The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a powerhouse PhD fellowship. It is a joint collaboration between A*STAR (Singapore's elite government research agency) and its top universities (NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU). It is explicitly designed to poach the best young scientific minds globally and plug them into Singapore's massive biomedical and engineering labs.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.5
- Offer Degrees
- PhD
- Subjects
- Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics
- Seats Available
- Around 240 annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Yes
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Optional
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- Full tuition, monthly stipend (SGD 2,700 - 3,200), flight grant (SGD 1,500), and settling allowance (SGD 1,000).
- Monthly Stipend
- SGD 2700/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It is arguably the most financially comfortable PhD scholarship in Asia. You pay zero tuition. You receive a flight grant of SGD 1,500, a settling-in allowance of SGD 1,000, and a massive monthly stipend of SGD 2,700 (which automatically bumps up to SGD 3,200 after you pass your PhD qualifying exam).
You conduct your research in state-of-the-art A*STAR laboratories, which are funded like corporate R&D centers rather than cash-strapped university departments.
Application Process
You apply directly through the A*STAR online portal. You do not need to apply to the university separately first; SINGA handles the funnel. You must submit your transcripts, two academic referee reports (which must be submitted online by the referees themselves), and select specific A*STAR research projects/supervisors you want to work with.
How to Win This Scholarship
The selection is ruthless. They are looking for proven research capability. If you do not have publications, your chances are slim unless you come from an absolute top-tier undergraduate institution (like IIT in India, or Tsinghua in China).
The interview is notoriously grueling; you will be grilled by a panel of senior scientists who will aggressively question the methodology of your past undergraduate/master's thesis. Your best strategy is to comb through the A*STAR researcher directory, find a Principle Investigator (PI) whose lab aligns with your skills, and cold-email them before you apply to establish a connection.
Benefits After Completing Study
There is NO bond attached to the SINGA scholarship. You are free to take your world-class PhD and leave Singapore, though many stay to work in Singapore's booming tech and pharma sectors.
Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents cannot apply. You must be prepared for the extreme pressure-cooker environment of Singaporean academia; expectations for publishing in high-impact journals are immense.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source