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Q: I’m an IB Diploma student in Singapore. How do I pick subjects without accidentally closing university options? A: Treat it as a verification problem. Pick a “default plan” that matches your likely degree family, then check the official admissions pages (and any subject prerequisite PDFs) for the specific universities/programmes you’d realistically apply to.
TL;DR IB requirements aren’t “one rule”. Eligibility, subject prerequisites, and assumed knowledge can differ by university and programme. Your fastest, safest move is to pick a default plan (STEM-flexible vs humanities vs health) and then verify the exact rules on the official pages linked below.
Status: Last reviewed 2026-01-23. Requirements can change across cohorts, programmes, and admissions cycles, so always double-check the official sources linked in this guide.
Programme prerequisites: Subject/level requirements for a specific degree (e.g., a programme requiring a particular subject background). For NUS, the clearest way to verify is their IB subject prerequisite PDF (May 2021 and beyond):
Assumed knowledge / recommended background: You might be eligible, but the programme expects you to already have certain foundations. If you don’t, you may need bridging or you may struggle in Year 1.
Practical takeaway: don’t stop at “my IB score is good enough”. Verify subjects and levels early, not after you’ve locked your subject combination.
2 | Pick a “default plan” (so the rest of your decisions get easier)
Most IB students get stuck because they try to keep every option open.
Instead, pick one default plan and only deviate when you’ve verified you won’t need that prerequisite.
Default plan A: STEM-flexible (computing / engineering / science)
Use this if you’re not 100% sure which STEM degree you’ll choose, but you want to keep STEM-heavy doors open.
Keep a maths pathway that stays compatible with STEM programmes you might apply to (verify the exact level/subject requirements per programme).
Keep at least one science pathway that matches your likely course family (again, verify per programme).
If you’re undecided, optimise for sustainability: the best default plan is the one you can execute for two years without burning out.
Default plan B: Humanities / social sciences / business (with optional “quant backup”)
Use this if you’re confident you’re not aiming for science-prerequisite degrees.
Optimise for subjects you can score well in and sustain (writing-heavy courses reward consistency).
If you might pivot into econs/analytics later, consider whether your maths choice keeps that door open (verify on the programme prerequisites).
Default plan C: Health / clinical (high-stakes; verify early)
If you’re aiming for medicine/health pathways, don’t assume a “generic science combo” is enough.
Start with your target universities’ official pages and write down the exact prerequisite wording (subject + level).
If in doubt, stay conservative until you verify.
3 | The 30-minute verification workflow (what to do next)
Step 1: Decide the university list you’d actually apply to
Start with: NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS.
Step 2: Open the official IB admission pages (eligibility)
Double-check whether an alternative is acceptable (some official pages mention accepted alternatives).
4 | A note on the Singapore MTL requirement (don’t leave this late)
Many students only realise the MTL requirement near application time — especially if they have a non-standard background (overseas schooling, exemptions, MTL-in-lieu, etc.).
