Free Singapore tuition fee loan calculator. Monthly repayment and total interest on an MOE TFL at 4.75 percent per year, with up to 10 years to repay after graduation.
Repayment on an MOE Tuition Fee Loan at 4.75 percent per year.
Monthly repayment
—
Balance at repayment start
—
Total interest paid
—
Total repaid
—
Grace period interest accrued
—
Your breakdown
Updates live as you type
Item
Amount
How the MOE TFL works
The MOE Tuition Fee Loan covers a significant portion of fees at polytechnics and public universities in Singapore. For a Singapore citizen at a local university, the TFL can cover up to 90 percent of the subsidised tuition fee, with the balance paid upfront or through CPF Education top-ups. The loan is disbursed each semester or year and accumulates through the study period. Interest of 4.75 percent per year applies from disbursement, not from graduation. A two-year grace period typically follows graduation, during which interest continues to accrue but repayment is deferred. After the grace period, the outstanding balance, which is the original principal plus all accrued interest, begins to be repaid over up to 10 years.
The cost of the grace period
The grace period is convenient, but it is not free. Interest compounding at 4.75 percent per year during a 2-year grace period adds approximately 9.5 percent to the principal on a simple basis, or slightly more on a compound basis. On a S$30,000 loan, two years of accrued interest at 4.75 percent adds roughly S$2,900 to the starting balance when repayment begins. This is the balance the monthly repayment schedule is calculated from. Making voluntary repayments during the grace period, even small amounts, reduces this compounding effect and lowers the monthly instalment or the total interest over the loan life.
Graduate budgeting with a TFL
For a fresh graduate in Singapore on a starting salary of S$3,500 to S$4,500 gross, take-home pay after CPF is roughly S$2,800 to S$3,600. A TFL repayment of S$300 to S$400 per month represents around 10 percent of take-home income, which is manageable but not trivial. Building an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of expenses before aggressively prepaying the loan is a sensible sequence. The 4.75 percent rate is above CPF OA returns of 2.5 percent but below typical market investment returns. For graduates confident in long-term investing, maintaining minimum TFL repayments while investing additional savings at higher returns can be more productive than early loan clearance, though the certainty of the 4.75 percent saving should be weighed against the uncertainty of investment returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOE Tuition Fee Loan?
The MOE Tuition Fee Loan (TFL) is a government-facilitated loan for Singapore citizens and permanent residents enrolled at polytechnics and publicly-funded universities. It covers up to 90 percent of tuition fees for Singapore citizens and up to 75 percent for permanent residents. Interest accrues from day one of the loan at 4.75 percent per year, but repayment begins only after graduation (usually with a 2-year grace period). The loan is administered through DBS Bank.
When does interest start on the MOE TFL?
Interest on the MOE Tuition Fee Loan accrues from the time the loan is disbursed, not from when repayment begins. During your studies and the grace period after graduation, interest compounds at 4.75 percent per year. By the time repayment starts, your outstanding balance will be higher than the original principal drawn. The grace period is typically 2 years from graduation or the time you leave school. After that, repayment must be completed within the remaining allowed term, up to a maximum of 10 years from graduation.
How is the MOE TFL different from a bank study loan?
The MOE TFL is offered at a rate set by MOE (currently 4.75 percent per year) and has specific eligibility criteria tied to government-subsidised education in Singapore. A bank study loan is a commercial product with rates that vary by bank, often slightly higher, and may have different terms. Both types of loan accrue interest during study and require repayment after graduation. The TFL benefits from MOE backing and standardised terms across all approved institutions.
Can I repay the TFL early?
Yes. Early partial or full repayment of the MOE TFL is allowed without penalty under standard terms. Making additional payments during the grace period, when they are not yet required, reduces the outstanding balance and the total interest paid. Some graduates use the first year of employment to make lump-sum repayments to clear the loan faster. Every dollar repaid early saves 4.75 percent per year in interest on that amount for the remaining loan term.