Singapore Government Press Release

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The Public Service Commission (PSC) has reviewed the terms of its scholarships. It has decided to change some of the terms as part of its efforts to ensure that PSC scholarships will continue to attract the best of each year’s cohort of "A" Level graduates who have the potential to assume leadership positions in the public service.

The changes to the terms of PSC scholarships are as follows:

Bond Periods The bond period for overseas scholarships tenable in English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America, will be reduced from 8 to 6 years; the bond period for overseas scholarships tenable in non-English speaking countries, such as France, Germany, Japan and the People’s Republic of China, will be reduced from 8 to 5 years; and the bond period for local scholarships will be reduced from 5 to 4 years.

National Service after Graduation Male scholars will continue to be granted disruption from National Service to pursue their undergraduate studies. Half instead of the full period of National Service served after graduation will count towards the discharge of their bond. With the reduction in bond periods, the effective length of obligatory service for the majority of overseas male scholars becomes 5 years for those sent to the English-speaking countries, 4 to 4 and 1/3 years for those sent to the non-English speaking countries, while that for the majority of local male scholars becomes 3½ years.

Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) course after graduation For teaching scholars, the period during which they undergo their 1-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) course in the National Institute of Education (NIE) upon graduation will no longer count towards the discharge of their bond.

The revised terms will apply to scholars selected from the 1998 Scholarship Exercise onwards.

Application for the 1998 PSC Scholarships opens on 20 Dec 97. Candidates with high intellectual capacity, sound character, and leadership qualities are encouraged to apply for PSC Scholarships leading to rewarding careers within the Civil Service upon graduation. Application packages can be obtained from the PSC Resource Centre, 3 St Andrew’s Road, #04-00 City Hall, Singapore 178958. Candidates may also apply via internet at http://www.gov.sg/pmo/psc. The closing date for this early application exercise is 19 Jan 98. For enquiries, please call the PSC Scholarships Centre (Tel: 332 4179 / 332 4046 / 332 4113 / 332 4158 / 332 4125).

Issued by : Public Service Commission

Contact : Ms Joyce Chia

Tel. : 332-7198

PSC Schs - Press Release