collageDo you have any knowledge about ngee ann polytechnic courses? Do you ever feel confused? Do you often feel overwhelmed with all the information available on ngee ann polytechnic courses so you can’t figure out which one is correct? This article will let you know about ngee ann polytechnic courses.
Ngee Ann College was founded in 1963 with study programs in commerce, technology and language. In 1968, the college changed its name from the Ngee Ann College to Ngee Ann Polytechnic College to emphasize on technical education. It is one of the first institutions in Singapore to adopt a collaborative approach to learning. The curriculum is designed recognizing the employability skills required for handling and overcoming challenges of the 21st century.
The college offers diploma programs on full-time and part-time basis. The full-time courses cater to more than 14800 students. They are offered by the eight academic schools under Ngee Ann Polytechnic, namely the School of Business & Accountancy, School of Design & Environment, School of Engineering, School of Film & Media Studies, School of Health Sciences, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, School of InfoComm Technology, and School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology.
Part-time courses are provided by CET Academy (Continuing Education and Training Academy) through online and classroom mode of learning, which also require work experience. The part-time courses include diploma for a duration of two and a half years in core industry or specific business domain, diploma conversion for a year on a part-time basis to help transition into a different industry, and a specialist diploma for up to a year to facilitate specialized skills in the core subject area. An advanced diploma for up to 2 years that helps to specialize with a broader spectrum in the core subject is also offered.
Short-term courses for up to 6 months to develop personal and professional skills in the field of interest are also available. National Silver Academy offers courses that are up to 8 to 12 hours long and are designed to aid students above 50 years of age to acquire necessary skills and knowledge in a specialized field. Certificate in Bridging Studies for Enrolled Nurses is for up to 135 hours to help nurses in their career enhancement. Ngee Ann College also believes in providing equal opportunities for co-curricular activities, including arts & cultural, sports, academic societies, community service and students union.
The college is well equipped with digitalized amenities like AI-enabled chat bots to help students with any query, facial recognition technology in classrooms to take attendance and explore engagement levels, density trackers at various locations to give updates on crowd dispersion for easy and smooth access, and excellent digital healthcare facilities.
Tuition fees at NP are highly subsidised by the Singapore Government for eligible students under the Tuition Grant (TG) Scheme. For AY2021, the polytechnics will continue to adopt a cohort-based fee structure, which means that fees will remain constant for the entire duration of the course.
The Government will continue to absorb the GST chargeable on tuition fees payable by Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident students. The tuition fees for International Students in AY2021 is inclusive of GST.
The table below shows the annual tuition fee payable by students enrolling in a full-time diploma course and who have opted for the Tuition Grant (TG) Scheme.
Admitted in Academic Year | Singaporeans | Permanent Residents | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (more info) | S$2,900 | S$6,000 | S$11,000 |
| 2020 (more info) | S$2,900 | S$6,000 | S$10,800 |
| 2019 (more info) | S$2,900 | S$5,800 | S$10,400 |
| 2018 | S$2,800 | S$5,600 | S$10,000 |
University at a glance
| Size of Campus in acres | 34 |
| No.of Campuses | 1 |
| International Students Website | http://www.np.edu.sg/ss/iss/Pages… |
| Rigorous coursework & research provided | 30k+ UG & PG students |
| Alumni across World | 130,000 |
Entry Criteria
| Courses | Exams |
|---|---|
| Other Courses(14 Courses) | IELTS: 5 & AboveTOEFL: Accepted |
Fees Payment Schedule
Students are notified of the actual course fees they have to pay via their Ngee Ann Polytechnic email accounts.
The fees are to be paid 2 times in a year.
Semester 1: End June
Semester 2: End December
| Academic Year 2021 | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Due Date (Giro Deduction/Non-Giro Payment) | 28 Jun 2021 | 28 Dec 2021 |
| 2nd Due Date (Giro Deduction/Non-Giro Payment) | 29 Jul 2021 | 28 Jan 2022 |
| Final Due Date | 13 Aug 2021 | 11 Feb 2022 |
There are two ways to check on your outstanding tuition fees.
Option 1: Online enquiry Log in to NPAL Student Self Service Portal
The navigation path to view outstanding tuition fees is: Main menu > Self Service > Financial Services > View Financial Account
Option 2: Mobile Enquiry
- Download ‘NPal2 mStudent’ from the App Store or Play Store
- Log in using your NPal2 User ID and Password
- Go to the page using ‘Outstanding Fee’ icon and click on it
- You will see the outstanding tuition fees payable under ‘Financial Summary’
Payment
Payment Mode 1: OCBC Bank branches
- Go to a designated OCBC bank branch (Refer to FAQ 11.4). You do not need to have an OCBC account
- Write your Student ID and contact no at the back of the cheque
- Drop the cheque into the quick cheque deposit box
- If payment by cash, please retain the deposit slip as proof of payment
- Payment will be updated in 3 working days
Payment Mode 2: AXS (Station / mobile app New / online paymentNew)
| AXS station | – Select Education > Ngee Ann Polytechnic > Outstanding |
| AXS mobile app | – Select eServices > Education > Ngee Ann Polytechnic > Outstanding |
| AXS online payment | – Go to http://axs.com.sg Select AXS e-Station > Pay My Bills Now > eServices > Education/ Ngee Ann Polytechnic > Outstanding |
- Enter your Student ID (e.g. 12345678A)
- Follow on-screen instructions and retain the receipt as proof of payment
- Payment will be updated in 3 working days
Payment Mode 3: Credit card
- Go to eEnrol Portal
- Click ‘My Enrolment’ and log in with your User ID and Password
- Follow on-screen instructions and take note of the payment reference as proof of payment
- An e-Receipt will be sent to your personal email address
- Payment will be updated in 3 working days
Payment Mode 4: PAYNOW to UEN
- Log in to your preferred iBanking app
- Enter NP’s UEN “T08GB0039AFEE”
- Enter your student ID in the reference field, e.g. 1020XXXXA
- Follow the instructions in the app to proceed with payment
Withdrawal & Refund
Students who wish to withdraw from their course must complete a prescribed withdrawal form and submit it to their respective Academic Schools/Divisions.
Withdrawal before commencement of semester
- 100% refund, excluding S$50 administrative charge *
- Refund of all other fees paid (except application/amendment fee and tertiary student ez-link card application fee)
Withdrawal within 1st week of semester on valid grounds **
- 75% refund
- Refund of examination, sports and miscellaneous fees only
Withdrawal after 1st week of semester
- No refund
* Administrative charge of S$50 is only applicable to new students.
** Refunds will only be made if the reasons for withdrawal are on valid grounds such as to study in another approved institution in Singapore, or on medical grounds.
JC vs poly course fees in Singapore (2020)
| Junior college | Polytechnic | |
| Yearly school fees | $200+ | ~$3,000 (for Singapore citizens) |
| Qualification awarded | GCE A Level | Diploma |
| Course duration | 2 to 3 years | 3 years |
| What do you study | Structured similarly to secondary school, with addition subjects like General Paper and Economics | Structured like university, with core modules and electives relative to your diploma |
JC school fees are just $6, and even after adding the maximum allowable $13.50 for miscellaneous fees, that’s only $19.50 monthly. That comes up to about $200+ per year.
Based on that, the cost of pursuing your A Levels in JC is quite affordable for most (unless you pick an independent JC that costs $3,600 to $4,800 yearly, of course).
However, polytechnic course fees are much more expensive. It is the cheapest for Singapore citizens, and even then, it’s $2,900 per year after subsidies and excluding supplementary fees.
That said, if you intend to pursue a degree in university after polytechnic, it’s worthy to note that you may also be able to knock a few semesters off if you do a related degree. That could result in some savings too.
Let’s break down how much it costs to pursue a diploma at a local polytechnic.
Breakdown of polytechnic course fees, including MOE tuition grant
| Yearly polytechnic course fees | Full course fees (3 years) | Notes | |
| Singapore citizens | $2,900 | $8,700 | Fees stated are after tuition grant |
| Singapore permanent residents (PRs) | $6,000 | $18,000 | Fees stated are after tuition grant |
| International students | $10,800 before GST | $32,400 before GST | No grants, GST not absorbed |
The course fees states are for admissions in academic year 2020/2021 (AY). The fees are cohort-based, meaning they’ll remain at the same fee for all 3 years of studies.
For example, Singaporean students admitted in AY 2018/2019 paid $2,800 in their first year (last year), so even though it’s $2,900 for admissions this year (2020), the AY2018/2019 students will continue to pay $2,800 per year.
As you can see, Singaporeans pay a lot less than foreigners. That’s because they’re automatically awarded the MOE tuition grant. PRs are also eligible, but they will need to actively apply for it and serve a 3-year bond upon graduation.
International students pay the most: there are no grants, so they pay the full fee, including GST (GST is absorbed for Singapore citizens and PRs).
The course fees for diploma courses are pretty much fixed for all 5 polytechnics in Singapore, excluding supplementary fees for examinations, insurance, and etc.
Supplementary fees are about $80 to $100, and are meant to cover expenses for examinations, insurance, facilities and etc.
To help those from lower-income families, there are a few education bursaries that are offered across all 5 polytechnics.
Tertiary education bursaries for all polytechnics
| Bursary | Bursary coverage (per year) | Citizenship | Income ceiling * |
| Polytechnic Foundation Programme bursary | $970 (one-time cash award) | Singapore citizens in PFP courses | PCI under $691, GHI under $2,751 |
| CDC/CCC^ Polytechnic bursary | $2,350 | Singapore citizens | PCI under $691, GHI under $2,571 |
| CDC/CCC^ Polytechnic bursary | $2,150 | Singapore citizens | PCI $691 to $1,000, GHI $2,751 to $4,000 |
| MOE bursary | $1,650 | Singapore citizens | PCI $1,001 to $1,725, GHI $4,001 to $6,900 |
| MOE bursary | $800 | Singapore citizens | PCI $1,726 to $2,250, GHI $6,901 to $9,000 |
* Per capita income (PCI) and gross household income (GHI)
^ Community Development Council (CDC) and Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC)
There are 2 government-funded bursaries — the CDC/CCC polytechnic bursary and MOE bursary. They are 4 tiers of income brackets (2 each), and depending on which you fall under, you can get from $800 to $2,350 subsidy per year.
For those enrolled in the polytechnic foundation programme (PFP), if your PCI is under $691 or GHI under $2,571, you will also get a $970 subsidy.
In the National Day Rally 2019, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that they’ll be pumping in even more resource into making tertiary education more affordable.
Bursary coverage will be increased from up to 80% to 95% instead.
Private donor bursaries
You can also try applying for a private donor bursary. These are funded by donations, which could be from generous alumnae, charitable organisations and more.
Each polytechnic has over 10 of these, and the selection criteria is usually specific to the private bursary. To find out more about how you can get awarded, it’s best to book an appointment with your preferred school’s financial assistance advisor.
More financial assistance for polytechnic course fees in Singapore
Bursaries typically have stringent income requirements as they are meant to help the lower income families. If you do not qualify but still need financial help, you can consider these other schemes for needy students.
| Type of financial aid | Max coverage of tuition fees | Eligibility | |
| Post Secondary Education Account | Edusave | 100% | Singapore citizens with PSEA accounts |
| Mendaki Tertiary tuition fee subsidy | Subsidy | 50% to 100% | Malay Singapore citizens and PRs, with per capita income of under $2,000 |
| CPF education scheme | CPF education loan, to be repaid with interest | 100% (limited by CPF withdrawal limit of 40% from OA) | All full-time students |
| Tuition fee loan | Loan, to be repaid with interest | 75% | All full-time students |
| Study loan | Loan, to be repaid with interest | 25% + $2,000 for living expenses | Singapore citizens and PRs who’ve taken up maximum tuition fee loan (above) and have GHI $2,700 and below |
| IMDA NEU PC Plus programme | Laptop subsidy | NA. | Singaporeans and PRs with PCI $900 and below, or GHI $3,400 and below |
1. Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
If you’re a Singapore citizen with a PSEA, you can use whatever funds in there to pay for your poly course fees. You may also use your siblings’.
If you’re wondering how you get money in there, it’s from your Edusave account, which becomes a PSEA after secondary school.
2. Mendaki tertiary tuition fee subsidy
The Mendaki tertiary tuition fee subsidy is for Malay students with a PCI of $2,000 or less. Both Singaporeans and PRs can apply, but PRs must have applied for and received the MOE tuition grant (as above) before eligible for this subsidy.
There are 3 tiers of subsidy coverage, depending on the applicant’s income. For the full 100%, your PCI must be $1,400 or below.
3. CPF Education Scheme
All full-time students can apply for this, but in particular, PRs must have executed the MOE tuition grant and international students must appoint a guarantor.
The CPF Education Scheme is a little tricky, but although you’re using your own CPF savings, you need to repay it with interest (pegged to CPF), almost like a loan.
Under this scheme, you can withdraw up to 40% of CPF in your Ordinary Account (OA) to pay for up to 100% of your tuition fee. You’ll need to start repayment 1 year after you graduate, and have a maximum of 12 years to finish paying.
4. Tuition fee loan
Now onto the “real” loans. You can also seek financial help from banks like DBS, UOB and OCBC to finance up to 75% of your tuition fees. All full-time students can apply.
Of course, because this is a loan and you have to pay interest, it should only considered if you’ve exhausted the other above-mentioned options. The interest rates are around 4.75% p.a. — you can read more about education loans in this article — but interest will only commence after graduation.
That means your loan is interest-free during your course of study.
5. Study loan
After taking up a tuition fee loan (above), there’s still a remaining 25% that some students may need help with. For Singapore citizens and PRs, you can apply for a government study loan to cover that, plus $2,000 for living expenses.
The income ceiling is GHI $2,700 and below. For those who have PCI under $951, the loan is interest-free. For those earning between $951 to $2,700, the loan is interest-free during the 3 years of study.
6. Laptop subsidy (IMDA NEU PC Plus Programme)
The NEU PC Plus Programme is by the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), and is a subsidy for low-income students who need to buy laptops for school.
This is for students with PCI $900 and under ($1,125 if there is a permanently disabled household member) or GHI of $3,400 and under.
The prices are highly subsidised, ranging from $200 to $800+ for a brand new set. The models are fixed and recommended based on your diploma course. For instance, if you are in a design, media or arts course you may be required to use a laptop with superior RAM and graphics card requirements.
Which polytechnic should you apply for?
In terms of course fees, all 5 polytechnics are about the same. Different institutions may have courses unique to them though — like say, law in Temasek Polytechnic.
The different schools are also known for different disciplines. It’s been a long time since I was in school, but in general (based on online reviews and forums, anyway), this is what each is known for:
Ngee Ann Polytechnic — business and mass communications
Singapore polytechnic — engineering and life sciences
Temasek Polytechnic — design and law
Nanyang Polytechnic — IT and nursing
Republic Polytechnic — hospitality and sports management
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