SINGA Scholarship 2027 in Singapore: Fully Funded PhD

The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a fully funded PhD scholarship for international graduates. It pays a monthly stipend of S$2,700, rising to S$3,200 after the PhD qualifying exam, covers full tuition for up to 4 years, and adds a one-time airfare grant of up to S$1,500 plus a S$1,000 settling-in allowance. The next deadline is 1 December 2026 for the August 2027 intake.

SINGA is a joint programme of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) with the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), the Singapore Management University (SMU), and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). Since 2008 it has funded more than 900 PhD graduates from over 40 countries.

This guide covers what SINGA pays, who can apply, the documents you need, and the application steps. Every figure below comes from currently published SINGA sources, and the guide notes where you should confirm terms directly with A*STAR.

Key facts at a glance

Feature	Detail
Full name	Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)
Offered by	A*STAR with NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU, and SIT
Degree level	PhD or EngD in science and engineering
Duration	Up to 4 years
Monthly stipend	S$2,700, rising to S$3,200 after the qualifying exam
Tuition	Fully covered for up to 4 years
Airfare grant	One-time grant of up to S$1,500
Settling-in allowance	One-time S$1,000 on arrival
Deadline (Aug 2027 intake)	1 December 2026, 23:59 Singapore time
Application portal	sms-applicant-app.a-star.edu.sg

SINGA is one of the few fully funded PhD routes in Asia with no bond. You carry no service obligation after graduation, so you can build your career anywhere. Figures above reflect currently published sources; A*STAR updates terms from time to time, so confirm the stipend and conditions with the SINGA office at singa@a-star.edu.sg before you accept.

What the scholarship covers

SINGA covers the costs that matter most for a PhD student. Full tuition for up to 4 years removes the biggest bill. The monthly stipend covers living costs in Singapore, and it rises to S$3,200 once you pass the qualifying exam. The airfare grant and settling-in allowance ease the move.

Scholars get access to A*STAR research institutes and their host university’s labs, and first-year students get priority for on-campus housing. You work in English and are supervised by scientists from A*STAR institutes, NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU, or SIT.

Two things are not covered. Health insurance is your own responsibility, and there is no extra funding for a spouse or dependants. Conference travel may get funding through your host university or institute, but it is not guaranteed. Plan your budget with these limits in mind.

Who can apply

SINGA accepts international graduates from every country except Singapore. You are not eligible if you are a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, or if you have studied at a Singapore tertiary institution before. You need an excellent academic record, typically a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or equivalent, and a genuine interest in research.

A master’s degree is not required. Strong bachelor’s graduates can apply straight into the PhD track. You must write and speak English well. SINGA does not ask for IELTS or TOEFL itself, but your chosen host university may set its own language requirement. There is no age limit, and the programme targets fresh graduates and early-career researchers.

Your PhD must fall in science and engineering: biomedical sciences, physical sciences, engineering and technology, or computing and IT. SINGA does not fund coursework-based programmes or the humanities and social sciences. You must also name a preferred supervisor and research area in your application.

How to apply

Apply online through the SINGA application portal. Start by browsing available PhD projects and supervisors on the official SINGA page, then build your application around that choice.

• Search the project listings and pick a research area that fits your background.
• Shortlist up to 3 research projects and name your preferred supervisor.
• Fill in the online form with your personal, academic, and research details.
• Upload your documents: passport, photo, transcripts, degree certificate or a university letter, and your research statement.
• Enter your two referees’ contact details so the portal emails them directly.
• Submit well before the deadline and tell your referees the date. Applications without both submitted references are not processed.
• Wait for shortlisting. Shortlisted candidates are contacted within 12 weeks of the closing date.

Two rules catch applicants out. You cannot amend your application after submission, so review every field before you click submit. And your application only counts when both referees have filed their reports through the portal, so give them at least 2 weeks.

Documents you need

Prepare these documents before you start the form. Missing items delay you, and the referee letters cannot wait for the last day.

• A valid passport (copy of the information page).
• A recent passport-size photograph in JPEG or PNG.
• Academic transcripts for your bachelor’s degree, and your master’s if you have one. Transcripts must be in English or officially translated.
• Your degree certificate, or an official letter from your university confirming completion or expected completion.
• A research proposal or statement of research interest that links your direction to your chosen supervisor’s work.
• Two academic recommendation reports, submitted directly online by your referees. You do not upload these yourself.
• English test scores only if your chosen host university requires them. Check that university’s own admission rules.

Do not send hard copies to the SINGA office. Everything goes through the online portal.

Deadlines and timeline

There are two intakes with different deadlines. The August 2027 intake closes on 1 December 2026 at 23:59 Singapore time and covers all six partner institutions: A*STAR, NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU, and SIT. The January 2028 intake closes on 1 June 2027 and is open to A*STAR and NTU only.

Submit at least 2 weeks before the deadline. This gives your referees time to file their reports, and it protects you if the portal runs slow on the final day. Referees get 7 days to complete their reports once the portal emails them, so a late submission by you squeezes their window.

Shortlisting takes up to 12 weeks after the closing date. If you are shortlisted, the next step is an interview with the research group or institute.

How selection works

A*STAR reviews each application in the round. Strong grades matter, but the panel also weighs your research statement, your fit with the chosen supervisor’s projects, and the two referee reports. A referee who knows your research ability carries more weight than a famous name who barely knows you.

Fit is decisive. A clear research statement that connects your past work to a supervisor’s current projects beats a generic statement about passion for science. Browse the project listings first, read 2 or 3 recent papers from your target group, and name concrete questions you want to work on.

If you want another strong Asian PhD option, the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship funds doctorates in Hong Kong with similar prestige. The HKU Global South Fellowship 2026 is worth a look too if your background fits its criteria.

Tips to strengthen your application

Apply early. The two-referee rule is the most common reason strong candidates miss the cut, and early submission fixes it. Choose referees who have supervised your research. A supervisor who knows your lab work writes a stronger report than a lecturer who only taught your class.

Write a focused research statement. Keep it to 1 or 2 pages, name the supervisor and group you are targeting, and explain how your skills map to their projects. Vague statements about loving research do not help a panel that reads hundreds of files.

Check the host university’s language rules separately. SINGA does not demand IELTS, but NUS or NTU might for admission. A good score also helps if your university is unfamiliar to the panel. If Europe appeals more, the Umeå University PhD Scholarship funds doctoral research in Sweden and is another solid option to research.

Frequently Asked Questions