MOE Teaching Award (Mid-Term): 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)14 Oct 2025, 01:05 Z
TL;DR\ Already in university and discovered a calling to teach? The MOE Teaching Award (Mid-Term) sponsors the rest of your degree, bridges you into NIE, and secures a teaching appointment—bring a strong academic record, real classroom experience, and clarity on how you will serve Singapore's students.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Open Until 15 Mar 2026 (last checked 2025-10-14)
- Official Portal: MOE Teaching Award (Mid-Term)
- Who It Targets: Current undergraduates in local autonomous universities or NTU-NIE BABSc who want to convert into the teaching pathway before graduation
- Eligibility: Singapore Citizens (or PRs converting) with strong academics, leadership evidence, and sustained teaching-related involvement
- Tenable Institutions: NUS, NTU (BABSc/TSP), SIT, SMU, SUSS, SUTD
- Bond Guide: Four-year bond with MOE schools after you finish NIE's initial teacher preparation
What the Mid-Term Award Covers
- Tuition and compulsory fees for your remaining degree semesters plus NIE tuition (PGDE or embedded BABSc components)
- Monthly maintenance allowance backdated from acceptance, with adjustments if you have existing bursaries
- Pre-studies allowance for teaching materials and device needs
- Funded attachments each semester, including school immersions and job shadowing tailored to your subject
- Access to MOE Teaching Scholars' development network and leadership seminars once you accept the offer
Eligibility Checklist
- Hold Singapore citizenship (or commit to convert) and be enrolled full-time in an allowed course with at least two semesters left before graduation
- Maintain at least second-upper honours trajectory or equivalent GPA in relevant teaching subjects
- Complete substantive teaching exposure (relief teaching, tutoring, coaching, volunteering with youth organisations) and document impact
- Demonstrate leadership qualities through CCAs, student organisations, or community projects
- Obtain endorsements from university faculty or NIE coordinators confirming suitability and course alignment with MOE pathways
Application Timeline & Checklist
- August – October 2025: Discuss your plan with university advisors; ensure remaining modules align with NIE requirements and compile teaching portfolios.
- By 15 March 2026: Submit the mid-term application through MOE Careers or PSC Gateway, indicating expected graduation date and preferred NIE track.
- Late March: Complete psychometric screening and reflective essays emphasising classroom insights gained so far.
- April: Attend the assessment centre (micro-teaching, collaborative case discussions) alongside full-term candidates; expect additional questions on converting mid-course.
- May: Participate in school observation days and final interviews with principals and MOE HQ; clarify any existing scholarships or financial aid you hold.
- June: Receive offer letters; coordinate with MOE on stipend back-pay, NIE intake window, and service agreement logistics.
Selection Breakdown
- Academic review: Panels scrutinise university transcripts and teaching subject depth—be ready to explain any dips and recovery strategies.
- Teaching portfolio: Submit sample lesson plans, reflections, and student feedback collected from your ongoing engagements.
- Dialogue on conversion: Demonstrate how you evaluated alternative careers, why teaching is now your north star, and how you'll manage existing commitments.
- Values & resilience: Share real stories of classroom setbacks, safeguarding scenarios, or partnering with parents/community groups.
Bond & Career Integration
- Continue your undergraduate course with MOE mentorship and scheduled school attachments during holidays.
- Transition into NIE (PGDE or BABSc practicum) immediately after graduation; MOE coordinates placement to minimise downtime.
- Serve your four-year bond as an Education Officer with built-in induction support and mentor pairing.
- After fulfilling key milestones, explore the Teaching, Leadership, or Senior Specialist tracks, with opportunities for funded postgraduate study.
Tips for a Compelling Mid-Term Application
- Track a clear impact story from your teaching experiences—e.g., how you improved a student's confidence or ran a CCA initiative.
- Showcase time management: explain how you balance academics, service, work, and wellbeing, proving you can handle MOE's pace.
- Align your essays with MOE policy directions (Student-Centric, Values-Driven; 21st Century Competencies; digital transformation in schools).
- Secure referees who observed you teaching (supervising teachers, NIE lecturers, CCA staff) to validate authenticity.
- Reflect on inclusive practice—highlight how you support diverse learners, including students with SEN or different home languages.
Stay Updated
- Subscribe to MOE scholarship newsletters and campus outreach sessions to catch dedicated mid-term briefings.
- Network with current TA mid-term award holders; many share experiences on LinkedIn or at MOE virtual events.
- Track NIE academic calendars to plan your PGDE intake and inform MOE of any compulsory overseas immersion modules.
