School Fees Singapore 2026: Primary to Polytechnic Costs

Understanding what school costs in Singapore requires separating what the government pays from what parents pay — and that gap shifts significantly at each level. For Singapore Citizens, the compulsory schooling years are heavily subsidised. Post-secondary costs are where household planning becomes important. Here is a level-by-level breakdown for 2026.

Primary School (Ages 6–12)

For Singapore Citizens: School fees are fully waived at all government and government-aided primary schools. This policy has been in place since 2012 and applies across all six years of primary education.

What you still pay:

• Miscellaneous fees: approximately $5–$13 per month, depending on the school. These cover standard consumables, insurance, and school-level programmes.
• Uniforms: typically $100–$200 for the full set (school uniform, PE attire, shoes)
• School bag and stationery: $50–$150 at the start of P1
• Enrichment or supplementary tuition: entirely voluntary and highly variable

For PRs: A monthly school fee applies — the exact amount is set by MOE and is typically in the range of a few hundred dollars per year. PRs do not receive the full fee waiver.

For International Students: Significantly higher fees, set by MOE, and subject to change. International students must also hold the appropriate pass to enrol.

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Secondary School (Ages 13–16/17)

For Singapore Citizens: Government and government-aided secondary schools charge $5 per month in school fees. This is the standard SC rate across all Posting Groups under Full Subject-Based Banding (PG1, PG2, PG3) — the framework that replaced the Express, Normal Academic, and Normal Technical streams from the 2024 Sec 1 cohort.

Other typical costs at secondary level:

• Uniforms and PE attire: $150–$300 (often replaced mid-schooling as children grow)
• CCA fees: varies by activity, typically $20–$100 per term for equipment-intensive CCAs
• School excursions and overseas learning journeys: optional but common, $200–$800 per trip
• Assessment books and supplementary materials: $100–$300 per year

Independent schools (e.g. Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, NUS High) charge higher miscellaneous fees, and some charge school fees above the standard government rate. Check the individual school's published fee schedule.

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Junior College (Ages 17–18)

For Singapore Citizens: Government JCs charge approximately $6 per month in school fees — broadly similar to secondary school rates.

Additional costs at JC level:

• Higher-level subject materials and lab fees
• University preparation programmes (optional)
• ECA and sports commitments

Millennia Institute (3-year programme): Slightly different fee structure; check directly.

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School Fees Comparison Table (2026)

Non-citizen school fees rose each year from 2024 through 2026 (final step Jan 2026). 2026 monthly figures:

Note: Non-citizen rates above are 2026 figures (2024–2026 schedule per MOE press release 18 Oct 2023). Verify exact rates on MOE's fee checker. University fees vary by institution and course; medicine/dentistry far higher.

Tuition Grant Scheme (TGS): SC auto-subsidised. PR/IS receive subsidy with a 3-year service obligation (work for a SG-registered company after graduation).

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Polytechnic (Ages 17–21)

Singapore has five polytechnics: Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore, and Temasek. All offer three-year diploma programmes across a wide range of disciplines.

Net annual fees for Singapore Citizens (after MOE subsidy): Approximately $3,200–$3,600 per year, depending on the course. This is the fee after the government subsidy — the unsubsidised cost is considerably higher.

How to pay:

• CPF Education Scheme: Use CPF Ordinary Account savings to pay tuition fees. The amount used is a loan from your own CPF and must be repaid with accrued interest (currently at CPF OA rate of 2.5%) once you begin working.
• Polytechnic bursaries: Each polytechnic has a bursary scheme. Students from households with per capita monthly income below a threshold qualify for fee reductions or grants. Apply directly to your polytechnic's financial assistance office.
• MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS): For students from lower-income households — covers fees and provides a monthly subsistence allowance.

Annual other costs:

• Course-specific equipment and materials: $200–$800 depending on discipline
• Textbooks and online resources: $300–$600

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University (Ages 21+)

Singapore has six autonomous universities: NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SIT, and SUTD. Annual tuition fees after the MOE Tuition Grant (for SC students who sign the 3-year bond) are approximately:

These figures are approximate, based on publicly available university fee schedules. Fees increase modestly most years. Always check the specific university and faculty's official published fees for the academic year you are planning for.

The Tuition Grant: The MOE Tuition Grant is a subsidy that covers a large share of the unsubsidised tuition fee. SC students who accept the grant must sign a three-year service obligation to work for a Singapore-based company after graduation. This is the standard arrangement — the overwhelming majority of local undergraduates take the grant.

CPF Education Scheme at university: Works the same way as at polytechnic — you can use CPF OA savings to fund fees, subject to CPF Board limits, and repay after graduation.

Study loans: All local autonomous universities offer study loans (typically at concessionary interest rates). The government-backed Tuition Fee Loan and Study Loan schemes are available for SC and PR students who need them.

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Edusave: How It Reduces Your Costs

Every Singapore Citizen child in an MOE school automatically has an Edusave account. Annual government contributions are:

• Primary school students: approximately $230 per year
• Secondary school students: approximately $290 per year

Additional top-ups are sometimes made by the government as part of Budget announcements.

Edusave funds can be used to pay:

• School miscellaneous fees
• Approved enrichment programme fees (with school endorsement)
• CCA registration fees and activity fees at school

Families who use Edusave funds promptly find that miscellaneous fees at primary and secondary level are substantially or fully covered. Unused Edusave balances are transferred to the child's Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) at age 17, which can then be used at polytechnics and universities.

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International Schools: A Separate Category

International schools in Singapore operate outside the MOE subsidised framework. Annual fees typically range from $30,000 to $50,000, depending on the school and curriculum (IB, British, American, etc.). There are no government subsidies for Singapore Citizens attending international schools in Singapore, and no CPF Education Scheme eligibility at these institutions.

Expatriate employees whose children attend international schools typically receive school fee allowances from employers. For local families considering international school for lifestyle or curriculum reasons, the full cost is borne privately.

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Planning Across Education Levels

The total school cost for a Singapore Citizen child from Primary 1 through to a university degree is lower than most parents assume at the primary and secondary stages — and significantly higher at university. A rough lifetime education cost estimate for a SC child:

• Primary + Secondary + JC: Fees of a few hundred dollars total, plus incidentals of $2,000–$5,000 over 12 years
• Polytechnic (3 years): $10,000–$11,000 in net fees
• University (4 years): $33,000–$45,000 in net fees for most degrees; significantly more for medicine

Use the Tuition Fee Calculator to model your specific scenario — including CPF drawdown, study loan requirements, and Edusave usage — so you can make informed decisions about saving for your child's post-secondary education.