Parents, did you know that polytechnic or Institute of Technical Education (ITE) fees can be much more expensive than junior college fees? We have heard that some parents are not aware of the differences in school fees for post-secondary institutions, and have been caught off guard when the bill arrives.

If you are concerned about being able to afford school fees past the secondary years, our advice is to start reading up on financial aid options while your child is still in secondary school.

To begin, you can use the Ministry of Education’s School Fees tool to check the school fees for any post-secondary institution, i.e. junior colleges, polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education, and the Millennia Institute. 

For Singapore universities, you will have to visit the respective websites to view fees for the courses that your child is interested in.

Below are the institutions that Singapore students typically enrol in after secondary school, and how much they might cost in 2022:

Think you might need financial help to afford the above fees? Read on to find out where you can turn to for support!

What You Should Know About Tuition Grants in Singapore

In Singapore, tertiary education for locals is highly subsidised under the Ministry of Education’s Tuition Grant scheme. 

For instance, a Singapore student enrolling in a full-time diploma course at a local polytechnic in 2022 will pay S$3,000 a year, while permanent residents and international students who qualify for the grant will pay S$6,200 and S$11,400 a year respectively, with conditions attached.

All Singapore citizens are automatically awarded this tuition grant, so there is no application process, apart from a form to sign if requested. Furthermore, there are no obligations (e.g. bonds) to carry out after graduation. 

Courses at the following institutions are subsidised by the MOE Tuition Grant: 

1. 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

2. Polytechnics

• Singapore Polytechnic
• Ngee Ann Polytechnic
• Temasek Polytechnic
• Nanyang Polytechnic
• Republic Polytechnic

3. Arts & Other Institutions

• Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
• LASALLE College of the Arts
• Institute of Technical Education

Parents should also note that if Singapore citizens decide to withdraw from a subsidised course halfway, no repayment is required. 

Financial Assistance & Scholarships after Secondary School

For families who need more support to cover post-secondary school fees, what options are there? 

We understand that for some parents, sifting through information can be overwhelming. If this is the case, do get advice from the student welfare officer at your child’s current school, or contact an organisation such as ComCare. 

Prefer to do your own research? Here are some avenues that you can explore:

Financial Assistance for Independent Junior Colleges

Independent junior colleges usually have various financial assistance programmes in place. For details, visit these pages:

• Anglo Chinese School (Independent)
• Hwa Chong Institution
• Raffles Institution
• St Joseph’s Institution

Edusave and Post-Secondary Education Accounts

You might be familiar with the Edusave account, which is created automatically for Singapore students, with funds contributed by the government until a child leaves secondary school. These funds are intended to help families with their education expenses.

Although junior college and Millennia Institute students will no longer receive Edusave annual contributions or top-ups, they can still use any remaining Edusave funds for approved fees and enrichment programmes organised by their schools. 

You should also check if your child (or your child’s sibling) has a Post-Secondary Education Account, where funds can be used for tertiary fees.

CPF Education Loan Scheme

This is a loan scheme that allows you to use your CPF Ordinary Account savings to pay for your child’s tuition fees. Only full-time, subsidised diploma​​/degree courses at approved institutions are covered under this scheme. 

MOE Tuition Fee Loan & Study Loan

Students in polytechnics and autonomous universities can apply for the MOE Tuition Fee Loan to cover a certain percentage of their tuition fee. Households with a monthly per capita income of S$2,700 or less can also apply for the MOE Study Loan to finance the remaining fees.

MENDAKI Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy

This scheme is for Malay families whose monthly household per capita income is S$2,000 or less, to help cover tuition fees at tertiary institutions. If your child has a double-barrelled race such as ‘Malay-Indian’ or ‘Malay-Chinese,’ he/she is also eligible for the scheme. 

Other Financial Aid

If you are enquiring directly with post-secondary institutions, do ask about the Higher Education Bursary or the Higher Education Community Bursary, and whether your family is eligible. 

Do also bookmark the MOE’s financial assistance page, which you can use as a starting point for exploring aid options offered by different institutions. As support schemes are subject to change, we recommend that you check directly with schools or the MOE for the most accurate and updated information.