Citizen & PR will be eligible for subsidies for poly part-time diploma courses

Singapore citizens (SCs) and permanent residents (PRs) who want to pursue part-time diploma courses are in luck. From Oct 1 this year, those accepted into polytechnic part-time diploma programmes for the first time will be eligible for government subsidies, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) today. Citizens will receive a 70 per cent subsidy regardless of government subsidies previously received from participating in full-time diploma or full-time and part-time degree programmes. This will apply to those who attempted but failed to obtain a full-time diploma qualification previously as well as to citizens who already have a full-time diploma or degree. Currently, MOE provides subsidies at the diploma level only once and does not subsidise those who already hold diploma or higher qualifications. Meanwhile, PRs will receive a 60 per cent subsidy regardless of the subsidy consumed in their previous full-time diploma programmes. They will receive this subsidy as long as they have not previously attained a qualification at the diploma or higher level that was subsidised through an MOE subsidy or Government sponsorship. This revision is applicable to all part-time diploma programmes at the polytechnics which are subsidised by MOE. New part-time diploma intakes commencing their studies on or after Oct 1 will be able to benefit from this revision. This is part of the government's commitment to help working Singaporeans to upgrade or re-skill through part-time learning at the polytechnics. In addition, individuals who wish to study further after a full-time or part-time diploma can enrol in the relevant Advanced Diploma (AD) and Specialist Diploma (SD) programmes. The MOE subsidy for these post-diploma programmes can be tapped on more than once by each individual, subject to a limit of once every five years.