Foreigners in Singapore to pay higher school fees from 2016

A class in session at a school in Singapore. ST PHOTO / KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE – International students and those who are permanent residents (PRs) will pay $20 to $150 more in school fees from January.

This revision of school fees by the Ministry of Education is a move to further differentiate fees by citizenship, the ministry said in a press release.

The new fees affect those studying at government and government-aided schools.

School fees will increase by between $20 to $60 per month for students who are PRs, and by between $20 and $150 per month for international students. Fees for Singapore citizens remain unchanged.

For example, Singaporeans currently attending secondary schools pay $5 a month for fees, while PRs pay $120 and international students, $650. From next year, Singaporeans will continue to pay $5 a month to study in secondary schools while the fees for PRs will rise to $160 and that for international students will be $800.