Singapore to give scholarships to Filipino students for them to contribute to the Philippines’ development

November 9, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Headlines

From our Correspondent

The Singapore government is offering scholarships to Filipino students to study in its three universities. All courses are open to the scholars, except for medicine and dentistry.

According to a Filipino daily – the Global Nation, the Singapore Embassy will be accepting scholarship applications for school year 2010-2011 starting 16 November 2009. (Source: Global Nation)

The scholarship covers three to four years of tertiary study depending on the discipline, return airfare, full tuition and a living allowance of $4,300 per year. It has no bond and scholars do not need to work for the Singapore government.

The scholars will be selected based on their academic merit, leadership qualities and potential to contribute to the Philippines’ development.

Besides the Philipines, the Singapore Ministry of Education as well as its three varsities are known to award various scholarships to bright college students in other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, China and India.

The Schools of Engineering of both NUS and NTU have a sizable proportion of students from India and China. (Your correspondent thought he was in China when he had lunch at the NUS Science Canteen recently after visiting a friend who was warded in NUH)

Each year, there are a number of Singapore students who fail to qualify for the course of their choice in the local universities and have to pursue their tertiary education overseas.

While some local undergraduates have to take up part-time jobs to finance their studies, some foreign students studying in Singapore universities on government scholarships offered by MOE have their tuition fees pay for entirely on top of a monthly allowance. They are often enrolled in courses like engineering, computing and science.

Some of these scholars are guaranteed good-paying jobs upon graduation - they are required to work in approved companies by the Singapore government for between three to eight years. 

While other scholarships like the one above do not require the scholars to serve the Singapore government, they are permitted to stay on to work. A number of them take up Singapore PR and citizenship eventually.

In contrast, Singapore graduates have to seek out jobs on their own and are burdened with a hefty study loan to repay at the same time. Singapore males are at the losing end compared to foreigners as they have reservist obligations to fulfill yearly.

First-generation PRs and citizens do not have to serve any form of National Service and they are entitled to the same rights and benefits as Singaporeans, not that they amount to much anyway.

Attached below is a list scholarships offered by local universities and MOE to foreign students:

1. National Technological University

2. National University of Singapore

3. ASEAN scholarships (full tuition fees covered with an annual living allowance of $4,200, no bond required)

4. Goh Keng Swee scholarship for Asian students (full tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance and one return economy air passage to home country, required to work for three years in approved company in Singapore – essentially a bond)

5. Singapore Undergraduate Scholarship (tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance of $6,000 and one return economy air passage to home country, required to work for six years in sponsoring/approved company in Singapore)

6. Singapore scholarship for foreign students (tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance of $4,300 and one return economy air passage to home country, no bond required.)

7. C N Yang International undegraduate scholarships (tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance of $8,200, guaranteed place in hall of residence for 4 years, 3 years bond with Singapore government.)

 

Related articles:

>> Are foreigners depriving locals of places in Singapore universities? (Part 1)

>> Are foreigners depriving locals of places in Singapoe universities? (Part 2)

>> PRC student supports govt’s plan to give more scholarships to foreigners

 

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Comments

35 Comments on "Singapore to give scholarships to Filipino students for them to contribute to the Philippines’ development"

  1. fair and square on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 3:49 pm 

    How about some “national” awards for our fillipino maids
    who has over the last 30-30 years contributed to Singapore’s socio-economic advancement?
    Wihtout these maids,our female citizens would have been able to
    go bac to work,our children no one to care,our old folks left
    unattended?
    Such steudents already either come form wealthy families or are already sponsored by their governments?

  2. sturmtruppen on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 3:54 pm 

    Seems singapore is running out of local true blue young citizens…

    ..and the gov’t doesn’t even understand why our youngsters want to leave singapore at the 1st opportunity…

    so next new bunch of scholars gonna be from where….from siberia…or even somalia…and who is footing the bill?…the singaporean people or the pap gov’t…no bad…using other people money then your own money…well done.

    sad.

  3. kny on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 4:15 pm 

    Hopefully the students come to Singapore and teach the local students people power ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Power_Revolution ) We desperately need this. Haha

    Otherwise they are just taking up valuable varsity place.

  4. Cheese on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 4:52 pm 

    What can I say? I am no word to describe how I feel. What the $^^$%$££$, scholarships to foreigners with no obligations! Everything paid for.

    PAP, please spare me the agony by calling for the election now. At least, I will feel better after casting my vote to the opposition.

  5. qwerty on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 5:03 pm 

    “This undergraduate scholarship offered by the Singapore government is applicable to the National University of Singapore, The Noynay Technological University and Singapore Management University.”

    It would be nice if they could get the names of all three universities correct. I don’t think it’s a lot to ask for.

  6. wat? on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 5:14 pm 

    i think these won’t target those at the socio-economic level of the domestic helpers that come here….

  7. deoxin on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 6:44 pm 

    #1. all foreign students here, be it scholars or not, take Tuition Grant (it’s required for scholars since all scholarships only pay tuition fee nett tuition grant).
    Tuition Grant requires the student to work in Singapore-registered company for 3 years upon graduation.
    so, “no bond required” is misleading.

    #2. ASEAN scholarships r part of ASEAN initiative; every ASEAN countries give a certain number of scholarship for students from ASEAN countries.
    I can’t imagine why a singaporean wants to study to, say, Myanmar ..but nonetheless, asean framework provides such scheme. The scholarship is administered by host country tho (meaning: host country pays), rather than the ASEAN organisation.

    #3. I believe that giving students from neighboring countries (read: ASEAN) benefits singapore. If they stay here after graduation, they’ll become one of us n make their own contribution. If they go back to their respective country, we hope they’ll become “future leader” in their country (be it public or private sector) that, in turn, help us to shape “neighborhood” into “friendlier” one.

  8. fair and square on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 8:00 pm 

    I hope they go home picking up the right and best practices,not the wring ones.

  9. tiredman on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 8:23 pm 

    Is the government begging these so call talents of the behalf of Singaporeans. Why is our University so cheap to foreigners and so dear to the local?

  10. janetnt on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 9:17 pm 

    Hey i got an ASEAN Scholar in my company, what she studies is totally not related to her work tot. But i got to admit she is smart and valuable to the company now. Btw she is now a PR after 4 years in Singapore.

  11. from HK on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 9:24 pm 

    No wonder there isn’t any place for my son for the couses that he is interest in and have to pursue his tertiary education over at University of Hong Kong.

    I really believe that National Service for Singaporeans, Univerity and Jobs for Foreigners is REAL.

  12. Zone Trooper on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 9:29 pm 

    Don’t understand why we are milking the monkeys in the jungle instead of feeding our own.

  13. tiredman on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 9:30 pm 

    I still do not understand. Why should we use our money to help to educate other nationals and to help other country to develop? I think this is stupid! Walk around SIM and see how many A level students not being able to go to the local universities.
    Given all these, why the government not willing to fund their education for free?

    I serve NS is for a purpose. It is for the seek of my people and not for the foreigners to enjoy here. I do not get it!!! It is wrong wrong and wrong… Everytime when I do my reservist, it reminds me that I should not let my children to serve this country which do not really look after its people interest.

    10 million singapore dollars for the new citizen to interact with the local… you know, this sounds rather crazy when the money (i think $360 as for now) given to the helpless elderly is always too much for the government to pay.

    That idea and that comment that came out from the minister’s mouth that shows how cheap Singaporean can be when they are old. Foreigners can be more important than the locals… then

    You know it has been a very tiring to see no changes… If the government cannot be change, perhaps I can make some changes in my life. Immigrate may be the final decision… Well, it is nothing new, alot of my friend is planning to leave this place.

  14. BarelyAlive on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:21 pm 

    The Government just don’t get it!

  15. crowded_out on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:29 pm 

    It may not be the intention of the current government, but it seems that ordinary Singaporeans’ interests have been betrayed.

    I certainly feel that way.

  16. Ex-PAP supporter on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:53 pm 

    Foreigners who study in our 3 national universities have their tuition paid for them and get monthly allowances.

    Singaporean students get zero. Zilch. Nada.

    This is just not right. There is something absolutely unjust about this situations.

    I hope Singaporeans will set this right.

    It seems that now is the time for Change.

  17. Tay B.S on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:07 pm 

    I just can’t figure out what are the benefits we get out of this?

  18. Chris on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:59 pm 

    I support the government to try and get the best brains from the region. Globalisation means competition. There’s no other way about it.

    With duds we can only sink for they ask not what they can do for the country but what the government can do for them.

  19. fair and square on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 12:51 am 

    @Chris
    globalisation? competition? fair?
    is greed fair…i begin to wonder?!
    why don’t we ask MAINSTREETERS if they felt it fair(?)

    for them to bail out the filthy rich and greedy WALLSTREETERS?!
    ..who probably still have fat accounts in swiss banks?
    Fair is not a vocab for the poor,it is better understood in this globalised wolrd by the rich and powerful!!!
    you get it?..i do!

  20. sg med student on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 8:06 am 

    I am a medical student in NUS.

    For sub-standard NUS training, I pay $18,000 a year (after “so-called subsidies” and comes with a stiffling 5 year bond)

    It is sad that I serve NS also.

    When my bond expires, Singapore can count on me to leave this forsaken country.

    Regards

  21. admin on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 9:07 am 

    Hi sg med student,

    When your bond finally expires, you will either be stuck here for another 10 years if you choose to specialize or start afresh all over again elsewhere as a junior MO doing night calls in some ulu community hospital.

  22. NNCore on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 9:12 am 

    On the Scholarships,
    Have we already max out on Singaporean canidates for the Public/Local Scholarships available? If there are some leftover, I am sure there are a few more needy Singaporeans who might want it?

    sg med student.
    If you pass, and after the bond, you will be reaping back what you have invested in a state where medical cost are going skyhigh. Unless you are one of those special people who does things for the good of mankind.

  23. Teh on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 9:20 am 

    After they graduate you think they want to go home and work in Philippines to contribute to Philippines’ development? Same question applies to those free loader scholars from the other countries.

    Of course they will stay put in Sinkie. They will get job here (edging out a sinkie who paid their way through college), get PR and then buy hdb flat and then start applyiing for dependent passes for their mother father to come here.

    All Sinkies can do is to see these FTs come and rob them of the basics in education, job and housing.

    Meanwhile, Sinkpore will be able to maintain its developed status compared to other ASEAN countries by robbing them of their “best” brains.

  24. angry_one on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 10:11 am 

    Words cannot describe my wrath and dismay when I read about news like this. I graduated from one of the 3 local universities with first-class honours, and I have never received a single scholarship or award in my academic life! When i was studying, i encountered many foreign students whose performance were only mediocre, but they were all fully sponsored by my government!

    THE PAP MUST BE DESTROYED!!

  25. Temasekian on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 10:17 am 

    This also explains why 80% of singaporeans will migrate if they get the chance. They only want the singaporean males for N.S and reservist. For talent and scholarships, they they have foreigners! This can only happen in singapore. WHY? Because you ELECTED them, period!

  26. pap killer on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 3:51 pm 

    scholarships for foreigners, NS for singaporeans

    TIME FOR CHANGE, VOTE PAP OUT, VOTE OPPOSITION

  27. pissoff on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 4:16 pm 

    Yes. angry_one, you are absolutely correct. They would rather reserve those places for foreigners instead of Singaporean whose parents toiled their whole life and contributed taxes to our Singapore government for nothing. Don’t talk about scholarship.Even getting a place into NUS OR NTU is difficult.
    NO SINGAPOREAN (ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 21-25) SHOULD BE DENIED A PLACE IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY. IT IS OUR RIGHT TO BE GIVEN A PLACE IF THEY ARE INTERESTED TO PURSUE THEIR STUDIES.

  28. sturmtruppen on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 6:12 pm 

    Frankly…if i am a filipino and i graduate from this singapore scheme…do you think i will go back to the phillipines to help the gov’t and its people…

    most likely many of the grads from this scheme will rather go to america, canada etc…

    so who is the stupid one here.

    Well done PAP.

    You have dumb struck me.

    Rather then leverage on our own citizens…you rather use the money you milk from us to help outsiders…well done..

    Don’t tell me the filipion govt and their own rich folks can’t help their own people…

    And don’t tell me one must be generious…

    I don’t mind being generious provided every single cent is from my hard earned money from my real work…

    YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME USE OTHER PEOPLES HARD EARNED MONEY TO BUY FAVOURS OR SCORE POINTS.

    ONLY ASSHOLES AND STUPID SELF-SERVCING CHEATING FOOLS DO THAT!

  29. Time for Change on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 7:41 pm 

    Spread the word. It is Time for Change. Vote for Change.

  30. David on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 10:36 pm 

    Did the govt sought Singaporeans approval? This is our taxpayers monies.

  31. rc on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 8:43 am 

    to be fair, Singapore’s not the only country giving out university scholarships to foreigners la. it’s a common practice in American colleges too. and a lot of very bright Singaporeans have benefitted from the scholarships that American colleges give out.

    though i’m not sure whether we are being over generous with our scholarships though. then again, it really depends on how many we have given/are giving out, and how much money goes with each one of them.

    however, foreigners who are here and are not on scholarship actually pay quite a lot more fees and therefore help cross subsidise Singaporeans.

    also, i don’t think that cutting down on number of foreign students should necessarily mean that more locals should get in. if a Singaporean student doesn’t have the academic capacity, then regardless of whether there is space in the university or not, it won’t do him good for him to be in university.

  32. Grim Reaver on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 9:13 am 

    Totally angry at this practise. Really like family violence. The wife beater in the eyes of public & colleagues ( before being exposed ! ) appears friendly, generouse, gracious, full of compassion.

    But back at home behind closed doors, he will wack the hell out of his wife & children.

    Anyway, thank god I have no sons.

  33. kikoman on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 11:34 am 

    Probably these Pinoys ALSO see us as arseholes because own singapore people we dont jaga ,we go and jaga the welfare foreigners,GOOD LUCK TO ALL young SINKAPOREAN !!!!!

  34. kikoman on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 12:39 pm 

    Probably these Pinoys also see us as arseholes because own singapore people we dont jaga ,we go and jaga the welfare of the foreigners,GOOD LUCK TO ALL young SINKAPOREAN

  35. FuckYou on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 7:48 pm 

    These days pinoy arseholes are everywhere in SG. I am very fed up of seeing those shits around here but I was bit happy that not much pinoy arseholes in local uni. My blood boils when i read this news. No future for Singaporeans in Singapore.