Singapore is the gateway to some of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia Pacific region. And with SINGA Scholarship, you can pursue your Ph.D. education in Singapore, establish global links and take your research career to greater heights.
But why should you consider doing a Ph.D. in Singapore?
There is a strong commitment at a national level to R&D in Singapore, with S$19b to be invested in 5 years from 2016 to 2020. Singapore is also one of the fast-growing economies in the vibrant Asia Pacific (APAC) region and is home to over 7,000 MNCs. Many of these MNCs (such as GlaxoSmith Kline, Novartis, and Rolls Royce) have situated their R&D centers, manufacturing facilities, or regional headquarters in Singapore. Graduate students will obtain a world-class Ph.D. education at top-ranked universities and research institutes with state-of-the-art labs under renowned professors and scientists in various science and engineering disciplines.
If you’re looking for financial aid to help you further your higher education, you can pursue your Ph.D. education in Singapore with SINGA Scholarship and take your research to greater heights. Take a look at the provided guidelines below to understand better what you should do to increase your odds of being considered as a successful candidate.
Without further adieu, let’s check it out.
Overview
The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
Ph.D. training will be carried out in English at your chosen lab at A*STAR Research Institutes, NTU, NUS, or SUTD. Students will be supervised by distinguished and world-renowned researchers in these labs. Upon successful completion, students will be conferred a Ph.D. degree by either NTU, NUS, or SUTD.
SINGA is offered for the Ph.D. program and is not intended for students who wish to obtain a Masters’s degree.
SINGA fosters a vibrant and culturally diverse research community of international students. You’ll be working in a multi-cultural environment alongside distinguished and world-renowned researchers in state-of-the-art facilities.
Research areas under the Ph.D. Program fall broadly under two categories:
- Biomedical Sciences; and
- Physical Science and Engineering.
Please note that you will be required to indicate your choices of supervisor in the application form.
The award provides financial support for up to 4 years of Ph.D. studies. It includes:
- Full support of tuition fees
- Stipends – S$2,000 per month (S$24,000 per annum), to be increased to S$2,500 per month (S$30,000 per annum) after passing Qualifying Examinations
- One-time S$1,000 settling-in allowance
- One-time airfare grant of S$1,500
You are not required to sign the Service Obligation agreement even if you have successfully been awarded SINGA. However, should international students choose to opt for the Service Obligation scheme, they can enjoy subsidized tuition fees. More information on the Service Obligation agreement can be found here.
For international students who are eligible for subsidized tuition fees without the need to opt for the service obligation, they are still required to fulfill the requirements of the Graduate Assistantship Program (GAP) by performing teaching/laboratory supervision duties during their studies.
Eligibility Requirements
International students with a passion for Science and Engineering research, excellent academic qualifications, good reports from academic referees, and fluency in English are encouraged to apply for this award. “International students” refer to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of Singapore, and who have not previously studied in Singapore.
There is no age limit for SINGA applicants. While SINGA is targeted at younger applicants, mature applicants with relevant research experience will be considered.
The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR as one of the sponsors may include additional selection criteria based on prevailing scholarship policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. Therefore, please check the official website of the SINGA Scholarship regularly to get the latest update of the program.
The selection criteria for SINGA include the applicant’s academic record, publications, recommendations from academic referees, personal achievements, passion, and ability to excel in research, and an interview if short-listed.
How to Apply
Prepare the following documents in advance before applying.
- Passport
- A recent passport-sized photo (in .jpeg or .png format)
All transcripts provided need to be in English translation, including:
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s academic transcripts (mandatory). Bachelor’s Degree certificate(s) / scroll(s) or a letter of certification from the university on your candidature if your degree certificate/scroll has not yet been conferred.
- 2 recommendation reports being completed and submitted online by the referees (mandatory). Upon submission of your online application, an email will be sent to your academic referees prompting them to complete an online recommendation form within 7 days of your application submission date. Please note that all recommendation letters should be submitted through the online portal.
- GRE / IELTS / TOEFL / SAT I & II / GATE results (optional). You may apply even if you do not have these test results. If you are invited for an interview, the selection panel will assess your command of spoken and written English during the interview. The selection process for the SINGA award will not be biased against candidates without GRE / IELTS / TOEFL / SAT I & II / GATE scores. However, do note that you may be requested by the university to submit satisfactory scores as part of the university admission requirement.
Before you apply, however, please read the important information below.
- Ensure that the information you provide during account registration in the application portal is accurate, as the information will be used for verification upon your first log-in.
- Ensure that you apply for the correct scholarship – “Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)” – in the application portal after logging in.
- Do not mail any hard copy documents to the SINGA Office.
- Submit your applications as early as possible. This will provide ample time for your referees to submit their online recommendation reports before the application deadline, as only applications with 2 recommendation reports will be processed.
- Check and ensure that all data you have entered in the online application form is correct and accurate before you apply. Amendments to the application will NOT be possible after it is submitted.
Apply now via this link here. Please note that you should not mail any hard copy documents o SINGA Office. All necessary documents are to be submitted online.
Closing Dates
There are 2 intakes for SINGA per academic year – January and August. For the January intake, the application is open from 2 December to 1 June. For the August intake, the application is open from 2 June to 1 December.
The submission deadline for August 2021 intake is December 1, 2020 (GMT +8 Singapore time). Make sure that you have prepared all the required documentation before the deadline. Any late or incomplete submission will not be considered.
Shortlisting results will be released about 12 weeks (at the earliest) after the application closing date. Please take note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified via email.
SINGA Scholarship Contact Details
Have any questions about the SINGA Scholarship? Need help to solve the technical difficulties faced during the application? We got your back. Contact the team at singa_enquiries@hq.a-star.edu.sg if you have further queries.
Official Website
All the latest information about SINGA Scholarship can be accessed through A*STAR’s official website at www.a-star.edu.sg.