Tuition Fee Loan
Focus on what matters most – your education
Pursue your education goals without financial worries.
The Tuition Fee Loan (TFL) is provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and administered by OCBC for NUS, NTU, NIE and SMU.
Revision to interest rates for MOE-funded loans
From 1 April 2024, revised interest rates will apply to all new applications for MOE-funded loans. These rates will be adjusted twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October. Find out how these revised interest rates may affect your loans.
Funding for your tuition fee and/or living allowance
Worried about paying for school? This loan can cover up to 90% of an MOE-subsidised tuition fee.
Worried about paying for school? This loan can cover up to 90% of an MOE-subsidised tuition fee.
Zero interest incurred while you are in school
Interest charges start to apply only after you graduate1, so you can focus fully on your studies.
Interest charges start to apply only after you graduate1, so you can focus fully on your studies.
Flexible repayment options from just S$100 a month
Make monthly repayments of as low as S$100 after graduation.
Make monthly repayments of as low as S$100 after graduation.
1 Your university determines the date when interest charges start to apply. For more details on interest rates, click here.
Please note that Terms and Conditions set by each institution apply.
Here is what you can expect with a TFL.
Step 1
Apply at any OCBC branch alongside your guarantor
Complete a TFL Application Form. Then bring it and the required documents to any OCBC branch (your guarantor must also be present).
If you are visiting our stores at NTU, NUS or SMU, please take note of the operating hours:
- NTU: Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm
- NUS and SMU: Monday to Friday, 11am to 2pm
Step 2
Get your final loan details after graduation
After you graduate, we will send you a letter and email stating how you can repay your loan and when interest charges will start to apply. Find out more about government loan scheme interest rates.
Step 3
Repay your loan
If you intend to use an OCBC account for repayments, submit this Repayment Form at any OCBC branch to set up a monthly repayment plan. If you do not intend to use an OCBC account, complete and submit both the Repayment Form and GIRO Form at an OCBC branch.
The TFL is provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and administered by OCBC.
Documents to prepare
(both the original and a physical copy will be required)
For borrower
If you are Singaporean or a Singapore PR
- NRIC
- Student Matriculation Card or Letter of Admission issued by your school
If you are a foreigner
Citizens of non-sanctioned countries
- Passport (or, for Malaysians, identity card)
- Student Matriculation Card or Letter of Admission issued by your school
Citizens of sanctioned countries (e.g. North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Yemen)
- Passport
- Student Matriculation Card or Letter of Admission issued by your school
- In-principle approval letter or pass issued by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
For guarantor
If you are Singaporean or a Singapore PR
- NRIC
If you are a foreigner
Citizens of non-sanctioned countries
- Passport (or, for Malaysians, identity card)
Citizens of sanctioned countries (e.g. North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Yemen)
- Passport
- Letter of admission or work permit issued by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
- In-principle approval letter or pass issued by ICA
Eligibility requirements for borrower
Please take note of both the requirements of your respective institutions and those listed under ‘All students’.
NUS/NTU/SMU students
If you are a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate, you must be in a:
- Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate degree programme or;
- Graduate research programme; or
- Full-time MOE-subsidised Master of Science (MSE) programme.
If you are a part-time undergraduate, you must be:
- A Singapore citizen;
- Pursuing your first undergraduate degree part-time; and
- Pursuing a part-time course for financial reasons.
To check if you are eligible, please approach your institution of study.
NIE students
Who is eligible for the Tuition Fee Loan?
If you are an undergraduate, you must be a BA/BSc (Education) student teacher not receiving any salary or stipend, and whose fees are not paid by MOE.
If you are a graduate, please approach NIE to check if your programme is eligible.
This excludes:
- Students receiving government/statutory board/NIE scholarships that cover tuition fees
- International students paying non-subsidised tuition fees
- Students receiving a full tertiary tuition fee subsidy from MENDAKI
- Students using Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings to fully pay their subsidised tuition fees
- Students in self-funded programmes
- Part-time graduate students (coursework)
- BA/BSc (Education) student teachers receiving a salary or stipend, and/or whose fees are paid by MOE
- Students who pay full, non-subsidised fees
- Part-time student teachers
All students
The following students will not be eligible for the TFL:
- Students receiving government/statutory board/NIE scholarships that cover tuition fees
- Students receiving a full tertiary tuition fee subsidy from MENDAKI
- Students using CPF savings to fully pay their subsidised tuition fees
- Students in self-funded graduate programmes
- International students paying full fees (no tuition grant)
Eligibility requirements for guarantor
The guarantor must:
- Be aged between 21 and 60 years old
- Not be an undischarged bankrupt.
In terms of nationality:
- If the student is Singaporean, the guarantor must be Singaporean
- If the student is a Singapore PR, the guarantor must be a Singaporean/Singapore PR
- If the student is a foreigner, the guarantor can be of any nationality
NOTE: You must have a guarantor with you to apply for the Tuition Fee Loan.
For selected NTU part-time and postgraduate courses. To check if your programme is eligible, please approach your institution of study.
Be supported through your academic journey
and submit it with your guarantor at any OCBC branch.