As Singapore progresses, it is important for society to continue providing equal access to quality higher education for everyone with talent and ability, regardless of their socio-economic situation. We believe this is key to building a dynamic and cohesive society – one where our youths have a fair shot at achieving their full potential and a reason to be optimistic about the future.

For students from lower socio-economic groups, tertiary education is an important leveller, providing them with much needed access to developmental and career opportunities, social networks and cultural capital. Yet, they are also less likely to apply for or enrol in a university – daunted by the fees, uncertainties over their ability to secure bursaries/scholarships, as well as the short-term opportunity costs of not working.
 
We believe that no deserving student should pass up on an opportunity of a transformative university experience for financial reasons. We are actively working with universities in Singapore to guarantee full financial aid for students with demonstrated financial need. This upfront guarantee takes financing out of the application and enrolment decision, so that prospective students do not hit the workforce prematurely due to affordability concerns.
 
Through our University Access initiatives, we hope to encourage talented students to pursue their dreams at university, while lightening the financial burden on their families, improving life outcomes and enabling long-term upward social mobility.