GEM Discoverer

NTU has developed several financial aid schemes aimed at facilitating increased participation in various short-term overseas exposure programmes as approved by NTU for full-time Singaporean undergraduates. The goal is to create avenues for international cultural and industrial experiences, build regional connections and cultivate the acquisition of new skills and broaden their global mindset. Thus, preparing students to be Global Savvy and Future Ready.


Eligibility

• Travel Awards (For GEM Discoverer Short-Term Programmes hosted in an ASEAN country, China or India) 

Full-time NTU Singaporean undergraduates who are selected to embark on any GEM Discoverer short-term programmes in ASEAN, China or India (ACI region) and selected emerging economies will have the opportunity to receive one of these awards (one-time only) during their candidature at NTU based on their PCI and subject to fund availability.

Ng Bok Eng Scholarship
(up to SGD 1,000)

  • Open to full-time NTU Singaporean undergraduates based on PCI.
  • Participating in selected GEM Discoverer programmes hosted in ASEAN, China or India (ACI) region and selected emerging economies.
  • Students can be awarded with ONE NTU-administered travel grants only during their candidature at NTU.
  • A limited number of travel awards are available and successful applicants will be notified only.
  • Students may be awarded MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund and Ng Bok Eng Scholarship or NTU Bursary or GEM Travel Grant (Administered by OGEM) concurrently.“ 

The following are not eligible:

  • Recipients of scholarships with overseas grant component and/or other NTU-administered travel related financial allowances, bursaries or overseas grant and scholarships.
Previous recipients of Ng Bok Eng Scholarship, GEM Travel Grant (Administered by OGEM), NTU Travel Bursary and MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund. 

NTU Travel Bursary – For Existing Bursary Recipients Only
(Up to SGD 2,000)

MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund
(Up to SGD 500)


  • Travel Awards (For GEM Discoverer Short-Term Programmes hosted in a non-ACI destination)

Ng Bok Eng Scholarship
(up to SGD 500)

MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund
(Up to SGD 500)

  • Open to full-time NTU Singaporean undergraduates based on PCI.
  • Participating in GEM Discoverer programmes hosted at a non-ACI destination.
  • Students can be awarded with ONE NTU-administered travel grants only during their candidature at NTU.
  • A limited number of travel awards are available and successful applicants will be notified only.
  • Students may not hold another travel award concurrently.
The following are not eligible:
  • Recipients of scholarships with overseas grant component and/or other NTU-administered travel related financial allowances, bursaries or overseas grant and scholarships.
  • Previous recipients of Ng Bok Eng Scholarship, GEM Travel Grant (Administered by OGEM), NTU Travel Bursary and MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund. 
  • OSP Loan
OSP Loan
  • Open to full-time NTU undergraduates.
  • A student is only eligible for one OSP Loan during his/her course of study at NTU.
  • Students (except for GEM mobility programmes i.e. semester exchange or fee/study abroad) embarking on Fee-paying Scheme (i.e. students who undertake to apply to the host university on their own accord) are not eligible for the financial aid schemes here.
  • If students are embarking on a joint Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (OEP) and OGEM Explorer Programme and are interested in a loan, they must apply for the OSP Loan under the Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (OEP).
  • SPR/International students paying non-subsidised tuition fees are not eligible to apply.


Quantum 

GEM Discoverer – ASEAN Summer Programmes / AUN Summer Camps / Prelude / Language Immersion Programme / Summer Studies / Winter Studies 

Schemes Max Aid Applicable 
SingaporeanSingapore PRInternational Student
Ng Bok Eng ScholarshipUp to S$1,000NANA
NTU Travel BursaryUp to S$2,000NANA
MENDAKI-NTU Overseas FundS$500S$500NA

 

SchemeCountry Of Study / Attachment  Max Aid Applicable
   SingaporeanSingapore PRInternational
OSP LoanAsia

$5,000		$3,000

$3,000

Europe / Middle East / Oceania / USA

$10,000

$3,000
$3,000

Please note that if you are applying for both the loan and travel award, the maximum amount offered (which may be a combination of loan and travel award) will not exceed the maximum aid amount as shown in the loan table above.

For OSP Loan application

Guarantor Requirements

1. One guarantor aged 21 to 60 years (based on the guarantor's age at the point of application), and not an un-discharged bankrupt.

2. A loan applicant who is a:
  • Singaporean student to provide a Singaporean guarantor
  • Singapore Permanent Resident and International students to provide a Singaporean/Singapore Permanent Resident guarantor

3. The guarantor must be gainfully employed.

4. A student of Nanyang Technological University who satisfies (1) and (2) may also act as a guarantor. However, a student who is in the process of applying or holding Tuition Fee Loan / loan from CPF Education Loan Scheme or any other form of loan should not stand as a guarantor.

5. If the application for OSP loan is successful, the applicant and the guarantor have to be both present at NTU to sign the Loan Agreement.

6. A person is discouraged from standing in for more than 2 loans in view of the financial implications.
 
Interest
1. Interest-free during course of study.
2. Interest will commence upon graduation.  
3. The following interest rates will be applicable to all new Government education loan (i.e. MOE Tuition Fee Loan, MOE Study Loan, Overseas Student Programme Loan) agreements signed on and after 1 April 2024. 

Standard interest* 3-month compounded Singapore Overnight Rate Average (3M SORA) plus 1.5 percentage points or such other rates as may be determined from time to time by the bank
Late payment interest for overdue and unpaid loans/loan instalment 3M SORA plus 4.5 percentage points or such other rates as may be determined from time to time by the bank

* not applicable to interest-free Study Loan 

The interest rates will be revised on a half-yearly basis based on the 3M SORA1 published on the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) website2 on 1 March (for the period 1 April to 30 September) or 1 September (for the period 1 October to 31 March of the following calendar year)3.  You can visit OCBC Bank website for the applicable interest rates on every 1 April and 1 October.

Repayment 

Travel AwardsNo Repayment required 
OSP Loan
  • Maximum loan period of 5 years.
  • Minimum repayment of $100 per month (monthly instalment of $100).
  • For Singaporean students, repayment to commence no later than 2 years after graduation or upon securing employment (whichever is earlier).
  • For Singapore PR and international students, repayment to commence no later than 3 months after graduation.
  • You may carry out a prepayment of your loan in part or in full any time without incurring any prepayment charges.

 

How to apply

  • You need not wait for your overseas programme outcome before applying.
    For students who are not successful in your overseas programme, we will not offer you any travel award/OSP Loan For students who are successful for the overseas programme and are offered the OSP loan, you have the choice to decline the OSP loan offer.
  • For students who applied for the travel award, a limited number of travel awards are available and therefore not all applicants will be successful. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the OSP Loan if they have not applied for the loan before.


Step 1: Prepare the required  supporting documents for application.  

Step 2: Submit your application with supporting documents via the Financial Aid Application Portal.

Step 3: You may login to the Portal to check on the progress of your application.

Step 4: You will be informed of the outcome via your NTU email account. Please accept/decline your financial aid offer via the Portal.

Step 5: Upon accepting the loan offer, you will receive an appointment booking link via email, to sign the loan agreement in person at One-Stop@SAC. You and your guarantor should bring your NRICs for the loan signing appointment.

Step 6: After the loan agreement has been signed, the funds will be disbursed to your bank account within 6-8 weeks upon submission of the paperwork to the bank.

If you wish to apply for an OSP loan after the application window has closed, please approach Ask Finaid (Student) for assistance.

 

Application period

    GEM Discoverer - Summer AY2023/2024 Semester 2

     Application Period Financial Aid Schemes Outcome

    AY2024/2025
    Semester 2
    (There is only 1 Round of financial aid application period)

    5 Feb 2025-
    27 Mar 2025

    • Ng Bok Eng Scholarship
    • GEM Travel Grant
    • NTU Travel Bursary
    • MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund
    • OSP Loan

    Early April

    (Subject to changes)

     

    GEM Discoverer - Winter AY2024/2025 Semester 1

     

     Application PeriodFinancial Aid Schemes Outcome

    AY2025/2026
    Semester 1
    (There is only 1 Round of financial aid application period)

    TBC

    • Ng Bok Eng Scholarship
    • GEM Travel Grant
    • NTU Travel Bursary
    • MENDAKI-NTU Overseas Fund
    • OSP Loan

    TBC

     

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    1 SORA is the volume-weighted average rate of borrowing transactions in the unsecured overnight interbank SGD cash market in Singapore between 8am and 6.15pm. The 3-month compounded SORA is the rolling compounded average of daily SORA over the past respective period.
    2 https://eservices.mas.gov.sg/statistics/dir/DomesticInterestRates.aspx
    3 If 1 March or 1 September falls on a weekend and/or a public holiday when the 3M SORA rates are not published by MAS, we will take the 3M SORA published on the MAS website on the last preceding business day in Singapore. For example, if 1 September is a Saturday, we will take the 3M SORA published on MAS website on 31 August.