Service Obligation

International students who choose to pay a lower tuition fee (and thus receive higher subsidy) will have to take up a 3-year service obligation. As part of the service obligation, the international student is required to work in Singapore-based companies upon graduation.

Singapore-based companies refer to local companies and international companies that have a base in Singapore which is registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

The duration of the service obligation is fixed at 3 years, regardless of the duration of study at subsidised rates.

International graduate students interested in pursuing a research-based graduate degree with MOE subsidy may apply for the scheme. The University may implement the scheme for international students if deemed feasible based on industry demand, subject to MOE approval. Upon approval, successful applicants will receive the subsidy up to the maximum candidature duration of their degree programmes.

Service Obligation is no longer available to international students applying for Coursework Programmes as they will be liable for non-subsidised tuition fees.

Please refer to the Tuition Fee table for MOE-subsidised graduate degree programmes and tuition fees.

Students who had previously enjoyed MOE subsidy in a graduate degree will not be eligible for MOE subsidy in another graduate degree of the same or lower level.

For students enrolled in Semester 2 AY2023-2024 (January 24 intake)

Notification

Students must inform NTU about their intention to opt for the service obligation. They can do so during the online admission application by clicking on the service obligation option. Alternatively, they can inform the University staff during matriculation.

Students are not required to provide a guarantor or sign the service obligation agreement during the application or matriculation stage.

Online Registration with the Ministry of Education (MOE)

One has to register online with MOE from 1 to 7 February 2024. The process is as follows:

• Go to the Ministry of Education (MOE) website.

• Click on the “Student Login” option.

• Have two sureties/guarantors (of any nationality). The guarantors must be aged 21 and above but below 65 and must not be an un-discharged bankrupt.

• Sign the service obligation agreement to be put under the higher subsidy (and therefore pay a lower tuition fee) and serve a 3-year bond by working in a Singapore registered company upon graduation.

Note: Please contact MOE at [email protected] if you encounter any problem with the online registration at MOE's website.

​​Procedures for Digital Signing via SO Signing Portal

  1. Students will download their personalised SOA (MOE Pre-signed) from TGonline and send it to his sureties.
  2. Sureties will print the SOA and sign on Page 9 and send the signed SOA (Hard copy) together with a copy of the sureties' passport or government-issued identification card with photo to the student.
  3. Student will sign on Page 8 and Page 9 of the signed SOA (Hard copy) after receiving it from sureties.
  4. Student will write the date that he signed the SOA on Page 1 and Page 8.
  5. Student will scan the signed SOA together with the copy of sureties' passport or identification card as a PDF file using Microsoft Office Lens App.
  6. Student to name the scan documents (SO Agreement with sureties' identification documents) using their UIN number in the format NTUSO_SOA_<UIN>.pdf
  7. Student to send the PDF document to MOE by replying to the original mass e-mail using his/her NTU student e-mail account.

Note : Please click here to view the guide for SO Signing and Scanning. 

Date:     13 to 24 February 2024

Please note that there will only be one registration and signing session for the Service Obligation per intake. Email will be send in due course. Please check your NTU email regularly. 

For further enquiries about the Service Obligation Scheme, please refer to the MOE's website or contact MOE's Tuition Grant Unit at:

Tuition Grant Section
School Placement and Services Division
Customer Service Centre (MOE Podium Block)
Ministry of Education, Singapore
1 North Buona Vista Drive
Singapore 138675
[email protected]