FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON REVISED TERTIARY TUITION
FEE SUBSIDY (TTFS) SCHEME FOR MALAY STUDENTS
1) What is TTFS?
The Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) scheme is an education subsidy for
Malay students, which covers their tuition fees at tertiary institutions. The TTFS is
established through an annual government grant to Yayasan MENDAKI (YM).
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safeguard, support, foster and promote the educational interests of the Malays.
Education is seen as the most effective lever towards securing the progress and
socio-economic advancement of the Malay community.
TTFS replaced the automatic waiver of tertiary tuition fees for Malay students
in AY91/92. In 1989, Malay Members of Parliament (MMPs) had initiated the idea of
revising the system of financing Malay students in tertiary institutions, and suggested
replacing the automatic waiver of tuition fees with a criterion that would include
means-testing. This idea was supported by then-Prime Minister (PM) Goh Chok
Tong. TTFS was thus founded on two key principles:
i) To build a self-reliant community standing tall with other communities in
Singapore;
ii) For the better off within the community to help the less well-off.
The Government grant is based on the total enrolment of Malay students in
local universities and polytechnics, and Yayasan MENDAKI disburses the grant to
eligible students. Any XQGLVEXUVHG IXQGV IURP 77)6 DUH FKDQQHOOHG WR 0(1'$.,¶V
Education Development Fund (EDF), which is used for educational assistance
schemes and other educational programmes run by MENDAKI. The money saved
from the better-off segment of the community will thus benefit students at all
educational levels, not just in tertiary institutions.
Beneficiaries of EDF programmes range from families with toddlers, children
attending madrasahs, and students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
This enables optimal utilisation of funds to help those who require it through
developmental educational programmes, such as tuition classes for primary and
secondary school students, and preparatory workshops / programmes for primary
school entrance or major examinations e.g. PSLE. In 2010, more than 13,000 Malay
and Muslim students and families benefitted from EDF programmes.
2) How does the revised set of income eligibility criteria for TTFS differ from
the current criteria?
The amount of subsidy that each student receives is contingent on a set of
income criteria. A comparison table of the current and revised TTFS criteria is as
follows:
1
Current Criteria
Revised Criteria
Eligibility Criterion
Monthly Household Income (MHI)
Monthly Per
Income (PCI)
Capita
Household
Eligibility Levels
100% subsidy”0+,
70% subsidy: MHI $2,001 - $3,000
100% subsidy” PCI $1,000
75% subsidy: PCI $1,001 - $1,200
50% subsidy: PCI $1,201 - $1,500
Tiers
Two-tier
Three-tier
With an upper bound of PCI $1,500, which corresponds to a household
income of about $6,000 for a four-member household, this revised income eligibility
criteria will allow a higher proportion of Malay households to qualify for TTFS.
3) When will the Government next review the income eligibility criteria for
TTFS?
The Government will review the TTFS income criteria regularly to ensure that
eligibility coverage does not fall below two-thirds of Malay households.
4) Who is eligible for TTFS?
A student is eligible for TTFS if he/she satisfies all of the following conditions:
a) The student is a Singapore Citizen (SC) or a bona fide resident of Singapore
and one of his/her parents (including adoptive parent and step-parent), living
or deceased, is a Singapore citizen;
b) 7KHVWXGHQW¶VUDFHLVVWDWHGLQKLVKHU15,&DV0DOD\RU,QGRQHVLDQ([WUDFW 1;
c) 7KH VWXGHQW¶V PRQWKO\ SHU FDSLWD KRXVHKROG LQFRPH 3&, GRes not exceed
$1,500, where the student will enjoy:
(i) 100% subsidy if his/her PCI is $1,000 and below;
(ii) 75% subsidy if his/her PCI is between $1,000 and $1,200;
(iii) 50% subsidy if his/her PCI is between $1,200 and $1,500.
d) The student is receiving the MOE tuition fee grant;
e) The student is pursuing a first diploma or degree on a full-time basis at the
following local government tertiary institutions or programmes:
(i) Local universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD)
(ii) Polytechnics (NP, NYP, RP, SP, TP)
(iii) Polytechnic - Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) programmes
(offered by polytechnics and the Singapore Institute of Technology); and
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Including Acehnese, Ambonese, Batak, Bugis, Baniarese, Boyanese, Butonese, Dusun, Dayak, Iban,
Indonesia, Javanese, Kadazan, Kelabit, Minangkabau, Murut, Makasarese, Melanau, Sumatran,
Sundanese, and Other Indonesian.
2
(iv) Technical Engineering Diploma (TED) offered by Institutes of Technical
Education (ITEs)
Students pursuing their degrees / diplomas in private tertiary institutions in
Singapore or who are studying overseas are not eligible for TTFS.
5) I have two races registered under the double-barrelled race policy. Am I
eligible for TTFS?
6WXGHQWVZLWK³0DOD\´³,QGRQHVLDQ([WUDFW´DVWKHILUVWFRmponent race at the
point of admission to Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) are eligible, subject to the
other eligibility criteria indicated under Q4.
6) I do not qualify under the TTFS revised criteria as my monthly household
per capita income (PCI) is above $1,500. My family still finds it financially
challenging to fund my tertiary education. Are there other avenues which I
can tap on?
Yayasan MENDAKI currently exercises flexibility in approving subsidies for
students from families with extenuating circumstances, e.g. those supporting more
than one child for tertiary education and families with members suffering from
chronic medical problems. This appeal mechanism will continue.
For the better-off families who do not qualify for TTFS, there is a wide range
of schemes that can be tapped on. The Supplementary Assistance Scheme (SAS)
provides more interest-free loans to students ineligible for the full TTFS, while the
Special Malay Bursary (SMB) supplements the living allowances of deserving Malay
tertiary students.
Non-Malay Muslims are also eligible to apply for all other financial assistance
schemes under YM, subject to selection criteria (e.g. income level, academic
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and the Goh Chok Tong Youth Promise Scholarship. For more information on these
VFKHPHVSOHDVHUHIHUWR0(1'$.,¶VZHEVLWHhttp://www.mendaki.org.sg).
7) What other schemes are available for students to tap on for educational
assistance?
The Government and the tertiary institutions are committed to ensuring that
no deserving student, regardless of race, is denied a tertiary education because of
financial difficulties. The Government and the tertiary institutions already provide
schemes in the form of bursaries, loans and work-study assistance. With a
combination of the government bursaries, Post Secondary Education Account
(PSEA), study loans and work-study assistance, tertiary students from within the
bottom 66% of households by income will not require any cash outlay to complete
their tertiary education. These schemes are listed in Annex. Students who wish to
find out more about the financial assistance schemes offered by the Government
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In addition to national-level educational assistance schemes, each of the SelfHelp Groups 2 (SHGs) have their own plethora of education awards, study loans,
bursary schemes, scholarships and educational development programmes to ensure
that students from their respective communities are sufficiently assisted where
needed. For instance, non-Malay Muslims FDQ DSSO\ IRU 0(1'$.,¶V LQWHUHVW-free
study loans.
2
The SHGs include Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), Yayasan MENDAKI (YM),
Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and Eurasian Association (EA).
4
Annex
List of National-Level Financial Assistance Schemes for Tertiary Education
There is a wide range of financial assistance schemes offered by the
Government, tertiary institutions, foundations and professional organisations,
community groups and self-help groups. These include loans, bursaries and workstudy schemes.
2
The government financial assistance schemes available at the AUs,
polytechnics and SIT are listed below:
Scheme
Tuition Fee
Loan (TFL)
Scheme
Study Loan (SL)
Scheme
CDC/CCC
Bursary
Application Eligibility
x All full-time diploma students
and undergraduates
x Full-time diploma students who
are Singapore Citizens (SC) or
Permanent Residents (PR);
and undergraduates of all
nationalities
x Should have taken up the
maximum TFL
x Monthly household per capita
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students
x Full time students who are
Singapore Citizens
x Monthly household per capita
income ”
x
x
x
x
MOE Bursary
Quantum per
year
[for diploma
students]
x
x
Full-time students who are
Singapore Citizens
Monthly household per capita
income between $301 and
$850
Full-time students who are
Singapore Citizens
Monthly household per capita
LQFRPH”
Full-time students who are
Singapore Citizens
Monthly household per capita
income between $1,201 and
$1,700
Quantum per
year
[for
undergraduates]
Up to 75% of
tuition fee
Up to 90% of
tuition fee
Up to 25% of
tuition fee plus
living allowance of
$2,000 per annum
Up to 10% of
tuition fee plus
living allowance of
$3,600 per annum
$1,800
$2,900
$1,350
$2,150
$450
$800
Notes:!
1. All full-time students who are CPF members or dependants of CPF members can also tap on the
CPF Education Scheme, which can cover up to 100% of tuition fee.
2. Gross monthly household per capita income is defined as the total gross monthly income of
immediate and non-immediate family members over the total number of immediate and nonimmediate family members.
5
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2
Full Name
(as in NRIC)
Age
NRIC
Student
Applicant
House – rental $_______
$
$
Monthly Gross
Income ($)
Name of School / Employer
(if self-employed, state company name)
Married-siblings $_______ Freelance jobs $________ Other, pls specify: __________________________________
PCI (A / B)
No. of Family Members (B)
Total Monthly Gross Income (A)
Mother
Father
Occupation
Relationship
For family with nil income, please state source of funds for daily expenses.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
S/N
Note:
1. For single applicant, the family is GH¿QHG to include yourself, your parents / guardian, non-married immediate family members (e.g. sisters & brothers), non-married non-immediate
family members (eg, aunts, uncles, grandparents) living in the same household. It excludes married family members even if they stay in the same household.
2. For married applicant , the family is GH¿QHG to include yourself, your spouse and children only.
3. Each working family member in the same household must submit a photocopy of his/her latest income advice. If the advice is not available, please submit a photocopy of a)
a) Endorsed statement of gross monthly income from employer; or
b) Latest CPF account statement; or
c) Income tax assessment returns
If you have handicapped family members living in the same household, letter of cHUWL¿cation must be attached to this application form
4. If income advice is unavailable due to unemployment, self-employment, working on ad-hoc or part-time basis, the family member must submit a signed self-declaration letter along
with photocopy of the following:
a) Latest CPF account statement; or b) Income of tax assessment returns
5. Please note that total monthly gross income includes only the basic income, Monthly Variable Component (MVC), Non-Pensionable Component (NPC), Non-Pensionable Variable
Payment (NPVP), ¿[HG monthly allowances and other related components (if any) but exclude all other allowances such as overtime pay, leave allowance, bonuses, etc.
6. NS allowances will be excluded from the monthly income computation.
Section 2: Family Income Declaration
Section 3: Parent’s Particulars
Father’s Particulars
Full Name (in block letters):
HP:
Status (Attach copy of
NRIC or death cert):
Living
Citizenship (Attach copy of NRIC
or citizenship, if any):
Deceased
Singapore Citizen
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY):
Status (Attach copy of
marriage or divorce
cert):
Singapore PR
Divorced
Widowed
Others:________________
Country of Birth:
NRIC No.:
Race as stated in NRIC:
Mother’s Particulars
Full Name (in block letters):
Status (Attach copy of
NRIC or death cert):
Married
HP:
Living
Citizenship (Attach copy of NRIC
or citizenship, if any):
Status(Attach copy of
marriage or divorce
cert):
Deceased
Singapore Citizen
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY):
NRIC No.:
Singapore PR
Married
Divorced
Widowed
Others:________________
Country of Birth:
Race as stated in NRIC:
Section
Section 4:
4: Checklist
Checklist
Please
have
been
submitted.
Please use
use the
the following
followingchecklist
checklisttotoensure
ensurethat
thatthe
thefollowing
followingdocuments
documents
have
been
submitted.
Forms
Forms with
with incomplete
incompletedocuments
documentswill
willnot
notbebeprocessed.
processed.
1.
I have
enclosed
of the followings
with this
I have
enclosed
a copyaofcopy
eachof
of each
the followings
together withtogether
this application
form:application form:
My photograph
1. My photograph
My birth certificate
My identity card (NRIC)
3. My identity card (NRIC)
My father’s identity card
4. My father’s identity card
My mother’s identity card
2. My Birth &HUWL¿cate
5. My mother’s identity card
My spouse’s identity card (if applicable)
If not a Singapore Citizen by birth:
7. If not a Singapore Citizen by birth:
‡0\6Lngapore Citizenship certificate
- My Singapore Citizenship cHUWL¿cate
‡0\father’s Singapore Citizenship certificate
- My father’s Singapore Citizenship cHUWL¿cate
‡0\PRWher’s Singapore Citizenship certificate
- My mother’s Singapore Citizenship cHUWL¿cate
Letter of certification of handicapped brother(s)/sister(s) (if applicable)
6. My spouse’s identity card (if applicable)
8. Letter of cHUWL¿cation of handicapped brother(s)/sister(s) (if applicable)
Latest pay-slips/income advice/official statements of monthly gross income/income
9. Latest pay-slips/income advicHRI¿cial statements of monthly gross income/
tax assessment returns for self-employed and working family members (where
income tax assessment returns for self-employed and working family members
applicable)
(where applicable)
Certificate(s) of death (if applicable)
Certificate of marriage/divorce/remarriage (if applicable)
10. &HUWL¿cate(s) of Death (if applicable)
11. &HUWL¿cate of Divorce/Custody (if applicable)
12. Breakdown of tuition fees have been indicated in Section 1
3
Yes
Yes
No
No
NA
NA
never
SUPPLEMENTARY ASSISTANCE LOAN
Only for MALAY students who are not receiving any subsidy or in receipt of less than
(100%) subsidy under the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) Scheme.
Instructions to applicants:
You have to furnish us with 2 guarantors for the loan application. Please ¿ll-up the form on page 6 and enclose a copy of
the guarantors’ recent payslip and NRIC (the information will be kept cRQ¿GHQWLDl).
Kindly update the guarantors’ latest address during the ¿QDl disbursement of the cheque by submitting a photocopy of
their NRIC.
Below are details of the loan scheme for your reference.
Please do not leave any items blank. INCOMPLETE FORMS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.
Pre- requisites of Guarantors
You must sign an agreement with MENDAKI for the repayment of the loan. Applicants are required to furnish 2 guarantors acceptable to
MENDAKI. The acceptability of the 2 guarantors will be at the discretion of the Loans Committee. The guarantors must ful¿ll the
following requirements:
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
Singaporean
Between the age of 21 and 55 years old
Gross monthly income of at least $1,500 and above
Gainfully employed for the past 1 year
Must not be the applicant’s parents, siblings or staying in the same household
The ¿UVW and second guarantor must not be from the same household
Self-employed guarantors must submit their latest IRAS form or CPF statement
Loan Agreement
Successful applicants and their guarantors are required to sign a loan agreement, which is also known as the loan deed. The schedule for
the signing of agreement will be informed through the QRWL¿cation letter sent to applicant when the loan is approved. As per the loan deed,
the borrower needs to observe and ful¿ll the following conditions:
o
o
o
o
o
Complete the course of study
No change in the agreed length of study
No change in the course of study
No withdrawal from or termination of the course of study
No deferment without any valid reasons
If the borrower did not ful¿ll one of the above conditions or any of the terms in the loan agreement, the borrower will be considered to have
breached the contract of the loan agreement. The full amount of the loan will have to be repaid immediately.
Loan Quantum
Category
Loan Amount
Students receiving 75% TTFS
25% of the tuition fees
Students receiving 50% TTFS
50% of the tuition fees
Students not receiving TTFS
80% of the tuition fees
The loan will be given for the entire course of study and the loan amount is given at the discretion of the Loans Committee, after taking into
consideration the ¿QDQcial circumstances of the applicant, the course of study and any other relevant criteria. The decision of the Loans
&RPPLWWHHLV¿QDO
Loan Disbursement
The disbursement of the loan cheque for the ¿UVW year will be made upon completion of the loan deed. The loan cheque will be made payable
to the student or institution. Subsequent loan disbursements will be given only after the submission of the ¿QDl exam result slip from each
academic year.
Loan Repayment
Repayment of the loan will commence 6 months after the completion of the course. For the purpose of repayment, students must sign a GIRO
form upon signing the loan deed. The minimum monthly repayment amount is as follows:
a)
Diploma courses - $100
b) Degree courses (excluding Medicine) - $250
This is subject to an annual progressive increment of $100.
5
c) Degree (Medicine) - $500
Particulars of Guarantors (Please furnish a copy of the guarantors’ recent payslips and NRIC)
Guarantor 1 :
Full Name (as per NRIC)
Address :
Contact No : (Residence)
NRIC No :
Occupation :
(Hp)
(Office)
Date of Birth :
Gender : F/M
Years of service in current occupation :
Name & Address of Employer :
Gross Monthly Income :
v
Relationship to applicant :
Are you a standing as guarantor for any other person? Yes / No
If yes, please furnish details: _________________________________________________________
v
Have you ever been made bankrupt or become insolvent : Yes / No
v
Are there any outstanding judgement / court cases against you? Yes / No
If yes, please furnish details : ______________________________________________________
Declaration by Guarantor 1
I hereby declare that the information given in this application is true and correct, that I have not willfully suppressed any material fact.
___________________________
Signature of Guarantor 1
_________________
Date
Guarantor 2 :
Full Name (as per NRIC)
Address :
Contact No : (Residence)
NRIC No :
Occupation :
(Hp)
(Office)
Date of Birth :
Gender : F/M
Years of service in current occupation :
Name & Address of Employer :
Gross Monthly Income :
v
Relationship to applicant :
Are you a standing as guarantor for any other person? Yes / No
If yes, please furnish details: _________________________________________________________
v
Have you ever been made bankrupt or become insolvent : Yes / No
v
Are there any outstanding judgment / court cases against you? Yes / No
If yes, please furnish details : ______________________________________________________
Declaration by Guarantor 2
I hereby declare that the information given in this application is true and correct, that I have not willfully suppressed any material fact.
___________________________
_________________
Signature of Guarantor 2
Date
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I understand that the acceptance of my loan application by Yayasan MENDAKI
does not bind MENDAKI to approve the loan applied for and that MENDAKI is at
a liberty to reject the application without assigning any reason for doing so.
_________________________________
Signature of Loan Applicant / Date
6