TUITION GRANT FAQs

Q1: What is the Tuition Grant Scheme?

A: The Tuition Grant scheme is set up by the MOE to subsidize the high cost of a student’s tertiary education in Singapore. Students only pay the difference between the total cost of tertiary education and the tuition grant - a nominal sum in relation to the recurrent cost of providing such an education.

Q2: How much is the Tuition Grant amount provided?

A: From AY2007/08, the subsidy is $13,300 per year for students of all nationality.

Q3: Do I still have to pay fee after I have applied for the tuition grant?

A: Yes, the tuition grant covers only 80% of the total school fees for a Polytechnic education. Students are required to pay the balance of the tuition fees, as well as the Annual Supplementary Fees.

Q4: Must I still apply for the Tuition Grant Subsidy if I am a Singaporean?

A: Yes, it is a requirement of the Ministry of Education as the education fees are highly subsidized by the Government of Singapore.

Students who do not apply for the Tuition Grant will be charged the full fees by Republic Polytechnic, which the Polytechnic will advise separately.

Q5: How can Singapore citizens apply for the Tuition Grant?

A: Singapore citizens can apply for the Tuition Grant by submitting the Tuition Grant form during enrolment.

Q6: How can Singapore Permanent Residents and foreign students apply for the Tuition Grant?

A: Eligible applicants will be informed on details of the tuition grant amount (if any) in the enrollment package sent to them. Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) and foreign students who choose to take the government tuition grant are required to complete the execution of the tuition grant process.

The process includes:

attending the necessary briefing,
applying online by the stipulated deadline,
being physically present at the campus with the two sureties to sign the tuition grant agreement with the Singapore Government. Each surety must be above 21 and below 65 years of age, and must not be an undischarged bankrupt.
If your surety/sureties is/are unable to be present to sign the Tuition Grant Agreement on the scheduled dates, you can send the Tuition Grant Agreement back to your home country for your surety/sureties to sign it in the presence of Notary Public(s). Once the signing is completed, you must submit the completed agreement to MOE within 3 weeks from the scheduled date of collection of the agreement. For more information, please refer to this website.

Please note that Singapore PRs and foreign students are required to pay full tuition fees if they fail to complete the tuition grant process.

Q7: Are there any obligations under the Tuition Grant Scheme?

A: For Singaporeans: There is no obligation attached under this scheme.

For Singapore PRs and Foreign students: You are required to sign a bond with the Government to work for 3 years* upon completion of your course.

Two sureties are required for the executing the deed. They can be of any nationality, above 21 years old and must not be undischarged bankrupts.

* For details, please refer to the MOE website on Tuition Grant

Q8: If I had obtained a diploma/degree previously, am I still eligible to apply for the Tuition Grant if I were to pursue a second course in RP?

A: You will not be eligible for the Tuition Grant if the second course is of the same or lower level than your previous diploma/degree. This is regardless of whether you have received subsidy from the government for your previous diploma/degree course, or whether you have pursued the previous diploma/degree course at one of Singapore’s Institutions of Higher Learning or not.

Please click here for All Student Finance FAQs