Last Updated: 22 September 2022

GEB Special Programmes

These out-of-school enrichment programmes are organised in close partnership with institutional and community partners for strongly motivated high-ability students. Learn about the different programmes available.

The GEB Special Programmes are out-of-school enrichment provisions organised by the Gifted Education Branch (GEB) in close partnership with institutes of higher learning, research centres, industries and community groups. They are meant for strong-motivated high-ability students, and aim to deepen their interest in areas of passion, develop their domain strengths and capacity to make a positive difference to their fields of study and community.

These programmes offer students with strong motivation and aptitude in specific disciplines valuable opportunities to develop their interests and talents under the guidance of academics and practising professionals, and in the company of like-minded peers.

There are 7 Special Programmes that cover a range of fields and areas of inquiry:

Creative writing.
Research in Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics.
Writing of public policies and parliamentary Bills.
Interdisciplinary problem-solving and innovation.

These are offered mainly to students in secondary schools and junior colleges, except for the Innovation Programme which is also extended to students in primary schools.

Most of the programmes have a mentorship component where students will:

Interact and learn from experts.
Engage in deep and sustained inquiry in their area of interest.
Apply advanced knowledge and skills in authentic contexts.

These Special Programmes encourage self-directed and collaborative learning, and the development of authentic products that can contribute to relevant fields of study and community.

Creative Arts Programme (CAP)

Objectives of the programme

This programme nurtures students with creative writing talent.

It aims to:

Expose participants to local literature and other forms of art.
Enable participants to understand and appreciate the local, regional and global literature scene.
Provide participants with the opportunity to pursue their interests, and to learn and work together with like-minded peers.
Provide opportunities for participants who show commitment to and potential in writing to be mentored by a published author.
Instil in participants a sense of the writer's responsibility to society and the impact of the written word on the well-being of others.

Who it is for

Talented young writers who are in these levels:

Secondary 2 and Secondary 3, or Year 2 and Year 3 of the Integrated Programme (IP).
JC 1, IP Year 5, Pre-U 1 or Pre-U 2.

Structure

The programme has 2 tiers:

Creative Arts Seminar: This includes writing workshops, plenary sessions and forums, and performance workshops.
Mentorship attachment: Over 9 months, selected participants from the Seminar will work under and learn from the guidance of writers to hone their writing skills. The works of the mentees will be published in an annual publication, Eye on the World.

Programme partners

CAP is jointly organised by GEB, MOE and Yale-NUS College.

When it is

Creative Arts Seminar: Usually starts in end May or early June.
Creative Writing Mentorship attachment: Usually starts in September.

How to apply

You need to submit a portfolio of your writing by the specified deadlines for both the Creative Arts Seminar and the Creative Writing Mentorship.

Participants will be selected based on the quality of their portfolio and their teachers' recommendation.

Learn more about the Creative Arts Programme and its application process.

Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme (HSSRP)

Objectives of the programme

HSSRP offers participants with opportunities to engage in research under the guidance of Expert-Mentors in the various fields in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

It aims to:

Extend and deepen participants' understanding of the individual and society through an examination of human experiences and interaction in the fields of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Equip participants with knowledge of research methods used in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Develop in participants an awareness of the social responsibilities and ethics of researchers and commitment to use research for the greater good.
Develop participants' skills in communication, interpretation, linking and synthesising domains of knowledge, and imbuing facts with meaning and value.
Nurture in participants a passion for independent learning.

Who it is for

Students who are passionate about and show aptitude in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

They should also be in Year 3 and Year 4 in schools offering School-based Gifted Education (SBGE) or the Integrated Programme (IP).

Structure

The programme has 5 components:

Mentorship attachment: Participants work with their Expert-Mentors on projects based on a topic. Typically, there will be at least 3 discussion sessions between Expert-Mentor and participants, excluding correspondence and editing of reports.
Research workshops: Workshops help participants level up on relevant research skills and knowledge. They also get feedback on their research from trainers and peers.
Project Review: Participants present their papers to a review panel of subject experts and get feedback for improvement.
HSSRP Symposium: Participants share their research findings with other participants and prospective applicants, either at the Main Symposium Panel or at concurrent sessions.
HSSRP Publication: Participants submit their papers to the HSSRP Organising Committee for selection for inclusion in the yearly HSSRP Publication. Selection of projects for publication is complemented by Teacher-Mentor and Expert-Mentor evaluation.

Programme partners

HSSRP is jointly organised by GEB, MOE and the following partner institutions:

ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
National Institute of Education
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
School of Humanities
School of Social Sciences
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Division of Social Sciences, Yale-NUS College
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Singapore Management University (SMU)
School of Social Sciences
Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
Centre for University Core
School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences
S R Nathan School of Human Development
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

When it is

January: Start of HSSRP Mentorship.
August: Project Review.
Early November: HSSRP Symposium.

How to apply

Check with your school for more information. Schools offering SBGE or IP will receive the information in October. Applications are due in November.

Innovation Programme (IvP)

Objectives of the programme

IvP develops students' creative problem-solving and thinking skills.

It aims to:

Nurture participants' problem-solving dispositions and thinking skills:
- Ability to think critically about existing problems.
- Generation of ideas to improve the situation.
- Development of prototypes to test and improve their ideas.
Expose participants to knowledge and experiences beyond the classroom through interaction with innovation mentors from tertiary institutions and other organisations.

Who it is for

Students from selected schools who are interested in innovation and invention. They should also be in one of the following levels:

Primary 5.
Secondary 2 and Secondary 3, or Year 2 and Year 3 of the Integrated Programme (IP).

For Primary 5 students in the Gifted Education Programme, the IvP project can be their Individualised Study Option (ISO) project.

Structure

The programme has 5 components:

IvP school-based launch: Participating schools use the launch package to introduce students to the concept of innovation.
IvP lessons: Students attend lessons to learn skills and strategies for innovation and problem-solving. Teachers guide them to understand the challenge, generate ideas and develop solutions.
IvP draft sessions: There are 3 draft sessions. Innovation mentors from partner institutions are assigned to schools to share knowledge and expertise, and provide feedback to guide their mentees to think creatively, shape their ideas, and improve their prototypes.
IvP Project Judging: Students present their innovations for feedback to a panel of judges. The judges will also select projects for participation at the Young Innovators' Fair.
Young Innovators' Fair: The IvP concludes with the Young Innovators' Fair. Selected participants showcase their projects through a stage presentation and poster exhibition.

Programme partners

IvP is jointly organised by GEB, MOE, and the following institutions:

3M Singapore
Innovators and Entrepreneurs Association
Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
Republic Polytechnic (RP)
SG Enable
Singapore Polytechnic (SP)
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Temasek Polytechnic (TP)

When it is

From January to September.

How to apply

For invited schools, the selection of participants for IvP will be based on students' interest in innovation and teacher recommendation.

Moot Parliament Programme (MPP)

Objectives of the programme

MPP offers students insights into how public policies and legislative bills are passed in Singapore. Participants will research community and national issues and learn about Bill crafting under the guidance of expert-mentors from the legal profession.

It aims to:

Educate participants on the Singapore model of democratic government, with particular focus on parliament as a legislative institution.
Enhance participants' interest in parliamentary debates and legislation through developing their awareness of the democratic parliamentary process in action.
Instil a sense of ownership and "rootedness" in Singapore amongst participants through experiential learning which would take the form of researching community and national issues, drafting legislation, and role-playing active leadership in moot parliament.

Who it is for

Year 3 and Year 4 students from schools offering School-based Gifted Education (SBGE) or the Integrated Programme (IP) who have a keen interest in community and national issues as well as parliamentary democracy.

Structure

The programme has 2 tiers:

MPP Symposium: All interested Year 2 and Year 3 students may attend a symposium on topics related to community and national issues to gain ideas for Bill drafting.
Mentorship attachment: Teams of students whose proposals have been selected by an evaluation panel will be mentored by legal professionals. During the 6-month attachment, participants will attend workshops, seminars and talks, as well as go on learning journeys. The programme concludes with a moot parliament session when participants will debate selected Bills from the cohort.

Programme partners

MPP is organised by GEB, MOE, with support from volunteers in public service and legal professionals in the community who serve as expert-mentors. In addition, law undergraduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore Management University (SMU) also support the programme by serving as student-mentors.

When it is

From March to August.

How to apply

Check with your school for more information. Schools offering SBGE or IP will receive the information in October. Applications are due in January of the following year.

Problem X (PX) Challenge

Objectives of the programme

In PX Challenge, participants form teams to work on a given complex real world problem, seeking possible "solutions" for it by considering different perspectives and leveraging knowledge of different disciplines, particularly in Science and Mathematics. The solutions proposed have to be supported by sound research, and by analysis and evaluation of available data and practices.

It aims to:

Develop participants' capacity to navigate complexities and ambiguities, see connections across disciplines and cultivate critical 21st century skills in problem-solving, collaborative learning and communication.
Develop participants' deep curiosity about issues, open-mindedness to diverse perspectives, as well as other-centredness and personal agency to make a positive difference to the community.

Who it is for

Students who demonstrate strong aptitude, passion and motivation for inquiry in Science and Mathematics. They should also be in Secondary 2 to Secondary 4, or in Year 2 to Year 4 of the Integrated Programme (IP).

Structure

The programme has 3 components:

Online resources: Participants engage in data gathering and problem solving. They are given access to relevant resources which can take the form of tutorials, lectures, forum with experts or online materials.
Project Review cum shortlisting: Teams are given feedback on their work and selected entries from this round will progress to the Finals.
PX Challenge Finals: This is the culminating event in the form of an oral presentation where teams explain and defend their final product to a panel of adjudicators, in the presence of fellow participants and peers.

Programme partners

PX Challenge is jointly organised by GEB, MOE, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

When it is

From March to August.

How to apply

You have to register your interest through your school. They should receive information about the application in March.

Science Mentorship Programmes (SMP)

Objectives of the programme

SMP nurture students' interest and talent in scientific research. Students are provided with opportunities to work with mentors from external institutions to conduct scientific research, deepen their knowledge in a particular area of Science and learn about the latest research developments.

It aims to:

Provide students with enrichment that includes exposure to current scientific advances.
Enhance students' understanding of major concepts and theories in Science.
Develop skills for conducting investigations and inquiry in Science.
Provide opportunities for students to interact with teachers and scientists for a better understanding of the activities, beliefs, and traits essential for the conduct of rigorous scientific research.
Motivate students to contribute to society through scientific research.

Who it is for

Students with interest in and aptitude for Science. They should also be in Secondary 3 and Secondary 4, or Year 3 and Year 4, from schools offering School-based Gifted Education (SBGE) or the Integrated Programme (IP).

Structure

The programme has 4 components:

Mentorship attachment: Successful applicants start on their mentorship from February to September with a weekly 3-hour session. During the mid-year school holidays, participants will attend a full 2-week attachment to the institution and immerse themselves in scientific discovery, exploration and problem solving. They will be preparing a scientific paper and poster at the end of the attachment.
Research Methods Modules (RMM): These are lectures conducted by the faculty of partner institutions and school teachers to support participants in their inquiry. Topics covered include ethics, scientific literature review, experimental designs and methodologies, and scientific communication.
Poster Judging and Plenary: This allows participants to present their research findings and to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge of their research area to an audience of professional scientists.
Youth Science Conference (YSC): All SMP participants present their research findings in the form of a poster presentation at YSC to an audience of peers, teachers and scientists. The Proceedings of the YSC are published and made available to participants, teacher-advisors, mentors, as well as participating schools and institutions.

Programme partners

SMP are jointly organised by GEB, MOE, and the following institutions:

Programme name	Participating institution
Defence Science Programme (DSP)	Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and DSO National Laboratories (DSO)
I²R Mentorship Programme (I²R-MP)	Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R)
Nanyang Explorations in Science and Technology (NEST)	Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
Ngee Ann Polytechnic Biotechnology Programme (BP)	Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
NTU-Mentorship Programme (NTU-MP)	College of Engineering and College of Science, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Nanyang Technological University National Institute of Education Mentorship Programme (NTU-NIE MP)	National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
National University of Singapore Faculty of Engineering Mentorship Programme (NUS-EMP)	Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS)
National University of Singapore Faculty of Science Mentorship Programme (NUS-SMP)	Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore (NUS)
Republic Polytechnic Science Exploration Programme (RP-SEP)	School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic (RP)
Science Centre Mentorship Programme (SC-MP)	Science Centre Singapore
Singapore Polytechnic Applied Science Programme (ASP)	Singapore Polytechnic (SP)
Singapore University of Technology and Design Mentorship Programme (SUTD-MP)	Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Youth Research Programme @ NanoBio Lab (YRP-MP)	NanoBio Lab (NBL), A*STAR

When it is

From February to September.

How to apply

Check with your school for more information. Schools offering SBGE or IP will receive the information in August. Applications are due in November.

Science Research Programme (SRP)

Objectives of the programme

This programme offers students opportunities to engage in deep inquiry and research in STEM under the guidance of scientists and engineers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and established research centres.

While SRP is an enrichment programme, SRP projects can also be offered as an H3 option under NUS-MOE Science Research Programme (NUS-MOE SRP) for the A-Level examination.

It aims to:

Offer students with strengths and interests in STEM the opportunity to advance their understanding of disciplinary knowledge by engaging in the practice of research and developing understanding for ethical and responsible inquiry.
Develop students' understanding of the culture and ethos of research through immersion in scientific inquiry and interaction with the scientific and technological community.
Enable students to work both independently yet collaboratively in authentic practice.

Who it is for

Students who demonstrate interest in and aptitude for scientific research. They should also be in JC 1 or Year 5 of the Integrated Programme (IP).

Structure

The programme has 3 components:

Research Methods Module (RMM): Participants attend a series of lectures that will equip them with the knowledge and skills to undertake science research.
Mentorship Attachment: This commences in May or June when they are in JC1 or IP Year 5. Participants meet their Mentors or Supervisors regularly and spend at least 2 weeks in the mid-year or end-of-year holidays working full-time on their research projects at the research facility of their Mentor or Supervisor. After the mentorship attachment, the participants submit a scientific paper for the following year, when they are in JC2 or IP Year 6. The scientific paper will be either for publication in the Proceedings of the Science Research Congress for SRP enrichment participants or for H3 assessment for H3 NUS-MOE SRP participants.
Science Research Congress (SRC): All SRP enrichment participants present their research findings to an audience of their peers, juniors who aspire to apply to SRP, teachers and mentors. The presentation will be via a poster presentation at the annual SRC in April or May when they are in JC2 or IP Year 6. The Proceedings of the SRC are published and made available to participants, teacher-advisors, Supervisors and Mentors.

Participants taking SRP as an H3 subject under NUS-MOE SRP have to present their findings through an oral defence in February or March when they are in JC2 or IP Year 6. A panel of assessors comprising faculty will be convened for the oral defence.

Programme partners

SRP is jointly organised by GEB, MOE and the Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore (NUS), with sponsorship by Shaw Foundation and Lee Foundation.

When it is

For successful applicants, SRP starts in May when they are in JC1 or IP Year 5. It ends when they are in JC2 or IP Year 6:

Feb or March for H3 NUS-MOE SRP.
April or May for SRP as an enrichment option.

How to apply

There are 2 stages to the application process:

Application for the Research Methods Module (RMM), which starts in February.
Successful applicants who complete the RMM can then apply for the Mentorship Attachment in April.

The selection of participants for SRP is based on their academic and intellectual aptitude, participation and achievement in STEM activities or competitions, as well as teacher nomination.

Information about SRP application is sent out to junior colleges and schools offering IP in January.

Learn more about the Science Research Programme and its application process.