Framework and MOE Guidance to IHLs on Prioritising Students with Long Commuting Distances in On-campus Hostel Allocation

47 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry will work with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) that provide on-campus accommodation to develop a framework that prioritises students with long commuting distances from home; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider providing feedback to IHLs to incorporate travel time as a criterion in hostel allocation under the current system.

Mr Desmond Lee: Four of our autonomous universities (AUs), namely the Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Management University and the Singapore University of Technology and Design, have student hostels. Given the limited hostel capacity, they tend to prioritise contributions to hostel or campus life when allocating hostel places. Nevertheless, when students appeal for hostel places, most AUs will take into consideration various factors, including students' individual circumstances and commuting distances.