🇸🇬 Singapore · Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Singapore — government, university, and international programs.
Quick answer
Singapore focuses funding on research and graduate study: the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) funds international PhD students at A*STAR, NUS, NTU and SUTD, and A*STAR runs further research scholarships. The autonomous universities also offer their own awards. Explore options on the scheme and university sites and apply by their deadlines.
Singapore's best-known government scholarship for international students is the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA), a fully-funded PhD programme in science and technology run by A*STAR with NTU, NUS, SMU and SUTD. Beyond SINGA, the major universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD) offer their own scholarships and graduate research awards. Funding is concentrated at postgraduate level.
- SINGA is a fully-funded four-year PhD in science and technology: tuition, a monthly stipend, an airfare grant and a settling-in allowance.
- It is for international students studying in Singapore for the first time; Singaporeans/PRs and those who already studied in Singapore are not eligible.
- Good written and spoken English and strong academic results are required; selection is merit-based across A*STAR institutes and the partner universities.
- For non-STEM or other levels, check each Singapore university's own scholarship and financial-aid pages.
Step-by-step
- 1
Map the funding landscape
Map Singapore funding: the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA, PhD), A*STAR research scholarships and university awards.
- 2
Check eligibility and deadlines
Confirm eligibility (level, nationality, grades, language) and note that scholarship deadlines are often months before course start.
- 3
Prepare your documents
Prepare transcripts, a language-test score, reference letters, a strong personal statement and (for research) a proposal.
- 4
Apply to the scheme and university
Submit the scholarship application and, where required, a separate university/admission application by each deadline.
- 5
Interview, results and acceptance
Attend any interview or selection stage; if awarded, formally accept the scholarship and your study place.
- 6
Handle visa, funds and conditions
Apply for your student visa, arrange disbursement, and note any conditions such as progress requirements or a return/service obligation.
Checklist
- Funding sources identified (government / university / private)
- Eligibility + deadlines confirmed
- Transcripts + language test + references
- Personal statement / research proposal
- Scholarship + university applications submitted
- Interview / selection completed
- Offer accepted + funding terms understood
- Student visa + disbursement + any bond/return rules
Official authorities
- Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)
A*STAR fully-funded PhD scholarship in science and technology.
Frequently asked questions
What is SINGA?
The Singapore International Graduate Award — a PhD scholarship for international students at A*STAR, NUS, NTU and SUTD, covering fees and a stipend.
Is Singapore funding mainly for research?
Largely yes — the main national scholarships target PhD and research; coursework students rely more on university awards.
Do universities offer their own scholarships?
Yes — NUS, NTU and the other autonomous universities offer merit and need-based awards for international students.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Singapore Government — Singapore's integrated government services portal — unified Singpass identity login
- Immigration & Checkpoints Authority — Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, PR and citizenship applications in Singapore
- Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore — Personal and corporate income tax, GST filing, and tax incentive lookup