Application Process

Registration of PEI

 A prospective PEI should familiarise itself with the registration requirements and ensure that it has the ability to meet the legislative obligations before applying to the CPE to register as a PEI under section 36 of the Private Education Act.

A prospective PEI must be prepared to submit the following information and/or documents at the point of submitting its application.

The OBLS guide on registration of new PEIs (which shows the steps to register a PEI via OBLS), the Smart forms, and the templates to be completed and attached, are available for download below:

• OBLS Guide on Registration of PEIs
• Notes on using Smart forms
• Course Smart form
• Premises Smart form
• Manager’s declaration form
• Course write-up for certificate and diploma programmes
• Course write-up for external degree programmes

No prospective PEI is allowed to advertise, or recruit students, or operate before it has been granted registration by the CPE, or after the expiry of its period of registration. Hence, it is important for PEIs to renew its registration before the end of its registration period. Application for renewal of registration is to be submitted to the CPE at least three months before the date of expiry of a PEI’s existing term of registration.

Application for Waiver of Registration Requirements

PEIs may apply to the CPE for waiver of certain registration requirements. The Waiver of Registration Requirement Form must be accompanied by relevant documents to substantiate the application. The completed form and documents should be submitted via the OBLS together with the application to register a PEI.

Approval of Names

A PEI may apply to the CPE for approval to change its name, or the name of its school (or department, or faculty thereof), or its brand name. Where applicable, it may also apply to the Council for approval for additional names.

For any application to change names or add new names, the PEI will be required to provide reasons to justify its application. For example, it should explain why it wishes to change its previously approved name(s), and give reasons for its choice of new name(s).

Approval of Changes of Premises

Updates on Change of Managers

A PEI is required to inform the CPE within 14 days if

• a new manager has joined the PEI, via OBLS;
• there are changes in the particulars of any manager in the CPE’s registers;
• any manager in the CPE’s registers has ceased to be a manager of the PEI; and
• any manager in the CPE’s registers has been convicted of any crimes, or has been declared bankrupt by the court.

The update informing the CPE of a new manager must be accompanied by the completed Manager’s Declaration Form  of the new manager, together with all relevant documents as specified in the declaration form.

Updates on Change of Members of the Academic Board or Examination Board

 A PEI is required to update the CPE within 14 days if

• a new member joins its Academic Board or Examination Board, via OBLS;
• a member of the Academic Board or Examination Board in the CPE’s registers leaves the Board (in which case, the manager of the PEI must ensure that there are still at least three remaining members in each Board);
• there are changes in the particulars of any member of the Academic Board or Examination Board; and
• any member of the Academic Board or Examination Board has been convicted of any crimes, or declared bankrupt by the court.

Updates on Deployment of Teachers

 A PEI must update the CPE on the intended deployment of a teacher at least seven days prior to the actual deployment.

The manager of a PEI is required to ensure that each teacher satisfies the requirements in terms of minimum academic qualifications and experience stipulated by the CPE, and that the deployment of the teacher is endorsed by the PEI’s Academic Board.

When the absence of a teacher is unscheduled, a PEI may deploy a relief teacher without first informing the Council for Private Education. Notwithstanding the circumstances for requiring a relief teacher, a PEI is to inform the Council for Private Education of the teacher’s deployment, on or before the date of the deployment through the OBLS system.

Seeking Permission to Offer Courses

A PEI is required to seek the CPE’s permission to offer a course prior to advertising or recruiting students for it. Depending on the nature and content of the course, the CPE may impose terms and conditions which the PEI must adhere to in order to be granted permission to offer the course.

A registered PEI need not seek the CPE’s permission to offer any course which is of duration no longer than one month or 50 hours, unless the course leads to the award of a diploma or degree. However, the PEI will be required to update the CPE of such courses in its Annual Report.

Courses at Certificate and Diploma Level

The following information is required when seeking the CPE’s permission to offer or provide courses:

• Course name, and names of its modules or subjects;
• Type and level of the course;
• Brief description of the course content and mode of delivery (to be provided using the Course Write-up for Certificate and Diploma Programmes
• Duration of the course (for both full-time and part-time classes if applicable);
• Entry and graduation requirements;
• Courses not developed by the PEI, the name and country of origin of the course developer;  
• Approval notification or contract between the PEI and the external course developer or proprietor (to show that the PEI has the permission from the external course developer or proprietor to offer the course);
• Name and country of origin of any organisation which has accredited or validated the course, if applicable;
• Details of practicum or industrial attachment, if any;
• Details on overseas delivery of the course, if applicable; and
• A sample certificate (which students will receive upon completion of the course).

External Degree Programmes (EDPs)

In addition to the general information to be provided when seeking the CPE’s permission to offer courses, a PEI wishing to offer an external degree programme must make available the following additional information:

• Confirmation of the degree-awarding status of the foreign education institution from the relevant authority in the latter’s home country; 
• Profile of the foreign education institution including its:
  
  

  -	National and international accreditation, if any;
  -	National or International ranking in its home country;
  -	Track record of conducting external degree programmes in other countries, if any;
  -	Its association or collaboration with top-ranked universities, e.g. student exchange programmes, credit transfer arrangements, or co-development of programmes to be taught at both institutions;
  -	Number of students enrolled at its home campus (breakdown by the number of full-time and part-time students, and students enrolled in respective levels);
  -	Student diversity at home campus in terms of the percentage of local and international students (with further breakdown by nationalities, if applicable);
  -	Entry requirements for undergraduate programmes (e.g. SAT scores, GMAT scores, etc.) and entry requirements (including language requirements) for the external degree programme;
  -	Student graduation rate in terms of the percentage of students who passed, over the original cohort enrolled;
  -	Student-faculty ratio at the home campus and for the external degree programme;
  -	Teaching faculty’s qualifications at the home campus and for the external degree programme (with breakdown by full-time and part-time staff, if applicable); and
  -	Annual research grants, if any, and their source(s), received over the previous three years.

• A letter or any other form of official document from the Vice-Chancellor, or President, or persons of equivalent standing, of the foreign education institution confirming that it:
  
  

  -	Gives permission for the external degree programme to be conducted by the PEI;
  -	Subjects the external degree programme offered in Singapore to the same academic assurance processes as the programmes offered at its home campus;
  -	Ensures that the students enrolled through the PEI meet the same entry requirements (i.e. specific language and academic pre-requisites) as students enrolled at its home campus;
  -	Gives equal recognition to students enrolled in external degree programme as students taking similar programmes at its home campus, i.e. all students will receive the same result slips and degree scroll, and graduates from external degree programme will enjoy same privileges as alumni of the foreign education institution as graduates from its home campus;
  -	Issues and confers the degree, i.e. the production and issuance of the degree scroll is not delegated to the PEI or other persons;
  -	Ensures that students enrolled in the EDP are able to continue their studies either at its home campus or at another PEI appointed by the foreign education institution should the PEI default on its delivery;
  -	Conducts the EDP in the same language as that being used to teach similar programmes at its home campus; and
  -	Commits to regular and rigorous auditing of the PEI to ensure the quality of THE EDP being offered through the PEI.

• Profile of the PEI including:
  
  

  -	Background in terms of the date of establishment, its existing associations or collaborations or affiliations with other education institutions, and its accreditation status (if any);
  -	Premises, facilities and staff to be devoted to the delivery of the EDP;
  -	Experience in conducting EDPs;
  -	Current student enrolment in EDPs, if applicable; and
  -	Achievements in terms of any accreditation and awards.

• Brief description of the EDP and its mode of delivery (to be provided using the Course Write-up for External Degree Programme and
• A sample certificate (which students will receive upon completion of the EDP).

Notification of Change of Ownership