← Singapore hubs Student
Singapore English (English) $ SGD
Mei Ling is a university student navigating the high cost of living in Singapore while trying to balance her studies and part-time work. This hub covers the essential national schemes, grants, and digital portals she needs to manage her finances, healthcare, and student life.
Managing tuition fees and daily expenses is the biggest stressor for a student in Singapore.
Tuition Grant Scheme national · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Full-time undergraduate students at autonomous universities.
What you get Subsidized tuition fees in exchange for a 3-year service bond.
What it actually costs you Requires signing a bond agreement; no upfront cost.
Common gotcha You must work in a Singapore-registered company for 3 years after graduation or pay back the grant with interest.
MOE Tuition Fee Loan national · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Students who need to cover the non-subsidized portion of tuition fees.
What you get Loan covering up to 90% of the tuition fee payable.
What it actually costs you Interest-free during the course of study.
Common gotcha Interest kicks in immediately upon graduation.
MOE Study Loan national · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Students with a gross monthly household income of $2,700 or less.
What you get Covers remaining 10% of fees and living allowance.
What it actually costs you Requires a guarantor.
Common gotcha The income eligibility criteria is strict and based on household per capita income.
Higher Education Bursary national · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Singaporean students from lower-to-middle income families.
What you get Cash grant ranging from $1,500 to $6,300 per year.
What it actually costs you Application via university financial aid portal.
Common gotcha You must re-apply every academic year.
CPF Education Loan Scheme national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Students whose parents have sufficient CPF Ordinary Account savings.
What you get Use parents' CPF savings to pay for tuition.
What it actually costs you Repayment with accrued interest starts one year after graduation.
Common gotcha It depletes your parents' retirement savings.
Student Concession Card national · TransitLink
Who qualifies Full-time students in recognized institutions.
What you get Discounted bus and MRT fares.
What it actually costs you Small fee for card replacement if lost.
Common gotcha Must be renewed annually or upon change of course. Medical bills can be expensive, so knowing how to use national subsidies is crucial.
MediShield Life national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
What you get Basic health insurance for large hospital bills.
What it actually costs you Premiums payable via MediSave.
Common gotcha It is a basic plan; it doesn't cover everything in private hospitals.
CHAS Blue/Orange national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singaporeans based on household income or annual value of home.
What you get Subsidies for visits to GP and dental clinics.
What it actually costs you Free application.
Common gotcha Must visit a CHAS-accredited clinic.
Polyclinic Outpatient Subsidies national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All Singapore citizens.
What you get Heavily subsidized consultation and medication.
What it actually costs you Standard registration fee.
Common gotcha Long waiting times; need to book via HealthHub app.
HealthHub national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies All residents with Singpass.
What you get Access to medical records, lab results, and appointment booking.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Requires Singpass to log in.
Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT) national · Institute of Mental Health
Who qualifies Youths and young adults aged 16-30.
What you get Free mental health assessment and referral.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Strict age limit.
School Dental Service national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies Students in government schools.
What you get Free or low-cost dental checkups.
What it actually costs you Minimal administrative fee.
Common gotcha Usually limited to basic services. Everything in Singapore is digital; without these, you can't access school or government services.
Singpass national · GovTech
Who qualifies Citizens, PRs, and long-term pass holders.
What you get Single digital identity for all government services.
What it actually costs you Requires a smartphone and biometric setup.
Common gotcha Don't lose your password; resetting it can be a hassle.
MyInfo national · GovTech
Who qualifies All Singpass users.
What you get Auto-filling of personal data for forms.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Ensure your address is updated in the system.
LifeSG App national · GovTech
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Centralized hub for government services and benefits.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Can be overwhelming due to the number of services.
National Library Board Membership national · National Library Board
Who qualifies All Singapore residents.
What you get Access to millions of books, e-resources, and study spaces.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha You need to activate your account online after signing up.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get Credits to pay for approved training courses.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Only for specific courses; check eligibility before booking.
Gov.sg WhatsApp/Telegram national · Ministry of Communications and Information
Who qualifies Anyone with a mobile number.
What you get Official updates on government policies and emergencies.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Beware of scams; only follow verified channels. If I take a part-time job, I need to know my rights and tax obligations.
IRAS Student Tax Filing national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Who qualifies Students earning above the taxable threshold.
What you get Compliance with tax laws.
What it actually costs you Time to file annually.
Common gotcha Most students earn below the threshold and don't need to pay, but filing is still required if notified.
CPF Contribution for Students national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Students in part-time employment.
What you get Savings for future housing/retirement.
What it actually costs you Deduction from salary.
Common gotcha Students on vacation employment may be exempt from CPF contributions.
Employment Act Protection national · Ministry of Manpower
Who qualifies All employees in Singapore.
What you get Legal protection for wages, hours, and leave.
What it actually costs you None.
Common gotcha Know your contract terms; some parts of the Act don't apply to all contract types.
TAFEP Fair Consideration national · Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices
Who qualifies All job seekers.
What you get Reporting channel for discriminatory hiring practices.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Requires evidence of discrimination.
Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) national · Ministry of Manpower
Who qualifies Employees injured during work.
What you get Compensation for medical expenses and lost income.
What it actually costs you None.
Common gotcha Must report the injury to the employer immediately.
MyCareersFuture national · Workforce Singapore
Who qualifies All Singaporeans.
What you get Access to legitimate job listings.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Avoid job scams on social media; use this portal instead. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 Singapore offers a highly structured, meritocratic ecosystem where student welfare is tied to academic performance and household income, with heavy reliance on digital portals like LifeSG.
MOE Bursary 教育部助学金 state · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Singaporean students in polytechnics or universities with a monthly household income of $6,900 or less.
What you get Annual bursary ranging from $800 to $4,000 depending on income tier.
What it actually costs you Application via school portal; requires income documents of all family members.
Common gotcha The income tier is based on Gross Monthly Household Income, not just take-home pay.
Tuition Grant Scheme 学费津贴计划 state · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Students admitted to autonomous universities who agree to work in a Singapore-registered company for 3 years post-graduation.
What you get Significant subsidy on tuition fees, often reducing costs by 50% or more.
What it actually costs you Signing a legal bond; requires two sureties.
Common gotcha If you fail to fulfill the bond, you must pay back the grant with interest.
Edusave Account 教育储蓄户头 state · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies All Singaporean students in government-funded schools.
What you get Annual contributions used to pay for enrichment programs and second-tier school fees.
What it actually costs you Automatic; managed via Singpass.
Common gotcha Funds expire if not used by the time you reach age 16 or leave the school system.
CDC Vouchers 社区发展理事会邻里购物券 state · People's Association
Who qualifies All Singaporean households.
What you get Digital vouchers for groceries and heartland shops.
What it actually costs you Claimed via Singpass; no cost.
Common gotcha Vouchers are digital-only and expire within a calendar year.
Student Concession Card 学生优惠车资卡 state · TransitLink
Who qualifies Full-time students in recognized local institutions.
What you get Discounted bus and MRT fares compared to adult rates.
What it actually costs you Application fee for the card; must be renewed annually.
Common gotcha The card must be used by the student only; misuse leads to heavy fines.
NLB Library Membership 国家图书馆会员 state · National Library Board
Who qualifies All Singapore residents.
What you get Free access to physical books, e-books, and study spaces.
What it actually costs you Free; registered via Singpass.
Common gotcha Overdue fines accrue daily if books are not returned on time.
Active Health Lab 健康实验室 state · Sport Singapore
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free health assessments and personalized fitness advice.
What it actually costs you Booking appointment online.
Common gotcha Slots fill up very quickly during exam periods.
One honest app. Real lives, real businesses. Free for what people need, paid only for what runs a business — on our own model, our own metal.
Where we run
Bangalore + Czechia
Our own metal · GDPR · DPDPA
