What Does “Cheapest Bachelor Degree” Really Mean? If you’re searching for the cheapest bachelor degree, you’re probably thinking:
- “Uni is so expensive, how do I pay less?”
- “Which courses cost less but still give a decent career?”
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- “What can I do now to avoid wasting money later?” Let’s break it down simply, and also talk about how using https://tutorly.sg/app early can actually save you thousands in uni fees later. By the way, if you haven’t tried it yet, **Tutorly is an AI tutor platform made for Singapore students from Primary 1 to JC 2. You can try it immediately here: https://tutorly.sg/app No sign-up needed to start. It gives you:
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- **24/7 AI tutor for all subjects, aligned with **MOE syllabus
- **1000+ exam papers (and more added regularly)
[Cambly Tutor Vs AI tutorly.sg: Which Is Better For Singapore Students?]
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Digital practice, no need to buy and store physical papers
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Flat monthly fee, cancel or pause anytime (e. g. during school holidays) If you want to aim for scholarships, good uni courses, and avoid retaking modules (which cost money), getting your foundations strong with something like Tutorly is one of the cheapest “investments” you can make.
Types Of Bachelor Degrees In Singapore (And How Costs Differ)
In Singapore, the cost of a bachelor degree depends on:
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Whether it’s a local public university (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SIT, SUTD)
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A private university (SIM, Kaplan, MDIS, etc.)
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Whether you’re a Singapore Citizen / PR / International Student
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Whether you get MOE Tuition Grant
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Whether you’re doing it full-time or part-time Here’s a simplified comparison : | Feature | Local Public Uni | Private Uni | | ---
Cheapest Bachelor Degree In Singapore
----- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | Typical Annual Tuition (After Grant) | ~10,000 (general degrees) | ~15,000 (varies by course & partner uni) | | Total 3-Year Cost | ~30,000 | ~45,000+ | | Recognition in SG | Very high | Varies by programme & employer | | Financial Aid Options | Strong (bursaries, scholarships, loans) | Available, but more limited | | Entry Requirements | More competitive | Generally more flexible | So when people say “cheapest bachelor degree”, they usually mean:
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Local public uni**, with
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** MOE tuition grant**, plus maybe
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** Bursaries / scholarships / loans But there are also ** cheaper paths like:
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** Part-time degrees
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** Work-study degrees
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** Bonded scholarships (e. g. teaching, nursing, uniformed services)
Cheapest Bachelor Options In Singapore (Big Picture) ### 1. Public Universities With MOE Tuition Grant For Singapore Citizens, this is usually the best value:
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NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SIT, SUTD
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After government subsidies, you pay a fraction of the real cost
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More financial aid available for lower- and middle-income families Cheaper courses (usually):
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Arts & Social Sciences
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Business
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Some Science degrees More expensive courses (usually):
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Medicine, Dentistry, Law
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Computer Science / Engineering (still subsidised, but higher base fee)
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Design & Architecture Even within local unis, some degrees are cheaper than others. If you’re very price-sensitive, comparing course fees across unis is worth it.
2. SUSS & SIT – Often More Affordable And Career-Focused
SUSS (Singapore University of Social Sciences) and SIT (Singapore Institute of Technology) often have:
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Practical, industry-linked programmes
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Part-time and full-time options
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Slightly lower or comparable fees to NUS/NTU/SMU, depending on course They’re great if you:
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Want to work and study
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Prefer applied learning
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Are okay with a less “traditional” uni route
3. Part-Time Degrees (Work While You Study)
Part-time degrees can be cheaper in net cost because:
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You’re earning money while studying
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You can sometimes get company sponsorship
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You spread fees over more years Downside:
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Takes longer
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More tiring But if your main goal is minimising debt**, this is a realistic path.
4. Bonded Scholarships (Basically Free Degree, With A Catch)
These can be the cheapest bachelor degree routes because you pay almost nothing:
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MOE Teaching Scholarships
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Healthcare scholarships (nursing, allied health)
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SAF / Home Team scholarships
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Some industry-sponsored scholarships (banks, tech, GLCs) In return, you:
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Work for them for a number of years (bond)
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Have less freedom to switch jobs early If you’re okay with the bond, this is often the lowest out-of-pocket cost.
5. Overseas Degrees vs Local Degrees Many people think “cheapest bachelor degree” could be overseas.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
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Some Malaysian / regional universities are cheaper
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But you must add accommodation, food, flights, visas, etc.
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In many cases, a ** local subsidised degree is still cheaper overall
Why Preparing Early Can Make Your Degree Way Cheaper The biggest hidden cost in uni isn’t just fees. It’s things like: - Needing extra semesters because you failed modules - Having to change course and restart - Missing out on scholarships because your grades weren’t strong enough This is where something like tutorly.sg can actually reduce your future uni cost — by helping you:
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Score better in O-Levels / N-Levels / A-Levels / IP / IB
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Qualify for better courses and scholarships
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Build strong foundations so you don’t struggle and fail modules later
How tutorly.sg Helps You Aim For The Cheapest (And Best) Degree Here’s how https://tutorly.sg/app fits into your long-term plan.
1. Strong Grades = More Options + More Aid Better results mean:
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More choice of **local unis (cheaper than many private options)
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Higher chance of ** scholarships and ** bursaries
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Less risk of being forced into expensive private degrees you don’t really want ** tutorly.sg** helps you get there by giving:
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** Instant explanations for any question (Math, Science, English, etc.)
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** Step-by-step solutions like a patient tutor
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Practice with **1000+ exam papers from Singapore schools
2. Digital Exam Papers = Save Money On Assessment Books Instead of buying tons of books and past-year papers:
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Everything is **digital inside Tutorly
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You can still **print if you prefer paper
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New exam papers are added frequently, so the content stays fresh Over a few years from ** Primary to JC**, that can save ** hundreds of dollars already.
3. Flat Monthly Fee vs Expensive Tuition Let’s compare typical tuition vs Tutorly:
| Feature | Traditional Tuition | tutorly.sg |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 800/month per subject | Flat monthly fee for all subjects |
| Availability | Fixed times, limited hours | 24/7 on-demand |
| Subjects Covered | Usually 1–2 subjects | All core subjects, P 1–JC 2 |
| Materials | Physical worksheets, limited papers | 1000+ digital exam papers & questions |
| Flexibility | Need to travel / fixed schedule | Use anytime on phone, laptop, tablet |
| Commitment | Often term-based | Cancel or pause anytime (e. g. holidays) |
| If your goal is saving money long term, using Tutorly as your main study tool and adding only minimal tuition (or none at all) is one of the most cost-effective setups. |
4. Self-Directed Learning = You Survive Uni Better Uni is very self-directed. No one chases you for homework.
If you build this habit early:
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You’ll **cope better with uni workload
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Less chance of failing modules (which cost a lot to retake)
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You can even **work part-time during uni more confidently Tutorly is designed exactly for this:
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AI explains concepts at **your level
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You can ask unlimited questions without feeling paiseh
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You control the pace: revise topics, drill weak areas, redo papers
Comparing “Cheapest Bachelor Degree” Routes Let’s put some common routes side by side (for a Singapore Citizen):
| Route | Pros | Cons | Who It Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Uni (with Grant) | Good recognition, strong aid, cheaper than many overseas / private options | Need strong grades to enter, some courses still pricey | Students aiming for mainstream paths |
| Part-Time Local Degree | Can work and study, lower net cost due to income | Takes longer, more tiring | Those who need to support family or themselves |
| Bonded Scholarship | Fees mostly covered, guaranteed job | Bond limits job-hopping, pressure to perform | Students sure about a specific career (teaching, nursing, SAF, etc.) |
| Private Uni (SIM, Kaplan, etc.) | More flexible entry, wide range of courses | Can be more expensive, recognition varies | Those who can’t or don’t want to go local uni |
| Overseas Degree | Exposure, certain specialisations | Living costs high, homesickness, more planning | Students with clear overseas plans & budget |
| No single “cheapest bachelor degree” works for everyone. | |||
| But in most cases, the best value is: |
Strong grades → Local uni with grant → Maybe scholarship or bursary → Minimal debt. And that path starts now, not when you’re already in uni.
Practical Steps You Can Take Now (Secondary / JC / Poly) ### If You’re In Secondary School
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Focus on Math, Science, English – they open the most doors
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Use tutorly.sg to:
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Drill exam papers for N/O-Levels
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Get instant help on questions you’re stuck on
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Aim for results that give you JC / good poly course options
If You’re In JC / IP / IB - Use Tutorly for:
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Past-year papers practice
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Clarifying tough topics
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Aim for grades that qualify you for:
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Local unis
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Scholarships (especially if you’re okay with a bond)
If You’re In Poly - Keep your GPA strong to:
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Enter local uni via poly route
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Qualify for poly-specific scholarships
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Use AI help to:
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Understand tough modules
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Practice exam-style questions
Try tutorly.sg Free – Start Reducing Your Future Uni Costs You don’t need to register or pay just to see how it works.
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Go to https://tutorly.sg/app
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Ask it a question from your homework or exam paper
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Try a few practice questions and explanations Remember:
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It’s a website**, so it works on ** any phone, laptop, or tablet
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No need to download any app
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Used by over **17,000 students and parents in Singapore
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Featured on **Channel News Asia
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Covers ** all subjects, all levels**, aligned with ** MOE syllabus If you’re serious about getting the ** cheapest possible bachelor degree later, the smartest move now is simple:
Build strong grades + self-study habits today, so you can enter ** cheaper local unis**, win ** scholarships**, and avoid ** costly mistakes in uni. And Tutorly is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to start doing exactly that.
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📋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Got questions? Here are the most common ones answered:
What actually counts as the ‘cheapest bachelor degree’ in Singapore?
The cheapest bachelor degree usually means a subsidised course at a local public university (like NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SIT, SUTD) with the MOE Tuition Grant, plus minimising extra costs such as retaking modules or extending your study duration. Your total cost also depends on your citizenship status, whether you study full-time or part-time, and how early you prepare academically to qualify for more affordable courses.
Are public universities always cheaper than private universities in Singapore?
For Singapore Citizens and PRs who qualify for the MOE Tuition Grant, public universities are usually cheaper than private universities for a full bachelor degree. However, some private uni part-time or top-up programmes can be cost-effective if you already have a diploma and want a shorter, more flexible route.
How does the MOE Tuition Grant help make a bachelor degree cheaper?
The MOE Tuition Grant significantly reduces the base tuition fees at local public universities, especially for Singapore Citizens and PRs. In return, some students (e. g. international students) may need to serve a bond by working in Singapore for a set number of years after graduation.
How can I start preparing in secondary school, JC or poly to save on future uni fees?
Strong grades now help you qualify for subsidised courses, better scholarships and avoid costly retakes in university. Using an MOE-aligned study tool like Tutorly can strengthen your foundations early and reduce the risk of needing extra semesters or repeat modules later: https://tutorly.sg/app
How is tutorly.sg different from traditional tuition or platforms like Cambly when planning for a cheap degree path?
Traditional tuition and platforms like Cambly focus on live human tutors, which can be costly and not always aligned to Singapore’s MOE syllabus. tutorly.sg is built specifically for Singapore students, giving you an on-demand AI tutor plus local exam papers at a flat monthly fee, so you can prepare more affordably for the grades and scholarships that lead to cheaper degree options: https://tutorly.sg/app