Deferment of Bonds for Tuition Study Grants Given to International Students

Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the current total number of international students in the Polytechnics and publicly-funded Universities who have deferred their tuition grant bond; (b) what is the average number of years of deferment; and (c) what is the number of international students who have deferred for more than six years and 10 years respectively, and what are the reasons for allowing such long deferments.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: International students who receive tuition grants are required to work in a Singapore-based company for three years upon graduation to supplement our labour force. About eight in 10 international students who receive tuition grants in our Polytechnics and Autonomous Universities start serving their tuition grant bonds promptly upon graduation and contribute immediately to Singapore’s economy, or have been granted approval by MOE to defer service obligation to pursue further studies.

An average of about 250 graduating international students defer their bond to pursue further studies each year. The average deferment period is three years, corresponding to the typical duration of further study pursued by these students. For those on deferment, there are no students with deferment period of more than six years.