Scholarships / Bursary

Loans and Subsidies

If you are applying for any of the following loans and subsidies, please access the Computation Table to find out the net fees you need to pay before going to the Banks to make cash/cheque payment. For students paying your fees by GIRO, we would compute the net fees for you and deduct your designated bank account for the fees.

1. The Singapore Government’s Tuition Grant Scheme

Please refer to the relevant information under the section on Fees.

2. CPF Approved Education Scheme

Eligibility: All full-time students with CPF savings, or whose parents have CPF savings in the Ordinary Account, can apply to join the scheme. There is no minimum sum requirement.

Loan amount: 40% of the accumulated Ordinary Account savings, including amounts withdrawn for education or investments, but excluding amounts withdrawn for housing.

Interest will be charged at the prevailing CPF rate from the time the savings are withdrawn. On repayment, the interest charged will be credited to the account of the CPF member whose account is being used.

Repayment period: Loans will be repaid over 10 years, beginning 1 year after graduation, or upon leaving the course, whichever is earlier.

Minimum amount of repayment a month: $100 in cash; not from CPF savings.

Conditions: Applicants are required to provide a guarantor (Singapore Citizen or PR) aged between 21 and 60 years old. The guarantor must be gainfully employed with a minimum income of $500/month, and cannot be an un-discharged bankrupt.

The CPF Board charges a $10.50 administrative fee each time they make a deduction from the CPF account.

3. Mendaki Tertiary Fee Subsidy

Eligibility: Malay Singaporean students who have enjoyed free secondary and/or pre-university education.

Subsidy amount: Students with a monthly family income below $2000 are eligible for a 100% subsidy.

Students with a monthly family income of between $2000 and $3000 are eligible for a 70% subsidy.

> Download form here (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

4. Edusave Scheme

Eligibility: Singaporean students who have balances available in their Edusave Accounts.

Subsidy amount: Up to 100% of the tuition fees payable. The scheme covers from Semester 2 of Year 1 onwards.

> Download form here (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

5. Tuition Fee Loan Scheme

Eligibility: All students regardless of citizenship can apply for the loan.

Students who are receiving the full Tertiary Tuition Fee from Mendaki or who are using CPF savings to pay full tuition fees are NOT eligible.

Loan amount: Up to 75% of the tuition fees payable.

Interest will be charged at the prevailing average prime rate of the 3 local banks, i.e., DBS, OCBC and UOB. Interest will accrue from 1st December or 1st June in the year of graduation.

For those with NS obligations, the interest will be charged 1 month after ORD.

Repayment period: Loans will be repaid over 10 years, beginning on 1st June or 1st December depending on the semester you graduate. If you leave the course without completing the study, the loan will become immediately due and payable.

For those with NS obligations, repayment will commence 1 year after completion of NS.

Minimum amount of repayment a month: $100. Penalty interest will be charged at the rate of 1% per month for instalments in arrears.

> Download form here (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

6. The Republic’s Study Loan Scheme

Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time Singaporeans or Singapore PR students in any course and year of study at the Republic. The loan is awarded on a need basis. It will be awarded only to students with Gross Monthly Per Capita Family Income Ceiling not more than $900.

Component A:

i) Eligible only to those who have applied for the Tuition Fee Loan Scheme and/or who have been awarded a tuition fee loan/subsidy through the CPF Approved Education Scheme or Mendaki, provided that the total amount of the aforementioned loan and/or subsidy is NOT less than 75% of the tuition fees.

Component B:

ii) Eligible to those who have already obtained loans amounting to 100% of the fees payable, through CPF Approved Education, The Republic Tuition Fee Loan Scheme and/or Mendaki Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy.

The Scheme requires a guarantor who is a Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident, who is above 21 years but not over 60. The guarantor cannot be an un-discharged bankrupt.

Loan amount:

• Component A:
  • Up to 25% of the tuition fees payable.
• Component B:
  • Up to $1000 for any 2 consecutive semesters, to meet living expenses.

Interest Rate:

The interest rate charged for the Loan under Tier 2 will be the average prime lending rate of OCBC, UOB and DBS prevailing on the first day of each quarter.

Repayment period: 5 years

The repayment of the loan can be made in one lump sum or by monthly installments commencing 6 months after graduation. Students who are required to perform National Service are however allowed to commence repayment of the loan 2 months after ORD.

The maximum repayment period for loans granted under the 2-tier loan system for Singaporeans/Singaporean PRs is as follows:

Tier 1 (waiver of interest payment): 2 years

Tier 2 (with interest payment): 5 years

If a student leaves the Polytechnic without completing the course of study, the loan amount will immediately become due and payable.

The minimum amount of repayment a month is S$100. Penalty interest will be charged at the rate of 1% per month for instalments in arrears.

> Download form here (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

7. Notebook Loan Scheme

Eligibility: All full time students whose combined family income is not more than $1,500 per month.

Condition: No form of repayment is required but the student must furnish one Singaporean guarantor who is between 21 and 60 years old. The guarantor cannot be an un-discharged bankrupt. A security deposit of $200 needs to be placed with the polytechnic during rental period. The student shall enter into an agreement with RP subject to the polytechnic terms and conditions on the use of the loaned notebook.

Interested students can apply online.