My child's school doesn't seem to have any advertised bursaries - do they exist?

Yes, almost certainly. School welfare funds and SAC funds are often not publicly advertised. Visit the general office and ask directly - explain your situation and they will advise on available support.

Do I need to apply for MOE FAS first before accessing school bursaries?

Not necessarily. School welfare funds are usually independent of MOE FAS. However, applying for MOE FAS first ensures you are maximising all government entitlements, and schools often process both together.

Our school runs a Pockets of Support programme - is this the same?

"Pockets of Support" is a national voluntary giving campaign. Some schools channel Pockets of Support donations through their welfare fund. Ask your school if they participate and how to access it. For a full overview of all secondary-level financial assistance, see our MOE Financial Assistance Scheme guide and the ISB guide.

Study guide21 Mar 2026, 08:00 Z

School-Based Bursaries for Secondary Students 2026: How to Find & Apply

TL;DR

Most secondary schools in Singapore maintain school-specific bursary funds alongside MOE FAS and ISB - these include alumni donations, school welfare funds, School Advisory Committee (SAC) funds, and school-level Edusave bursaries.

Sponsor: Individual schoolsBond: Bond-FreeOverseas: Primarily Singapore

Find matching bursaries Browse bursaries hub

Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)

Last updated 21 Mar 2026

Reviewed by

Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)

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Types of School-Based Bursaries
What School-Based Bursaries Typically Cover
How to Find Your School's Bursaries
Eligibility (General)

Q: What do school-based bursaries for secondary students cover?
A: School-based bursaries are school-specific financial aid funds - alumni bursaries, school welfare funds, School Advisory Committee (SAC) funds, and Edusave-funded school bursaries - that sit on top of MOE FAS and ISB. How to identify what your school offers, apply through the general office, and stack with government schemes.

TL;DR Most secondary schools in Singapore maintain school-specific bursary funds alongside MOE FAS and ISB - these include alumni donations, school welfare funds, School Advisory Committee (SAC) funds, and school-level Edusave bursaries. Eligibility, amounts, and windows vary entirely by school. The starting point is always your school's general office or counsellor.

If you have...	Read this first
1 second	Ask your secondary school's office about hidden bursaries.
10 seconds	Check MOE FAS, ISB, school welfare fund, alumni bursary, SAC fund, Edusave support, income documents, conduct, attendance, renewal, and stacking.
100 seconds	Many school funds are not advertised, so the practical move is to ask the general office or counsellor directly and explain the need.
Concrete example	A family already on MOE FAS can still ask whether the school can help with CCA costs or transport top-ups.
Best next step	Contact the general office and ask for school welfare or SAC fund options.

Status: Last verified 2026-03-21. School-specific bursary details are school-administered and change each year - contact your school's general office for the current cycle.

Quick links: Bursaries hub,

Sources

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

Type	Who Funds It	How to Access
School welfare / hardship fund	School budget or donor pool	Apply through school counsellor or general office
Alumni bursary	Former students' association	Check the school's alumni page or ask the general office
School Advisory Committee (SAC) fund	Business leaders on the SAC	Referred by the general office; not always publicly advertised
School-level Edusave bursary	MOE Edusave fund channelled to school	Processed by school; may be automatic or application-based
Endowed school bursary	Named donor (e.g., ACS Foundation)	Published on the school's website or via general office

Scheme	Can Stack?	Notes
MOE FAS	Yes	FAS and school-based bursaries are designed to complement each other - applying for FAS does not preclude school funds
ISB (Independent School Bursary)	Yes	ISB covers fees at independent schools; school welfare funds cover other costs
Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB)	Yes	EMB is credited to Edusave; school-level cash bursaries are separate
Community bursaries (CDAC, SINDA, etc.)	Yes	Community fund bursaries and school-based bursaries are separate

School-Based Bursaries for Secondary Students 2026: How to Find & Apply

Sources

Types of School-Based Bursaries

What School-Based Bursaries Typically Cover

How to Find Your School's Bursaries

Eligibility (General)

How to Apply

Stacking with MOE Schemes

Frequently Asked Questions

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