Direct School Admission (DSA) 2026
1. Introduction
Introduced in 2004, the DSA scheme provides students with the opportunity to seek admission to Nanyang Girls’ High School (NYGH), based on a diverse range of academic and non-academic achievements and talents that they can demonstrate beyond the PSLE.
Primary 6 students who wish to seek admission to NYGH based on their achievements and talents can consider applying through DSA. Otherwise, students will take part in the Secondary 1 Posting Exercise, whereby admission is based on their PSLE results.
Students who have been successfully allocated to NYGH via DSA will NOT be allowed to participate in the Secondary 1 Posting Exercise to opt for other secondary schools as places have already been reserved for them in NYGH. They will also NOT be allowed to transfer to another school after the release of the PSLE results. NYGH runs the six-year Integrated Programme in partnership with HCI. They are expected to honour the commitment to NYGH from Year 1 to 4 and to Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) from Year 5 to 6.
Students admitted to NYGH via DSA-CCA are expected to honour the commitment in the CCA from Year 1 to 4. They are allowed to choose another CCA in Year 5 to 6 if they are interested in a new CCA.
Students admitted to NYGH via DSA (Bilingualism or Service Leadership) are expected to honour their commitment to participate in the respective domain's programmes from Year 1 to 4 and prioritise these programmes over others.
Parents and students are encouraged to choose schools wisely based on the student’s aptitude and strengths, bearing in mind NYGH’s academic and non-academic requirements, and the programmes available to develop the area of talent.
2. Important Dates
| No. | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from 6 May 2026, 11 am to 2 June 2026, 4.30 pm. For more details, please refer to MOE’s website. | 6 May 2026, 11 am to 2 Jun 2026, 4.30 pm |
| 2 | NYGH conducts trials/ auditions* for shortlisted applicants who have applied for the Aesthetics, Sports and Games-related talent areas. *Dates for trials/ auditions will be published on the school website by early June. |
10 to 31 July 2026 |
| 3 | NYGH conducts selection tests for shortlisted applicants who have applied to the Bilingualism talent area. | 10 Jul 2026 |
| 4 | Shortlisted applicants who have applied for the Service Leadership talent area are to submit their personal statements. Further details will be sent to shortlisted applicants at least 1 week before the submission date. |
15 Jul 2026 |
| You will receive notification from the school by 10 Jul 2026 if your child has been shortlisted to undergo Direct School Admission (DSA) selection. | ||
| 6 | NYGH conducts interviews for shortlisted applicants who have cleared the first round of selection through trials/ auditions/ tests/ personal statements. | 1 & 8 Aug 2026 |
| 7 | All applicants receive outcome of the selection exercise. | Between 17 to 28 Aug 2026 |
| 8 | Students who receive at least one DSA offer may indicate up to three school preferences. They can submit their school preferences through the MOE online system or in hardcopy to their primary schools. | 19 Oct 2026, 9 am to 23 Oct 2026, 4.30 pm |
| 9 | The results of the DSA Exercise will be released to students on the same day as the release of PSLE results. | Late November 2026 |
3. Talent Areas
The talent areas offered by NYGH in the 2026 DSA-Sec exercise for admission into Secondary 1 in 2027 are:
| Talent Areas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bilingualism | ||
| Service Leadership | ||
| Aesthetics | • Chinese Calligraphy • Chinese Dance • Chinese Orchestra* • Concert Band** • Guzheng Ensemble • Lion and Dragon Dance*** • String Ensemble**** |
|
| Sports and Games |
• Badminton • Basketball • Netball • Softball • Table Tennis |
• Tennis • Track and Field • Volleyball • Wushu |
*Chinese Orchestra is accepting DSA applications for the following instruments: 弦乐 (Bowed strings), 阮 (Ruan), 柳琴 (Liuqin), 笙 (Sheng), 唢呐 (Suona), 笛子 (Dizi), 琵琶 (Pipa), 扬琴 (Yangqin), Cello, Double Bass, Percussion
**Concert Band is accepting DSA applications for the following instruments: Flute/ Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Saxophone
***Lion and Dragon Dance is accepting DSA applications for the following roles: 狮头 (the head), 狮尾 (the tail)
****String Ensemble is accepting DSA applications for the following instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
4. Application Requirements of Each Talent Area
Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. Please refer to MOE’s website on application requirements.
The talent areas offered in NYGH in the 2026 DSA exercise for 2027 Secondary 1 admission are:
| Talent Areas | Trials/ Auditions | Personal Statement | Selection Tests | Interview (for selected shortlisted applicants only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilingualism | - | - | Required | Required |
| Service Leadership | - | Required | - | Required |
| Aesthetics • Chinese Calligraphy • Chinese Dance • Chinese Orchestra • Concert Band • Guzheng Ensemble • Lion and Dragon Dance • String Ensemble |
Required | - | - | Required |
| Sports and Games • Badminton • Basketball • Netball • Softball • Table Tennis • Tennis • Track and Field • Volleyball • Wushu |
Required | - | - | Required |
5. Selection Criteria
- Passion and aptitude in the specific talent area
- Performance at selection tests/ trials/ auditions
- Performance at interviews
- Academic ability (to manage the IP curriculum)
- Character and leadership disposition
Meeting all the criteria does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted or given an offer.
Applicants who do not have prior experience may also apply. We will assess applicants based on the selection criteria, which may include assessing the potential of the applicants.
6. School Fees
School fees per month (Year 2026)
| Nationality | Sec 1 | Sec 2 | Sec 3 | Sec 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Citizens | S$300 | S$300 | S$340 | S$340 |
| Singapore Permanent Residents | S$1,020 | S$1,020 | S$1,020 | S$1,020 |
| International Students from ASEAN Countries | S$1,580.50** | S$1,580.50** | S$1,580.50** | S$1,580.50** |
| International Students from Non-ASEAN Countries | S$2,540.00** | S$2,540.00** | S$2,540.00** | S$2,540.00** |
** These rates are inclusive of the prevailing GST.
Note :The above the school fee rates are updated as of April 2026. Any update in rates will be published on the school website once the new rates are confirmed (where applicable).
Miscellaneous fees
| All students | S$750 per year |
Students who are recipients of MOE Awards
| Students in the Art Elective Programme (AEP), recipients of Edusave Scholarships for Independent Schools (ESIS) | Sec 1 to Sec 4 MOE School Fee Subsidy: S$200 per month |
7. Financial Assistance
NYGH is committed to ensuring that no deserving student is denied the opportunity to our Nanyang Experience due to financial circumstances at home. Financial assistance schemes such as the MOE Independent School Bursary (MOE ISB), school-administered financial assistance schemes, as well as other bursaries provided by well-wishers and external institutions are available to help our needy students continue with their education and motivate them to strive for greater accomplishments.
UPLIFT Scholarship
With effect from 2026, students who are Singapore citizens from low-income families admitted to Independent Schools (ISs) through DSA or are receiving the Edusave Scholarships for Independent Schools may apply for the UPLIFT Scholarship. Students from families with Gross Household Income (GHI) up to $5,500 or gross monthly household per capita income (PCI) less than or equal $1,375 (PCI=GHI divided by number of household members). The scholarship provides a cash award of $1,200 per annum. The tenure of the scholarship will be for the full duration of studies in the ISs subject to students meeting the annual renewal criteria.
MOE Independent School Bursary (MOE ISB)
Eligibility Criteria
- Student must be a Singapore Citizen.
- Satisfy either the monthly Gross Household Income (GHI) or the Per Capita Income (PCI) criteria.
Income Criteria & Benefits
The income criteria and benefits are as shown in the table below:
| Income Criteria | MOE ISB | What it mean |
|---|---|---|
| GHI ≤ S$4,000; or PCI ≤ S$1,000 |
Tier 1 subsidy ~ 100% subsidy |
Students pay S$0 of school & miscellaneous fee per month. In addition, they will receive : • Free textbooks and school attire • Full subsidy of national exam fees • Transport Subsidy (for students taking public transport) • Meal Subsidy |
| GHI $4,001 - $5,500;; or PCI $1001 - $1,375 |
Tier 2 subsidy ~ the fees will be covered by the MOE ISB and the MOE School-Based FAS |
Students pay S$0 of school & miscellaneous fee per month |
| GHI $5,501 - $9,000; or PCI $1,376 - $2,250 |
Tier 3 subsidy ~ student pays 1.5x GGAS fee |
Students will pay S$37.50 per month MOE will subsidize the remaining school & miscellaneous fee |
| GHI$9,001 - $12,000; or PCI $2,251 - $3,000 |
Tier 4 subsidy ~ 33% subsidy of school and miscellaneous fees |
Lower Sec Students will pay S$242.87 per month. Upper Sec Students will pay S$269.67 per month. MOE will subsidize the remaining 33% of school & miscellaneous fee |
Nanyang Girls' School Financial Assistance Scheme (NYGH FAS)
Students who do not qualify for the MOE ISB or MOE ISB recipients who wish to apply for financial assistance for other fees may apply for such assistance under the NYGH FAS.
The MOE ISB and NYGH FAS application forms will be available on the school website from December 2026.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the admission cut-off point for 2026 Secondary 1 students (annual posting exercise)?
For 2026 Secondary 1 admission, the cut-off was AL 6(M). - How many Secondary 1 students will be accepted in 2027?
The projected number is 390. - What is the NYGH-HCI Integrated Programme (IP)?
NYGH runs the six-year Integrated Programme in partnership with Hwa Chong Institution (HCI). The IP is a six-year enriched curriculum that equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to proceed directly to the A-Level programme in HCI. Students who have been successfully allocated to NYGH via DSA are expected to honour the commitment to NYGH from Year 1 to 4 and to HCI from Year 5 to 6. - Does the school offer the Art Elective Programme (AEP) and the Music Elective Programme (MEP)?
NYGH offers the AEP. It is a four-year programme and students in the programme enjoy a fee subsidy as AEP is an MOE-initiated programme.
Though our school is not an MEP centre, we offer our own four-year Higher Music Programme (HMP) which is modelled after the MEP. However, students in our HMP do not enjoy a fee subsidy unless they are on ESIS. - What would the learning experience be like for students who enrol through DSA (Bilingualism or Service Leadership)
DSA-Bilingualism
To nurture the DSA (Bilingualism) students to be effectively bilingual and bicultural, the school offers programmes beyond the classroom. The Lower Secondary students will attend fortnightly NY Enrich lessons to further develop their communication skills as well as appreciation for culture and literature.
At upper secondary, it is mandatory for DSA (Bilingualism) students to read Literature in Chinese as part of the Chinese Language Elective Programme (CLEP). They will participate in CLEP either as an MOE scholar or non-scholar. For students who have broader interests, they can choose to additionally opt for the Humanities Programme (HP) or Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP). Students are selected into these two programmes based on their passion and aptitude.
DSA-Service Leadership
The Service Leadership Direct School Admission (DSA) Programme seeks to nurture leaders who place service at the heart of leadership. Students will be provided with varied authentic learning experiences to develop their 21st century competencies and leadership qualities. The training sessions will cover concepts of leadership and give the students opportunities to work in teams with like-minded students to identify needs in their community and devise solutions to meet those needs. Mentoring will be provided to develop the leadership potential of the students. - Who should I contact for more information and further enquiries?
For DSA matters, please email us at nygh_dsa@nygh.edu.sg. The email inbox will be unmanned after 15 September 2026 till 31 March 2027.