What to Check Before Enrolling in a Private Education Institute in Singapore

Start with registration status

Every private education institute (PEI) operating in Singapore must register under the Private Education Act. Since 1 October 2024, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) carries out this regulatory function directly, after the Committee for Private Education was dissolved and its powers folded back into SSG. Check the PEI's registration status through the TPGateway portal before you commit to a course or pay a deposit.

Check EduTrust certification

EduTrust is a quality assurance scheme for PEIs, and it's a pre-requisite for any PEI that wants to enrol international students. A current EduTrust certificate signals the school met SSG's standards on management, academic delivery, and student support. Certification isn't permanent, so confirm the certificate is still valid and hasn't lapsed, rather than relying on a badge on the school's website that may be outdated.

Confirm the Fee Protection Scheme is active

Under EduTrust, PEIs must adopt a Fee Protection Scheme (FPS) with an SSG-appointed provider. FPS is compulsory for any course running longer than 1 month or 50 hours, and it protects the fees you've paid if the school shuts down or a course gets discontinued partway through. Ask the school which FPS provider it uses and ask to see the insurance or trust arrangement in writing rather than taking a verbal assurance.

Check medical insurance coverage

EduTrust-certified PEIs must also provide medical insurance covering hospitalisation and related treatment for your entire course duration. Confirm this is included in your fees and ask what the coverage limits are, since policies vary between schools.

Look past the PEI to the awarding university

Many PEIs deliver courses that lead to a degree awarded by a partner university based overseas, often in the UK or Australia. The PEI's own EduTrust status doesn't tell you anything about that partner university's standing. Check the partner university's accreditation in its home country separately, and check whether the specific degree programme, not just the university in general, is recognised where you plan to work or study further after graduating.

Read the student contract closely

EduTrust-certified PEIs use a standard student contract format that spells out fee collection schedules, refund policies, and what happens if you withdraw partway through a course. Read the refund clauses before you sign, particularly the schedule for partial refunds if you drop out in the first few weeks versus later in the course. Keep a signed copy of the contract and your fee receipts.

Ask about graduation and job outcomes

EduTrust certification is tied to schools that show positive student outcomes, so ask the PEI for actual graduation rates and graduate employment data for the specific course you're considering, not just marketing figures for the institution as a whole. A school reluctant to share course-level outcome data is a signal to look elsewhere.

Quick checklist before you pay

• Registered under the Private Education Act with SSG

• EduTrust certificate current and not expired

• FPS provider named and confirmed in writing

• Medical insurance coverage confirmed for full course length

• Awarding or partner university accreditation checked independently

• Student contract read in full, refund terms understood

• Course-level graduation and employment outcomes requested

Working through this list before you enrol takes an afternoon. Skipping it risks your fees and your time if the PEI runs into trouble mid-course.