Choosing JC subjects · University admissions

JC Subject Combinations: Which University Courses Each One Keeps Open

Compiled by Kirby Ng, H2 Economics tutor at Higher Nucleus Learning Studio, who maintains our Rank Point Calculator. Subject requirements checked September 2026 against NUS, NTU and SMU sources.

Twelve combinations compared

Each row counts how many of the 77 courses a student with that combination can apply to on subject requirements alone. "Open with an O-Level condition" means the course accepts an O-Level pass, usually Additional Mathematics, in place of an A-Level subject the combination lacks. These are representative combinations, not a list of what every junior college offers; check your own school's list.

What the numbers show

Mathematics is the widest gate

23 of the 77 courses require H2 Mathematics (or H2 Further Mathematics) and cannot be reached with H1 Mathematics. They include NUS Engineering, Computer Engineering, Business Analytics and Data Science and Economics, almost every NTU engineering course, NTU Computer Engineering and Data Science and AI, and NTU Economics and Data Science. Drop mathematics entirely and the number closed rises to 28, because courses such as NTU Economics and Psychology ask for a good grade in H1 Mathematics. If you are weighing H2 Mathematics against H1, this is the decision with the largest consequence on the page.

Chemistry is the gate to medicine and pharmacy

7 courses cannot be reached without H2 Chemistry: NUS Medicine, NUS Dentistry, NUS Pharmaceutical Science, NUS Pharmacy, NTU Medicine, NTU Process Engineering and Synthetic Chemistry and NTU Chemistry & Biological Chem. No other science is required as often. For Medicine at NUS and NTU, and for NUS Dentistry, H2 Biology or H2 Physics is accepted as the second science, so Chemistry is the fixed point. See our H2 Chemistry programme.

Physics, Biology and Computing are usually interchangeable

Only one course, NTU Physics / Applied Physics, requires H2 Physics specifically. Elsewhere, Physics appears as one option among several: most NTU engineering courses accept H2 Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Computing alongside H2 Mathematics. That is why swapping Physics for Biology (BCME instead of PCME) closed a single course in our comparison. Taking H2 Physics matters most for students aiming at physics itself or who want to avoid the bridging course NUS sets for Computer Engineering students without it.

Arts combinations are shaped by mathematics, not by the arts subjects

H2 Economics, History and Literature with H1 Mathematics kept 37 courses open. Replace H1 Mathematics with H1 Biology and the figure falls to 22, recovering to 32 only if the student also meets O-Level conditions such as Additional Mathematics. Economics sits comfortably in either stream; our guide to H1 and H2 Economics explains the difference in workload.

Many courses name no A-Level subject at all

21 of the 77 courses ask for nothing beyond General Paper (often at a minimum grade) or name no specific subject, including most SMU programmes, NUS Law and NTU's humanities and social sciences. For these, admission turns on grades and, for some courses, interviews or tests, not on subject choice. 10 courses accept O-Level Additional Mathematics as an alternative route.

Check your own combination

Choose your H2 and H1 subjects. The result updates instantly and lists every course by status. Nothing you enter leaves this page.

Course by course: what each one asks for

All 77 courses with their subject requirement in our own words, and how many of the twelve combinations above keep each one open. Always confirm against the university's list before you apply.

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How we built this, and its limits

We encoded each course's published requirement as a rule (for example, "H2 Chemistry, and H2 Biology or H2 Physics") and tested every combination against every rule. The same code runs the checker above, so the table and the checker cannot disagree.

Download the full dataset, including each machine-readable rule and the result for all twelve combinations: hn-subject-combinations-AY2025-26.csv.

Frequently asked questions

What is a JC subject combination?

A subject combination is the set of A-Level subjects a junior college student takes. Most students take three H2 subjects and one H1 content subject, alongside H1 General Paper; some take four H2 subjects. Universities set subject prerequisites for many courses, so the combination chosen in JC1 decides which courses remain open two years later.

Which JC subject combination keeps the most university courses open?

Of the twelve combinations we checked, H2 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with H1 Economics (often called PCME) kept the most open: 72 of the 77 NUS, NTU and SMU courses we track met their subject requirements, and none was closed. H2 Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics with H1 Economics (BCME) kept 71 open; the only course it closed was NTU Physics / Applied Physics.

Do I need H2 Mathematics for university in Singapore?

Not for every course, but for many. Of the 77 courses we track, 23 are closed to a student whose highest mathematics is H1, and 28 are closed to a student with no A-Level mathematics at all. Most engineering, data science and mathematics courses at NUS and NTU require H2 Mathematics or Further Mathematics; several computing courses accept H2 Physics or Computing, or a good pass in H1 Mathematics, instead.

Which A-Level subjects do I need for Medicine in Singapore?

Both NUS and NTU Medicine require an H2 pass in Chemistry and an H2 pass in either Biology or Physics. NUS also requires Medicine to be ranked as a first or second choice, and NTU requires the UCAT. Both courses interview shortlisted applicants.

Can I study engineering without H2 Physics?

Yes, on subject requirements. NUS Engineering requires H2 Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Most NTU engineering courses require H2 Mathematics plus one H2 science, which can be Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Computing. NUS asks Computer Engineering students without H2 Physics to take a Physics bridging course after admission.

Does O-Level Additional Mathematics still matter after JC?

For some courses, yes. 10 of the 77 courses we track accept an O-Level Additional Mathematics pass as an alternative to A-Level mathematics, including NUS Business Administration and NTU Business and Accountancy. It does not replace H2 Mathematics where H2 Mathematics is required.

Does an H2 pass count towards an H1 requirement in the same subject?

We assume it does, and this page counts it that way. The NUS and NTU lists do not state the rule in one sentence, but NTU's own footnote applies the same logic to Physics. If a course you want depends on this point, confirm it with the university's admissions office.

Is meeting the subject requirements enough to get in?

No. Subject requirements decide whether you are eligible to be considered. Admission also depends on your grades against the course's Indicative Grade Profile, and many courses add interviews, tests or portfolios. Use our Rank Point Calculator to compare your expected grades with each course.

How up to date is this information?

The prerequisites were checked in September 2026 against the NUS list dated December 2025, the NTU list dated February 2026 and SMU's admissions requirements page. The 77 courses are those in our Rank Point Calculator, which uses the AY2025/26 Indicative Grade Profiles.

Sources

• National University of Singapore, Programme Prerequisites for Applicants with Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Results (information accurate as of December 2025).
• Nanyang Technological University, Minimum Subject Requirements for Students with Singapore-Cambridge GCE 'A' Level (information correct as at February 2026).
• Singapore Management University, Admissions requirements (checked September 2026).
• Higher Nucleus, IGP and prerequisite dataset, AY2025/26, version 2.