MOE Bursary Schemes for Lower-Income University Students in Singapore
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Study in Southeast Asia
Singapore Citizen university students from lower-income families can get up to about S$6,300 a year in bursaries on top of the Tuition Grant, and from academic year 2026-27 the lowest-income households get 100% of tuition covered.
💵 Higher Education Community Bursary (AY2026-27): S$6,300 a year if household per capita income is S$1,000 or below, S$5,100 if S$1,001-S$1,375.
Households with per capita income up to S$1,100 get 100% tuition coverage, with the lowest-income tier also receiving a S$3,000 annual living allowance.
Higher Education Bursary (formerly MOE Bursary): S$750-S$2,800 a year for households with per capita income up to S$3,000.
📩 Apply once through your university's Office of Financial Aid. From AY2026-27, most applicants verify household details through the HOMES system instead of submitting income documents.
Two bursary layers on top of the Tuition Grant
Every Singapore Citizen paying subsidised fees under the Tuition Grant can apply for extra help if household income is low. Universities run two main layers of MOE-funded bursary: the Higher Education Bursary, formerly known as the MOE Bursary, and the newer Higher Education Community Bursary, which pays more and targets a narrower, lower-income band. You do not choose between them. The university's Office of Financial Aid assesses your household income once and places you into whichever bursaries and loans you qualify for.
Higher Education Community Bursary amounts
From academic year 2026-27, the Higher Education Community Bursary uses two income tiers, based on figures published by NUS's Office of Financial Aid .
| Tier | Household per capita income | General programmes | Medicine | Dentistry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Up to S$1,000 | S$6,300 | Up to S$23,200 | Up to S$22,750 |
| Tier 2 | S$1,001-S$1,375 | S$5,100 | Up to S$19,200 | Up to S$18,750 |
These figures are a large jump from academic year 2025's thresholds, which sat at per capita income up to S$750 for Tier 1 and S$751-S$1,100 for Tier 2, following an October 2025 MOE announcement that widened eligibility for around 31,000 additional students.
Full tuition coverage for the lowest-income households
Students from the lowest-income households get more than a bursary top-up. Singapore Citizens with household per capita income up to S$1,100 a year get 100% of tuition covered, with students in the lowest-income tier also receiving a S$3,000 annual living allowance (confirm the exact figure on your own university's financial aid page, as top-ups can vary slightly by institution). This combines bursary funding with other MOE schemes, so the amount you receive depends on your full financial aid package rather than a single line item.
Higher Education Bursary for the middle band
For academic year 2026-27, the Higher Education Bursary, the renamed MOE Bursary, still applies to a wider group of lower-to-middle income Singapore Citizens, paying between S$750 and S$2,800 a year for households with per capita income up to S$3,000. This bursary existed before the Community Bursary and remains the main support for households that earn too much to qualify for the lowest tiers but still need help with fees and living costs.
How to apply
Submit one Financial Aid Application through your university rather than separate forms for each scheme. Your university checks eligibility against every bursary and loan scheme you qualify for and offers a combined package. From academic year 2026-27, MOE and the universities are rolling out the Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES), which most applicants use to verify household composition online instead of submitting payslips and other income documents. Reapply each year, since income assessment and awards are not carried over automatically.
When the bursary is paid
Bursary funds are credited directly to your tuition account each semester rather than paid to you in cash, reducing what you owe out of pocket before loans and family contributions come in. If your bursary amount exceeds the fee due in a given semester, check with your Office of Financial Aid on whether the balance carries over or is released for living costs, since this varies by scheme.
Stacking bursaries with other aid
Bursaries do not need to be your only source of funding. Most students combine a bursary with the Tuition Grant, which cuts the fee itself, and a study loan or the incoming Higher Education Student Loan for whatever the bursary does not cover. CPF Post-Secondary Education Account funds can also pay for the remaining share, so check what your family already has saved there before taking on debt.