Rising tuition fees and living expenses pose affordability barriers for students seeking higher education attainment, with 36.9% of adults in Singapore over 25 lacking qualifications beyond secondary school in 2023. While government scholarships and grants increase affordability, only about 4% of undergraduates and polytechnic students benefit from this government support1. For others needing help, there is a lack of accessible financing options apart from student loans that could compound the family’s debt burden, and part-time work undertaken through school that could have adverse effects on academic performance and one’s mental well-being.
We believe education to be an important lever for social mobility, and contribute to student financing options through direct financial aid. We support partnerships with six Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Singapore to enable post-secondary education attainment through bursaries and study awards to help under-resourced students and some working professionals complete their tertiary education.
We also support our student awardees in opportunities for personal and professional development to enrich their education, career and personal journeys. The Trailblazers Program is a foundation initiative to engage recipients of the Octava Study Awards.