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Last Updated: 01 March 2024

Edusave scholarships for Independent Schools (ESIS)

Scholarships of up to $2,400 per year are offered to top-performing Singaporean students at independent schools in Singapore. Learn about them.

These scholarships are offered to academically strong students attending independent schools. The award value of the ESIS is up to $2,400 per year. Only Singapore Citizens are eligible.

These scholarships are awarded in Secondary 1, Secondary 3, Pre-University 1 and on a yearly basis:

ESIS (Secondary 1)

Awarded to the top one-third of students admitted to independent schools by PSLE score.

Students who meet the ESIS cut-off score and are admitted to independent schools under the Direct School Admission Exercise will also be offered the ESIS.

Students are awarded the ESIS for:

  • 4 years, if they are in the O-Level programme.
  • 6 years, if they are in the 6-year programme.

This is subject to their good progress and conduct each year.
ESIS (Secondary 3)

At the end of Secondary 2, nominated or shortlisted students can apply to take the ESIS test. Students who already received an ESIS (Secondary 1) award will not be eligible.

Students who performed well in the ESIS test are awarded for:

  • 2 years, if they are in the O-Level programme.
  • 4 years, if they are in the 6-year programme.

This is subject to their good progress and conduct each year.
ESIS (Pre-University 1)

Students in the 6-year programme will be nominated or shortlisted to take the ESIS test the end of Secondary 4. Students in the O-Level programme will be informed of their eligibility along with their O-Level examination results.

Students who already received the ESIS (Secondary 1) for 6 years, or the ESIS (Secondary 3) for 4 years, will not be eligible.

Students who fulfil the following criteria are eligible to receive the ESIS for 2 years, subject to good progress and conduct each year.

  • Students in the 6-year programme who:
    • Have not sat for the O-Level examinations.
    • Have not sat for the ESIS test at Secondary 3.
    • Performed well in the ESIS test in Pre-University 1.
  • Students in the O-Level programme who:
    • Are within the top 5% of all students who sat for the O-Level examinations based on L1R5 scores before any bonus points.
    • Meet the ESIS cut-off score and are admitted to an independent school under the Direct School Admission for junior colleges (DSA-JC) are also awarded.
ESIS (Yearly award)

Students in the top 10% of their school cohort with good conduct will receive an ESIS based on their school examination results for the year. Students will be informed of their ESIS award through their schools at the beginning of the next academic year.

Students who already received other types of ESIS will not be eligible.

Award amount

If your child is not receiving the MOE Independent School Bursary (ISB), they will be awarded the lesser of the following amounts:

  • $2,400 a year.
  • The total annual school fee minus the amount of school and standard miscellaneous fees that they would pay to attend a government or government-aided school.

If your child is receiving the ISB, they will be awarded the lesser of the following amounts:

  • $2,400 a year.
  • The total annual school fee minus the school fee subsidy provided under the ISB.

If your child is receiving scholarships or financial assistance from the School of the Arts (SOTA) or the Singapore Sports School (SSP), they will be awarded the lesser of the following amounts:

  • $2,400 a year.
  • The total annual school fee minus the school fee subsidy provided under scholarships and financial assistance offered by SOTA or SSP.

View other types of scholarships.