You will be pleased to know that your University education is highly subsidised by the Singapore Government in the form of a Tuition Grant. The Tuition Fees that you pay, only covers part of your school fees.
Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) & International Students (IS)
Permanent Residents and International Students will need to apply for a Tuition Grant as part of their online admission application form. If you are offered a Tuition Grant together with your University place, you will also need to accept the Tuition Grant offer when you accept your place. After matriculation into SMU, you will need to register through the MOE TG Online system (https://tgonline.moe.gov.sg) and sign the Tuition Grant Agreement to complete the process.
The online application period will take place in September 2023. Two sureties are required to execute the Tuition Grant Agreement. They can be of any nationality, between 21 and 65 years of age, and must not be bankrupts.
In addition, Permanent Residents and International Students who take up the Tuition Grant are required to work in a Singapore entity for 3 years upon graduation from SMU. Those who are not eligible, or choose not to apply for the Tuition Grant, will pay the non-subsidised fees. Such students will not be bound by the 3 years work obligation.
For Non-Singapore citizens, details on the Tuition Grant application process will be made available to your SMU email during middle of August 2023. The children of Gurkha or Nepalese civilian officer, who are serving or had previously served in the Gurkha Contingent are not eligible for the Tuition Grant. However, they can apply directly to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for the SPF Study Grant which is similar to that of the Tuition Grant.
Tuition Grant Eligibility
1) Students with a Bachelor's degree or higher qualification
Students (regardless of nationality) who already hold a degree or higher qualification will be eligible to receive Tuition Grant if they are offered admission into a course of the same or lower level at Singapore's publicly-funded tertiary institutions*, as long as they did not attain their degree or higher qualification through subsidy by Ministry of Education (MOE) or sponsorship by the Singapore Government^.
2) Transfers within SMU or from the other publicly-funded tertiary institutions or re-admitted undergraduate students
Students (regardless of nationality) who transfer or are re-admitted within SMU or are transferred from the other publicly-funded tertiary institutions* will be eligible for Tuition Grant up to the maximum course duration of the new course at SMU (that is, 4 years/8 semesters), after subtracting the number of semesters of Tuition Grant received for the previous degree course.
Number of semesters of Tuition Grant eligible for new course = Maximum course duration for new course – Number of semesters of Tuition Grant received for previous course
* SMU, NUS, NTU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS and approved degree programmes offered by the Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institutions (FSIs), the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the LASALLE College of the Arts.
^ This includes the receipt of a government sponsorship (such as those offered by agencies, Ministries, the Public Service Commission and Statutory Boards) for local or overseas study.
Note: Regulations governing Tuition Grant matters are subject to change from time to time.