Deferment to pursue further studies

You must apply for a Tuition Grant (TG) bond deferment to pursue full-time further studies:

• At an overseas institution.
• At a private education institution in Singapore.
• At a polytechnic, Institute of Technical Education, autonomous university or arts institution without taking up another TG.
• For a post-graduate course without taking up a Service Obligation grant. 

You must also apply for deferment if:

• Your company has granted you no-pay leave to pursue further studies. 
• You plan to study part-time but are not working full-time. 

You do not need to apply for a deferment if you:

You must obtain MOE’s approval for deferment before starting your further studies.

You may be liable to pay liquidated damages if you do not apply for deferment.

The deferment process may take up to 2 months. Submit your application as soon as you receive your course acceptance letter.

There are 2 main steps: 

1. Submit your deferment request through the TG&S Portal.
2. Apply for a banker’s guarantee (BG). 

1. Log in to the TG&S Portal
2. Update your employment details 
   Ensure that your employment record is updated in Programs - Employment Updates. Your bond served will be considered when calculating the BG amount required for deferment.
3. Apply for deferment
   Submit your request in Programs - Application for Bond Deferment. Upload your course acceptance letter with the course start and end dates. Refer to the user guide if needed.
4. Receive email from MOE
   You will receive an email within 7 working days with instructions on applying for a BG, including the required BG amount, effective date and expiry date.
5. Apply for a BG
   Banks may take up to 2 weeks to process your application. When approved, the bank will notify MOE directly.
6. Receive deferment approval from MOE
   Your deferment application will be approved once MOE receives your BG from the bank.

After completing further studies, you must serve your outstanding TG bond.

If you need more time to complete your studies, you can apply for an extension through TG&S Portal by submitting a new deferment request with valid reasons. You must obtain a letter from your institution that includes the:

• Reasons for the extension.
• Length of extension required.

Apply at least 8 weeks before your current deferment period ends. Late applications may be rejected and you may be liable for liquidated damages. 

Extension of deferment to pursue a new course of study will not be approved, as this would be considered a second deferment.

Your second bond deferment request will only be considered if you have served at least 18 months of your bond period. 

You must submit your deferment request through TG&S Portal at least 8 weeks before the start of your deferment period.

Have questions?
Find out more in FAQs on deferment.