Representing S’pore in global competition & exchange in Paris: here’s how NYP opens doors for alumni

An exchange semester in Paris.

An offer and a scholarship to study at the National University of Singapore.

A unique diploma journey that allows you to fast-track your university journey and earn industry-recognised certifications.

From April 2026, all of these benefits could be yours — professional opportunities, international experiences, and university preparation — as part of a new initiative at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) called “Go Beyond”.

According to the polytechnic, the initiative will offer all NYP students the flexibility to customise their diploma journey by choosing pathways that align with their personal aspirations and priorities.

You can choose from three pathways: Professional, International, and University.

You can also choose more than one pathway, with most programmes counting towards graduation credit-requirements and are excluded from Grade Point Average (GPA) computation.

Plus, you will not need to take on heavier academic workloads, thereby allowing you to participate in co-curricular activities without stretching yourself.

Eager to find out more about the pathways? There is no better way than to hear from three alumni who have participated in the programmes.

Here is what they shared with Mothership.

Professional Pathway

Under this pathway, students can immerse themselves fully in the real world and develop their skills through a year-long internship.

Alternatively, they can embark on a 12-week internship with a Final-Year Project (FYP) or a Teaching Enterprise Project (TEP).

For recent graduate Yong Kai Qi, the combination of an internship with a final-year project, additional industry-recognised certifications, and the opportunity to compete on the global stage are what made NYP’s Diploma in Information Technology (IT) unique and rewarding for her.

Yong currently works as a software engineer with the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT), a technical agency under the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

Speaking to Mothership, Yong shared that during her time at NYP, she completed a 12-week internship with CSIT, during which she honed her technical skills and received guidance from her project mentor in a real-world setting.

In 2019, she also represented Singapore in the skill category of IT Software Solutions for Business at the 45th WorldSkills Competition.

At the competition, known as the “Olympics of real-world skills,” Yong won a Medallion of Excellence, placing her among the world’s top young talents.

In the same year, Yong also earned the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Cloud Practitioner certification, which provided a strong foundation before delving deeper into her cloud computing modules.

Yong’s internship, industry certification, and international competition experience eventually helped her secure the CSIT Undergraduate Scholarship and a place in the Computer Science programme at the National University of Singapore (NUS) before entering the workforce.

Another advantage of choosing the Professional Pathway is that students can earn industry certification from professional bodies as part of their coursework at NYP.

For some students, this means that they are exempted from qualification exams, relieving them of the stress and time spent on exam preparation.

For example, Leonard Wong, a graduate of the Class of 2025, said he was exempted from the qualification exams of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), Singapore’s national accountancy body.

“This gave me a significant academic and professional start, setting me up for both immediate career opportunities and further studies,” shared Wong.

Wong is currently pursuing a double degree in Accountancy and Business Management at the Singapore Management University (SMU).

International Pathway

Beyond professional opportunities, Wong also testified that he was able to broaden his horizons through programmes that will come under the new International Pathway.

Under this pathway, students can choose to undertake the Overseas Student Exchange Programme (OSEP) or Overseas Internship Programme (OITP).

For OSEP, they can participate in a semester-long exchange at over 60 universities across 17 countries, including in France, Switzerland, and South Korea.

Alternatively, students can take up a 12- to 24-week overseas placement at one of NYP’s partner organisations overseas, including Hong Kong Disneyland and Four Seasons Tokyo Otemachi, by participating in the OITP.

As part of their placement, students will be able to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and gain hands-on experience in an international business environment, said NYP.

For Wong, he went on a semester-long exchange at EDC Paris Business School in France during his time at NYP, through which he connected with peers from around the world and travelled across Europe.

“It boosted my cultural intelligence as well as adaptability and gave me a unique perspective on how different cultures approach work and life,” added Wong.

University Pathway

The third option students can choose is the University Pathway, under which they can undertake the University Preparatory Mentorship (UPM) programme.

The programme aims to help prepare students for successful university admissions, including offering advice on scholarships, interview preparation, and portfolio development.

Students can further choose three specialised programmes under UPM, which include the University Pathway Programme (UPP), the University Foundation Programme (UFP), or the Diploma Plus Programme (DPP).

Students can continue to leverage the UPM for one year after graduation.

Which programme to choose?

Students seeking a streamlined transition to a local university can undertake the UPP, which may lead to early conditional university offers and/or accelerate degree attainment.

One example of success is Lim Qing Ying, a third-year student pursuing a Diploma in Electronic and Computer Engineering at NYP.

According to Lim, she was able to secure a conditional offer and a scholarship from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) through her FYP, which involved a collaboration between NYP and SUTD.

Alternatively, students can enrol in the University Foundation Programme, which aims to equip them with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a university environment.

Finally, those with established academic interests can enrol in the Diploma Plus Programme, which may exempt them from modules at local autonomous universities, saving them time and money down the road.

Find out more at NYP’s Open House

If you are keen to learn more about NYP’s Go Beyond initiative and its pathways, head to NYP’s Open House 2026, now till Jan. 10.

Besides exploring NYP’s programmes, facilities, and student life, you can also receive NYP-themed merchandise, enjoy free treats, participate in hands-on workshops, and catch performances staged by NYP students.

You can find out more about NYP’s Open House here and follow its Instagram here.

NYP Open House

Address: 180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, Singapore 569830

Time: Jan 9: 12pm to 10pm | Jan. 10: 10am to 6pm

This branded article by Nanyang Polytechnic made this writer want to head back to school.

Top images via Nanyang Polytechnic