A Cost Guide To School Fees In Singapore: Primary, Secondary, Post-Secondary and Tertiary

As the saying goes, give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.

For many societies (including Singapore), education is the tool we equip our next generation with so that they can survive in society.

But education comes at a price, and you want to make sure you are financially prepared to provide your child with the education they need to succeed. 

In this guide, we will dissect the cost of education in Singapore for Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and international students.

School Fees For Every Stage In Your Child’s Education

Welcome to the intricate world of school fees in Singapore! Navigating the educational landscape can be as challenging as solving a puzzle, but fear not, we're here to break it down for you.

1. School Fees in Singapore's Primary schools

• Singapore Citizens: $6.50 to $13 per month.
• Permanent Residents: $230 to $268 per month.
• ASEAN International students: $490 to $528 per month.
• Non-ASEAN International students: $825 to $888 per month.

Other Fees

• Miscellaneous fees: S$6.50 (monthly)

2. School Fees in Singapore's Secondary schools

For secondary education, there are different types of schools that your child might be enrolled in, depending on their Primary School Leaving Exam (PSLE) score.

Based on MOE’s definition, there are five types of schools in Singapore’s secondary education.

Some schools within these four categories are also Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools, which are committed to nurturing bilingual and bicultural students immersed in Chinese language and culture.

Some schools within these four categories have an autonomous status. This means that they follow the national syllabus, but offer a wider range of enrichment programmes that develop your child’s talents.

• • *Note that Independent schools, Specialised independent schools set their own fees and structure. You may visit the schools’ websites for the latest fee information.
•  

Other Fees

• Miscellaneous fees: S$10 (monthly)

3. School Fees in Singapore's Post-secondary schools: Junior College

Once students finish their O’Levels, there are three different education routes that they can pursue. The most common one is Junior College (JC), which used to be called Pre-U. 

In JC, students will undergo a curriculum very much like that in secondary school. The focus of JC is to prepare students for their A’Levels and subsequently their tertiary education. Thus, the fee structure is very similar to secondary school.

• Singaporeans & PRs:
  • Free for the first 2 years if enrolled in a government JC.
  • Additional fees for special programs or subjects.
• International Students:
  • $18,000 - $30,000 per year.

Other Fees

• Miscellaneous fees: S$13.50 (monthly)

4. School Fees in Singapore's Post-secondary schools: Institute of Technical Education

For students who are not academically inclined, they can choose to go the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) route. ITE imparts practical and hands-on skills to students so that they can enjoy better job prospects and career progression once they graduate.

For Higher NITEC students who perform exceptionally well, they can choose to further their studies at a Polytechnic.

• Singaporeans & PRs:
  • Free for the first 2 years if enrolled in a government ITE.
  • Additional fees for certain courses or materials.
• International Students:
  • $10,000 - $20,000 per year.

5. School Fees in Singapore's Post-secondary schools: Polytechnic

Once students finish their O’Levels, they have the option of studying in a polytechnic as well. Unlike in JC, students in polytechnics are given more autonomy on what they want to study and how they want to plan their education journey, which is much more fluid and involves less micromanagement from the lecturers. 

As polytechnics prepare students with hands-on skills for the workforce, they are suitable for students who are already clear on what they want to pursue post-graduation.

• Singaporeans & PRs:
  • Government polytechnics: $4,000 - $8,000 per year (subsidized rates).
  • Private polytechnics: $10,000 - $20,000 per year.
• International Students:
  • Government polytechnics: $12,000 - $25,000 per year.
  • Private polytechnics: Varies, generally higher than government polytechnics.

6. School Fees in Singapore's Tertiary schools

Tertiary education is the final stage of one’s education journey. In Singapore, there are currently six public universities that are eligible for MOE tuition fee grant:

1. National University of Singapore (NUS)
2. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
3. Singapore Management University (SMU)
4. Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
5. Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
6. Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

• Singaporeans & PRs:
  • Government universities: $6,000 - $14,000 per year (subsidized rates).
  • Autonomous universities: $10,000 - $20,000 per year.
• International Students:
  • Government universities: $20,000 - $35,000 per year.
  • Autonomous universities: $25,000 - $40,000 per year.

Government subsidies for your child’s education (Singaporeans)

To ensure that every Singaporean has an equal opportunity to education regardless of family background, the government continues to provide financial support to Singaporean families. This is especially targeted at low- to middle-income families. 

1. Edusave top-up

Besides school fee subsidies, the government tops up the Edusave account for primary (S$230) and secondary school (S$290) children yearly. This adds up to a total of S$2,540 by the time your child finishes his/her secondary education. 

2. ComCare Student Care Fee Assistance Scheme 

To support lower income families, the government also provides subsidies on monthly student care fees, as well as a one-time grant for enrolment fees. This is administered under the ComCare Student Care Fee Assistance scheme.

3. Bursary

For tertiary education like polytechnics and universities, there are also bursaries made available for children from lower income families. This is to ensure that those who worked hard and secured their spot in an MOE-subsidised polytechnic or university course would be given the chance to pursue higher education. 

Estimated cost of education for one child

Overall, the cost of education for a child in Singapore from primary to tertiary will set you back at least:

JC route

Total: S$41,092 (excluding enrichment, materials, and other expenses)

Breakdown:

• Primary school (government): S$468
• Secondary school (government): S$1,920
• Junior College (government): S$468
• University (government, subsidized fees): S$38,236

Polytechnic route

Total: S$48,724 (excluding enrichment, materials, and other expenses)

Breakdown:

• Primary school (government): S$468
• Secondary school (government): S$1,920
• Polytechnic (government, subsidized fees): S$11,200
• University (government, subsidized fees): S$38,236

Important notes

• These are base estimates and actual fees may vary depending on several factors like school choice, financial aid, specific courses chosen, etc.
• The university fees have been updated to reflect the latest subsidized rates for AY 2024/25.
• The JC and polytechnic fees have also been slightly adjusted based on current estimates.

Remember:

• • The costs quoted are exclusive of non-tuition fees like enrichment activities, textbooks, uniforms, and miscellaneous expenses.
  • International students will face significantly higher fees than those listed here.
  • Independent schools and private tertiary institutions will have substantially higher fees compared to government options.

And this is with government education subsidies in place. 

If your child enrols in independent schools or pursue tertiary courses that are more expensive, the fees will be even higher. 

Furthermore, there are other costs involved such as enrichment courses, material fees, as well as overseas trips that schools might organise to provide more exposure for your child.

Thus, it is important for parents to save up as much as possible to secure their child’s future and equip them with the skills to fish for themselves.

SingSaver is a personal finance comparison platform which provides free, quick and easily accessible resources to help consumers understand personal finance products in Singapore; including credit cards, personal loans and travel insurance.

This article was first published in SingSaver and republished on theAsianparent with permission.

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