Should Indian students applying to SMU Singapore take the tuition grant, and does applying for it affect the admission decision?

The concern that applying for the tuition grant might negatively affect an admission decision is a rumour that circulates among applicants and has not been definitively confirmed or denied by SMU admissions. Given the uncertainty, the practical approach is to treat the tuition grant decision separately from the admission strategy and not assume a causal relationship between the two. The tuition grant itself is financially valuable, it reduces tuition fees significantly in exchange for a three-year post-graduation work commitment in Singapore, and for most Indian students who intend to build a career in Singapore, this commitment is already aligned with their plan.

• The risk of taking the grant is real only if you are unable to secure employment in Singapore after graduation, which is the scenario most worth planning around by building strong internship and career foundations during the degree.
• For most students who are admitted and who genuinely want to work in Singapore, taking the grant is the financially rational decision.