Tuition Grants in Singapore

The majority of the people in the world are unable to receive higher education in a reputable university and tend to lose out on job opportunities. This could be due to a lack of interest in studies, but the major reason is the inability to afford the tuition fees. Singapore wants the best for its young learners who have a passion for learning and doing great things in life. Education is a powerful tool that can bring the change we need in the world. The government of Singapore puts high importance on encouraging young children to achieve quality education. Therefore, tuition grant schemes offered by the Singapore government make education accessible for every person. In this article, we will discuss more about the grants, eligibility criteria, and procedures to apply for them.

What is Tuition Grant Scheme?

There are various tuition grant schemes offered by the government to assist students with the expenditures of university education in Singapore. It is mostly available for students enrolled in a full-time diploma or undergraduate program at institutes of higher learning. It helps parents and students manage their education expenses without being overburdened by it. Without the added stress of managing expenses, students can perform better in studies at one of the world’s best education hubs.

Tuition Grants in Singapore – Eligibility

The eligibility criteria of the tuition grant scheme depend on a plethora of factors. There are certain policies by the government that decides if one is eligible to apply for a specific grant. Citizens of Singapore will be automatically granted a Tuition Grant without applying. Singapore citizens are not obliged to post a bond. Non-Singaporean students (including Singapore Permanent Residents) are required to apply for Tuition Grant (subject to MOE approval) and sign a Tuition Grant Agreement in which they will be contractually obligated to work in a Singapore entity for three years in exchange for the grant received under the Tuition Grant Scheme. It might be difficult to apply if you forgot to apply for the grant before starting your university education. However, if a student has changed their citizen status, they are eligible to apply.

Grant Value

There are two tuition grant schemes offered by the government of Singapore for tertiary education – specifically for students applying for undergrad programs and polytechnic diplomas – the MOE Tuition grant the Higher Education Bursaries scheme. The former is available for full-time undergrad and diploma students who can be citizens of Singapore, permanent residents, or also international students. The latter is available to Singapore citizens only who are a full-time undergrad or diploma students. The MOE Tuition fee provides a concession of 90% of the total tuition fees, depending on the nature of study and nationality. Singapore citizens have the privilege of receiving the most amount of subsidy as compared to permanent residents and international students.

As for the Higher Education Bursaries grant scheme, full-time undergraduate participants get up to S$6,200 per annum, citizens enrolled in diploma programs get up to S$2,750 per annum, citizens who are part-time undergraduate programs are offered up to S$2,500 per annum. Part-time diploma participants receive over S$800 per annum through the scheme. The amount of the grant may also vary depending on the household income levels of the students.

Tuition Grants in Singapore – How to apply

If you are a citizen of Singapore, you do not need to officially apply because you will receive a grant upon applying to a university. There is no need for a formal application in that case. You will be given a tuition grant declaration form which will be included in your university admission form requirements. For permanent residents and students applying from other countries, the process is somewhat similar. You will just have to apply for the grant form as a part of your university admission process. When you are offered a grant by the government, you will then have to accept it at the same time you accept your offer to the university. International students would need to provide additional information about their background before applying. However, once you are approved for the grant, you have to register officially on the MOE TG online system which will take around 15 minutes.

You will also need to attend the grant agreement signing session to be a recipient.  Putting down two people’s details as sureties will be required. They will need to co-sign the tuition grant with you and take responsibility for you to complete your program or be liable to pay the penalty damages. The signing is done in person in front of the university administrators. You will be informed of the signing date and should carry your identity card and matriculation card if you are a permanent resident of Singapore. In the case of international students, you need to carry your passport and student pass. Your nominees will also need to bring their identity cards and passports if they are not from Singapore.

The purpose is to encourage people to complete their three-year education and not leave in between. Your nominees could be your family members or other friends. They have to be between the age of 21 and 65 and not be undischarged bankrupt. Further details will be provided by the university on the procedure and the duration of the grant, its value, and other terms and conditions.  There is no deadline for applying to the grant specifically but since it is applied with the university form, it will be aligned with the deadline of the university application.

Which Institutions Are approved for Tuition Grants in Singapore?

The Tuition Grant Scheme is currently open to students enrolled for the full-time diploma or undergraduate courses in the Institutes of Higher Learning (subject to guidelines under the existing policy) at the following institutions:

Autonomous Universities
National University of Singapore
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore Management University
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore University of Social Sciences

Polytechnics
Singapore Polytechnic
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Temasek Polytechnic
Nanyang Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic

Arts Institutions
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
LASALLE College of the Arts

Other Institutions
Institute of Technical Education