The Higher Education Student Loan (HESL) scheme provides loans to eligible students who are pursuing Ministry of Education (MOE)-subsidised diploma and undergraduate programmes in LASALLE. It has replaced the Tuition Fee Loan (MOE TFL), Study Loan (MOE SL) and Overseas Student Programme Loan (OSPL) which are merged under the HESL scheme.

The HESL scheme provides loans to cover the tuition fees payable and an annual living allowance loan. Undergraduate students who need help to finance the cost of participating in overseas student programmes approved by LASALLE can also apply for the HESL. The HESL scheme is interest-free during the student’s duration of study, with interest commencing only upon the student’s graduation or leaving LASALLE. The maximum loan repayment period for the HESL scheme is 10 years.

Coverage

HESL component Eligibility Loan provision
1 Base provision Full-time Singapore Citizen (SC) and Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) diploma and undergraduate students.

Covers up to 90% of subsidised tuition fees for SC diploma and undergraduate students.

Covers up to 75% of subsidised tuition fees for PR diploma students.

Covers up to 65% of subsidised tuition fees for PR undergraduate students.
2     Means-tested provision
2a Balance fee coverage Full-time SC diploma and undergraduate students. Covers remaining 10% of subsidised tuition fees.
2b Living allowance loan Full-time SC/PR diploma and undergraduate students.

Up to $3,200 per academic year (diploma).

Up to $4,100 per academic year (undergraduate).
2c Overseas Student Programme Full-time SC undergraduates who have not taken up existing OSPL before for the same course of study

Up to $12,000 to cover the cost of institution-approved overseas student programme. Students can only take up this loan once during course of undergraduate study.

Eligibility for means-tested provision:

SC/PR with gross monthly household per capita income (PCI)# of $3,500 or less.

#Monthly PCI is computed based on total monthly gross household income (GHI) divided by the number of family members living in the same household as the student loan applicant.

Higher Education Student Loan–Overseas Student Programme (HESL-OSP)

Eligible SC undergraduate students may borrow up to $12,000, subject to LASALLE’s assessment of the approved programme costs and any other financial assistance received for the programme.

A student may take up the OSP loan once during the same undergraduate course of study. Students whose overseas programme costs are fully covered by another loan, scholarship, bursary or award are also not eligible for an OSP loan for those costs.

Students interested to apply for the HESL-OSP loan should first obtain approval for their overseas programme from LASALLE. Details of the LASALLE application process and supporting documents will be provided to eligible students.

How to apply for HESL-OSP

  • Please contact LASALLE’s Division of Finance for more information.

How to apply for HESL

Who may apply

  • New students enrolled in AY2026/27; and
  • Existing students (AY2025/26 or earlier intakes) who do not have MOE TFL and/or MOE SL for their current course of study.

Before considering to take up HESL, students should first consider other financing options, such as government bursary, post-secondary education account (PSEA) fund, LASALLE based financial aid schemes, that may be available to support your financing needs. To find out more about the available financing options and eligibility criteria, please approach LASALLE's Division of Finance.

Guarantor requirement

A guarantor is required for a HESL application. The guarantor must be aged between 21 and 60 at the point of application and must not be an undischarged bankrupt.

For SC students, the guarantor must be an SC. For PR students, the guarantor may be an SC or PR. The guarantor’s eligibility is subject to review during the loan application process.

Interest and repayment

HESL is interest-free during the course of study. Standard interest starts from the first day of the fourth month following graduation or withdrawal. For students with remaining National Service obligations, interest starts from the first day of the fourth month following their Operationally Ready Date.

Type of interest Interest rate basis
Standard interest Three-month compounded Singapore Overnight Rate Average (3M SORA) plus 1.5 percentage points, or such other rate as may be determined by the bank.
Late payment interest on overdue and unpaid loans or instalments 3M SORA plus 4.5 percentage points, or such other rate as may be determined by the bank.

The interest rates are revised every six months. Students should refer to the website of the agent bank (DBS Bank) administering the loan scheme for the prevailing interest rates for the HESL.

After graduation, students may repay their HESL through a lump-sum payment, partial payments or equal monthly instalments of at least $100. The first repayment must be made no later than one year after interest first becomes chargeable. The maximum repayment period is 10 years. Students should arrange their repayment plan with the administering bank (DBS Bank) promptly after graduation.

If a student leaves LASALLE without completing the programme, the outstanding loan becomes due and payable immediately. The student may contact the administering bank to discuss an instalment repayment arrangement if more time is needed to repay the loan.

For students with existing MOE TFL/MOE SL

If you do not intend to make any changes to your existing loan:

  • You will continue under your current loan arrangement.
  • No action is required.
  • You do not need to apply for HESL.

If you wish to apply for new or additional loan provision under HESL:

  • Please contact LASALLE’s Division of Finance for advice on your eligibility and application.

For more information

For more information on HESL, please visit MOE’s website.

For further assistance, please contact LASALLE’s Division of Finance at [email protected] or call 6496 5270.