Saint Joseph's Institution
Complete guide to SJI for P6 parents — IP and O-Level tracks, in-house IB Diploma, CCAs, Stevens MRT campus, and DSA-Sec admission pathways.
Saint Joseph's Institution — commonly abbreviated SJI — is one of Singapore's six independent secondary schools. Founded in 1852 by the De La Salle Brothers, it is the oldest Catholic school in Singapore, operating as a boys-only school at the secondary level at its campus on Malcolm Road, close to Stevens MRT.
SJI offers two academic tracks: the Integrated Programme (IP), which leads to the IB Diploma Programme offered in-house at SJI's own Junior College division, and a four-year O-Level Programme (OP). SJI is unusual among Singapore's secondary schools in that it operates an integrated secondary and JC campus under one roof — IP students do not need to transfer to a separate junior college for the IB Diploma.
As an independent school with a Catholic and Lasallian ethos, SJI is grounded in a framework of faith, service, and character development alongside academic and co-curricular achievement.
Programmes and Curriculum
Integrated Programme (IP · IB Diploma)
SJI's IP students complete a six-year programme without sitting the O-Level examinations. At the end of Secondary 4 (Year 4), IP students continue at SJI into a junior college division (Years 5–6) where they pursue the IB Diploma Programme. The IB Diploma is an internationally recognised qualification assessed through coursework, extended essays, and final examinations, with a distinct framework from the GCE A-Level.
For P6 families: SJI's IP-IB pathway is self-contained at one campus, which is a different experience from IP schools that send students to a separate JC for their final two years. Students who exit the IP during secondary school are placed into an O-Level stream. Refer to the SJI official website for current programme structure and progression criteria.
O-Level Programme (OP)
SJI offers a four-year O-Level track for students who prefer the national external examination pathway. Both IP and O-Level track students share the same campus and Lasallian school community.
Athlete Friendly Education Centre (AFEC)
SJI is accredited as an Athlete Friendly Education Centre by the World Academy of Sport. This accreditation recognises the school's frameworks for supporting student athletes who are balancing competitive sport with academic commitments. DSA-Sec applicants who are high-performance athletes may find SJI's AFEC status relevant to their school selection.
For context on IP and O-Level pathways, see What is DSA-Sec?.
Co-Curricular Activities
SJI runs a wide range of CCAs across Performing Arts, Sports and Games, Clubs and Societies, and Uniformed Groups.
Performing Arts
- Concert Band
- Choir
- Drama
- Guitar Ensemble
- Handbell Ringers
- String Ensemble
Sports and Games
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Cross Country
- Football
- Hockey
- Rugby
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Uniformed Groups
- Boys' Brigade
- National Cadet Corps (NCC)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC)
- St. John Brigade
Clubs and Societies
SJI clubs include, among others: Infocomm, Robotics, Science, and community service groups rooted in the Lasallian tradition of service to others.
CCA names and availability may change. The SJI official website is the authoritative source for the current CCA list.
Campus and Facilities
SJI is located at 38 Malcolm Road, Singapore 308274 in the Stevens / Novena corridor.
Nearest MRT:
- Stevens (Downtown Line DT10 / Thomson–East Coast Line TE11) — approximately a 7-minute walk via a sheltered walkway from Stevens MRT Exit 4
The campus houses both the secondary school and the junior college division, providing shared facilities across the six-year integrated programme. Campus facilities include general and specialist classrooms, science laboratories, a multi-purpose hall, performing arts and music spaces, and a range of sports courts and fields. For current facility details, refer to the SJI official website.
Admission Pathways
PSLE and S1 Posting
SJI is competitive for both its IP and O-Level posting bands. The cut-off point (COP) for each track differs and changes each year. For current and historical PSLE COP data, see PSLE COP historical data.
DSA-Sec Admission
SJI participates in DSA-Sec with talent areas spanning sports, performing arts, and academic pathways. As a boys-only school with a wide range of competitive sports including rugby, cricket, hockey, and water polo — and with AFEC accreditation for high-performance athletes — SJI's DSA attracts applicants across a broad sporting spectrum.
DSA offers at SJI may be to either the IP or the O-Level Programme depending on the talent area — verify which track each talent area leads to on the school's official DSA page before applying.
Talent areas offered change from year to year. Use the DSA-Sec School Finder for the current year's full list. For key application dates, see the DSA-Sec Timeline. For preparation by talent area, see DSA Interview Preparation. For historical results context, see DSA Results.
Achievements and Recognition
SJI holds the status of an independent school under MOE — one of six independent secondary schools in Singapore. As the oldest Catholic school in Singapore, founded in 1852, SJI has a long institutional history in Singapore's education landscape.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| School type | Independent |
| Gender | Boys-only (secondary) |
| IP outcome | IB Diploma (in-house JC division) |
| AFEC | World Academy of Sport accreditation |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Ethos | Lasallian / De La Salle Brothers |
The school has received various MOE recognition over the years. For verified award details, refer to the MOE recognition listings and the SJI official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SJI only for boys?
SJI's secondary school (Years 1–4) is boys-only. The junior college division (Years 5–6), where IP students complete the IB Diploma, is co-educational.
What PSLE score does my son need for SJI?
SJI is competitive for both the IP and O-Level posting bands, with different COPs for each track. The COP changes each year. For current and historical data, see PSLE COP historical data.
Does SJI offer DSA-Sec?
Yes. SJI participates in DSA-Sec across sports, performing arts, and academic talent areas. Use the DSA-Sec School Finder to see the current year's offerings and confirm which track (IP or O-Level) each talent area leads to.
Does SJI have a Catholic or Christian admissions preference?
SJI is a Catholic school operated by the De La Salle Brothers. For current admissions policies — including any priority or preferences for Catholic students — refer to the SJI admissions page and the MOE school choice guidelines. DSA-Sec admissions are governed by MOE's centralised DSA framework and talent-based selection criteria.
What is the AFEC accreditation and how does it affect DSA applicants?
AFEC (Athlete Friendly Education Centre) is an accreditation by the World Academy of Sport recognising schools with structured support for student athletes. For DSA applicants who are high-performance athletes managing competitive training schedules, SJI's AFEC status indicates the school has frameworks to accommodate flexible academic arrangements. Read the SJI DSA admissions page for the specific year's selection criteria, and see DSA Interview Preparation for general preparation guidance.
What happens if my son is not offered a DSA place at SJI?
Not receiving a DSA offer does not affect the standard S1 PSLE posting process. Students can still be posted to SJI if their PSLE score qualifies and they rank SJI in their school choices. Students who accept a DSA offer from any school are withdrawn from the S1 posting exercise entirely.
Related Schools and Resources
Schools with Similar Profiles
These schools share one or more characteristics with SJI — independent, IP + O-Level dual-track, or boys-only:
- Raffles Institution (Secondary) — IP only, Boys, Bishan
- Catholic High School — IP + O-Level, Boys, SAP, Bishan
- Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) — IP + O-Level, Co-ed (IB), Dover
- Hwa Chong Institution — IP only, Co-ed, SAP, Buona Vista
DSA Preparation Resources
- DSA-Sec School Finder — filter by talent area and school
- DSA-Sec Timeline — key dates for the application cycle
- What is DSA-Sec? — the complete process explained
- DSA Results — historical results data across schools
- DSA Interview Preparation — preparation guides by talent area