Part Time Uni & Poly Students With Bursaries Can Pay Less School Fees From 2020

New Income Category Available For Part-Time Uni & Poly Bursaries In 2020, Will Help Struggling Families

Those who are struggling with juggling work and studies can breathe a little easier from next year, as the Ministry of Education (MOE) will give further financial support to part-time polytechnic and university students from lower income groups, reports the Straits Times.

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From 2020, bursaries will increase for part-time students whose families earn less than $6,900 a month.

This is predicted to help about 2,100 students currently or about to study part-time, said the MOE.

Bursary changes include new category for families earning below $1,000 per person

These are the changes:

Part-time undergraduates

Below $4,000 a month or $1,000 per person: $2,500 (new), $1,350 (old).

This is a new category. Previously, only the 2 categories below were eligible for bursaries.

Between $4,000 to $6,900 a month or $1,001 to $1,725 per person: $1,600 (new), $1,600 (old).
Above $6,900 a month or $1,725 per person: $700 (unchanged)

Part-time polytechnic diploma students

Below $4,000 a month or $1,000 per person: $800 (new), $600 (old).

This is also a new category.

Between $4,000 to $6,900 a month or $1,001 to $1,725 per person: $660 (new), $600 (old).
Above $6,900 a month or $1,725 per person: $300 (unchanged)

Eligible universities and polytechnics offering part-time bursaries

The updated bursaries will apply to the following universities and polytechnics:

Universities

National University of Singapore
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore University of Social Sciences

Polytechnics

Nanyang Polytechnic
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic
Singapore Polytechnic
Temasek Polytechnic

The National Institute of Early Childhood Development also offers bursaries.

Lower-income students can fulfill their potential

The education system is sometimes known as “the great equalizer”, for its ability to bridge social divisions in a meritocratic fashion.

Part-time students definitely suffer a disadvantage in that many have to work and study at the same time, and it is doubly so for those belonging in lower income families.

Hence, the new bursary can only be a net benefit for these students as they pursue higher education, so they can fulfill their potential regardless of how much their family is earning. We thank the MOE for their consideration of lower-bracket families in their studies.

Featured image adapted from Temasek Poly and NUS.