My child was accepted to an independent school but we're worried about fees. Should we apply for ISB?

Yes - ISB is designed exactly for this situation. Apply as soon as your child enrols and the school's bursary window opens. At Tier 1 income levels, ISB can cover full school fees.

Do we apply separately for each academic year?

Yes. ISB requires annual renewal with updated income documents. Schools typically run a bursary exercise at the start of the year.

Can siblings' incomes affect the PCI calculation?

PCI is calculated as total household income divided by the number of household members. Your school can clarify the exact calculation methodology.

What if our income just exceeds the Tier 1 threshold?

You may still qualify under Tier 2 or Tier 3. All tiers provide some support. Confirm the current tier boundaries on MOE's page. Check how ISB tiers combine with MENDAKI or clan aid using our Integrated Programme Fees & Bursary Planner before you file the paperwork.

MOE Independent School Bursary (ISB) 2026: Income Tiers, Benefits & How to Apply

Study guide21 Mar 2026, 08:00 ZUpdated 11 May 2026

At a glance

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Q: What does the MOE ISB 2026 guide cover?
A: The Independent School Bursary for secondary and IP-stream students at independent schools - what ISB is, which schools are covered, 2026 fee-subsidy tiers, how to apply online or through your school, and stacking with community bursaries. For ISB at JC and Specialised Independent Schools, see the ISB for Independent JCs & SIs guide.

TL;DR MOE's Independent School Bursary (ISB) provides tiered financial support for Singapore Citizen students at independent secondary schools, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, and School of Science and Technology. From January 2026, ISB uses four income bands up to GHI S$12,000 or PCI S$3,000. Apply online or submit the ISB form through your school.

Status: Last verified 2026-05-11 against MOE's financial assistance page, 16 October 2025 press release, and January 2026 ISB PDF.

Quick links: Bursaries hub, ISB for JCs/SIs, MOE FAS guide, 2026 bursary application guide

What Is the ISB?

Independent schools in Singapore - including ACS(I), Hwa Chong Institution, Raffles Institution, Raffles Girls' School, NUS High School, St Joseph's Institution, and others - charge higher school fees than government-aided schools. MOE established the Independent School Bursary (ISB) to ensure that income eligibility, not financial ability, is the limiting factor for attending these schools.

ISB provides tiered subsidies that may cover:

Annual school fees (partial to full, depending on income tier)
Miscellaneous school charges
At the lowest income tier: textbooks, school attire, meal subsidies, and public transport subsidy for secondary-level students

Which Schools Are Covered?

ISB applies to students at MOE-designated independent schools, which include both:

Independent secondary schools: ACS(I), Hwa Chong Institution, Methodist Girls' School (MGS), Nanyang Girls' High School (NGHS), NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, Raffles Girls' School (RGS), Raffles Institution (Sec), St Joseph's Institution (SJI), CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), and others
IP-stream schools with independent school status: Students in IP programmes at independent schools are covered by ISB through the relevant ISB tiers

Reviewed by

Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)

Sources

https://www.moe.gov.sg/financial-matters/financial-assistance

Tier	Typical Income Band	Coverage
Tier 1 (lowest income)	GHI S$4,000 or less, or PCI S$1,000 or less	Secondary: 100% subsidy of school, miscellaneous, and examination fees; free textbooks and school attire; meal subsidies for 10 meals per school week; S$21 monthly public transport subsidy
Tier 2	GHI S$4,001 to S$5,500 or PCI S$1,001 to S$1,375	Student pays the same fee as a student in a government or government-aided school
Tier 3	GHI S$5,501 to S$9,000 or PCI S$1,376 to S$2,250	Student pays 1.5 times the government or government-aided school fee
Tier 4	GHI S$9,001 to S$12,000 or PCI S$2,251 to S$3,000	33% subsidy of school and miscellaneous fees

Scheme	Can Stack?	Notes
MOE FAS	Usually no	MOE FAS is for government, government-aided, and specialised schools; ISB is the corresponding scheme for independent schools and listed specialised independent schools
Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB)	Yes	EMB is an Edusave credit; ISB is a fee subsidy - both can apply
CDAC / MENDAKI / SINDA / LBKM	Yes	Community fund bursaries are separate; apply through respective portals
HECB / HEB	Not applicable	HECB/HEB are for polytechnic/university students - ISB is at secondary/IP level

MOE Independent School Bursary (ISB) 2026: Income Tiers, Benefits & How to Apply

What Is the ISB?

Which Schools Are Covered?

Sources

Income Tiers

How to Apply

Document Checklist

Stacking with Other Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

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