Singapore International Student Scholarships Guide 2026
Updated August 2026 guide to major Singapore scholarships for international students. Covers NUS ASEAN and International Undergraduate Scholarships, NTU ASEAN and Nanyang Global Scholarships, SMU awards and SINGA PhD funding.
Statutory Overview & Academic Framework
Singapore's universities and research institutions offer a wide range of scholarships, but they are not one single government 'full scholarship' programme and their benefits, nationalities, study levels and obligations differ substantially. For international undergraduate applicants, current university examples include the NUS ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship, NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship, NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship, NTU Nanyang Global Scholarship and SMU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship and Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme. For doctoral study, the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a separate research award for international students pursuing qualifying PhD or EngD training in science and engineering through A*STAR and participating Singapore universities. Scholarship benefits must be checked programme by programme. For example, the NUS ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship provides 100% coverage of subsidised undergraduate tuition fees after the MOE Tuition Grant, S$5,800 annual living allowance, S$1,750 one-time computer allowance and S$3,000 annual accommodation allowance. NUS's International Undergraduate Scholarship similarly covers 100% of subsidised tuition fees after the MOE Tuition Grant and provides S$5,800 annual living allowance, S$1,750 computer allowance and S$5,000 annual accommodation allowance. NTU's current Nanyang Global Scholarship covers full subsidised tuition after Tuition Grant, S$6,500 annual living allowance, up to S$2,000 accommodation allowance for NTU hostel residents, up to S$8,000 travel grant for eligible overseas programmes and a S$2,000 computer allowance. SMU's ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship covers 100% of subsidised undergraduate tuition after the MOE Tuition Grant, S$5,800 annual living allowance, S$1,750 one-time computer allowance and S$3,000 annual accommodation allowance, while requiring recipients to maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.4/4.0. SINGA is different: it funds up to four years of PhD study, including tuition fees, a monthly stipend of S$2,700 before the qualifying examination and S$3,200 after passing it under the published award terms, plus a one-time airfare grant of up to S$1,500 and S$1,000 settling-in allowance. The original page incorrectly treated NUS Global Merit Scholarship as an international-student award; NUS currently lists that scholarship for Singapore Citizens, while international freshmen are directed to awards such as the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship, ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship and Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship. Likewise, NTU's former Nanyang Scholarship is now presented as the Nanyang Global Scholarship. MOE Tuition Grant and scholarship conditions must also be kept separate: an international undergraduate scholarship may require the recipient to take the MOE Tuition Grant, which in turn can create a three-year service obligation for Singapore Permanent Residents and international students. The scholarship itself may be bond-free even though accepting the Tuition Grant creates that separate obligation. Scholarship continuation usually depends on the individual award's academic and conduct conditions; there is no universal 3.5–4.0 GPA rule across Singapore scholarships. Scholarships are highly competitive, and published academic qualifications are not universal cut-offs such as IB 40+, A-Level AAA* or CBSE 95%. Applicants should use each institution's current qualification requirements and scholarship page.
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Major Undergraduate Merit Scholarships (NUS, NTU, SMU)
| Scholarship | Institution | Study Level | Eligible Nationalities | Application Route | Benefits | Renewal | Bond | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUS ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | NUS | Undergraduate | Citizens of ASEAN member countries other than Singapore | Considered through the NUS undergraduate admission application. | 100% coverage of subsidised undergraduate tuition fees after MOE Tuition Grant S$5,800 annual living allowance S$1,750 one-time computer allowance S$3,000 annual accommodation allowance | Renewed every semester subject to at least 3.50 GPA or equivalent and good conduct. | The scholarship itself has no bond, but recipients who take the MOE Tuition Grant are subject to the separate three-year Tuition Grant service obligation if they are Singapore Permanent Residents or international students. | NUS states that recipients are not guaranteed employment after graduation. |
NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship | NUS | Undergraduate | Citizens of all countries except Singapore | Considered through the NUS undergraduate admission application. | 100% coverage of subsidised undergraduate tuition fees after MOE Tuition Grant S$5,800 annual living allowance S$1,750 one-time computer allowance S$5,000 annual accommodation allowance | Renewed every semester subject to at least 3.50 GPA or equivalent and good conduct, with specific cohort rules for Law, Medicine and Dentistry where applicable. | The scholarship itself has no bond, but recipients who take the MOE Tuition Grant are subject to the separate three-year Tuition Grant service obligation if they are Singapore Permanent Residents or international students. | |
NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | NTU | Undergraduate | Singapore Permanent Residents or citizens of ASEAN countries other than Singapore | Scholarship application follows the NTU undergraduate admissions application and uses the same application period for the relevant qualification route. | Full coverage of subsidised tuition fees after Tuition Grant S$5,800 annual living allowance S$3,000 annual accommodation allowance S$1,750 one-time computer allowance | Requires a minimum CGPA of 3.5/5.0 and good conduct, reviewed every semester. | No scholarship bond apart from the three-year MOE Tuition Grant bond applicable to Singapore Permanent Residents and international students who take the Tuition Grant. | |
NTU Nanyang Global Scholarship | NTU | Undergraduate | All nationalities | Applicants submit the scholarship application after the NTU admission application and within the relevant admission period. | Full coverage of subsidised tuition fees after Tuition Grant S$6,500 annual living allowance Up to S$2,000 annual accommodation allowance for scholarship holders residing in NTU hostels Up to S$8,000 travel grant for eligible overseas programmes for new cohorts under the current terms S$2,000 one-time computer allowance Enrolment into NTU Honours College | Requires a minimum CGPA of 3.5/5.0 and good conduct, reviewed every semester. | No separate scholarship bond apart from the three-year MOE Tuition Grant bond where applicable. | |
SMU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | SMU | Undergraduate | Citizens of ASEAN member countries other than Singapore | Apply concurrently with the SMU undergraduate admission application. | 100% coverage of subsidised undergraduate tuition fees after MOE Tuition Grant S$5,800 annual living allowance S$1,750 one-time computer allowance S$3,000 annual accommodation allowance | Requires a minimum CGPA of 3.4/4.0 and satisfactory conduct, reviewed each academic term. | The scholarship itself has no bond, but recipients must take the MOE Tuition Grant, creating the separate three-year service obligation for eligible Singapore Permanent Residents and international students. | SMU states that recipients must secure their own employment to fulfil the MOE Tuition Grant obligation; SMU does not guarantee job placement. |
SMU Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme | SMU | Undergraduate | International eligibility should be checked against the current SMU programme rules and admissions route. | Full four-year tuition fee waiver One-off notebook grant Sponsorship for an international exchange programme Overseas study mission International community service project | Award is subject to the programme's academic and conduct requirements. | The original page mentioned the programme but did not explain that its benefits and eligibility are distinct from the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship. |
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA PhD Research Award)
Singapore International Graduate Award
PhD or qualifying doctoral/EngD training
International graduates with strong academic results and research interest, intended primarily for international students undertaking doctoral training in Singapore for the first time.
Science and engineering disciplines covered by the current SINGA research projects.
Up to 4 years of PhD study.
SINGA is a research award and should not be confused with the MOE Tuition Grant. Its published award terms do not impose the ordinary three-year MOE Tuition Grant service obligation described for undergraduate Tuition Grant recipients.
The original page's SINGA description mixed an academic research award with undergraduate scholarship rules and overstated the stipend range. SINGA is a separate doctoral research award, not an undergraduate scholarship.
Scholarship Eligibility & Academic Selection Principles
Singapore universities describe applicants as having outstanding or excellent academic results for these competitive awards, but they generally do not publish one universal IB 40+, A-Level AAA* or CBSE 95% threshold that applies across all scholarships.
The original academic cut-offs were presented as universal requirements. They are not universal Singapore scholarship thresholds.
Leadership, co-curricular involvement, personal achievements, community contribution and other qualities can matter for merit scholarships, but the balance differs by award.
Nationality is scholarship-specific. Some awards target ASEAN citizens, some are open to all international students, and some are limited to Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Several freshman scholarships explicitly exclude local or overseas university transfer applicants. Applicants must check each award's eligibility.
Some scholarships exclude or limit particular programmes, especially professional degrees such as Medicine, Dentistry or Music.
Tuition Grant 3-Year Obligation vs Work Passes
For several major international undergraduate scholarships, the scholarship covers the subsidised tuition fee after the recipient takes the MOE Tuition Grant.
The MOE Tuition Grant service obligation is separate from the scholarship. A scholarship may itself be described as bond-free while still requiring the recipient to take the Tuition Grant.
Eligible Singapore Permanent Residents and international students who accept the MOE Tuition Grant generally must work for a Singapore-registered company for three years after graduation under the Tuition Grant agreement.
The ordinary MOE Tuition Grant does not impose this three-year service obligation on Singapore Citizens.
Taking a scholarship or Tuition Grant does not guarantee a job in Singapore after graduation.
The original page incorrectly described most undergraduate scholarships as directly carrying a standard three-year scholarship bond. The bond normally arises from the separate MOE Tuition Grant agreement where that grant is taken.
Semester Scholarship Renewal & GPA Requirements
There is no single Singapore-wide scholarship renewal GPA. Current examples range from 3.4/4.0 at SMU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship to 3.5/5.0 at NUS ASEAN, NUS International Undergraduate and NTU scholarships.
| Scholarship | Minimum |
|---|---|
NUS ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | GPA 3.50 or equivalent |
NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship | GPA 3.50 or equivalent, with specified special rules for some professional cohorts |
NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | CGPA 3.5/5.0 |
NTU Nanyang Global Scholarship | CGPA 3.5/5.0 |
SMU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | CGPA 3.4/4.0 |
Academic renewal is usually also conditional on good conduct and compliance with the scholarship's other terms.
The original '3.5 to 4.0 out of 5.0' universal renewal rule was inaccurate.
AY2026/27 Scholarship Application Timelines
NUS scholarship consideration for the relevant freshmen scholarships follows the undergraduate admissions timeline.
NUS stated that its AY2026 scholarship application for NUS Scholarships commenced from 1 February to 19 March 2026 for the applicable scholarship group; international scholarships such as ASEAN Undergraduate and NUS International Undergraduate are considered through the corresponding admissions timeline.
The NTU scholarship application follows the relevant undergraduate admissions period for the applicant's qualification route.
Applicants are required to submit the NTU admission application before the scholarship application for awards such as Nanyang Global and ASEAN Undergraduate.
SMU undergraduate scholarship applications are submitted concurrently with the admission application for awards such as the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship.
SINGA operates separate doctoral application windows and research-project selection. Applicants should use the current A*STAR/SINGA cycle rather than assuming undergraduate admission dates.
The original 'apply October to February / during university admissions window' process was too generic and does not fit all scholarship categories or doctoral awards.
Comparison of Popular Scholarship Search Intents
| User Goal | Relevant Awards | Main Difference |
|---|---|---|
ASEAN undergraduate funding | NUS ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship SMU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | All three support high-achieving ASEAN applicants, but their renewal rules, programme restrictions and application processes differ. |
NUS undergraduate scholarship for a non-ASEAN international student | Open to citizens of all countries except Singapore and includes tuition, living, computer and accommodation benefits under current terms. | |
NTU broad international merit scholarship | Open to all nationalities and currently includes higher living support and an overseas-programme travel grant under the published terms. | |
SMU elite undergraduate scholarship | Offers a full four-year tuition waiver plus international and experiential components and is distinct from the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship. | |
International PhD in science and engineering | Doctoral research funding rather than undergraduate scholarship support, with tuition, monthly stipend and one-time allowances. |
Step-by-Step Admissions & Visa Application Process
Identify the correct scholarship and study level
Separate undergraduate university scholarships from doctoral awards such as SINGA. Check nationality, qualification, programme and transfer-status rules before applying.
Check the current scholarship page for your institution
Use the university's current scholarship page for the exact award, benefits, renewal conditions, exclusions and application route.
Submit the university admission application
Many undergraduate scholarships are considered through or after the university admission application and use the same relevant admissions window.
Submit scholarship-specific materials
Depending on the scholarship, this can include an essay, referee appraisal, co-curricular record, portfolio, academic results or other supporting information.
Complete interviews or assessments if shortlisted
Universities may interview shortlisted scholarship applicants. The exact selection process differs by institution and award.
Review the award and Tuition Grant terms before accepting
Check whether the scholarship requires the MOE Tuition Grant and understand any separate three-year service obligation before accepting.
Meet renewal requirements
Maintain the scholarship's stated academic, conduct and programme-participation requirements throughout candidature.
Required Documents & Application Checklist
There is no universal Singapore scholarship document pack. Some awards require referee forms and essays, while others use the admissions application for scholarship consideration.
Common Misconceptions & Application Pitfalls
Practical Action Checklist
Key 2026 Academic Updates & Policy Context
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
2026 | NUS currently lists the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship among its international-freshman awards, while NUS Global Merit Scholarship is listed under Singapore Citizen scholarships. |
2026 | NTU currently presents the former Nanyang Scholarship as the Nanyang Global Scholarship. |
2026 | NUS ASEAN Undergraduate, NUS International Undergraduate, NTU ASEAN, NTU Nanyang Global and SMU ASEAN awards continue to publish different benefit and renewal conditions rather than one universal scholarship package. |
2026 | SINGA remains a separate international doctoral research award with published tuition, stipend, airfare and settling-in support. |
24 August 2026 | Scholarship benefits, application windows and terms in this guide are based on the current 2026 university/A*STAR pages reviewed for this page. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Official Statutory Sources & Verification
ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
Current NUS ASEAN scholarship eligibility, benefits, Tuition Grant condition and renewal requirements.
NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship
Current NUS international undergraduate scholarship eligibility, benefits and renewal requirements.
NUS Global Merit Scholarship
Current NUS nationality classification showing the Global Merit Scholarship is for Singapore Citizens.
ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
Current NTU ASEAN scholarship benefits, eligibility, application and renewal.
Nanyang Global Scholarship
Current NTU scholarship name, benefits, eligibility and renewal terms.
ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
Current SMU ASEAN scholarship benefits, bond relationship, CGPA requirement and application process.
Scholarships for International Students
Current SMU international-student scholarship list including the Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme.
Scholarship and Graduate Programmes
Current A*STAR source confirming SINGA's participating institutions and research-award framework.
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) information
Official A*STAR publication describing SINGA's doctoral support, application route and financial support.
Tuition Grant & Scholarships
Current MOE Tuition Grant administration and service-obligation framework relevant to scholarship recipients who accept the grant.
Statutory Benchmark Metrics
Wise Overseas Student Tuition Transfer
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