with industry-relevant skills that translate into meaningful career opportunities.
Moreover, polytechnic graduates with a relevant diploma can receive module exemptions and gain advanced entry into Year 2 or even Year 3 of selected degree courses with PSB Academy’s partner universities. For example, some business degree programmes can be completed in as short as eight months, giving students a faster route to graduation.
PSB Academy also partners with distinguished universities from Australia, New Zealand and the UK to offer external degree programmes. Choose from various disciplines, including business, digital marketing, life sciences, IT and computer science, engineering, and more.
Additionally, PEIs like PSB Academy recognise the need for flexibility. Many now offer online learning courses alongside on-campus options, giving you the freedom to pursue your degree wherever you are. This means you can continue working, manage personal commitments, or even learn at your own pace.
5. Work and Study Part-time
What if you prefer more flexibility in your lifestyle? Maybe you want to have the best of both worlds by being able to work and study, so that you can earn money and upgrade your knowledge and skills at the same time. If so, there are part-time degree courses that you can take, where you can attend the classes after working hours or during the weekends. They allow you to maximise your time and build up your task management skills, among other benefits.
It may interest you to know that PSB Academy offers part-time courses across a wide variety of disciplines, as mentioned earlier.
What's the Next Chapter in Your Story?
Your diploma is just the beginning of a bigger journey. Whether you choose to take a break, step into the workforce, or pursue higher education, there are many ways to shape your future. What matters most is aligning your next move with your goals and aspirations.
Ready to explore your options further? Enquire now to discover how PSB Academy can support your next step.
