The distinction between self-sponsored and company-sponsored WSQ courses in Singapore lies in how the courses are funded and who bears the financial responsibility for the training.
In self-sponsored WSQ courses, the individual learner (participant) is responsible for funding the course fees. They are eligible for the following funding support:
| Criteria |
Funding |
| Certifiable courses |
| Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) |
Up to 50% of course fees |
| SCs aged ≥ 40 years old (SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidy) |
Up to 70% of course fees |
Eligible participants can also use their SkillsFuture Credits to offset the remaining course fees.
When it comes to company-sponsored WSQ courses, the employer or the company bears the financial responsibility for funding the course fees of their employees. They are eligible for the following funding support:
| Criteria |
Funding |
| Certifiable courses |
| Courses conducted by external training providers |
In-house certifiable training* |
| Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) |
Up to 50% of course fees |
$7 per hour |
| SCs aged ≥ 40 years old (SkillsFuture Mid-career Enhanced Subsidy) |
Up to 70% of course fees |
| Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) (Enhanced Training Support for SMEs) |
$15 per hour |
*After 31 December 2024, SSG will stop funding non-certifiable courses and in-house training.
If the training is company-sponsored, employees can't use their SkillsFuture Credit to co-fund the course fees of training with their employer.
Apart from the funding for the course fees, employers are also eligible for Absentee Payroll Funding for SSG-approved courses as below:
| Criteria |
Funding |
| Certifiable courses |
| Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) |
$4.50 per hour, capped at $100,000 per enterprise per calendar year |
| SCs aged ≥ 35 years old earning a monthly salary ≤$2,300 (Workfare Skills Support) |
95% of the hourly basic salary |
