Translation Talent Development Scheme (TTDS)

Translation Talent Development Scheme (TTDS)

What is the Translation Talent Development Scheme

The Translation Talent Development Scheme (TTDS) – an initiative by the National Translation Committee (NTC) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information – supports Singaporean translation and interpretation (T&I) practitioners from the private sector in deepening their skills.

Awarded recipients can receive up to S$10,000 to upskill. This can be used to offset 90 per cent of the expenses incurred in their participation of capability development programme(s) related to translation, interpretation and/or languages in Singapore and overseas.

Check your eligibility for TTDS

You can apply for TTDS if you fulfil all of the following criteria:

  • Are you a Singaporean T&I practitioner in the private sector?

    A full-time staff employed in a translation agency, and who deals with translation and/or interpretation regularly in the course of work

    or

    A full-time staff employed in other industries/businesses (e.g. media organisations, creative agencies, production/publishing houses, IT-related companies, law firms), but deals with translation and/or interpretation regularly in the course of work

    or

    A self-employed individual who predominantly engages in and makes a living from translation and/or interpretation work

  • Do you work in the English and Chinese, English and Malay, or English and Tamil language pairs?

  • Do you have at least one year of combined experience in translation and/or interpretation?

  • Have you enrolled in, applied to or are planning to apply to capability development programme(s) related to translation, interpretation and/or languages within the eligibility period, i.e.

    Programme duration

    Period of eligibility

    Up to one year

    Start or end between 1 April of the application year and 31 March of the following year (both dates inclusive)

    Exceeds one year

    End within three years of the application year by 31 March

Use this applicant checklist to check your eligibility for applying for TTDS.

Key steps

 Before application

  1. Choose your capability development programme(s)

Find out more about capability development programmes supported by the TTDS

The TTDS supports the following types of capability development programmes related to translation, interpretation and/or languages in Singapore and overseas:

  • Short courses, workshops and intensive summer courses

  • Courses that lead to a full qualification (e.g. Diploma, Bachelor’s degree, Postgraduate diploma, Master’s degree)

  • Conferences, seminars and webinars

  • Certification examinations

Examples of capability development programmes include those related to:

  • General translation/interpretation

  • Specialised translation (e.g. audio-visual translation, legal translation, business and financial translation)

  • Specialised interpretation (e.g. conference interpreting)

  • Translation technology (e.g. computer-assisted translation, machine translation)

  • Applied linguistics

All programmes will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis against the applicant’s stated capability development plans.

  1. Prepare for application

Find out when applications open and how many capability development programmes you can apply for

Applications open from 1 April to 30 June (both dates inclusive) each year.

Each application may include multiple capability development programmes, as long as they are within the period of eligibility and are related to translation, interpretation and/or languages.

Applicants are required to declare other sources of funding for the proposed capability development programme(s), including funding that has been received and funding that the applicant is applying for, or intends to apply for.

During application

  1. How to apply

    Learn how to apply for TTDS and what documents are required

    You are required to submit the TTDS application form (accessible only during the application period) as well as prepare the following documents for inclusion in the form:

    • Proof of enrolment OR application OR awaiting confirmation/invitation from the programme provider OR details of upcoming programme that has yet to commence application, for each capability development programme

    • Translation portfolio and/or testimonials from clients

    • Capability Development Plan form (accessible only during the application period)

    The TTDS application form consists of the following sections:

    • Personal particulars

    • Education and work experience

    • Capability development programme(s)

    • Capability development plan

    • Declaration

    Only applications that are submitted within the application period, complete and fulfil the eligibility criteria will be considered.

  1. Understand the evaluation criteria

    Learn about the evaluation criteria

    Each application will be assessed based on the quality and relevance of applicants’ capability development programme(s) against their capability development objectives, their track record, and their commitment to the development of translation and interpretation in Singapore.

APPLY NOW <hyperlink to application form, only available during the application period>

After application

  1. What to expect after you have applied for the TTDS

Learn about the evaluation process

The evaluation process works as such:

(1) All applications are rigorously assessed by a panel of assessors, who will shortlist applicants for an interview

(2) Shortlisted applicants are invited to attend a panel interview in August/September

(3) Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome by October

  1. Understand the funding award and recipients’ obligations

    If you are offered the TTDS, TTDS recipients can receive up to S$10,000 on a reimbursement basis, to offset 90 per cent of the expenses incurred in their participation of capability development programmes. The expenses eligible for reimbursement include:

    Programme conducted in Singapore

    Programme conducted overseas

    • Course / workshop / conference / seminar / webinar / examination fees

    • Cost of compulsory training materials

    • Course / workshop / conference / seminar / webinar / examination fees

      Cost of compulsory training materials

    • Economy-class airfare for one return flight from Singapore to programme venue (if physical attendance overseas is required)

    • Visa fees (if applicable)
    Infographics explaining how much funding a recipient is eligible for

    TTDS recipients will be appointed as NTC Ambassadors for a duration of up to two years and are required to contribute their expertise to NTC initiatives.

Frequently asked questions

Can I participate in multiple capability development programmes?

Yes, so long as the programmes proposed in your application are within the period of eligibility. You should however, indicate your interest in the multiple capability development programmes when applying for the TTDS and not after being awarded. The NTC will at its sole discretion, decide whether to offer the TTDS for one or more of the multiple capability development programmes indicated in your application.

I am already pursuing my capability development programme. Can I still apply for the TTDS?

Yes, if the programme falls within the period of eligibility of the TTDS. For programmes up to one year, they must start or end between 1 April of the application year and 31 March of the following year (both dates inclusive). For programmes exceeding one year, they must end within three years of the application year by 31 March.

I am waiting for confirmation to be enrolled in the capability development programme. Can I still apply for the TTDS?

Yes, please submit your application before the deadline. You will be required to indicate whether you have applied for and been selected for the programme in the application form, as well as provide proof of your application to register for the programme and the programme provider’s acknowledgement of your application. The NTC will assess on a case-by-case basis whether there is sufficient evidence/assurance that you will be successfully enrolled.

Can I apply for the TTDS if I have received other grants or scholarships?

Recipients must not concurrently be in receipt of or hold any other scholarships, bursaries, study loans, financial aids, grants, rebates, subsidies, sponsorships or other awards or benefits of a monetary nature without the prior written approval of MDDI. This does not include MOE tuition fee grants, and subsidies, grants, and other funding from SkillsFuture Singapore. Applicants must declare any additional sources of funding from other public and private organisations. MDDI reserves the right to decide whether to award the TTDS or adjust the funding amount.

If you have further queries, please reach out to the NTC Secretariat by submitting the TTDS enquiry form.