Professional Capability Grant (PCG) — Sabbatical Leave Scheme
The Sabbatical Leave Scheme offers social service professionals 10 weeks of paid leave with salary support of up to $15,000. Available for Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Counsellors, and EIPIC teachers. After completing the sabbatical, recipients may be asked to mentor junior professionals and must conduct a sharing session and submit a written report.
Eligibility Criteria
- 01
Must be registered with relevant professional body (SASW for social workers, AHPC for allied health, SPS for psychologists, SAC for counsellors)
- 02
Minimum 5 years of direct work experience in the sector
- 03
Must be employed at an NCSS member or MSF-funded organisation
- 04
Must not currently be serving any bonds
- 05
Discuss proposed sabbatical plans with employer before applying
How to Apply
1. Discuss sabbatical plans with your current employer 2. Apply via the OurSG Grants (OSG) portal at oursggrants.gov.sg 3. Quarterly application deadlines: 31 March, 31 July, 30 September, 30 November 4. Wait for application outcome (approx 2.5 months after deadline) 5. Accept programme addendum via OurSG portal before proceeding with leave
Claims and Disbursement
After sabbatical, conduct a sharing session within your organisation and submit a written report to your employer and NCSS.
Frequently Asked Questions
It provides 10 weeks of paid leave with salary support of up to $15,000 for social service professionals to rejuvenate. Available for social workers, OTs, PTs, speech therapists, psychologists, counsellors, and EIPIC teachers.
Quarterly: 31 March (outcome by 15 June), 31 July (outcome by 15 October), 30 September (outcome by 15 December), 30 November (outcome by 15 February).
Conduct a sharing session within your organisation, submit a written report to your employer and NCSS, and you may be asked to mentor junior professionals.
Related Grants
Professional Capability Grant (PCG) — Overseas Training Grant
NCSS
Up to 60% of actual expenditure, capped at $20,000. Up to 80% if presenting a paper at a conference.
The Overseas Training Grant supports specialised training programmes that are not available in Singapore, including short-term conferences and seminars, specialised certification courses, and study trips. Higher funding rates are available for professionals presenting papers at international conferences, encouraging agencies to showcase their work to the international community.
Professional Capability Grant (PCG) — Professional Development Sponsorship
NCSS
Graduate Diploma/Degree in Social Work or Masters in Psychology: up to 75% of course fees, capped at $99,400. Other social service graduate/postgraduate studies: up to 50%, capped at $37,500.
The Professional Development Sponsorship provides funding for in-service staff at social service agencies to achieve their first recognised qualifications in social work and psychology. It also offers training support for additional graduate and postgraduate studies in social services. A bond period pegged to study duration applies. Liquidated damages apply for non-compliance.
Professional Capability Grant (PCG) — Open Grant
NCSS
Single agency: up to 80% of approved cost, max $100,000. Multi-agency: up to 100%, max $200,000. Clinical supervision: up to 80%, max $100,000 over 2 years.
The Open Grant empowers initiatives within the social service sector to enhance professional capabilities through diverse projects, including clinical supervision. It supports agencies in engaging external consultants for clinical supervision, fostering the growth of social workers, case workers, counsellors, and psychologists. Projects must be one-off and non-recurring. Multi-agency collaborative projects receive higher funding caps.
Income OrangeAid Caregiver Support Accelerator Grant
NCSS
Up to $200,000/year for 2 years, with possible 3rd-year extension of up to $100,000. Up to 10 programmes funded per grant call.
A strategic partnership between Income Insurance Limited and NCSS to accelerate the growth of social service programmes through innovative, collaborative, and empowering solutions that strengthen caregivers' resilience and ease their caregiving burden. Selected applicants attend accelerator workshops on design thinking to refine programme design, followed by a pitch session. Up to 10 grantee programmes are funded per grant call.
SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP)
SkillsFuture Singapore
Up to 95% course fee funding for eligible jobseekers, up to 90% for other eligible trainees. Can be combined with SkillsFuture Credit.
The SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) supports mid-career individuals in acquiring industry-relevant skills to improve employability and pivot to new sectors or job roles. This train-and-place programme is available in part-time or full-time format, typically ranging from three to 12 months, and is delivered by Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centres with employment facilitation services. Courses under the SCTP have been progressively launched since April 2022, with a target to have at least 200 SCTP courses by 2025. The programme focuses on sectors with good hiring opportunities such as Infocomm and Technology, Professional Services, and Advanced Manufacturing. It operates on a train-and-place modality with career advisory and employment assistance.
SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES)
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)
Up to 90% of course fees for CET Centre courses, up to 70% for other certifiable courses
The SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy recognises that mid-career Singaporeans may face greater challenges in undertaking training and provides additional subsidies to encourage upskilling and reskilling to adapt to changing job requirements. It offers higher subsidies of up to 90% of course fees for SSG-supported courses and at least 90% of programme cost for MOE-subsidised courses. This enhanced subsidy is designed specifically for Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above, covering courses ranging from Nitec to postgraduate level across universities, polytechnics, ITE, and arts institutions. Eligible individuals must first qualify for the MOE/SSG base course fee subsidy to receive the enhanced rate.