By MoneyBees
Work out what you owe on a CPF Education Loan when repayment starts, the monthly instalment over 1 to 12 years and the total interest at 2.5% a year, counted from each fee deduction the way CPF Board charges it.
The total on your Education dashboard on my cpf.
Fees are taken in equal parts at the start of each semester.
Up to 12 years, in cash. You cannot repay with your own CPF.
Monthly instalment
$261.21
for 144 months
Owed when you start
$32,520
incl. $2,520 interest so far
Total interest
$7,614
you repay $37,614 in all
Interest runs at 2.5% a year from the first fee deduction, so $2,520 has built up before your first instalment. Every dollar you repay goes back into the Ordinary Account of the parent or relative who lent it.
Pay more each month or make a lump sum on my cpf to cut the interest. CPF Board works out your exact instalment and sends it in a repayment notice.
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Same loan and start date, repaid over a shorter or longer period.
| Period | Monthly | Total repaid | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $2,746.40 | $32,956.83 | $2,956.83 |
| 2 years | $1,390.15 | $33,363.70 | $3,363.70 |
| 3 years | $938.16 | $33,773.88 | $3,773.88 |
| 5 years | $576.74 | $34,604.16 | $4,604.16 |
| 8 years | $373.69 | $35,874.35 | $5,874.35 |
| 10 years | $306.15 | $36,737.62 | $6,737.62 |
| 12 years | $261.21 | $37,614.04 | $7,614.04 |
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Who can borrow | A Singapore Citizen or PR student in a full-time subsidised diploma or degree course at an approved institution in Singapore |
| Who lends | You, a parent or a relative, from the Ordinary Account, if enough is available |
| Interest | 2.5% a year from the first deduction for fees |
| Repayment starts | 1 year after you graduate or leave the course, whichever is earlier |
| Repayment period | Lump sum or monthly instalments over up to 12 years |
| How you repay | Cash only, into the lender's OA; GIRO is available |
| Deferment | While you are a full-time student, a full-time NSman or unemployed |
CPF Board's own example: a 3-year diploma with S$6,750 of fees paid from CPF. Interest of about S$300 builds up by graduation. Repaid over 4 years from graduation at about S$160 a month, the student pays back about S$7,400 in all.
Put S$6,750, 3 years and "right after graduation" into the calculator with 4 years to repay and you get S$154.40 a month and S$7,411 in total.
The MOE Tuition Fee Loan charges no interest while you study but uses the banks' prime rate after that. The CPF loan charges 2.5% from day one. In CPF Board's comparison, the MOE loan was cheaper when repaid within 4 years, and the CPF loan was cheaper over 6 years.
Figures checked 3 Oct 2026.
A scheme that lets you, a parent or a relative pay a student's tuition fees from the Ordinary Account. It is a loan: the student repays it in cash with interest into the lender's OA.
A Singapore Citizen or PR student in a full-time subsidised diploma or degree course at an approved institution in Singapore. The lender must also be a Singapore Citizen or PR with enough available in the OA.
2.5% a year, counted from the first deduction for fees. Interest builds up while you study, unlike the MOE Tuition Fee Loan, which charges nothing until you graduate.
One year after you graduate or leave the course, whichever is earlier. CPF Board sends a repayment notice with your monthly instalment.
Up to 12 years, as a lump sum or monthly instalments. A shorter period means a higher instalment but less interest.
No. Repayment must be in cash. You can set up GIRO, and you can change your instalment or make one-off payments online.
Yes, while you are a full-time student, a full-time National Serviceman or unemployed. Interest keeps running, so the balance grows while you defer.
Only in narrow cases: the lender must be 55 or older when the student graduates or leaves the course and must have set aside the Full Retirement Sum, and CPF Board assesses each case.
These calculators provide general estimates for educational purposes only and are not personalised financial advice. Results may rely on rates and rules that change over time, so verify against official sources (IRAS, CPF Board, HDB, MAS) or consult a licensed financial adviser before making decisions.
Junxiong-WFG Organisation is an authorised representative of AIA Financial Advisers Private Limited (Reg. No. 201715016G).