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There is a growing number of polytechnic students in Singapore seeking overseas university experiences, mainly in Britain and Europe, driven by greater access to information and a desire for broader exposure. This comes as more students are choosing the polytechnic route despite qualifying for junior college, and local university enrolment for them has risen, with one-third of poly graduates matriculating at local universities. SP said its students can consult education and career coaches for guidance on overseas university applications as well as writing personal statements. Some diploma holders decide to pursue courses overseas because the local options do not suit their interests and specialisations. Chiyo Tan, 22, a biotechnology alumna from SP, is now a third-year undergraduate studying veterinary medicine and surgery at Britain’s University of Edinburgh. Her polytechnic helped with her personal statement. She also hired a consultant, TheRightU, to help with the administrative details of applying to a university overseas. SP alumnus Gabriel Lee, 23, who studied electrical and electronic engineering, is waiting to embark on his undergraduate studies in the same discipline at the University of Edinburgh. He received a scholarship from the Defence Science and Technology Agency which covered the full cost of overseas studies. TP said more of its alumni are qualifying for admission to top universities overseas, without giving exact figures. An NP spokesperson said there has been an “almost threefold increase” in graduates going to these universities in the last decade, compared with the decade before. All five polytechnics highlighted ways they support students who want to study overseas. These include workshops, overseas exchange programmes, and in-house education and career coaches. NP organises virtual seminars with overseas university representatives. RP holds workshops on portfolio development, interview skills and personal statement writing.