Registration Requirements

Corporate Status

A PEI must be either a company registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), or a society registered with the Registry of Societies (ROS) in order to be registered.

Name of PEI, its brand name and the names of its schools or departments/faculties  

Naming Conventions

The name of a PEI, and its school or department/faculty, must denote a place of learning. For example, it should contain words like “school”, “academy”, “learning centre” or “institution”.

If the PEI is a company, its name must be the same as its registered name under the Companies Act (Cap. 50), and if it is a registered society, its name must be the name as its registered name under the Societies Act (Cap. 311).

The name of the school (or its department/faculty) must contain the name of the PEI, unless otherwise permitted by the CPE. For example, a PEI by the name of “ABC Institution” may call its departments “ABC Institution – School of Business” and “ABC Institution – School of Psychology”. This is to enable prospective students to easily identify the PEI and avoid misrepresentation or confusion caused by similar department names.

Each PEI may have one “brand” name which is closely related to its name. The brand name may be the abbreviation of its name, or contain the key word(s) in its name, and indicates the type of education it provides. The CPE will review each application to seek permission for the use of a “brand name” on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Names

Without the approval of the Minister of Education, no PEI will be allowed to use the term “university” or any derivative of this term, in its name.

The CPE will also not allow a PEI to use a name which:

The PEI may be directed to change its name, or the translated version of its name, if it is subsequently found that the name, or the translated name of the PEI, or its “brand name”, or that of its school (or department/faculty), is misleading or false.

Premises

The premises of a PEI may comprise any building, enclosure, ground, open-air space or other place used by the PEI in connection with the provision of private education. A PEI will not be allowed to operate unless the CPE is convinced that its premises are appropriate for the conduct of lessons, and are conducive for students.

Usage and Safety Requirements

The premises of a PEI must be deemed suitable for the delivery of private education by the relevant land planning and fire safety authorities. It must have the approval of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to be used as a commercial school, and fire safety clearance from the Fire Safety and Shelter Department (FSSD) of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

Where applicable, the PEI should obtain proper clearance for its facilities from the relevant regulatory authorities, such as the National Environment Agency (NEA) for science laboratories and canteen. The onus is on PEIs to ensure that they have properly declared any structural changes made to their premises, and where necessary, filed the appropriate applications.

Sharing of Premises

The premises of a PEI must contain at least one fully- enclosed classroom and a dedicated area for administrative activities.

The PEI must declare to the CPE if it is sharing premises with another business entity, whether or not the other entity is providing private education. If there is only one classroom at its premises, a registered PEI is allowed to share its premises with one other PEI or school (registered under the Education Act). If there is more than one classroom at its premises, a registered PEI may share its premises with, at most, two other PEIs and/or schools (registered under the Education Act).

Unless otherwise permitted by the CPE, a PEI should not share its premises with another business entity that is unrelated to the provision of private education.

Provision of Facilities

Except for auditoriums, the maximum number of students allowed in a classroom is calculated using the following formula:

[Floor area of the classroom in square metres ÷ 1.5 square metres]

The CPE may impose terms and conditions in respect of facilities at the point of registration of the PEI or when it seeks the CPE's permission to offer a new course which is equipment-intensive, or which require special facilities or equipment to be set up.

Managers

Where the PEI is a registered company, the managers are the directors of the company. If it is a registered society, then the managers are the members of its management committee or Board of Governors.

Every manager must complete a Manager’s Declaration form and submit the completed original hardcopy form to the CPE. The manager(s) must also declare in the declaration form if he has substantial shareholding in a company and/or business. A substantial share holding means he owns more than 5% shares in the company and/or business and/or businesses which are classified as ‘live’ by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). The manager(s) only need(s) to declare companies and/or business in Singapore.

Duties of Managers

The managers of a PEI must ensure that the following records are properly kept for at least five years:

• The administration of courses offered by the PEI, including those courses which do not need the CPE’s permission to be offered:
  
  

  -	Names of all courses offered and their respective modules or subjects;
  -	Full-time and/or part-time duration of the courses, and the respective commencement dates and end dates for each course;
  -	Timetable of each student cohort enrolled for each course;
  -	Fee collection schedule for each course; and
  -	Learning outcomes and syllabus for each course.

• For each teacher deployed:
  
  

  -	Personal particulars, including name, National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or passport number, and nationality;
  -	Courses, modules or subjects, and the classes he/she is deployed to teach;
  -	Copies of relevant academic certificates, transcripts, and past employment records, verification of his academic qualifications from institution that awards the certificates; and
  -	Any approval or “permission-to-teach” letters issued by the external course developer(s) or proprietor(s) of the courses he/she is deployed to teach.

• For each student enrolled:
  
  

  -	Personal particulars, including name, National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or student pass number, and nationality;
  -	Copy of the Advisory Note signed by student or on his/her behalf;
  -	Copy of the PEI-Student contract;
  -	Student's results for the course, and the modules or subjects enrolled in;
  -	Assignment and examination scripts which were not returned to student;
  -	Attendance records; and
  -	Course fee payment schedule.

• For each manager:
  
  

  -	Personal particulars, including name, National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or passport number, and nationality;
  -	Residential address, email address, and contact numbers;
  -	Manager declaration form; and
  -	Details on substantial shareholdings and involvement in other companies or businesses both in Singapore and overseas.

• The Academic Board and the Examination Board:
  
  

  -	Personal particulars of each member, including name, NRIC or passport number, and nationality;
  -	For each member, copies of his/her academic certificates, transcripts, and résumé;
  -	Policies and procedures developed by the Boards; and
  -	Minutes of meetings of the Boards.

• All the advertisements, in hard copies or soft copies, issued or published by the PEI for use either in Singapore or overseas.  

The managers of a PEI must notify the CPE in writing of any litigation against the PEI within 14 days of the PEI being served the originating process of any legal proceeding. The managers must also inform the Council in writing of any conviction with imprisonment of any manager within 14 days of the manager being convicted.

Closure of a PEI

In the event of the cessation of operations of a PEI, its managers must ensure that all enrolled students are informed of the impending closure, and the necessary arrangements made for them to complete the same course or a similar course in another registered PEI, at least 30 days before the actual closure.

Annual Report

Every registered PEI is required to provide an annual report of its activities and affairs to the CPE. This annual report must be submitted by the managers of the PEI to the CPE by 31 December every year.

The CPE may ask the registered PEI to submit any of the stipulated records to be kept by the managers in addition to the following items:

• The accounts and financial statements of the PEI in its last financial year, prepared in accordance with the requirements of either the Companies Act or the Societies Act;
  
  
• The list of all courses offered by the PEI, including courses which do not require the permission of the CPE prior to being offered;
  
  
• The list of permitted courses which the PEI has permanently ceased to offer; and
  
  
• The number of students enrolled in each course, in terms of the number of local students and international students holding Student passes.

Academic Board

Unless otherwise permitted by the CPE, a PEI has to set up an Academic Board, and implement and adhere to the policies and procedures developed, as well as deploy the teachers approved by the Board.

Composition of the Academic Board

The Academic Board of a PEI must include at least three members. These members:

• Must not be undischarged bankrupts;
  
  
• Must not have been convicted in any court of law in Singapore or elsewhere for any offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or for an offence under the Private Education Act;
  
  
• Must not be managers of an unregistered PEI; and
  
  
• Must not be managers of a PEI or school (registered under the Education Act) which has had its registration cancelled by the CPE or by the Director-General of Education.

PEIs offering courses from a variety of fields may have different sub-committees in its Academic Board to oversee processes in different subject areas. The members of the Academic Board may be the same as those in the Examination Board.

Duties of the Academic Board

The Academic Board is to look into the academic quality and rigour of the PEI.  Its responsibilities include:

• Developing the policies and procedures to ensure academic quality and rigour such as:
  
  

  -	Ensuring that the content and duration of the modules or subjects, as well as the entry and graduation requirements of the course are appropriate; and
  -	Approving the deployment of teachers based on the requirements stipulated by the CPE

• Facilitating the PEI to implement and comply with the policies and procedures developed; and
  
  
• Reviewing, at least once a year, the academic policies and procedures.

Examination Board  

Unless otherwise permitted by the CPE, a PEI is to set up an Examination Board to develop and implement the processes governing the conduct of examinations or assessments of its self-developed courses.  

If it offers courses which are externally-developed, the PEI should conduct the examinations or assessments according to the procedures specified by the external course developer or proprietor.

Composition of the Examination Board

The Examination Board of a PEI must include at least three members. These members:

• Must not be undischarged bankrupts;
  
  
• Must not have been convicted in any court of law in Singapore or elsewhere for any offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or for an offence under the Private Education Act;
  
  
• Must not be managers of an unregistered PEI; and
  
  
• Must not be managers of a PEI or school (registered under the Education Act) which has had its registration cancelled by the CPE or by the Director-General of Education.

The members of the Examination Board may be the same as those in the Academic Board. A PEI should ensure that there is no conflict of interest when appointing its managers or staff as members of either the Academic or Examination Boards.

Duties of the Examination Board

The Examination Board will be in charge of the development of examination and assessment procedures, such as developing and facilitating the implementation of procedures to:

• Ensure the security of examination scripts and answer scripts;
  
  
• Ensure the proper conduct of examinations and assessments;
  
  
• Define and ensure the proper discharge of duties and responsibilities of invigilators and markers;
  
  
• Conduct moderation of examination and assessment marks; and
  
  
• Handle appeals from students with regard to examination or assessment matters. 

Courses 

In order to be registered, a PEI must at least have one course which is permitted by the CPE. Depending on the nature and content of the course, the Council may impose terms and conditions which the PEI must adhere to in order to be granted permission to offer the course.

A PEI need not seek the CPE’s permission to offer any course which is no longer than one month or 50 hours in duration, unless the course leads to the award of a diploma or degree.

Permission to Offer Courses

The PEI must ensure that its courses do not contain any material or content which is obscene and contrary to the interest of its students. The PEI must also ensure that it has suitable teachers deployed to teach the modules or subjects of the courses.

The PEI must further ensure that the entry requirement is appropriate for the language medium and the level of the course. For example, students should at least have an English competency of IELTS 4.5 or pass in English language at GCE ‘N’ level or its equivalent for a Certificate course conducted in English, and at least IELTS 5.5 or a pass in GCE ‘O’ level English or its equivalent for enrolment into a diploma course.

No PEI may offer or provide a course, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, and whether by itself or in association or collaboration with another person or education institution, without first obtaining permission to do so from the CPE.

The courses permitted by the CPE shall only be provided or delivered in Singapore. Any PEI wishing to offer those courses overseas must first inform the CPE of its intention in writing using the form Information on Overseas Course Offering and obtain the Council's approval to do so. PEIs have the responsibility to ensure that proper processes are put in place to ensure the quality of CPE-permitted courses offered overseas. PEI needs to provide supportive documents such as approval from the Ministry of Education or relevant authority of the foreign country to confirm that the foreign entity is registered and approved by them to offer the course; agreements between PEI and the foreign entity must also be provided to support their relationship. A copy of the sample certificate to be awarded in the foreign country should also be submitted. The Council of Private Education may request for other documents if it deems necessary.

A PEI is only allowed to develop, deliver, and award a certificate in its own name for a certificate or diploma (including advanced and postgraduate) level course. Unless permission is given by the Minister of Education in writing, no PEI is allowed to confer associate degrees, and any undergraduate or graduate degrees in its own name. A PEI may, however, offer external degree programmes (EDPs) through its collaboration or contract with foreign education institutions, subject to these institutions meeting the external degree programme criteria set by the CPE.

A PEI who offers an external developed certificate or diploma (including advanced and postgraduate) level course, must ensure that there is at least one batch of graduates from these courses at the home countries of the course developer.

Types, Levels, and Names of Courses

The name of any course, and its modules or subjects, should be relevant to the course content and level. It should also begin with a term that would give clear indication of the type and level of the course:

• “Preparatory” – if the course prepares a student enrolled for an examination which leads to a qualification awarded by an external organisation, or an entrance examination to any education institution (other than the PEI);

• “Certificate” – for a post-secondary level course that provides a student enrolled with the basic level of competency to apply the knowledge and skills in jobs directly related to the subject;
  
  
• “Diploma” or “Specialist Diploma” or “Professional Diploma” – for a post-secondary level course which covers a range of knowledge and skills to enable a student enrolled to progress to a higher level of studies;
  
  
• “Higher Diploma” or “Advanced Diploma” – for a post-secondary level course which covers specialised knowledge and skills to enable a student enrolled to perform detailed analysis of information in their jobs or for further studies;
  
  
• “Graduate certificate” or “Graduate Diploma” or “Postgraduate certificate” or “Postgraduate Diploma” – for a post-secondary level course which provides a student enrolled with specialised knowledge and skills that will allow him to develop theories and apply research to test his theories on the subject area;
  
  
• “Bachelor” or “Master” or “Doctorate” – for undergraduate and graduate level studies which lead to qualifications to be conferred only by educational institutions approved by the Minister of Education to have degree-awarding powers, or by education institutions that meet the criteria to offer external degree programmes in Singapore.

Courses at Certificate and Diploma Levels

A PEI must provide the following information 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 Courses);
  
  
• Duration of the course (for both full-time and part-time classes if applicable) and its contact hours;
  
  
• Entry and graduation requirements;
  
  
• For 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 of overseas delivery of the course, if applicable; and
  -	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 programmes must make available the following additional information:

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

  -	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;
  -	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 EDP to be conducted by the PEI;
  -	Subjects the EDP 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 EDP 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 EDP 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 EDP being offered through the PEI.

• Profile of the PEI including:
  
  

  -	Its 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 external degree programme;
  -	Experience in conducting external degree programmes;
  -	Current student enrolment in external degree programmes, 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 Programmes); and
  
  
• Sample certificate (which students will receive upon completion of the EDP).
  
  

The degree scroll and transcript should only show the name and logo of the degree-conferring foreign education institution. The PEI’s name and logo should not be featured on any degree scroll or transcript without the written permission of the Minister of Education.

Teachers

Requirements of a Teacher

A PEI must ensure that a teacher deployed has not been convicted of any offence involving sexual, child, physical or drug abuse, or fraud and dishonesty. A teacher must also not have been convicted of any offence under the Private Education Act within a period of five years preceding the deployment.

The teacher must possess at least the following minimum qualifications and experience:

• Less than five years of working experience in the same field as the course, module or subject, qualifications in the same field at least one level higher than the level of the course and at least a pass at GCE ‘O’ level or its equivalent.

• At least five years of working experience in the same field as the course, module or subject, qualifications in the same field at least equivalent to the level of the course and at least a pass at GCE ‘O’ level or its equivalent.

• At least five years of working experience in the same field as the course, module or subject, and qualifications in a different field at least one level higher than the level of the course and at least a pass at GCE ‘O’ level or its equivalent.

Where the course, module or subject is of a vocational nature, the person has at least 5 years of working experience in the field to which the course, module or subject relates to.

A registered PEI must ensure that the qualifications of the teachers are conferred by education institutions which are recognised by the relevant authority in the country or territory in which they are established, and that the qualifications have not been conferred as honorary degrees.  

The CPE may direct a PEI to stop the deployment of a teacher whom the Council deems unsuitable.

Course Administration

A registered PEI must adhere to the requirements specified by the CPE when administering any course offered or provided. In addition to the conditions specified in the Private Education Regulations, when the situation warrants it, the CPE may impose Terms and Conditions under section 43 of the Private Education Act, when granting permission for the PEI to offer or provide any course. 

Association with Other Institutions or Persons

A registered PEI must inform the CPE within 14 days, if it has established any association, collaboration or affiliation with any other institutions or persons, either local or foreign, in respect of any of its courses. Such association, collaboration or affiliation could include the establishment of articulation pathways, the accreditation or validation of courses developed by the private education institution, and joint course development.

If the association results in major changes to the course contents, or the award- conferring body of the course, or any other changes such that the information about the course in the CPE’s registers is no longer valid, the Council may require the PEI to re-seek permission to offer the course. 

Issuance of Certificates

No PEI is allowed to jointly confer or award any associate degree, or any undergraduate or graduate qualifications. For example, if an external degree programme (EDP) is validated by a foreign university which meets the CPE’s criteria to offer EDPS in Singapore, the degree scroll is required to be the same as that conferred to students studying at the university’s home campus, and must not contain the PEI’s name or logo.

The PEI may, however, jointly issue certificates and diplomas with an external course developer if the PEI has proper permission from the external course developer to do so. At the same time, the PEI must ensure that the external course developer is authentic and has proper authorisation from its home government to offer its programmes overseas.

Fee Collection

With the exception of imposing charges for late payment of course fees, a PEI is not allowed to collect a deposit or penalty from any student for any purpose, regardless of whether such deposit or penalty is refundable or not.

A registered PEI must maintain the following fee collection schedule for courses longer than two months in duration:

• If the PEI is not a member of the industry-wide course fee protection scheme approved by the CPE, the PEI may collect fees from any student according to the following schedule:
  
  

  -	The first payment at any time before the commencement date of the course is a fee of not more than two months of the total course fees, calculated based on the formula: A x 2, B where A is the total amount of the course fee, and B is the total duration of the course (in months);
  -	The second payment of not more than the above amount is collected at least seven weeks after the commencement date of the course; and
  -	Subsequent payments of not more than the amount above are collected at intervals of at least two months from the second payment date.

• If the PEI is a member of an industry-wide course fee protection scheme approved by the CPE, the PEI may collect fees from any student according to the following schedule:
  
  

  -	The first payment at any time before the commencement date of the course is a fee of not more than six months of the total course fees, calculated based on the formula: A x C, B where A is the total amount of the course fee, B is the total duration of the course (in months), and C is a number not more than six, and which represents the number of months of fees to be collected at any one time;
  -	The second payment of not more than the amount above is collected at least D weeks after the commencement date of the course, where D is calculated according to the following formula: [(C x 4) – 1]; and
  -	Subsequent payments of not more than the amount above are collected at intervals of at least C months from the second payment date.

Student Contract

A registered PEI must ensure that it does not enrol any student for any course that has commenced unless it has the student’s acknowledgement and agreement in writing to join the class which has already started.

Prior to enrolling any student, the PEI must ensure that the student, or his parent/legal guardian, has acknowledged in writing that he, or his parent/legal guardian, has read the Advisory Note to Students (Form 12), as stipulated by the CPE. 

A registered PEI must enter into an agreement or contract with any student who enrolls in a course which is more than two months in duration. The PEI must ensure that the agreement or contract does not:

• include provisions that will allow the PEI to make unilateral changes to any term or condition of the agreement or contract; and
  
  
• have provisions that will allow the PEI to collect any fee for the remainder of the course from any student who has withdrawn from a course before its end date.

For each course longer than two months, a registered PEI must ensure that the PEI-Student agreement or contract specifies the following items clearly: 

• Duration of the course, and whether it is offered or provided on a full-time or part-time basis;
  
  
• Commencement date and end date of the course; scheduled holidays, if any;
  
  
• Dates of all examinations, and major assessments and assignments;
  
  
• Expected date of the release of the results of the final examination, which shall not be more than three months after the completion of the final examination, unless otherwise permitted by the CPE;
  
  
• Expected date of the conferment of the award;
  
  
• Full names of the developer or proprietor of the course, and the person, organisation or institution conferring the award;
  
  
• Components of all fees payable by the student;
  
  
• Fee collection schedule, including any late fee payment policy; and
  
  
• Fee refund policy of the registered PEI.

Advertisements and Information Disclosure 

To enable prospective students to make informed choices, the CPE has established advertisement guidelines and stipulated the type of information that must be disclosed by PEIs. Registered PEIS also have to ensure that any information changes are to be updated within 14 days of the new development.