Justification for Fee Discrepancies for Non-ASEAN International Students in Polytechnics and Universities

Debated in Parliament on 9 Sep 2024.

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Hazel Poa queried why non-ASEAN international students at polytechnics or universities with tuition grants sometimes pay lower fees than those in secondary school or junior college, and sought the government's justification.
Chan Chun Sing explained that international students pay higher fees than Singaporean and PR students at all levels, and that fees at polytechnics and universities are higher than at secondary and junior college levels for international students.
International students at polytechnics and universities can apply for a tuition grant that reduces fees but requires them to work in Singapore for three years after graduation, a condition not applied to secondary or junior college students.
The minister clarified that even with the tuition grant, international students' fees remain higher than those of Singaporean students in the same course.
The fee discrepancy is justified by the policy that the tuition grant provides a subsidy contingent on post-graduation employment, thereby offsetting costs for Singapore while maintaining fairness for Singaporean students.

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Hazel Poa

Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the respective fees paid by non-ASEAN international students (i) in polytechnics or (ii) who are undergraduates and who pay fees nett of a tuition grant, are lower than their fees for secondary school and junior college; and (b) if so, what is the justification for such a situation.

Chan Chun Sing

International students pay higher tuition fees than Singaporean and Singapore Permanent Resident students at the same level of study. Tuition fees for international students in polytechnics and autonomous universities are also higher than those paid by international students in secondary schools and junior colleges.

Eligible international students enrolled in the polytechnics and autonomous universities can apply for a Ministry of Education (MOE) Tuition Grant. If successful, they will pay lower tuition fees, but they are required to work in a Singapore entity for three years upon graduation. International students in secondary schools and junior colleges do not receive Tuition Grant nor have such obligations, so the annual fees they pay are higher than the fees paid by international students receiving Tuition Grant at polytechnics and some university courses. However, even with Tuition Grant, the annual fees payable by international students are higher than Singaporean students in the same course.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Hazel Poa queried why non-ASEAN international students at polytechnics or universities with tuition grants sometimes pay lower fees than those in secondary school or junior college, and sought the government's justification.
Chan Chun Sing explained that international students pay higher fees than Singaporean and PR students at all levels, and that fees at polytechnics and universities are higher than at secondary and junior college levels for international students.
International students at polytechnics and universities can apply for a tuition grant that reduces fees but requires them to work in Singapore for three years after graduation, a condition not applied to secondary or junior college students.
The minister clarified that even with the tuition grant, international students' fees remain higher than those of Singaporean students in the same course.
The fee discrepancy is justified by the policy that the tuition grant provides a subsidy contingent on post-graduation employment, thereby offsetting costs for Singapore while maintaining fairness for Singaporean students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Justification for Fee Discrepancies for Non-ASEAN International Students in Polytechnics and Universities | PAPERCUTS

Justification for Fee Discrepancies for Non-ASEAN International Students in Polytechnics and Universities

Debated in Parliament on 9 Sep 2024.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Hazel Poa queried why non-ASEAN international students at polytechnics or universities with tuition grants sometimes pay lower fees than those in secondary school or junior college, and sought the government's justification.
Chan Chun Sing explained that international students pay higher fees than Singaporean and PR students at all levels, and that fees at polytechnics and universities are higher than at secondary and junior college levels for international students.
International students at polytechnics and universities can apply for a tuition grant that reduces fees but requires them to work in Singapore for three years after graduation, a condition not applied to secondary or junior college students.
The minister clarified that even with the tuition grant, international students' fees remain higher than those of Singaporean students in the same course.
The fee discrepancy is justified by the policy that the tuition grant provides a subsidy contingent on post-graduation employment, thereby offsetting costs for Singapore while maintaining fairness for Singaporean students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Hazel Poa

Chan Chun Sing

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Hazel Poa queried why non-ASEAN international students at polytechnics or universities with tuition grants sometimes pay lower fees than those in secondary school or junior college, and sought the government's justification.
Chan Chun Sing explained that international students pay higher fees than Singaporean and PR students at all levels, and that fees at polytechnics and universities are higher than at secondary and junior college levels for international students.
International students at polytechnics and universities can apply for a tuition grant that reduces fees but requires them to work in Singapore for three years after graduation, a condition not applied to secondary or junior college students.
The minister clarified that even with the tuition grant, international students' fees remain higher than those of Singaporean students in the same course.
The fee discrepancy is justified by the policy that the tuition grant provides a subsidy contingent on post-graduation employment, thereby offsetting costs for Singapore while maintaining fairness for Singaporean students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Justification for Fee Discrepancies for Non-ASEAN International Students in Polytechnics and Universities

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Hazel Poa

Chan Chun Sing

Summary

Questions Identified

Justification for Fee Discrepancies for Non-ASEAN International Students in Polytechnics and Universities

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Hazel Poa

Chan Chun Sing

Summary

Questions Identified