What
is the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy for
Malays?
The
Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy for Malays (TTFS) used to be known as
’Free
Tuition for Malay Students' prior to 1991.This scheme, administered by
the
Public Service Commission (PSC) was given automatically to all Malay
students
studying in the Polytechnics, National University of Singapore and
Nanyang
Technological Institute upon their application to the PSC.
In 1989, the Malay community made a bold move in making a commitment
towards a
financial scheme aimed at helping the needy. This scheme, mooted by Mr
Goh Chok
Tong who was then the first Deputy Prime Minister, suggested that
better-off
Malay students should pay their own fees, while the subsidy that was
originally
accrued to them would be redistributed to the needy. It was also
proposed that
MENDAKI administer this scheme. According to Mr Goh Chok Tong, "The
adoption of the new financing scheme is a significant step forward for
the
Malay community. It is not easy to overcome psychological inhibitions,
in order
to stand up and be treated equally with other non-Malay Singaporeans.
With the
better-off Malays helping the less well-off, I am confident that the
entire
community will make future progress."
Where
does the fund come from?
The
fund is from the Singapore Government. This fund is not taken
from the
Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund (MBMF) contributed by Muslim
employees. The
surplus from the administration of the TTFS is then used for other
education-related activities conducted by MENDAKI.
Back to Top
What
is MENDAKI'S role?
Our
main role is to administer the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS), in
accordance with the guidelines stipulated by the Government and agreed
upon by
MENDAKI. We also review the TTFS scheme from time to time and make
recommendations to the government should there be a need for changes to
the
scheme. We also manage the fund and the interest earned helps to
finance other
educational programmes for the low income families.
Back to Top
How
does the subsidy work?
At
the beginning of each academic year, students can obtain the TTFS
application
forms from the institutions by post or in person. The completed forms
will then
be verified by the institutions and are sent to MENDAKI for processing.
Once
the forms are processed, we will inform both the institutions and
students of
the outcome.
We will make the payment for successful applicants directly to the
institutions.
Back to Top
Who
qualifies for the subsidy?
All
Malay students who are receiving the MOE tuition fee grant and whose
monthly
family income does not exceed $3,000 qualify for the subsidy.
Can
more than one person apply from the same
family?
Yes,
as long as they are eligible and are enrolled in one of the following
local
tertiary institutions:
-
Nanyang
Polytechnic,
- Ngee
Ann Polytechnic,
- Temasek
Polytechnic,
- Singapore
Polytechnic,
- Republic
Polytechnic,
- Nanyang
Technological University / NIE,
- National
University of Singapore,
- Singapore
Management University
- Institute
of Technical Education (Diploma
programme only)
What
is the 'Monthly Family Income'?
The
monthly family income includes the gross incomes of parents/guardians
and
unmarried brothers and sisters who are living in the same household.
This does
not include married brothers and sisters and other relatives, even if
they stay
at the same address.
The gross monthly income of each family member includes only the basic
income
and Monthly Variable Component (MVC) or National Wage Council (NWC) or
NPC or
NPVP or related monthly component. It excludes all other allowances
such as
overtime, leave allowances, transport allowance, bonuses etc. To
summarize:
Gross Monthly Income = Basic Income + MVC or NWC or NPC
or NPVP Allowances
or related monthly component
Back to Top
How
much subsidy will an eligible student get?
There
are two categories of subsidy:
- 100% subsidy for
those whose monthly family
income is $2,000 and below
- 70% subsidy for
those whose monthly family
income is between $2,001 and $3,000.
Example 1:
A polytechnic student's tuition fee for each academic year is $2,100
(based on 2009/10
tuition fee). If the student's monthly family income is $2,850, he/she
will be
eligible for the 70% subsidy. MENDAKI will therefore pay $1,470 and the
student
will pay $630 a year.
Example 2:
A Science undergraduate's tuition fee is $6,360 per year (2009/10
tuition fee).
If the student's monthly family income is $1,500, he/she will be
eligible for
the 100% subsidy. MENDAKI will pay the full $6,360 for the student each
year.
Back to Top
Does
a student need to re-apply for subsequent
years?
No.
Once approved, the subsidy is automatic for the subsequent years of
study. A
student need apply only once throughout his/her whole course of study.
However,
for students who are on Leave of Absence for 1 semester or more,
students need
to re-apply for the subsidy through the institution or MENDAKI. The
approval of
subsidy will be subjected to the eligibility criteria at the point of
reapplication.
Does
a student have to pay the tuition fee first and then get a
reimbursement from
MENDAKI?
No.
Payments are made directly to the institutions. However, please note
that there
will be a processing period of 10 working days upon receipt of
application
forms from the institutions. The outcome of a student's application
will be
known after the start of the academic year. Students are not required
to pay
the tuition fees until the institutions have been informed of the
outcome.
Back to Top
Can
students appeal for
consideration?
Yes,
there is room for appeal in the following categories:
- receiving the 70% subsidy and
- not receiving the
subsidy as their gross monthly
family income exceeds $3,000.
Students in these categories are allowed to appeal through the
institutions at
the beginning of each academic year, as stipulated by the institutions,
should
a change occur in his/her gross monthly family income during the course
of
study.
Back to Top
Does
MENDAKI provide alternatives for Malay students who are
not eligible for TTFS as their monthly family income exceeds
$3000?
Yes.
MENDAKI offers interest-free loans under the Supplementary Assistance
Scheme
(SAS) to students who are not eligible for TTFS as their monthly family
income
exceeds $3,000 and students who are in receipt of 70% subsidy.
Back to Top
Who
is eligible for the SAS loan?
(a)
Only those who do not receive any subsidy or are in receipt of 70%
subsidy under the TTFS are eligible to apply.
(b) Applicants must be Malay Singapore citizens or children
of Malay Singapore citizens.
(c) They must be admitted to a full-time course of study
elading to the award of a first degree or diploma.
(d) Their course of study must at one of the local tertiary
institutions.
(e) Applicant is receiving the MOE Tuition Grant.
Back to Top
What
is the maximum loan amount granted?
The
maximum loan amount shall not exceed 80% of the tuition fee. Therefore,
those
receiving the 70% subsidy are allowed to borrow up to 30% of their
tuition fee,
and those not receiving any subsidy are allowed to borrow up to 80% of
their
tuition fee.
MENDAKI will disburse the loan directly to successful applicants.
Back to Top
When
does the student have to repay the SAS
loan?
The
loan must be repaid 6 months after graduation in monthly installments.
The
minimum monthly installment for degree is $250 and for diploma is
$100.
Does
MENDAKI provide any form of
assistance to Muslim students who do not qualify for the TTFS and SAS
loan?
Yes.
Muslim students who are not eligible for TTFS could apply for MENDAKI's
interest-free Study Loan. Application for the MENDAKI Study Loan is
open all
year round. However, we would need at least 3 to 4 weeks to process the
application form from the date of receipt.
MENDAKI
Study Loan is meant to assist Muslim students who are studying
full-time in
local tertiary institutions.
The loan must be fully repaid upon completion of the course by
progressive
monthly installments of $100 for diploma courses or $250 for degree
courses.
The maximum repayment period is dependent upon the amount of the loan
granted.
Other
Financial Assistance Schemes
Muslim
students could also apply for other sources of assistance provided by
the following:
a) Central Provident Fund (CPF) Approved Education
Scheme
Under the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Approved Education Scheme,
students who
are CPF members or a dependent of a CPF member, can use their CPF
Ordinary
Account to pay for tertiary tuition fee.
This scheme covers all full-time courses leading to
a degree or diploma
in local tertiary institutions only.
b) Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
The
PSEA scheme helps parents save for their children’s post-secondary
education by
maintaining a Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) for each eligible
child. It
may be used to pay all school fees for students
with existing
funds in their PSEA. It is administered by the Ministry of Education
and is
opened automatically for all eligible Singaporeans. For more
information,
kindly refer to MOE’s website
or call them at 68722220.
c)
Tuition Fee Loan Scheme
The
tuition fee loan scheme is available directly from the institution.
Students
could approach the respective student office to apply for the tuition
fee loan.
d)
Prophet Muhammad Birthday Memorial Bursary (LBKM)
The Prophet Muhamad Birthday Memorial Scholarship Fund Board, better
known as
Lembaga Biasiswa Kenangan Maulud (LBKM) is an affiliate of MENDAKI. It
provides
bursaries to full-time students studying in local and overseas
institutions.
Please refer to LBKM's website at www.biasiswa.org.sg
or call them at 6447-4770 for further clarifications.
|
