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Common Business Programme (T01)
Course Overview
Are you excited about the business world but need more time, information and experience before deciding which field to pursue? Then join the Common Business Programme (CBP) — your gateway to many possibilities, shaping the bedrock of your journey toward your dream career.
The one-year CBP helps you navigate the diverse functions of the vast business landscape through our carefully curated ENhanced learning modules (EN modules) from seven diplomas offered by the School of Business. Like tasters, the EN modules allow you to explore topics across disciplines before narrowing down your focus on one diploma to pursue.
The CBP is designed with you in mind. It will:
• Equip you with a strong business foundation knowledge spanning diverse business domains.
• Allow you to experience subjects from different disciplines, such as accounting, business management, marketing, and other essential aspects of business, to help you make a well-informed decision when choosing a diploma suited to your passions and aspirations.
• Give you time to explore your strengths, interests, and passion through education and career guidance to equip you with greater self-awareness before deciding on a diploma to pursue.
• Empower you with the opportunity to select from seven business related diploma courses according to your interests and goals. These diploma courses include:
[T18] Culinary Arts & Management
[T08] Hospitality & Tourism Management
[T07] International Trade & Logistics
Notes:
1. CBP students who opt for the Diploma in Culinary Arts & Management will stream into the course in Year 1 Semester 2.
2. CBP students who opt for the other six courses will make their diploma selections at the end of Year 1 Semester 2, and progress to their selected diploma courses in Year 2.
3. CBP students who opt for the Diploma in Law & Management must meet a minimum B4 grade for English Language (EL1).
4. Please see the sections on these diploma courses for more information.
CAREER EXPLORATION
Given the opportunity to explore a variety of business disciplines to discover your interests, strengths and passion before deciding on your diploma.
FLEXIBILITY
Personalise your learning by choosing from the most diverse range of elective subjects and diplomas offered by a polytechnic business school. Align your learning to your goals and aspirations.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Allows you to collaborate with different groups of students and lecturers to gain broad perspectives and insights. Other than guide your decision-making in diploma selection, an experiential learning journey will help to hone your problem-solving and communication skills.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for consideration for admission, applicants must obtain 26 points or better for the net ELR2B2 aggregate score (i.e. English Language, 2 relevant subjects and best 2 other subjects, including CCA Bonus Points) and meet the minimum entry requirements of this course. CCA cannot be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Subject
Grade
English Language (EL1)*
1-6
Mathematics (E or A)
1-6
Any one of the subject in the 2nd group of relevant subjects for ELR2B2-B Aggregate Type
- Art
- Business Studies
- Combined Humanities
- Economics
- Geography
- Higher Art
- Higher Music
- History
- Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in English)
- Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in Chinese)
- Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in Malay)
- Humanities (Social Studies, Literature in Tamil)
- Humanities (Social Studies, History)
- Humanities (Social Studies, Geography)
- Intro to Enterprise Development
- Literature in English
- Literature in Chinese
- Literature in Malay
- Literature in Tamil
- Media Studies (English)
- Media Studies (Chinese)
- Music
- Principles of Accounts
1-6
2026 Planned Intake
261
Net ELR2B2 aggregate range (2026 JAE)
5 - 12
Students opting to be streamed to the Diploma in Law & Management must fulfil the minimum entry requirement of grade 1 to 4 for O-level English Language.
*Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)/ Unified Examination Chinese (UEC) holders must have a minimum of grade 6 for the relevant English Language subject (e.g. Bahasa Inggeris).
Early Admissions Exercise (EAE)
Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE)
Joint Polytechnic Admissions Exercise (JPAE)
Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE)
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You will attend various workshops such as Career Exploration workshop to discover about the different diplomas before deciding on one.
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You can learn more about the different companies and industries by participating in learning journeys organised by the various diplomas such as this one where CBP students get to experience the Redmart HQ and its business operations beyond classroom learning.
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Out-of-classroom experiential learning such as overseas study trips can help to broaden your perspectives and to further develop you socially, physically and holistically.
- Year 1
- TPFun
Build a good foundation in fundamental business subjects. The early exposure to TP Fundamental subjects and business subjects in the first semester will better guide you to the course you want to pursue.
| Subject Code | Subject | Credit Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAF1010 | Business Accounting
This module provides students with an understanding of core accounting principles from the preparation of accounting entries to the financial statements of businesses. In addition to gaining practical knowledge of accounting, students will also learn to perform financial ratio analysis to draw critical insights, assess business performance and make impactful recommendations to management for improvement. |
4 | ||
| BBS1001 | Business Psychology & Management
This subject introduces foundational management functions and how these practices are undergirded by psychology concepts and principles. It explores how fundamental psychology principles such as motivation, group dynamics, and leadership can provide insights into human behaviours and factors that should inform management practices relating to planning, organising, leading and controlling. It will highlight the importance of interpersonal and & teamwork skills in a business environment. |
4 | ||
| BBT1010 | Business Technology & Analytics
This subject provides an overview of how digitalisation and business technology impact the future of work and businesses. It also encompasses the utilisation of digital information and applications to facilitate decision making and problem solving through data analysis and visualisation. |
4 | ||
| BEC1007 | Business Economics
This subject covers the fundamental principles of economics for understanding how individuals and firms make decisions. It will focus on the various aspects of the product market: demand and supply, elasticity, market competition and product differentiation. It also includes an overview of macroeconomic indicators, the government’s macroeconomic objectives and policy tools. |
4 |
| Subject Code | Subject | Credit Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLO1001 | Statistics for Business
This subject develops proficiency in basic data analysis. It introduces statistical concepts in data analysis, to support human-in-the-loop decision-making in the business context. Statistical computations will be done using computer software applications to enhance digital skillsets. |
4 | ||
| BMK1005 | Marketing Fundamentals
Generating revenue and leads for opportunity is the lifeblood and core critical function for all businesses. This subject covers the basic concepts and practices of the modern marketing process by leveraging on the understanding of consumer behaviour, market segmentation, target marketing, positioning and marketing mix. |
4 |
| Subject Code | Subject | Credit Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAF1013 | Finance & Accounting for Decision Making
This is an introductory subject in finance and management accounting. This subject introduces key finance and accounting concepts required by students to make sound business decisions. Students will also learn fundamental management accounting concepts in business planning, decision-making and cost control. Upon completion, students will become more effective decision makers and make informed business decisions. |
4 | ||
| BCM1017 | Visual Communication
This subject provides an introduction to the theories and practice of design graphics and photography. It will cover key areas such as principles of design, composition techniques, and camera controls. |
4 | ||
| BEC1008 | Global Economics
The subject introduces the entity of a national economy and the structure which it exists in relationship with other economies on a global scale examining economic management by the government as it navigates macro and global economic issues such as cashless society, cryptocurrency and global sustainability. The subject focuses on using case studies and current events to enable learners to experience the complexity of macro and global economic systems from the perspectives of economic management and firms. |
4 | ||
| BHT1010 | Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism
This subject provides an overview of the multi-faceted hospitality and tourism industry and their key sectors. It introduces common terminologies used and covers the various theories on travel and tourism. It also highlights the interplay between demand and supply forces of the two industries and explores the major issues faced by them. It lays the foundation for future applications where decisions can be made about the hospitality and tourism industry. |
4 | ||
| BHT1024 | Tourism Geography
This subject provides insights into the interconnectedness of places, people and landscapes of which tourism is a facet due to the social, cultural and economic activities present at tourist destinations. Topics covered include a spectrum of different types of special interest tourism and niche experiences such as ecotourism and wellness tourism. |
4 | ||
| BLM1007 | Business Law
This subject provides you with a working knowledge of the general principles of law that are important to business. Topics covered include contract, negligence, sale of goods, intellectual property and e-commerce. |
4 | ||
| BLM1008 | Legal Systems
The subject will provide an overview of the legal system of Singapore and its various aspects, in particular, the 3 arms of government, being the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive. |
4 | ||
| BLM1009 | Legal Methods
The subject covers strategies, techniques and skills involved in legal work. These include the understanding of the sources of law, classifying the various types of law, legal research, reading the law and interpreting statutes with a keen sense of attention to detail. |
4 | ||
| BLO1007 | Supply Chain Management & Technology
The subject provides an overview of the relationship between supply chain management and logistics management, and their impact on the success of organisations. It focuses on how the major functional components interact with one another to meet customers’ requirements and on the application of technology, a key driver of business operations in the supply chain. |
4 |
You will also take this set of subjects that equips you with the crucial 21st-century life skills you need to navigate the modern world as an agile, forward-thinking individual and team player.
Note: Students in the Common Business Programme will take selected TPFun subjects during the programme, and complete the remaining subjects after streaming into their respective diploma courses. For details on the Student Internship Programme, please refer to the respective diploma course pages.
| Subject Code | Subject | Credit Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTP1103 | Effective Personal Leadership
This subject examines self-management and self-leadership through an exploration of values and beliefs, necessary for adapting to the world of work. It covers topics such as self-management and awareness, values and ethics, interpersonal communication, teamwork, resilience and emotional intelligence for enhancing leadership capabilities. These can significantly influence careers, relationships, and overall well-being. This subject is a reflective exploration of ‘leadership from within’ to have a greater awareness for the development of attributes required in an effective values-centred leader for oneself and for others. |
3 | ||
| GTP1203 | Career Readiness & Communication
This subject equips students with career preparation skills through better understanding of their career interests, values, skills and aspirations. Topics covered include personal branding, job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, and interview techniques. In addition, students will gain awareness of workplace communication to succeed in their careers and achieve professional goals. |
3 | ||
| GTP1303 | Current Issues & Critical Thinking
This subject provides a comprehensive introduction to critical thinking by engaging students with current local and global issues. Students will learn to analyse diverse perspectives and uncover underlying assumptions in opinions, evaluate the credibility and bias of information sources, and construct well-reasoned, evidence-based arguments using established critical-thinking frameworks. They will also assess the societal, ethical, and personal implications of contemporary problems, and develop the ability to communicate their conclusions clearly and persuasively, employing appropriate digital tools to support their ideas. |
4 | ||
| INV1001 | Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The subject is designed for learners from all disciplines to embrace innovation in either their specialised field or beyond. Learners will be taught to apply the Design Thinking framework to develop problem statements, ideate and identify feasible solutions. Learners will be exposed to several tools for prototyping. In addition, commercial awareness will be imbued in learners through various innovation and entrepreneurship concepts or tools. This subject also prepares students to be self-directed lifelong learners who are digital and information literate. It nurtures communicative and collaborative citizens who can use objective analysis in problem-solving. |
2 | ||
| LSW1002 | Sports & Wellness
This subject reinforces the fundamental knowledge learnt on health, fitness, exercise and sports. Hands-on time will be allocated for a greater variety of fitness exercises and sports skills in a recreational setting. In addition, theoretical knowledge such as sports safety and risk management when participating in physical activities will be introduced. Guidance will be provided for improvement of physical fitness, acquiring of sports skills and relating theoretical knowledge to the physical activities. |
2 | ||
| TGS1002 | Global Studies
This subject provides essential skills and knowledge to prepare students for an overseas experience. They will examine the elements of culture and learn the key principles of cross-cultural communication. In addition, they will gain an appreciation and awareness of the political, economic, technological and social landscape to function effectively in a global environment. The subject prepares students to be responsible global citizens and leaders who can contribute to the global community through effective communication and collaboration. |
3 | ||
| TGS1003 | Sustainability & Climate Action
This subject prepares students to be responsible global citizens and future leaders who can contribute to the global community. It introduces the topics of sustainability and explores how human societies can act to build a sustainable future. This subject focuses on the impact of climate change, potential solutions to climate change, and the future of the green economy from global and local perspectives. |
3 | ||
| Student Internship Programme
This structured programme is designed to link your learning with the real work environment. You will be placed in organisation(s) with opportunities to apply the concepts and skills acquired in the course of your study. Besides reinforcing technical concepts and mastering of skills in areas that you have been trained, the practical training will enable you to build important skills such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and to cultivate good attitude and a strong work ethic. |
| Subject Code | Subject | Credit Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTP1304 | Beyond the Classroom: Guided Learning
This subject empowers students to take charge of their personal learning in a chosen area of inquiry. Students will broaden or deepen their knowledge and skills, fostering a proactive approach to lifelong learning. Following a scaffolded process, students will design and execute a personalised learning plan that extends beyond traditional classroom walls. The journey culminates in a curated portfolio that highlights their achievements and growth. |
3 |
Graduation Requirements
Please refer to the respective diploma websites:
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I really enjoy being part of the Common Business Programme (CBP). It gives me the chance to explore different possibilities across the various business diplomas, which has helped me understand my options better. The lecturers are fun and engaging, making the experience enjoyable and motivating. In secondary school, I wasn't sure about which direction to take, and CBP provides a solution to that uncertainty, allowing me to explore business without the pressure of choosing a specific diploma right away.
Azman Bin Zainal
Common Business Programme, Class of 2024
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"I love CBP because it not only acts as a one year buffer for me to truly think about what diploma I want, but it also allows me to take part in events that provide me with valuable insights into different diplomas. Now I know which diploma I want to go to yay!!!!!!"
Erika Neo Ryi Chyi
Common Business Programme, Class of 2024
"I love CBP because of the wide range of diploma choices available"
Gugan S/O Kalaichelvan
Common Business Programme, Class of 2024
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Initially, I intended to pursue a Diploma in Business, but I ended up enrolling in my second choice instead. Looking back, I realize this has turned out to be a better path for me. Over time, I discovered new interests that I may want to pursue instead of a business diploma. When it came to selecting elective modules, I had the flexibility to choose two electives. This freedom allowed me to select modules that not only supported my GPA but also helped me explore different areas of interest. It also gave me the chance to experiment with both exam-based and group project modules to see which suits me best. Overall, I’m grateful to have chosen CBP, as it has provided me with a broader range of experiences and opportunities for growth.
Chua Rui Han
Common Business Programme, Class of 2024
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Contact
- bushotline@tp.edu.sg
- Website: https://www.tp.edu.sg/bus
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School of Business
Temasek Polytechnic
Central Block 26
21 Tampines Ave 1
Singapore 529797
