Publication: The New Paper, p 12
Date: 15 January 2011
Headline: Tertiary school fees up this year
Tertiary school
fees up this year
I
Higher increase for non-S'poreans
REPORT: KOH HUI THENG and ASHLEY CHIA
tnp@sph.com.sg
T just got a lot more expensive to study
here if you're a foreign student.
Take the Higher National ITE certiiicate
for example. International students, who
used to pay $5,060, will now have to fork out
$6,880.
For permanent residents, it more than
doubled from the original$1,690.
But for Singapore citizens, the increase is
just $10 to $516.
The changes affect students entering this
year's cohort at the polytechnics, public universities and the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs).
The fee increase -which ranges from $10
to $790 for Singapore citizens - was announced yesterday by the five polytechnics,
ITE, the National University of Singapore
(NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). (Seereport at right.)
The five polytechnics also revealed a variety of fiilancial schemes to aid students. (See
report at right.)
But the loans are not given out for free.
When shopping for a study loan, keep in
mind that "the smaller the loan amount, the
better", advised Fundsupermart general manager Wong Sui Tau.
Loan senicing
"It's advisable to not take up a big loan
because you'll have to pay it back at the end
of it," he said.
And there's no guarantee the student will
land ahigh-payingjobimmediatelyafter graduation to service his loan.
Adiplomastudent now would have to fork
out $2,200 a year for his education. If he had
started his studies last year, the bill would
have been $2.150.
But even with a loan, it's still cheaper to
studyhere, said Mr Wong.
"Interest rates are relatively low now, so a
Singaporeeducation is generally quite affordable for most people. The financialburden is
still not as heavy as an overseasstint."
There's also the option of bursaries and
scholarships.
Mr Wong added: "Try the bond-free scholarships that some companies offer. These
come with no strings attached, so you don't
have to worry about paying off money
straight after graduation."
For example, OCBC Bank offers some 30
bond-free scholarships annually. Recipients
can pursue any course and there is no employment bond.
Said online recruitment portal Jobs Central's deputy chief executive, Ms Huang Shao
Ning: "Check when the loan interest starts as
this affects the repayment schedule.
-
, .
0
FEE HIKE
S'PORE CITIZEN
-'
,
I
:ionalITE Certificate
Higher National ITE Certificate
$5,060
TNP INFOGRAPHICS.CEL GULAPA
L-
"Some schemes calculate interest when
the student gets the loan while others calmlate"Approach
interest ,afterthe schools
the student
first as
graduates.
the institutes may already have various financial assistanceprogrammesin place."
can also work part-time within
the school campus,Ms Huang added.
Schools said the hike would help them to
dehay costs and make a greater differentiation in the fees that Singaporecitizens, permanent residents (PRs) and international studentspay.
Still, some students and parents were upset by the news of the fee increase.
Second-year Republic Polytechnic student Ooi Hui Fen, 18,said: "I feel it's unfair for
studentswho are born later as we have to pay
$50 more than our seniors.
"Though a $50-rise may not be a lot to
some people, it may place a greater strain on
those who are less well off.".
Ooi does not work part-time and her fees
are paid by her mother.
Operations manager Catherine Yap, 52, is
upset about paying an extra $540 a year when
her son starts his law degree at NUS this year
-the fee was $8,890 last year.
"To me, the school fees were already very
high. They shouldn't increase it now, as the
improving economic benefits haven't atered
through to everyone yet," said Mrs Yap, who
also has a 12-year-olddaughter.
" l ~ ~ o like
k s we'll need to spend less on
other expenses, such as family holidays."
$6,880
Where to get student loans
SCHOC~
Polytechnic
The range of options includei the tuition fee
loan scheme that covers up to 75 per cent
a
student's tuition expenses and
the CPF Education Scheme, which can meet
the full tuition amount.
Visit the websites of the polytechnicsfor
information.
University
Differentschemes like the needs-based
student assistance loan (in NUS) and
education loan (in SMU) and undergraduate
tuition fee loan (in NTU).
.
Details are available on the websites of
the universities.
ITE
full-time diploma students who are
Singapore citizens are eligiljle to sign up for
the loan schemes, which covers up to 75
per cent of the annual tuition amount.
Bursary awards between $500 and
$1,200 and the CPF Education Scheme
which subsidises the full tuition fee are also
available.
More information can be found on the
ITE website.
BANKS
Polytechnic
DBS offers a study loan for Ngee Ann and
Nanyang Polytechnic students.
University
DBS has a study loan for NUS, NTU and SMU
undergraduates. OCBC provides tuition fee
loan for NUS and NTU students.
4ELP GROUi
rolgDecnnlc
Approach organisations like Mendaki and
the Community Development Councils
directly or through the school for bursaries
(for those from low-income households) and
fee subsidies.
University
Apply directly to associations like the Foo
Clan Association and welfare groups or get
detailsfrom each school.
ITE
The Mendaki Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy
Scheme is available to Malay Singapore
citizens. The application form can be
obtained from the school.
Source: The New Paper O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
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