Assistance

Introduction
TTFS scheme, introduced in 1991, is an education subsidy for Malay students, which covers their tuition fees at tertiary institutions.

With effect from 1 January 2011, students with Malay as their first component race of a double-barrelled race (i.e. Malay-Indian or Malay-Chinese) are also eligible for the scheme. The Government, together with Yayasan MENDAKI in 2018, has revised the income eligibility criteria for the scheme to benefit more Malay students in tertiary institutions.

Application Period

Eligibility Criteria

• The income criteria is based on a three-tier system where students who come from households with per capita monthly household income (PCI) of below $2000 will be eligible for the following TTFS subsidies. PCI takes into account household size to reflect the family’s financial situation.
• The principle of differentiating subsidies for households with different abilities to provide for their children. At the same time, it allows for a gradual differentiation of subsidies for households with different income levels.
• The maximum income cap of PCI $2000 corresponds to a household income of about $8000 for a four-member household.
• Malay students who are not receiving any subsidy or are in receipt of partial (75% & 50%) subsidy under the Tertiary Tuition Fee subsidy (TTFS), may apply for the Supplementary Assistance Loan Scheme (SAS). Please click here for more information.
• TTFS is eligible for races of Malay descent. They include the following: Malay, Acehnese, Ambonese, Batak, Bugis, Banjarese, Boyanese, Butonese, Dusun, Dayak, Iban, Indonesia, Javanese, Kadazan, Kelabit, Minangkabau, Murut, Makasarese, Melanau, Sumatran, Sundanese, and Indonesian Extract.
• Students with double-barrelled race, having one of the above as first component, are also eligible (eg Malay-Arab).

Reviews

• The income eligibility criteria will ensure that students in financially challenged families are not denied access to higher education, while cultivating the spirit of self-reliance in more well-to-do families
• As Malay households continue to progress financially, the Government will review the income criteria periodically to ensure that no less than two-thirds of Malay households in Singapore continue to benefit from the TTFS scheme.
• MENDAKI will exercise flexibility in approving subsidies for families with extenuating circumstances, such as those supporting more than one child for tertiary education or families who may have members with chronic medical problems. This appeal mechanism will continue to function.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found here.

Please click below for more information on the various 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 programmes only)
Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore University of Technology & Design
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) (MOE-subsidised full-time degree programmes & full-time diploma programmes)
LASALLE College of the Arts (MOE-subsidised full-time degree programmes & full-time diploma programmes)
Yale-NUS College (full-time degree programmes)
Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (full-time degree programmes)
Singapore University of Social Sciences (full-time degree programmes)
Building and Construction Authority Academy (full-time diploma programmes)