Overview: More students to benefit from MOE financial assistance
Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) announced a series of enhancements to its financial assistance schemes and transport subsidies, effective mainly from 2026. The changes aim to widen access to education for lower- and middle-income households and to ease education-related costs for families supporting students in government, government-aided, and independent schools, as well as post-secondary institutions.
The ministry projects that these enhancements could help an additional 31,000 students, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to around 133,000 each year. Education Minister Desmond Lee emphasized that the reforms are designed to ensure every child and youth can pursue school and post-secondary programmes regardless of income.
Key changes to MOE financial assistance schemes
The income eligibility ceilings will be raised for six means-tested schemes, expanding support across different education tracks. Examples include:
- MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) for Government and Government-Aided Schools (GGAS) and Specialised Schools (SS).
- Special Education (SPED) FAS for MOE-funded SPED schools.
- MOE Independent School Bursary (MOE ISB) for Independent Schools and Specialised Independent Schools (ISSIS).
- UPLIFT Scholarship for ISSIS.
- Edusave Merit Bursary for GGAS, SS, ISSIS, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Polytechnics.
- Government bursaries for Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs).
Concrete numbers include raising the gross household monthly income ceiling for MOE FAS and SPED FAS from S$3,000 to S$4,000, and increasing the per capita income ceiling from S$750 to S$1,000. The reforms also introduce a consolidated means-testing approach to reflect household income more accurately.
MOE and PSEIs will implement the Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES) starting in the 2026 Academic Year to streamline applications and means-testing. HOMES is designed to reduce the need for submitting income documents, making processes more convenient for families. The means-tested assessments will consider the household income of all family members living with the student and the average income over the past 12 months, including all forms of income such as employment, bonuses, rental income, and other sources as reflected in IRAS notices.
Increased transport and other support
Beyond means-tested grants, the MOE is boosting transport subsidies for primary and secondary students on financial assistance. The school bus subsidy will rise from 65% to 70% of monthly school bus fares, and the public transport subsidy for these students will increase from S$17 to S$21 per month.
Looking ahead, the annual bursary quanta for pre-university students will rise from S$1,200 to S$1,600, with the S$21 monthly transport subsidy folded into a consolidated payment. The UPLIFT Scholarship for ISSIS will also be increased from S$1,000 to S$1,200 to better support high-achieving or talent-strong students from lower-income families.
Bursaries for post-secondary education
MOE will raise the bursary quanta for full-time and part-time students at publicly-funded PSEIs. For ITE Nitec and Higher Nitec students from lower-income families, the highest-bursary tier students will continue to receive full tuition subsidy plus a cash allowance. The ITE Community Scholarship cash award will rise from S$1,800 to S$2,050 per year. Diploma students from lower-income families in the highest bursary tier will receive bursaries covering about 95% of subsidised tuition fees, while most undergraduates’ bursaries will cover roughly 75% of subsidised tuition for non-medical fields.
For medical and dental undergraduates, the government bursary will be revised so that the highest-bursary tier students will pay no more than S$5,000 per year in tuition for the 2026 academic year, after accounting for university-provided financial support.
What this means for families
These changes are designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs and simplify the application process through HOMES, making it easier for families to access timely financial aid. By expanding eligibility and increasing subsidies, MOE hopes to ensure no capable student is deterred from pursuing education due to cost concerns.
While most changes take effect in 2026, the Edusave Merit Bursary criteria will adjust earlier, starting in November to align with the upcoming bursary cycle in December.
In short, the MOE enhancements reflect a broader government focus on making education more affordable and accessible for Singaporeans, with a clear goal of supporting students from lower- and middle-income households at every stage of their academic journey.
