Q: What does What Can I Study With My JC Subjects? cover? A: A reverse-lookup guide organised by A-Level subject combination - showing which NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, and SIT degree programmes each common combo unlocks, with bridging module flags where a missing subject can be compensated.
TL;DR Most combinations open the widest range of options when they include H2 Mathematics. Science-heavy combinations (PCME, BCME, PCM) unlock engineering, computing, and health programmes. Arts/humanities combinations can still access business, law, social sciences, and some computing tracks. This guide is a planning tool. Always verify requirements on official admissions pages - requirements change across intakes and the tables below are a starting point, not a substitute.
Status: Last reviewed 2026-03-28. Verify requirements from official admissions pages for your intake year.
If you have...
Read this first
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H2 Mathematics keeps the widest range of university doors open.
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Check PCME, BCME, PCM, arts combinations, H2 Mathematics, H2 Physics, H2 Biology, H2 Chemistry, computing, medicine, engineering, law, bridging modules, and official prerequisites.
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Use this as a first filter only: subject eligibility, grade profiles, and course fit all need separate checks before choosing.
Concrete example
PCME keeps engineering and computing open, but medicine usually needs H2 Biology or explicit official confirmation.
Best next step
Pick your target course family, then verify prerequisites on the university's own admissions page.
Grades still apply. Meeting prerequisites only means you are eligible to be considered. IGP cut-offs are a separate constraint. Use https://eclatinstitute.sg/igp-comparison to check indicative grade profiles.
Combination labels (PCME, BCME, etc.) are shorthand used in this guide; they are not official MOE designations.
P C M E is one of the most common Science-stream combinations in Singapore JCs. It keeps a very wide range of university doors open.
What PCME unlocks
Course family
NUS
NTU
SMU
SUTD
SIT
Engineering (all disciplines)
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
Unlocked
Unlocked
Computing / CS / Data Science
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Business / Accountancy / Economics
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
Unlocked
Architecture
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
-
-
Science (Chemistry/Physics/Maths tracks)
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
-
-
Law
Unlocked
-
Unlocked
-
-
Medicine / Dentistry
Gap (no H2 Bio)
Gap (no H2 Bio)
-
-
-
Pharmacy / Nursing
Gap (no H2 Bio)
Gap (no H2 Bio)
-
-
-
Key gap: No H2 Biology. Many clinical and life-science programmes at NUS and NTU list H2 Biology as a prerequisite or as recommended assumed knowledge. If you are considering Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, or Biomedical programmes, you will need to verify whether a bridging pathway is available - or consider switching to BCME or taking H2 Biology as an additional subject.
Bridging note: NUS Medicine requires H2 Biology. There is no universally accepted bridging module for this at the point of admission - check the official NUS Yong Soo Lin School of Medicine admissions page for the current intake.
B C M E is a strong Life Sciences and Medical Sciences combination. It sacrifices Physics but adds Biology, shifting eligibility from some physical engineering disciplines toward health and biological science tracks.
Some students take 3 H2 (PCM) with H1 Economics or H1 a Humanities subject. This is a lighter variation of PCME.
What PCM unlocks
The profile is broadly similar to PCME for STEM-facing courses, since the Economics H2 is not a stated prerequisite for most science and engineering programmes. The main difference is:
Business/economics programmes that list H2 Economics as a recommended subject: you are still eligible, but may find Year 1 quantitative modules require more adjustment.
SMU's Lee Kong Chian School of Business does not require H2 Economics as a hard prerequisite - a strong Mathematics background is typically more relevant.
For the STEM faculties, treat PCM as equivalent to PCME for eligibility purposes (then verify).
P C M B (sometimes with Further Mathematics instead of a humanities subject) is taken by students aiming for both clinical and engineering pathways, or students who want maximum STEM optionality.
What PCMB unlocks
This combination unlocks essentially all prerequisite-dependent STEM degree families:
Engineering (all disciplines at NUS, NTU, SUTD, SIT)
Computing / CS / Data Science / AI
Medicine / Dentistry (NUS, NTU - subject to additional selection components)
Contrasting subject: Most JCs require a contrasting subject. A pure four-science combo without any Humanities/Arts H2 may not be permitted at some JCs - verify with your school's subject combination booklet.
H E L M (and variants like HELM with Geography instead of History, or without H2 Math) represents the Arts-stream combination with Mathematics retained. It is one of the strongest humanities combinations for students who want access to quantitative degree families.
What HELM unlocks
Course family
NUS
NTU
SMU
SUTD
SIT
Law
Unlocked
-
Unlocked
-
-
Business / Accountancy / Economics
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
Unlocked
Computing / CS / Data Science
Unlocked (H2 Math satisfies)
Unlocked (H2 Math satisfies)
Unlocked
Partially (check Physics req)
Unlocked
Social Sciences / Psychology
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
-
Humanities / Liberal Arts
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
-
Communications / Information Studies
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
-
-
Engineering
Gap (no H2 science)
Gap (no H2 science)
-
Gap
Gap
Medicine / Dentistry
Not eligible
Not eligible
-
-
-
Key gap: No H2 science subject. Most engineering and all clinical programmes require at least one H2 science (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology). This is a hard gap that bridging modules generally cannot fill at the point of application.
Computing note: NUS School of Computing lists H2 Mathematics as a prerequisite (no H2 science required for most CS programmes). HELM satisfies this. NTU SCSE similarly accepts H2 Mathematics without a hard science requirement for most tracks - verify at the official admissions pages.
7 | HEM / HEL - Humanities, Economics, Mathematics (no third H2 science)
The HEM or HEL pattern (History/Geography/Literature + Economics + Mathematics, with the fourth subject being H1 or a contrasting subject) is functionally similar to HELM and unlocks the same set of degree families.
Refer to the HELM table above as your baseline. The distinction between H2 Lit and H2 History in this context is minimal for university eligibility - the subject that matters most for access is whether H2 Mathematics is included.
8 | Arts without H2 Mathematics
Students taking combinations like H E Lit (History, Economics, Literature) without H2 Mathematics face a meaningful restriction in quantitative degree families:
Business and Accountancy: NUS Business and NTU NBS do not universally require H2 Mathematics. However, many programmes strongly recommend it, and some tracks (e.g., Double Degree with Computing, or quantitative finance pathways) may make it a prerequisite. SMU likewise recommends Mathematics. Verify by programme.
Computing: Most computing programmes list H2 Mathematics as a prerequisite. Without it, you will typically need a bridging module or proficiency test (e.g., NUS MA1301) before enrolling in core quantitative modules.
Law, Social Sciences, Humanities, Communications: Generally accessible without H2 Mathematics.
9 | Computing as a JC subject (H2 Computing in your combination)
H2 Computing is not a stated prerequisite for most Computing/CS degree programmes in Singapore - H2 Mathematics is typically the core requirement. However, taking H2 Computing in JC:
Demonstrates interest and background to admissions panels (relevant for programmes that use interviews or portfolio components).
Provides genuine preparation for Year 1 programming modules.
Can appear in ABA (Aptitude-Based Admissions) portfolios.
JC availability: Not all JCs offer H2 Computing. Check your school's subject combination booklet. If your JC does not offer it, this does not disadvantage your eligibility - it is not a prerequisite.
10 | Further Mathematics (H2 FM) in your combination
H2 Further Mathematics is taken by a small number of students (usually alongside H2 Mathematics - you cannot replace H2 Math with Further Math). Its main effect on university eligibility:
Direct eligibility: It does not add new eligibility that H2 Mathematics alone would not provide. No NUS/NTU/SMU/SUTD/SIT programme lists H2 Further Mathematics as a prerequisite instead of, or in addition to, H2 Mathematics.
Scholarship and advanced programme advantage: H2 FM is valued in scholarship applications and honours tracks that signal very strong mathematics aptitude (e.g., NUS Science Research Programme, some engineering honours cohorts).
Workload consideration: Taking FM as a fourth H2 is a significant load increase. Under the 2026 UAS, the score from FM counts only if it is one of your top 3 H2s (which is unlikely if you are also taking Physics, Chemistry, and another strong H2).
11 | Combinations with H2 Art, Music, or Drama
Students taking H2 Art, H2 Music, or Theatre Studies and Drama alongside a Mathematics and/or Economics subject are primarily positioned for:
NUS/LASALLE/NAFA design, music, and fine arts programmes (where the subject itself or a portfolio/audition is an entry component)
Business and communications tracks (if H2 Math or sufficient academic subjects are included)
These combinations are highly JC-specific (not all JCs offer H2 Art or Music). If you have this combination and are considering a non-arts degree, check prerequisites as you would for any humanities combination - the main constraint is whether H2 Mathematics is present.
12 | The "2 H2 Sciences" medicine rule - the most misunderstood requirement
This is the single most emotionally charged subject combination question on r/SGExams and in JC counselling sessions.
"Even with 90 RP I would still be unable to study medicine locally because CMEp doesn't meet the requirement of 2 H2 Sciences."
That forum post captures the problem exactly. Many students arrive at A-Level results with a strong score and then discover - too late - that their subject combination makes them ineligible regardless of grades.
The rule: NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine both require 2 H2 science subjects from the group of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. A hybrid combination like CMEp (Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics + H1 Physics) counts Chemistry as 1 H2 science and Physics as an H1 - which satisfies only 1 H2 science. This does not meet the 2 H2 science requirement.
The CMEp trap specifically:
Subject
Level
Counts as H2 science?
H2 Chemistry
H2
Yes - 1 H2 science
H2 Mathematics
H2
No - Mathematics is not a science for this rule
H2 Economics
H2
No - Economics is not a science
H1 Physics
H1
No - H1 does not satisfy the H2 science requirement
CMEp total H2 science count: 1. NUS/NTU Medicine requires: 2. CMEp is ineligible.
BCM with H1 Physics: 2 H2 sciences (Bio + Chem) - eligible, Physics at H1 is fine here
The bridging dead-end: There is no bridging module that fixes a missing H2 science at the point of medicine application. If you are aiming for NUS or NTU Medicine, you must hold 2 H2 sciences before your A-Level results are issued.
A common and high-distress scenario: a student who chose a Humanities or Arts combination in JC and now wants access to engineering, computing, or health programmes.
The most important thing to state clearly: many STEM pathways remain open to Arts stream students, and some do not require you to retake subjects. The answer depends heavily on which STEM field you are targeting.
Pathways that remain open without retaking subjects
Computing and Data Science: NUS School of Computing and NTU SCSE require H2 Mathematics as the core subject - not H2 sciences. If you hold H2 Mathematics in your combination (e.g., HELM, HEM, HEL with Maths), you are eligible for most CS and IS programmes. This is a genuine pathway that Arts stream students consistently overlook.
Business Analytics and Information Systems: SMU, NUS, and NTU all offer analytics and information systems programmes that are accessible with H2 Mathematics and no science requirement. The quantitative intensity of these programmes is real, but the admissions gate is not science-based.
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School: This is a postgraduate medical programme (MD) - it does not require A-Level science prerequisites for application. Entry is based on a relevant bachelor's degree (life sciences, biomedical, or related), strong GRE/MCAT performance, and interview. Arts stream students who complete a relevant undergraduate degree remain eligible. This is a legitimate long-route pathway to medicine that is often omitted from JC-level guidance.
Engineering: All engineering disciplines across NUS, NTU, SUTD, and SIT require H2 Mathematics plus at least one H2 science (Physics or Chemistry). If you do not hold these, the options are:
Polytechnic diploma route - some students enter a polytechnic engineering diploma programme first, then apply to NTU or SIT via the polytechnic entry pathway. Prerequisites are different for diploma holders.
NUS/NTU Medicine (local undergraduate): Requires 2 H2 sciences. The only way to satisfy this from an Arts stream combination is a private candidate retake of the required sciences, or the Duke-NUS postgraduate route above.
Pharmacy: Requires at least H2 Chemistry or H2 Biology. If you hold neither, a private candidate retake or polytechnic diploma in a relevant life science field are the realistic routes.
The honest summary
The Singapore university system creates real constraints based on JC subject choices. Those constraints are not immovable - but addressing them takes time and deliberate planning. If you are currently in JC1 or JC2 and can still modify your combination, do so. If you are post-results, identify which pathways are actually open to you before assuming all STEM doors are closed.
14 | JC-specific subject availability caveat
The tables in this guide show what each combination unlocks - but they assume you can take that combination in the first place. Not all JCs offer all combinations.
Why this matters: Students frequently discover that a combination they want - or that a guide recommends - is not offered at their JC. Some confirmed examples of this pattern from student forums:
"Is the hybrid CMEp offered at TM [Tampines Meridian JC]?" - answers in forums vary, and there is no centralised public source that lists every JC's available combinations.
H2 Further Mathematics is offered at some JCs (including RI, HCI, and VJC) but not all. If you are planning around FM, confirm your target JC offers it before JAE allocation.
H2 Computing availability varies by JC.
Four-H2 combinations (e.g., PCMB) may be subject to JC-level cap rules on the number of students permitted.
What to do: Before finalising your JC preference order in JAE, check the subject combination booklet published by each JC you are considering. These are typically released before the JAE exercise. The booklets list which combinations and subjects are offered and in some cases specify internal prerequisites (e.g., O-Level grades required for H2 Biology).
There is no single MOE or SEAB page that aggregates per-JC subject availability across all 17 JCs - you need to check each JC's own materials.
15 | Applying to UK and Australian universities
If you are applying to universities in the UK or Australia alongside Singapore universities, JC subjects are interpreted differently. This point is consistently unanswered in Singapore student forums, so it is worth stating clearly.
UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, etc.)
UK universities evaluate A-Level subjects on a subject-by-subject basis - they look at which subjects you took and at what grade, not at a composite score like UAS. Key differences:
Specific subject requirements are common and strict. UK medicine, for example, typically requires Chemistry plus one of Biology, Physics, or Maths at A-Level - and these must be at specific grades usuallyAAAorA×AA. The Singapore A-Level H2 subjects are accepted as equivalent to UK A-Levels.
H1 subjects are generally not counted. UK universities typically count H2 subjects as full A-Levels. H1 subjects may be treated as AS-Level equivalents - check with each university whether H1 subjects are accepted and at what weighting.
General Paper is not equivalent to UK English Language or Critical Thinking. UK universities generally do not require GP, but some programmes (especially Humanities) may request evidence of English proficiency separately.
The UAS / rank point score is not used. UK universities calculate their own offer grades based on your H2 subjects and predicted grades. Your UAS is irrelevant to a UK application.
For engineering and computing at UK universities, H2 Mathematics is typically required. H2 Further Mathematics is strongly advantageous for offers at competitive programmes (Imperial, UCL, Warwick Engineering).
Australian universities (ANU, University of Melbourne, Monash, etc.)
Australian universities use the ATAR (or equivalent) system for domestic students, but for Singapore A-Level applicants they typically map your results to an ATAR equivalent. Key points:
Subject requirements vary. Some Australian engineering programmes require Mathematics Methods (their equivalent of H2 Math), and some health programmes require Biology and/or Chemistry. The H2 equivalency is generally accepted.
H1 subjects may or may not count. Check with the specific university whether H1 subjects are included in their scoring formula for international applicants.
Some universities accept direct entry. ANU and University of Melbourne, for example, accept Singapore A-Level results directly. The relevant consideration is whether your H2 subjects satisfy the programme's content prerequisites.
The key practical point: If you are applying to UK or Australian universities, research subject requirements for each target programme independently - do not assume Singapore admissions rules transfer. Some combinations that work perfectly for NUS may still leave gaps for UK or Australian programme requirements, and vice versa.
16 | When bridging modules can fill a gap
Bridging modules are official, university-administered programmes that allow students to satisfy a prerequisite knowledge gap after admission. They are not available for all gaps and are not universal across universities. The most established bridging pathways in Singapore are:
What bridging cannot fix: Hard prerequisites that universities do not offer bridging for (e.g., H2 Biology for NUS Medicine). If a programme has no bridging pathway and you are missing the prerequisite, you will typically need to address this at the subject combination stage - not after results release.
