Strengthening SMU's commitment to inclusive education with Access Plus

SMU has always believed in the transformative power of education, and has been committed to fostering innovation, transcending boundaries, and transforming lives by nurturing a community of independent, lifelong learners.

Education is the key to unlocking a bright future, and no student should ever feel held back by financial challenges when it comes to pursuing this important journey.

To further this mission, the University is introducing SMU Access Plus – an enhanced financial assistance programme designed to support even more students in need.

This is its most generous financial assistance scheme to date and reflects SMU's ongoing commitment to making its world-class education accessible to all students, regardless of their financial circumstances.

More access to aid, even more benefits

SMU Access Plus is designed to benefit over 3,000 students annually, a significant increase from the 200 students who qualified each year for the previous SMU Access plan.

The enhanced programme eliminates barriers such as housing type and loan requirements, focusing solely on Per Capita Income (PCI) and citizenship for eligibility, without any caps on the number of awards or minimum cumulative GPA requirements.

In addition to covering full tuition fees for students with a PCI of $1,100 or lower, SMU Access Plus also offers a Global Experience Grant of $4,000 over four years to students with a PCI of less than $2,500, regardless of nationality.

Professor Lily Kong, President of SMU, said, “Experiencing the world through the lens of university education is a transformative opportunity – one that fosters international networks, broadens horizons, and opens doors to new possibilities.

“Such opportunities for global exposure should be accessible to every student, regardless of financial circumstance.”

The Global Experience Grant aligns with SMU’s mission to develop globally minded leaders by providing financial assistance for global exposure, which has been a graduation requirement since 2018.

For students with a PCI of $750 or lower, SMU Access Plus further eases their burden with an annual living allowance of $4,000, to support students and their families in managing the cost of living while pursuing a world-class education at SMU.

The application process for this programme has been designed to be simple and entirely online, making it easier for students to access. Multiple team members thoroughly review applications to ensure fairness and transparency.

See also: SMU's financial aid scheme to benefit over 3,000 students yearly | SMU Newsroom