Private education compliance in Singapore
Private education institutions in Singapore are regulated under the Private Education Act 2009 by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA). CAQA helps institutions prepare registration, work towards EduTrust certification, and keep quality systems ready for review.
Registration. Quality systems. Australian partnerships.
Who regulates private education in Singapore
- SWDA was established on 1 July 2026 through the merger of SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore. It is a statutory board under the Ministry of Manpower, jointly overseen with the Ministry of Education.
- SWDA administers the Private Education Act 2009. Private education institutions offering covered courses must register with SWDA under the Enhanced Registration Framework.
- EduTrust certification sits within the same framework and is needed to enrol international students on a Student's Pass.
- Courses funded under SkillsFuture schemes are approved separately, through the organisation and course registration on TPGateway.
- Private education regulation now sits with SWDA, so older guidance naming other bodies should be checked against current SWDA requirements.
Registering a private education institution
- Incorporate the organisation in Singapore.
- Register with SWDA under the Enhanced Registration Framework for the courses you plan to offer.
- Seek EduTrust certification if you plan to enrol international students.
- For funded courses, register the organisation and each course through TPGateway.
International students
To enrol international students on a Student's Pass, an institution needs EduTrust certification. The pass itself is issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
Working with Australia
Singapore institutions often deliver or articulate into Australian qualifications. An Australian RTO delivering in Singapore must notify ASQA when offshore delivery starts and report the location, and partnerships need clear responsibility for training and assessment. Setting up in Australia needs an Australian company, fit and proper people and independently assessed financial viability. See entering the Australian VET market.
How CAQA helps Singapore institutions
- Enhanced Registration Framework preparation and renewals
- EduTrust readiness reviews and quality systems
- Course documentation for funded course approval
- Partnership and offshore delivery arrangements with Australian RTOs
- Australian registration for Singapore organisations
We work with Singapore institutions remotely and on site by arrangement, and agree the consultant, scope, fees and time zone before work starts.
Questions from Singapore institutions
Who regulates private education in Singapore now?
SWDA, established on 1 July 2026, administers the Private Education Act 2009.
Do we need EduTrust?
Yes, if you plan to enrol international students on a Student's Pass.
Is funded course approval part of registration?
No. Funded courses are registered separately through TPGateway.
Sources
Countries we work in
Working in Australia? See our consultancy services.