Course Fundings

Funding & Payments

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Rate Change
  • In Budget 2022, the Minister for Finance announced that the GST rate will be increased from:

    (i) 7% to 8% with effect from 1 Jan 2023; and

    (ii) 8% to 9% with effect from 1 Jan 2024.

    Following this, we wish to inform you that @ASK Training Pte Ltd will be charging Goods and Services Tax (GST) as per the guidance below.

    • GST will be charged at the prevailing 8% based on:
    • Courses starting in the Year 2024 with full payment by 31 Dec 2023 will be at 8%. 
    • Application for deduction via Skillsfuture Credit is made by the trainee on/before 31 Dec 2023 (i.e. the application date must be on/before 31 Dec 2023 and the application must be approved by SSG by 31 Jan 2023).

    • GST will be charged at the revised 9% based on:
    • Courses starting in the Year 2024, where the invoice is billed at the prevailing 8% GST but without full payment by 31 December 2023 will be adjusted to 9%. (Note: A credit note will be issued to cancel the invoice charged at 8% GST and a new invoice will be issued at 9% GST).
    • Courses starting in the Year 2024 with the payment received on or after 01 January 2024.
    • Application for deduction via Skillsfuture Credit from 1 January 2024 onwards.

    Table of summary:

    Course date & Invoice issued date

    Full payment received before 1 Jan 2024

    Payment on/after 1 Jan 2024

    Before 1 Jan 2024

    8%

    8%**

    On/after 1 Jan 2024

    8%**

    9%

    ** Based on transitional rules for GST rate change (click here for more details from IRAS)

    Are there course subsidies/funding/grants available?

    Yes, course funding is available for certifiable (WSQ) and non-certifiable (non-WSQ) courses that are approved by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). You may apply under one of the following grant schemes, whether you are sponsored by your company or applying as a self-sponsored individual.

    All SkillsFuture Singapore accredited courses will automatically be eligible for the Skills Development Fund (SDF). Eligible Singaporeans, PRs and Long-Term Visitor Pass+ holders may be entitled to up to 95% funding. Please contact us for more details on your grant/funding eligibility.

    What are the course fees?

    Please refer to the individual course pages for information on the course fees. You may visit this page for all courses and course schedules. 

    What payment methods do you accept?

    We accept the following payment methods:

    • iBanking
    • Credit Card
    • Cheque
    • Vendors@GOV
    • SkillsFuture Credit
    • Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)

    Kindly refer to the invoice and payment instructions after registering for a course.

    What are @ASK's policies if I am absent or need to withdraw, replace, or reschedule a course?
    • Replacement of trainee: No Charge.

    • Rescheduling Policy:
      • An administrative fee of $54.00 (incl. GST) per course rescheduling will be chargeable.
      • For confirmed classes, the full course fee is payable.
      • Please email us a written notice to [email protected].
    • Withdrawal Policy:
      • 10 working days or more before course commencement: No charge
      • Less than 10 working days before course commencement: 50% of course fees
      • All confirmed classes or no show on the first day of class or after class starts: 100% of course fees
      • A withdrawal request must be made by the trainee in writing to [email protected]
    • No course fee waiver is allowed for any absenteeism unless a valid reason is given within 2 working days after the course commences. No course fee waiver will be entertained for all courses held at hotels.

    • @ASK reserves the right to change the venue, cancel or postpone the class with prior notice, and a full refund will be provided for any withdrawal under such circumstances.

    SkillsFuture Funding

    What is SkillsFuture Credit (SFC)?

    SkillsFuture Credit (SFC) are credits that Singapore Citizens can utilise to cover the out-of-pocket course fees when enrolling in approved skills-related courses. These credits can be used in addition to the existing course fee subsidies that are provided by the Government. 

    For more information on SkillsFuture Credit, visit this website.

    How to Apply for Training Grants (For Self Sponsored Participants)
    1. Submit the online Registration form or Excel Registration form to @ASK and we will acknowledge your registration.
    2. @ASK will provide trainees with Payment Advice for the course fee.
    3. For WSQ-accredited courses, @ASK will apply for the SSG training grant on your behalf.
    4. Course fee payment must be made before the start of the class. Any overdue amount will incur a daily interest of 12% per annum. Payment methods include:
      • Cheque payable to “@ASK Training Pte Ltd” 
      • Internet banking 
      • PayNow 
      • Debit/credit card payment 
      • SFC or PSEA claim, if applicable

      @ASK reserves the right to release the seat if the trainee fails to pay the course fees at least 7 working days before the class start date.

      For WSQ-accredited courses, trainees are entitled to the SSG training grant when they meet 75% of the training attendance and pass the requisite assessment. If trainees fail the assessment, they are required to re-take it immediately without additional fee. Subsequent re-assessment is chargeable and is to be completed within a month. @ASK reserves the right to collect the full course fee from the trainee if they fail the assessment.

    How to Apply for Training Grants (For Company Sponsored Participants)
    1. Submit the online Registration form or Excel Registration form to @ASK.
    2. If the course has no SDF grant or the customer does not intend to apply for the SDF grant, @ASK will raise an invoice with the full course fee after sending the Course Confirmation Letter (CCL) via email.
    3. @ASK will apply for the SDF grant on your behalf via TPGateway (SSG grant portal).
    4. Course fee payment has to be made by the customer before the start of the class. Any overdue amount will incur a daily interest of 12% per annum. Payment methods include:
      • Cheque payable to “@ASK Training Pte Ltd” 
      • Internet banking
      • Credit card payment

    For WSQ-accredited courses, trainees are entitled to the SSG training grant when they meet 75% of the training attendance and pass the requisite assessment. If trainees fail the assessment, they are required to re-take it immediately without additional fee. Subsequent re-assessment is chargeable and is to be completed within a month. @ASK reserves the right to collect the full course fee from the customer if the trainee fails the assessment.

    What is SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy, and who is eligible?

    The SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES) fosters and promotes continuous learning, enabling Singapore Citizens to remain adaptable in a dynamic work environment. Seeing that those in the mid-career phase might encounter more obstacles in pursuing training, the Government has introduced this initiative to motivate individuals aged 40 and above to enhance their skills through upskilling and reskilling.

    Singapore Citizens who are 40 years old and above are eligible for the SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidy. Those who qualify can enjoy up to 90% subsidy for certifiable (WSQ) courses at ASK Training. For example, on a 16-hour course priced at $900, a participant’s payment is reduced to just $111.60 (including GST), with the remainder of the fees covered by SSG’s subsidy.

    The balance of the course fees post-subsidy (e.g., $111.60) can be additionally offset through the use of your SkillsFuture Credit.

    How do I apply/claim the SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES)?

    When enrolling in a certifiable (WSQ) course, kindly provide information about your residential status, age, and monthly income. This is necessary for evaluating your eligibility.

    For individuals:

    We will handle the application for the MCES grant on your behalf. All you need to do is pay the nett fee, attend and successfully complete the course by passing the assessment.

    For companies:

    You will need to apply for the MCES grant application through TPGateway, and we will need to provide our endorsement. After registering for a certifiable (WSQ) course, you will receive a detailed, step-by-step guide on the application process.

    What is Enhanced Training Support for SMEs, and who is eligible?

    The Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) provides further assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through increased subsidies on course fees. SMEs can access SkillsFuture funding, which covers up to 90% of the course expenses when they send their employees to participate in courses supported by SSG.

    This grant applies to SMEs that meet the eligibility criteria:

    1. Incorporated or registered in Singapore
    2. Employment size not exceeding 200 employees or an annual sales turnover of no more than $100 million

    For trainees sponsored by SMEs:

    1. Must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents.
    2. The employer must fully cover the course expenses.
    3. The trainee should not be a full-time national serviceman.

    Additional Information: This scheme is designed for all types of organisations, including non-business entities not registered with ACRA, such as VWOs and societies. However, Ministries, statutory boards, and other government agencies are not eligible for the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs Scheme. Sole proprietorships that meet all the outlined criteria are also eligible.

    How do I apply/claim the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)?

    To apply for the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) grant, employers are required to enrol their employees in a certifiable (WSQ) course. Once the registration process is complete, we will undertake the application for the training grant through SSG’s TPGateway portal on your behalf.

    What is the Absentee Payroll (For SMEs)?

    Employers supporting their employees’ training can access funding for course fees and absentee payroll.

    Approved certifiable courses recognised by SSG qualify for Absentee Payroll.

    For SkillsFuture-approved certifiable (WSQ) courses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are eligible to claim a fixed rate of $4.50 per training hour as absentee payroll, capped at $100,000 per enterprise per calendar year.

    For example:

    If your employee participates in a SkillsFuture-approved certifiable (WSQ) course with a cumulative duration of 19 training hours, the total reimbursement you can claim is 19 hours x $4.50 = $85.50.

    How do I apply/claim the Absentee Payroll?

    Upon completion of the course, the designated CorpPass user from your company will be alerted to access the Enterprise Portal for Jobs & Skills (EPJS) using the provided credentials to declare the employment details of the trainee.

    For additional details, you can consult the Absentee Payroll Claim Onboarding Guide.

    What is SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)

    The SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) incentivises employers to invest in enterprise transformation and commit to enhancing their workforce’s skills. Eligible employers can obtain a single credit of $10,000 which can be used to cover up to 90% of out-of-pocket expenses on eligible costs or SFEC-supported training programs.

    How do I claim/apply for SFEC?

    Companies can utilise SFEC to subsidies out-of-pocket fees (such as nett course fees, certification fees, and assessment fees) on SSG-funded courses. 

    For example:

    Original Training Fee = $1,000
    SSG Course Subsidy (90%) = $900
    Remaining Out-of-Pocket Expense = $100
    SFEC Assistance (90%) = $90

    Employers must complete the submission of final claims for eligible programs they have successfully applied for or training courses they have concluded by June 30, 2024, to the respective agencies. Employers must adhere to the claim procedures and prerequisites stipulated by relevant agencies for the endorsed programs.

    For courses eligible under SFEC, employers might be required to submit SFEC claims through SkillsFuture Singapore’s dedicated SFEC microsite. To access comprehensive guidelines on submitting SFEC claims, please consult this guide.

    Following the approval of claims for these supported programs, the corresponding credit will be calculated and distributed to employers’ registered GIRO account with IRAS or PayNow Corporate on a quarterly basis. No separate claim submission for SFEC is required.

    What is the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA)?

    PSEA funds are available for Singaporean Citizens to cover the approved fees and charges related to WSQ programs. The PSEA account will be closed in the year the account holder reaches 31 years of age, and any remaining funds in the PSEA will be transferred to the account holder’s CPF.

    To check your PSEA account balance, call the 24-hour automated Edusave/PSEA hotline at 6260 0777 and input your NRIC number.

    How do I apply/claim for Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) funds?

    To make use of your PSEA Funds:

    1. Dial MOE’s 24-hour PSEA Automatic Hotline at 6260 0777 to check your account balance.
    2. Register for the course and get the course code from our course administrators.
    3. Depending on your withdrawal preference, access the appropriate link to submit a withdrawal form:
    4. If there is any remaining balance after deducting your available PSEA funds, you can settle the outstanding payment through iBanking, PayNow, Credit Card, or Cheque.

    Instructions on the process of claiming your PSEA funds will also be provided in the registration confirmation email you receive after signing up.

    Important Reminder: Your claim needs to be submitted at least 1 month before the course’s commencement date. Should you miss this deadline, an alternative payment method must be used to secure your spot in the course. After the disbursement of your PSEA funds to us, we will reach out to initiate the refund process.

    What is the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Scheme, and who is eligible?

    The Enhanced Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme aims to expand access to WSS for lower-wage workers, allowing them to upskill earlier in their careers and encourage deeper and more sustained training among lower-wage workers.

    Eligible individuals can benefit from:

    • Training allowance for selected self-paid courses.
    • Cash reward upon course completion.

    To qualify for the enhanced WSS scheme, individuals must meet the following criteria:

    • Be a Singapore Citizen.
    • Be at least 30 years old (or at least 13 years old for Persons with Special Needs).
    • Be currently employed, including Self-Employed Persons who declare their Net Trade Income or work done in the preceding Work Year and make MediSave contributions.
    • Have an average gross monthly income not exceeding $2,500 (previously $2,300) over the past 12 months.
    • Live in a property with an annual value of less than $13,000 as of December 31 of the preceding year.
    • Own less than two properties, and if married, collectively own fewer than two properties or have a spouse with an assessable income for the preceding Year of Assessment of less than $70,000.

    Starting January 2023, WSS eligibility can be checked through the Workfare eService using SingPass. A WSS letter is not required for course enrollment with Training Providers.

    How do I claim/apply for the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Scheme?

    Training Commitment Award (TCA)

    Qualified individuals are eligible for cash rewards. Trainees will receive $800 upon completion of a single WSQ Qualification or Academic CET Qualification. Additionally, they will receive $100 for any two of the following courses: WSQ Statement of Attainment (SOA), Academic CET Modular Certificate/Post-Diploma Certificate, and Other certifiable courses supported by SSG. This amount is capped at $200.

    Please note that course completion must occur within the trainee’s eligibility period, with a maximum cap of $1,000 per WSS Eligibility year.

    No application process is necessary. Individuals will be informed about their Training Commitment Allowance (TCA) payment through SMS and/or a letter from the CPF Board. It might take 1 to 3 months for you to receive the payment.

    What is the Skills Development Fund (SDF), and who is eligible?

    The Skills Development fund is automatically granted for all SkillsFuture accredited courses. Singaporeans and PRs are eligible for this grant entitlement at $2/hour of training.

    For example:

    If your employee participates in a SkillsFuture-approved certifiable (WSQ) course with a cumulative duration of 14 training hours, the total reimbursement you can claim is 14 hours x $2 = $28.

    NTUC UTAP Funding

    What is UTAP Funding?

    UTAP is a training benefit for NTUC members to defray their cost of training. This benefit is to encourage more NTUC members to go for skills upgrading.

    For more details, visit our UTAP Funding page.

    How much is the UTAP grant?

    NTUC members enjoy 50% *unfunded course fee support for up to $250 each year when you sign up for courses supported under UTAP. NTUC members aged 40 and above can enjoy higher funding support up to $500 per individual each year, capped at 50% of unfunded course fees, for courses attended between 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2022.

    *Unfunded course fee refers to the balance course fee payable after applicable government subsidy. This excludes GST, registration fees, misc. fees etc.

    Who can apply?

    All NTUC members can apply for UTAP. However, the following criteria must be met to be eligible for UTAP:

    1. Paid-up NTUC membership before course commenced, throughout whole course duration and at the point of claim
    2. Course by training provider must be supported under UTAP, and training must commence within the supported period
    3. Course must not be fully funded through company sponsorship or other types of funding
    4. *Unfunded course fee must be S$20 and above
    5. You must achieve a minimum of 75% attendance for each application and sat for all prescribed examination(s), if any
    6. UTAP application must be submitted within 6 months after course completion

    *Unfunded course fee refers to the balance course fee payable after applicable government subsidy. This excludes GST, registration fees, misc. fees etc.

    How do I check my NTUC membership status?

    You may check your NTUC membership status by calling our hotline at 6213 8008 and select the following options:

    1. Press 1 for member
    2. Provide your NRIC number
    3. Press 1 again to check your membership status
    How to apply?

    Login to theU Portal account to submit the UTAP application.

    Note:

    • To support your UTAP claim, you may be requested to submit a copy of your course certificate/tax invoice/receipt via email. Please ensure that you kept a copy of your supporting documents for audit checks when necessary.
    • You are required to pay the FULL course fees upfront. The UTAP amount will only be reimbursed upon completion of the course after you have submitted the course details through the U Portal account.

    Click here for step by step UTAP claim procedure

    Should you have any questions regarding your funding eligibility, you may contact us and our course consultants will be happy to assist you.

    Related:
    Occupational Progressive Wages (OPW) for Administrators and Drivers
    UTAP Funding

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