Integrated Programme School Fees & Bursary Planner (2025)
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)15 Jan 2025, 02:00 Z
A long-range view of Integrated Programme (IP) costs is the foundation for smart scholarship, bursary, and tuition decisions. This planner collates the latest fee disclosures from independent and specialised IP schools, highlights "hidden" costs families often forget, and points you toward MOE and community bursaries that activate at each stage.
1. Annual Cost Snapshot (Sec 1 to JC 2)
Use the table below as a baseline. Adjust for your school’s most recent circulars—independent schools usually publish updated figures each November.
| Level | Typical school fee (per month) | Annual school-based charges | Transport & meals | Academic enrichment | Estimated annual total |
| Sec 1-2 (IP) | $400 – $680 | $300 – $600 | $1,600 | $800 | $6,500 – $8,500 |
| Sec 3-4 (IP) | $420 – $720 | $350 – $700 | $1,800 | $1,000 | $7,200 – $9,800 |
| JC 1-2 | $450 – $780 | $350 – $750 | $2,000 | $1,200 | $7,800 – $10,500 |
What’s inside the “academic enrichment” column? Weekly tuition, Olympiad prep, study camps, and portal subscriptions. Track these separately so you can dial back or redirect spending once a bursary kicks in.
2. Five Questions Every Family Should Answer Early
- Which fee band applies? Independent schools publish tiered fees for citizens, PRs, and international students. Confirm the citizen band and check if GST is included.
- How volatile is transport? CCA-heavy students often add 2-3 Grab rides weekly. Include a buffer for peak competition seasons.
- Will you need specialist equipment? Examples: laptop refresh for Personalised Digital Learning Programme, data-loggers, lab coats, musical instruments.
- Are residential or overseas trips mandatory? Some IP schools run Year 3 camps or overseas Language Elective trips that add $1,000+.
- Which caregiver subsidies apply? Families with 3+ school-going children can stagger bursary applications and Edusave withdrawals to smooth cash flow.
Document the answers—schools frequently ask for income evidence, transport receipts, and enrichment invoices when assessing need-based aid.
3. Bursary & Subsidy Timeline
The checkpoints below assume your teen joins IP in 2025. Adjust dates when MOE updates their calendars.
| Window | What to secure | Key action items |
| Oct – Nov 2024 | Independent School Bursary (ISB) renewal + UPLIFT Scholarship | Submit IRAS Notice of Assessment, CPF statements, and proof of family size early so fee subsidies kick in by January. |
| Jan – Feb 2025 | School-based hardship or alumni bursaries | Track forms released during admin day; prepare teacher testimonials or CCA endorsements if required. |
| Feb – Mar 2025 | CDC/Community group bursaries | Apply to the suitable clan, self-help, or religious organisations (e.g., CDAC, SINDA, LBKM). Mark interview dates; many disbursements align with Term 2. |
| May – Jun 2025 | Mid-year top-ups (transport, devices) | Pair receipts with bursary claim forms. Families on the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) can request transport subsidies from their school. |
| Sep – Nov 2025 | Transition planning for JC fees | Gather JC-specific fee circulars, refresh means-testing documents, and shortlist tertiary bursaries listed at https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/bursaries. |
Tip: Keep a shared spreadsheet with a running tally of fees paid, bursaries received, and documents submitted. It simplifies renewals and reduces scramble when schools request supporting evidence.
4. Building a Hybrid Funding Stack
Aim to mix three layers:
- MOE core support: Independent School Bursary, MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (transport, uniforms, textbooks), Edusave accounts, UPLIFT Scholarship.
- Community & self-help groups: CDAC, SINDA, Yayasan MENDAKI, Eurasian Association, clan associations. These often fund transport, pocket money, and learning tools.
- School/industry partners: Alumni foundations, corporate bursaries, internship-linked awards.
Layering keeps your teen’s options open—if a scholarship with a bond becomes attractive later, you will have the cash flow to make a strategic decision.
5. Preparing Evidence Before Each Application
Create a digital folder with:
- Latest IRAS NOA for both parents or guardians.
- CPF household statements (12 months).
- Proof of housing (HDB flat type or property tax statement) for schemes that assess asset thresholds.
- School report cards, CCA records, VIA reflections, and teacher testimonials.
- Receipts for enrichment, transport, medical expenses, or caregiving duties that justify higher expenses.
Maintaining this library cuts administrative time drastically—critical when application windows overlap with exam weeks.
6. When to Consider Scholarships
If your child is already tracking for distinction-level results and leadership roles, shortlist appropriate scholarships early. Start with the flagship map at https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships, then dive into detailed profiles such as https://eclatinstitute.sg/blog/scholarships/AGD-Scholarship-Profile. Pay attention to bond length, overseas exposure, and hallmark experiences to ensure alignment with your teen’s goals.
7. Next Steps
- Build your personalised budget worksheet (fees, transport, enrichment, buffer).
- Match bursaries to each term using the timeline above; diarise deadlines and required documents.
- Revisit your plan every semester—update costs, re-evaluate bursary fit, and flag when higher-level scholarships become viable.
When you are ready for one-to-one planning, reach out to us through the bursary navigator or WhatsApp link on any bursary profile page. We will map funding scenarios, coordinate tuition support, and keep your teen focused on learning instead of logistics.
