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Financial Assistance and Bursary Schemes

The Ministry of Education provides financial assistance to needy Singapore Citizen pupils in Government or Government-Aided Schools. It also provides subsidy for school fees to Singapore Citizen pupils from lower and middle income families in Independent Schools, except Singapore Sports School, NorthLight School, Assumption Pathway School and School Of The Arts which have their own financial assistance schemes.

MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) for Government and Government-Aided Schools

The income limits and types of assistance given to needy pupils in Government or Government-Aided schools under this financial assistance scheme are shown in the table below:

Income Limits

Household Type Gross Income
With 1 or 2 children Not exceeding $1,500 per month
With 3 or more children Not exceeding $1,800 per month

Benefits Under Scheme

Level School Fees Standard Miscellaneous Fees Textbook School Attire Bursary Examination Fees
Primary Not applicable Waived Free Textbooks Free School Attire Not Applicable 75% subsidy of national exam fees (100% subsidy for pupils under MCYS’ Public Assistance Scheme)
Secondary Waived Waived Free Textbooks Free School Attire Not Applicable
Junior College / Centralised Institute Waived Waived Not Applicable Not Applicable $750

Pupils who wish to apply for the scheme can obtain the application form from their schools. They are to submit the application form together with the relevant documents to their schools. You can also download the Financial Assistance Scheme Application Form.

All application forms must be submitted together with the relevant documents to the schools directly.

Independent Schools Bursary (ISB) Scheme

The income limits and benefits given to pupils in Independent Schools under this bursary scheme are shown in the table below:

Income Limits & Benefits

The student needs only satisfy either gross household income or gross income per dependent child limits.

Monthly Gross Household Income Monthly Gross Income per Dependent Child1 Benefits2
Not exceeding $1,500 Not exceeding $600
  • 100% fee subsidy
  • Free textbooks and school attire at Secondary level; $750 bursary at Junior College level
  • 75% subsidy of national exam fees (100% subsidy for pupils under MCYS’ Public Assistance Scheme)
$1,501 - $2,500 $601 - $1,000 90% fee subsidy3
$2,501 - $3,750 $1,001 - $1,500 75% fee subsidy3
$3,751 - $4,500 $1,501 - $1,800 50% fee subsidy3
$4,501 - $7,200 $1,801 - $2,900 33% fee subsidy3
Note: Singapore Sports School, School of the Arts, NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School have their own schemes to provide financial assistance to pupils.

Footnotes:

  1. Dependent children refer to unmarried children below 16 years old and unmarried children above 16 years old and are receiving full-time education or are handicapped. ↩
  2. For IS Bursary recipients who are eligible for 90% to 33% subsidy of school fees and also recipients of MOE scholarships, special awards or bursaries which provide part payment of school fees, the total fee subsidy received by them will be capped at the annual school fees charged by each independent school less the annual amount of school and standard miscellaneous fees paid by pupils in government/ government-aided schools. ↩
  3. The total fee subsidy for an MOE Scholarship recipient who is granted the ISB is capped at Total Fee less the quantum of school and miscellaneous fees payable if he were in a government school unless the student is receiving 100% fee subsidy under the scheme. ↩