Skip to main content
A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify
Official website links end with .gov.sg
Government agencies communicate via .gov.sg websites (e.g. go.gov.sg/open). Trusted websites
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Government officials will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call.

Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam. For more information on how to protect yourself against scams, please visit the ScamShield website.

Republic Polytechnic

MOE Higher Education Student Loan Scheme

Learn how the Higher Education Student Loan Scheme supports your studies with loans to finance your tertiary studies when you pursue approved MOE-subsidised diploma programmes.

Last updated 21 April 2026

From 1 July 2026, the new Higher Education Student Loan (HESL) scheme will be implemented to provide loans to students who need help to finance their tertiary studies when they pursue approved MOE-subsidised diploma programmes at Republic Polytechnic. It will replace the MOE Tuition Fee Loan scheme and MOE Study Loan scheme, which will be merged under the new loan scheme.

Components of HESL
(1) Base provision:

  • For all eligible Singapore Citizens (SC), Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) and International Students (IS), it covers up to 90% of the subsidised tuition fees payable, depending on your citizenship.

(2) Means-tested provision:

  • For eligible SC, it covers the balance of your subsidised tuition fees not covered by the base provision and loan for living allowance.

  • For eligible SPR and IS, it covers living allowance only.

  • To be eligible for Means-tested provision, you must be:
    (i) A SC and SPR with gross monthly household per capita income (PCI) of $3,500 or less.
    (ii) IS with gross monthly household PCI of $1,875 or less.

You will have flexibility to decide the components that you want to take up (i.e.  base provision only, or base provision and means-tested provision). Within the means-tested provision, SC students can also decide if they want the loan to cover fee balance only, loan for living allowance only, or a combination of any of these two.

Approved loan funds will first be used to offset outstanding tuition fees. Any remaining balance (for students who apply for living allowance loan) will be disbursed to the student.

Interest rate
HESL scheme is interest-free during the course of study, with interest commencing only upon graduation or when students leave their institution.

Loan Repayment
The maximum loan repayment period for HESL scheme is 10 years.

Summary

Nationality

HESL Component

(1) Non-means tested

(2) Means-tested1

Base Provision
(max % of subsidised tuition fee)

Balance Fee Coverage

Living Allowance Loan 

Singapore Citizens

90%

10%

Up to $3,200 per academic year

Singapore Permanent Resident

75%

N.A.

International Student

55%

N.A.

1  Balance fee coverage and living allowance loan are subject to means‑testing and approval. Students are to contact help-schoolfee@rp.edu.sg for assessment before applying.

How to apply for HESL
Students who wish to apply for the HESL scheme can login to the StudentLoanSG (SLSG) portal using their Singpass from 1 July 2026. As a start, the portal will accept HESL application from the following students who can use their Singpass account:

a)       Newly matriculated students in Academic Year (AY) 2026 intake
b)       Existing students (before AY2026 intake) who do not have TFL and SL for their current course of study

If you have taken up the MOE Tuition Fee Loan Scheme, no action is required from you. However, if you wish to apply for new or additional loan provision under the HESL scheme, please contact help-schoolfee@rp.edu.sg for advice from 1 September 2026. Students may apply for HESL in the SLSG portal from 1 September 2026, if you are found eligible.