Best Education Loans in Singapore 2024

For many students, education loans are essential in order to pay for university and obtain a degree. To help you find the best financing, our research team analysed hundreds of data points and identified the most affordable study loans depending on your preference for university location, fee structure and more.

Best Education Loan Promotion: Maybank Education Loan

Consider this if you are able to obtain the bank's promotional rates
  • Early Repayment Fee
    • 2.50% of amount prepaid or redeemed during the loan tenure
    • Late Payment Fee
      • 3% min $30
      • Age
        • 18 & Above
        Maybank Education Loan
        Processing Fee2.25% of approved loan amount or minimum $300; whichever is higher
        Interest Rate5.20% p.a. (ELBR + 0.45% p.a.)
        Tenure1-10 Years
        Max PrincipalS$200,000 or 8x monthly income of guarantor
        Annual Income Requirement of GuarantorS$30,000

        Here is why Maybank Education Loan offers one of the best education loans promotions in Singapore for students.

        Maybank's current promotion makes it the cheapest education loan for most students. The bank's promotional interest rate of 5.20% p.a. and a processing fee of 2.25% of approved loan amount or minimum $300; whichever is higher, are among the cheapest available. Additionally the bank offers its promotion to students that study locally or abroad. Maybank also provides loans of up to S$200,000 or 8 times the borrowers monthly income, making it a great choice for those that require a large study loan.

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        Best Education Loan for Local Studies: OCBC FRANK Education Loan

        Consider this if you require an education loan for a local university
        • Early Repayment Fee
          • 1% of loan prepaid
          • Late Payment Fee
            • S$50
            • Age
              • 17 & Above
              OCBC FRANK Education Loan
              Processing Fee2.5%
              Interest Rate4.50%
              Tenure1-8 Years
              Max PrincipalS$150,000 or 10x monthly income of guarantor
              Annual Income Requirement of GuarantorS$24,000

              Here is why OCBC's FRANK Education Loan are one of the best study loans in Singapore for students in terms for local studies.

              Considering the total cost of a student loan, which includes both processing fees and interest payments, OCBC's FRANK Education Loan is one of the best options available in Singapore. The bank charges the lowest available interest rate for education loans at 4.5% and a reasonable processing fee of 2.5%. It also has one of the allows students to borrow up to S$150,000 or 10 times their monthly income, which allows for large loans than other banks. The table above summarizes all the main features of OCBC FRANK Education Loan for those who are interested.

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              Best Student Loan for Overseas Studies: OCBC FRANK Education Loan

              Consider this if you require a study loan for university outside of Singapore
              • Early Repayment Fee
                • 1% of loan prepaid
                • Late Payment Fee
                  • S$50
                  • Age
                    • 17 & Above
                    OCBC FRANK Education Loan
                    Processing Fee2.5%
                    Interest Rate4.50%
                    Tenure1-8 Years
                    Max PrincipalS$150,000 or 10x monthly income of guarantor
                    Annual Income Requirement of GuarantorS$24,000

                    Here is why OCBC's FRANK Education Loan are one of the best study loans in Singapore for students in terms for international universities.

                    OCBC's FRANK Education Loan is also the cheapest student loan for international studies. Due to its low interest rate of 4.5%, the total cost of OCBC's study loan is the cheapest option for financing studies outside of Singapore. The bank also allows students to borrow up to S$150,000 or 10 times their monthly income, which allows for large loans that may be necessary for expensive universities abroad. The table above summarizes OCBC's FRANK Education Loan.

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                    Best Education Loan for Low-Income Students: Maybank Education Loan

                    Consider this if you require a student loan with a low minimum income requirement for part-time studies
                    • Early Repayment Fee
                      • 2.50% of amount prepaid or redeemed during the loan tenure
                      • Late Payment Fee
                        • 3% min $30
                        • Age
                          • 18 & Above
                          Maybank Education Loan
                          Processing Fee2.25% of approved loan amount or minimum $300; whichever is higher
                          Interest Rate4.45% p.a. (ELBR + 0.45% p.a.)
                          Tenure1-10 Years
                          Max PrincipalS$200,000 or 8x monthly income of guarantor
                          Annual Income Requirement of GuarantorS$30,000

                          Here is why Maybank's Education Loan are one of the best tuition fee loans in Singapore for students in terms for low income students.

                          Maybank's Education Loan stands out due to its lowest minimum income requirement for part-time students seeking education financing. It is also one of the cheapest student loans for local studies, due to its low interest rate of 4.45% p.a. (ELBR + 0.45% p.a.) and processing fee of 2.25% of approved loan amount or minimum $300; whichever is higher. Finally, the bank offers some of the largest education loans in Singapore, with a maximum loan size of S$200,000 or 8 times the borrowers monthly income. Please see our table below for a detailed breakdown of the product.

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                          Study Loan With the Lowest Penalty Fees: POSB Further Study Assist

                          Consider this if you need a student loan and are worried about making on-time payments
                          • Early Repayment Fee
                            • N/A
                            • Late Payment Fee
                              • S$30
                              • Age
                                • 17 - 65
                                POSB Further Study Assist - Preferred Institutions
                                Processing Fee2.50%
                                Interest Rate4.38%
                                Tenure1-10
                                Max PrincipalS$160,000 or 10x combined monthly income of you and your guarantor
                                Annual Income Requirement of GuarantorS$24,000

                                Here is why POSB Further Study Assist are one of the best study loans in Singapore for students in terms of low penalty fees.

                                POSB Further Study Assist is a unique education loan in Singapore. On one hand, it can actually be slightly cheaper than OCBC FRANK Education Loan if you attend one of its preferred institutions. However, it has a maximum loan limit of only S$80,000, which can be quite limiting for a lot of prospective students who are trying to fund their tuition and other expenses during school.

                                With that said, POSB's study loan can be a great option for students who want the flexibility to be a bit late on their monthly payments or even repay their debt early without penalty. It imposes no early repayment penalty fee, while others will usually charge a 1% fee on the amount you prepay. Make sure that your school is included in POSB’s list of preferred institutions to qualify for its low-cost program. Otherwise, this loan could be one of the most expensive ones you can find in Singapore. Below is a table detailing POSB Further Study Assist’s characteristics.

                                Read Our Full Review

                                Our Top Picks For the Best Interest-Only Study Loans in Singapore

                                For people who prefer the option of delaying the process of repaying their student loans as long as possible, many banks provide an option of "interest only" study loans. This means that the borrower only needs to pay the interest portion of the loan until their study is over (usually about 4 years). For people who may not have the ability to pay more than a few hundred dollars back to the bank per month while attending school, this option can allow them to focus on their studies and worry about repaying their debt after they graduate and get jobs. However, this also means that the borrower ends up paying more over time.

                                Best Interest-First Student Loan: OCBC FRANK Education Loan - Graduated

                                Consider this if you require an interest-servicing education loan
                                • Early Repayment Fee
                                  • 1% of loan prepaid
                                  • Late Payment Fee
                                    • S$50
                                    • Age
                                      • 17 & Above
                                      Loan of S$25,000 over 6 YearsOCBC FRANK - StandardOCBC FRANK - GraduatedOCBC FRANK - Graduated Plus
                                      Monthly instalment During SchoolS$397S$94S$94
                                      Monthly instalment After SchoolS$397S$1,091S$2,134
                                      Total costS$4,198S$6,314S$6,864

                                      Here is why OCBC's Graduated FRANK education loan are one of the best interest-only tuition fee loans in Singapore for students in terms of affordability.

                                      OCBC's Graduated FRANK education loan is the cheapest interest-only student loan available in Singapore. It's interest rate of 4.5% is the lowest available and its processing fee of 2.5% is only slightly higher than the lowest in the market. OCBC's graduated student loan allows for up to 4 years of interest-servicing. The bank also offers a Graduated Plus option that offers an interest-only period of up to 5-years. Aside from the method of repayment, the other terms associated with OCBC's Graduated FRANK education loan are identical to the standard payment option we mentioned above. Below is a demonstration of how monthly payments and total cost differ for standard option and interest-only option.

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                                      Best Moneylender Education Loan For Bad Credit: Friday Finance

                                      Friday Finance Education Loan
                                      Friday Finance Education Loan
                                      Consider this if you have bad credit and want a small, short-term education loan
                                      • Early Repayment Fee
                                        • None
                                        • Late Payment Fee
                                          • N/A
                                          • Age
                                            • 21 & Above
                                            Friday Finance At a Glance
                                            EligibilitySingaporean Citizen/PR, 21-65 years of age
                                            Administrative FeeStarting at 2%; 50% refunded when loan is fully repaid on-time
                                            Loan DurationUp to 18 months
                                            Interest Rate1-3%
                                            Max PrincipalAnnual Income < S$20,000: S$3,000; Annual Income > S$20,000: Max 6x Monthly Income
                                            Early Repayment FeeS$0

                                            Here is why Friday Finance educational loans are one of the best educational loans in Singapore for students with low credit.

                                            Friday Finance educational loans are good for students who may have low credit, since they do not have a minimum credit score required for application. It is also good for those who want flexible repayment schedules during their studies, as they work with you to help pay back your loan in weekly or monthly installments. To encourage on-time payments, Friday Finance will even refund you 50% of the administration fee when your loan is paid in full.

                                            Moreover, Friday Finance offers free Personal Loan Protection Insurance in the event of an accident, meaning that you could get a repayment delay or waiver depending on the severity of the situation. However, please note that Friday Finance may not be the best option if you require a large loan that requires years of repayment since their loan tenure cap is 18 months. Thus, it may be a better option for students that require a smaller loan that they expect to pay back within a year while building their credit. To that extent, it may also be a good option for students in private schools like Kaplan or SIM GE who are pursuing shorter degrees or diplomas.

                                            Study Loan From Your School: DBS, OCBC and UOB

                                            Some public universities and polytechnics in Singapore also provide a loan of their own, through DBS, OCBC and UOB. These loans are typically quite cheap & do not charge interest or require repayment until after graduation. Interest rates are an average of DBS, OCBC and UOB’s prime lending rates. This study loan can be used to pay up to 90% of the subsidized tuition fees (or 75% for polytechnics).

                                            Typically, students who are enrolled in a local university, NIE or polytechnic is eligible for such a loan if they do not fall into any category below:

                                            • Students receiving any Government/Statutory Board/any school scholarships which cover tuition fees
                                            • Students receiving full Tuition Fee Subsidy from MENDAKI
                                            • Students using CPF savings for payment of 100% of the subsidized tuition fees
                                            • Students on self-funded courses

                                            Below is a list of links to the local institutions and links to their student loan pages for people who are interested in finding more information:

                                            How to Choose an Education Loan

                                            When it comes to choosing an education loan, it helps to start by deciding whether you are better suited for a standard payment or deferred payment loan structure. Standard repayment education loans are a good fit for those that have significant savings or financial support. These loans cost more during the student's university tenure, but less in the long run.

                                            Student Loans - Standard PaymentProcessing FeeInterest Rate During SchoolInterest Rate After SchoolMonthly Instalment During SchoolMonthly Instalment After SchoolTotal cost
                                            CIMB Education Loan2%5.39%5.39%S$407S$407S$4,816
                                            Maybank Education Loan2%4.45%4.45%S$396S$396S$3,907
                                            OCBC FRANK Education Loan2.5%4.50%4.50%S$397S$397S$4,198
                                            POSB Further Study Assist3%5.88%5.88%S$413S$413S$5,479
                                            POSB Further Study Assist - Preferred Institutions2%4.38%4.38%S$395S$395S$3,974
                                            RHB Education Loan2%4.78%4.78%S$400S$400S$4,306
                                            Maybank Education Loan - Overseas Studies2%4.88%4.88%S$401S$401S$4,389
                                            RHB Education Loan - Overseas2%4.88%4.88%S$401S$401S$4,389

                                            On the other hand, other education loans allow students to pay just the interest on their study loan, but do not require them to repay the principal until after graduation. This typically works best for those that are unable to make significant loan repayments during their schooling years. The downside to these loans is that they are usually significantly more expensive, in terms of total interest cost throughout the loan tenure. Finally, some universities offer competitive loan offerings, so those are always worth considering.

                                            STudent Loans - Interest ServicingProcessing FeeInterest Rate During SchoolInterest Rate After SchoolMonthly Instalment During SchoolMonthly Instalment After SchoolTotal cost
                                            CIMB Education Loan - Interest Servicing Repayment2%5.99%5.39%S$125S$1,101S$7,918
                                            OCBC FRANK Education Loan - Graduated2.5%4.50%4.50%S$94S$1,091S$6,314
                                            OCBC FRANK Education Loan - Graduated Plus2.5%4.50%4.50%S$94S$2,134S$6,864
                                            RHB Education Loan - Deferred2%4.78%4.78%S$0S$1,319S$7,157

                                            Cost Comparison of Student Loans

                                            Ultimately, it is essential to compare the total borrowing cost of each loan. Below, we have prepared a graphical comparison of student loans according to their costs. Cost includes both the processing fee and interest payments over the course of the life of a study loan. We assume that each monthly payment is paid on time (no early or late payments), and that the loan is taken out at S$25,000 for 6 years.

                                            Comparing the total cost of education loans from major banks in Singapore in terms of total interest cost, categorized by interest type, payment method and domestic vs. overseas study, assuming a loan of S$25,000 over 6 years
                                            Cost Comparison of Education Loans in Singapore

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                                            Stephen Lee

                                            Stephen Lee is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, specializing in insurance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Washington, and his prior work experience include risk management and underwriting for professional liability and specialty insurance at Victor Insurance. Additionally, Stephen is a former US Peace Corps Volunteer in Myanmar (serving between 2018-2020), where he continues to provide business development consulting services to HR companies in Asia Pacific.