Singapore—SAFRA, a recreational club specifically for NSmen and their families, is currently offering bond-free education sponsorships under the SAFRA Education Scheme at various partner schools such as the Singapore University of Social Sciences, SIM Global Education, PSB Academy, and others. Interested parties may apply by March 31, 2019.
Several renowned educational institutions have partnered with the SAFRA Education Scheme to offer diplomas, advanced diplomas, and degree sponsorships to its members.
Qualifications for the programme
Here are the qualifications for eligibility for the sponsorships. Interested applicants should have completed their stint in full-time National Service and be a valid SAFRA Ordinary A, Ordinary B or Life member. For full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) under Ordinary A who are interested in enrolling in the programs, their applications will also be considered, provided there are in their final year of the service, and/or if their Operationally-ready Date (ORD) falls at least three (3) months before the start date of the applied course.
The other criteria for consideration are the following:
- Each applicant must meet the basic entry requirements of the course wherein they are applying
- For second-time applicants, their applications will be considered on a case-to-case basis
How to apply
Interested parties must visit the safra.sg/education webpage in order to see the available sponsorships as well as download the forms pertinent to the course they wish to apply to.
They should then apply for courses directly at the educational institution of their choice.
Application forms for the SAFRA Bond-Free Education Sponsorship need to be mailed or delivered to mbactivity@safra.sg by March 31, 2019, or to SAFRA Education Scheme (Membership Benefits Department), SAFRA Mount Faber, 2 Telok Blangah Way, Singapore 098803.
Interested parties may contact Ms Wendy Ng at 6377 0568 or email her at nwendy@safra.sg for more details about the available programmes.
What are the partner institutions?
The SAFRA website provides the following details.
Singapore University of Social Sciences—15 sponsorships per year for undergraduate and graduate programmes from the School of Business, School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences, SR Nathan School of Human Development and School of Science & Technology, and Bachelor of Laws programmes.
SIM Global Education—5 Sponsorships for Full-Time Diploma programmes awarded by SIM, 5 Sponsorships for University of London (UOL), Part-Time Undergraduate Degree programmes.
Kaplan Higher Education Institute—2 Partial Sponsorships for Part-Time Diplomas / Professional Diplomas / Advanced Diplomas
PSB Academy—2 Full Sponsorships for Full-Time Diploma Programme, 2 Full Sponsorships for Part-Time Diploma Programme, 2 Partial Sponsorship for Full-Time Degree Programme, 2 Partial Sponsorships for Part-Time Degree Programme
EASB (East Asia Institute of Management)—50 Sponsorship for selected Bachelor Degree Programmes on the following disciplines: Accountancy, Business & Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Business Information Systems, and Psychology. Programmes are awarded by the Cardiff Metropolitan University and Queen Margaret University.
Aventis School of Management—5 sponsorship placements for Advance and Graduate Diploma programmes, 7 sponsorship placements for Master Degree programmes
TMC Academy—There are 5 scholarships available for each category per calendar year. TMC will provide 50% grant on the course fee for the following categories: TMC Foundation / Professional / Graduate Diploma and Higher Diploma programmes, Final-year Top-Up Bachelor Degree programmes offered and delivered at TMC
SAA Global Education—2 Sponsorship placements for University of London (UOL)/ SAA-GE Diploma/ Advanced Diploma programmes per year
First Media Design School—4 Sponsorship placements for Diploma and Advanced Diploma Courses
What is SAFRA?
According to its website, “SAFRA was formed in 1972 to provide for the social and recreational needs of national servicemen and their families through quality sports, social, educational and cultural programmes to recognise national servicemen for their contributions to national defence. SAFRA currently has a network of six clubs conveniently located in Jurong, Mount Faber, Punggol, Tampines, Toa Payoh and Yishun, as well as at the Carpenter Street (Dining Club). Complementing the modern facilities at SAFRA clubs are a host of quality membership benefits and activities specially packaged for over 600,000 members and their families.”
It calls itself the “go-to destination for all social, recreational, sports and educational facilities for NSmen and their families.”