The National University of Singapore Scholarships 2027 support outstanding international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s by research, and PhD programmes in Singapore. The NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship covers subsidised tuition fees and provides annual living and accommodation allowances, while the Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship adds travel support for eligible Asian students studying computing, engineering, or science. At the graduate level, the NUS Research Scholarship provides full tuition coverage and a monthly stipend of up to S$3,500 for international PhD students after the qualifying examination, while exceptional doctoral applicants nominated for the President’s Graduate Fellowship can receive S$3,900 per month, full tuition fees, and additional arrival support. Undergraduate applicants are considered through their admission application, research candidates request scholarship consideration within the Graduate Admission System, and the President’s Graduate Fellowship is offered only through faculty or department nomination.
In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the National University of Singapore Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The main NUS scholarships covered in this guide are:
- NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship
- Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship
- NUS Research Scholarship
- President’s Graduate Fellowship
Eligible students from ASEAN countries may also be considered for the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship, which covers subsidised tuition fees and provides annual living and accommodation allowances. However, the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship offers broader nationality eligibility and a higher published accommodation allowance.
National University of Singapore Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s by Research / PhD
- Institution: National University of Singapore
- Study Destination: Singapore
- Courses Offered: Eligible full-time undergraduate and graduate research programmes
- Scholarship Period: Normal undergraduate candidature, two years for a research master’s, and up to four years for a PhD
NUS offers undergraduate study across business, computing, dentistry, design and engineering, humanities and sciences, law, medicine, nursing, music, public health, and interdisciplinary fields. Graduate research scholarships are available through participating schools and faculties, subject to admission, supervisory capacity, and scholarship allocation.
National University of Singapore Scholarships Application Deadline
The deadline depends on the applicant’s qualification, programme, intake, and scholarship.
Undergraduate Scholarship Deadline
NUS has not yet published the undergraduate admission calendar for the 2027–2028 academic year.
There is no separate application deadline for:
- NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship
- Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship
- ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
Eligible international applicants are considered through their NUS undergraduate admission application.
The admission period for international students presenting international qualifications is generally from December to February.
Applicants should monitor the official NUS admission dates from the second half of 2026. NUS has only one main undergraduate application window each year, so missing the relevant deadline usually means waiting for the following academic year.
Shortlisted NUS International Undergraduate and Science & Technology Scholarship candidates are normally interviewed between January and July. Interviewed applicants are informed of their scholarship outcome by approximately mid-July.
NUS Research Scholarship Deadline
There is no single university-wide deadline for the NUS Research Scholarship.
International applicants must follow the application deadline published by the faculty, school, or research programme offering their intended master’s or PhD degree. Applicants request scholarship consideration within the same Graduate Admission System used for admission.
Examples of confirmed research programme deadlines include:
- College of Design and Engineering, January 2027 intake: August 1, 2026, for international applicants
- School of Computing, January intake: June 15 of the preceding year
- Faculty of Science, January intake: May 15 of the preceding year
- NUS Business School PhD, August 2027 intake: Applications from May 1 to December 15, 2026
These examples demonstrate that NUS deadlines differ significantly between schools. Applicants must check their specific programme rather than using another faculty’s closing date.
President’s Graduate Fellowship Deadline
There is no separate President’s Graduate Fellowship application deadline.
Applicants must submit a complete PhD admission application by the deadline set by their selected faculty or department. The academic unit then nominates a limited number of exceptional candidates for the fellowship. Applicants cannot submit a direct PGF application to the NUS Graduate School.
National University of Singapore Scholarship Coverage
NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship
The NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship provides:
- 100% coverage of subsidised undergraduate tuition fees
- An annual living allowance of S$5,800
- A one-time computer allowance of S$1,750
- An annual accommodation allowance of S$5,000
- Scholarship support for the normal candidature period
- Automatic consideration through the undergraduate admission application
The scholarship covers tuition fees remaining after the Singapore Ministry of Education Tuition Grant has been applied. It does not cover the non-subsidised tuition amount independently of the Tuition Grant.
The scholarship can support eligible students in regular undergraduate, double-degree, and joint-degree programmes. For a concurrent degree, funding ends when the student begins paying graduate-level tuition fees. The NUS Bachelor of Science and University of Melbourne Doctor of Veterinary Medicine concurrent programme is excluded.
The published package does not include a standard international airfare payment, settling-in allowance, student visa cost, medical insurance payment, or book allowance. Recipients should budget separately for expenses not covered by the annual living and accommodation allowances.
NUS Scholarship and Tuition Grant Bond
Although NUS states that the International Undergraduate Scholarship itself has no separate bond, recipients must accept the MOE Tuition Grant to receive full tuition coverage.
International students accepting the Tuition Grant are required to work for a Singapore-registered company for three years immediately after graduation.
Additional service requirements apply to students admitted to:
- Dentistry: Five-year service bond with the Singapore Ministry of Health
- Medicine: Six-year service bond with the Singapore Ministry of Health
Applicants should understand these employment obligations before accepting the scholarship.
Scholarship Renewal
The scholarship is renewed each semester when the recipient:
- Maintains a GPA of at least 3.5 or its equivalent
- Maintains good conduct
- Continues in an eligible full-time undergraduate programme
Dentistry, law, and medicine scholars must normally remain within the top 80% of their cohort.
Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship
The Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship is a more comprehensive award for outstanding students from Asian countries and regions.
It provides:
- 100% coverage of subsidised undergraduate tuition fees
- An annual living allowance of S$6,000
- A one-time computer allowance of S$1,750
- A one-time settling-in allowance of S$200
- An annual accommodation allowance equivalent to the lowest double-room rate for NUS on-campus housing
- Travel support for the initial journey from the recipient’s home country to Singapore
- Return travel support after completing the programme, subject to the scholarship conditions
- Funding throughout the normal undergraduate candidature period
This scholarship is restricted to eligible programmes in:
- Computing
- Engineering
- Science
Infrastructure and Project Management, Environmental Studies, and Pharmacy are excluded from the current eligibility list.
The eligible fields currently include artificial intelligence, business analytics, computer science, information security, engineering majors, chemistry, data science, food science, life sciences, mathematics, pharmaceutical science, physics, quantitative finance, and statistics. Applicants should check the 2027 scholarship page because NUS may revise the programme list.
Science and Technology Scholarship Bond
Recipients must:
- Accept the MOE Tuition Grant
- Work for a Singapore-registered company for six years immediately after graduation
This employment obligation is considerably longer than the standard three-year Tuition Grant obligation associated with the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship.
The award is renewed each semester when the scholar maintains a GPA of at least 3.5 and remains in good standing. At least 75% of the credits required for graduation must be completed in Singapore.
NUS Research Scholarship
The NUS Research Scholarship supports outstanding international students pursuing a full-time master’s by research or PhD.
International recipients receive:
| Degree | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Master’s by Research | S$2,900 |
| PhD before Qualifying Examination | S$3,000 |
| PhD after Qualifying Examination | Up to S$3,500 |
The additional PhD payment of up to S$500 per month begins after the recipient passes the PhD Qualifying Examination and remains subject to satisfactory performance and the faculty’s conditions. The published stipend rates took effect on January 1, 2026 and may be revised before the 2027 intake.
The scholarship also provides:
- Full waiver of NUS tuition fees
- Funding for up to two years for a master’s by research
- Funding for up to four years for a PhD
- No specific post-graduation employment bond
The initial award is normally made for one year and may be renewed each semester according to satisfactory academic and research progress.
International recipients must participate in the Graduate Assistantship Programme. The scholarship does not permit recipients to accept other employment, scholarships, fellowships, awards, or allowances without prior university approval.
The standard NUS Research Scholarship page does not list an international airfare allowance, accommodation allowance, settling-in payment, health-insurance benefit, or family allowance. These expenses must normally be paid from the monthly stipend unless another approved source provides support.
President’s Graduate Fellowship
The President’s Graduate Fellowship is NUS’s highest-value central fellowship for exceptional PhD researchers.
International recipients receive:
- A monthly stipend of S$3,900
- Full waiver of NUS tuition fees
- A one-time settling-in allowance of S$1,000
- A one-time incoming airfare allowance of up to S$750
- Possible eligibility for the NUS Graduate School Research Incentive Award
- Funding for up to four years
The published S$3,900 stipend has applied since January 1, 2026 and may be adjusted for the 2027 intake.
The airfare allowance covers one economy-class journey from the recipient’s home country to Singapore at the beginning of the programme. It does not cover annual return travel or travel for accompanying family members.
The Graduate School Research Incentive Award may provide:
- An additional monthly allowance
- A one-time research allowance after the recipient passes the PhD Qualifying Examination
NUS does not publish one guaranteed central value for this supplementary award and retains the right to revise its amount.
International President’s Graduate Fellowship recipients are required to complete 312 hours of teaching duties through the Graduate Assistantship Programme. The fellowship has no specific post-graduation employment bond.
The fellowship is initially awarded for one year and may be renewed each semester, subject to satisfactory progress. The maximum fellowship period is four years.
Eligibility Criteria for National University of Singapore Scholarships
Applicants must first satisfy the admission requirements of their selected NUS degree. Scholarship selection then considers academic excellence, leadership, research potential, programme suitability, and other award-specific requirements.
NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of a country other than Singapore
- Apply as new undergraduate freshmen
- Apply for a full-time undergraduate programme at NUS
- Possess outstanding high-school results
- Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential
- Have an outstanding co-curricular activities record
- Meet the academic requirements for their qualification
- Meet the subject prerequisites for their selected NUS programme
- Complete any required admission interview or test
Students transferring from another university in Singapore or overseas are not eligible.
NUS does not publish one minimum GPA, IB score, A-Level result, or national examination percentage that guarantees the scholarship. Candidates compete against other applicants using the same or comparable qualifications, and only shortlisted students are invited to the scholarship interview.
Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of an Asian country or region other than Singapore
- Apply as new undergraduate freshmen
- Demonstrate outstanding high-school achievement
- Show strong leadership potential
- Have an excellent co-curricular activities record
- Apply to an eligible computing, engineering, or science programme
- Accept the six-year employment bond
- Meet NUS admission and programme prerequisites
Transfer students are not eligible.
Applicants should accept this scholarship only when they are willing to work for a Singapore-registered company for six years immediately after graduation.
NUS Research Scholarship Eligibility
The NUS Research Scholarship is open to international master’s by research and PhD applicants.
The published minimum academic requirement is normally:
- An undergraduate degree with at least Second Class Honours, Upper Division;
- Honours with Distinction; or
- An equivalent qualification.
Selection also considers:
- GPA in a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree
- Research interests and proposed project
- Statement of purpose
- Recommendation letters
- Academic CV
- Previous research projects and publications
- GRE or other standardised test scores where relevant
- English-language proficiency where required
Meeting the minimum academic requirement does not guarantee admission or scholarship funding. The number of awards is limited, and faculties select the most competitive applicants according to their research priorities and available supervision.
President’s Graduate Fellowship Eligibility
The President’s Graduate Fellowship is available only for PhD study.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Exceptional academic performance
- Strong research ability or accomplishment
- A relevant and feasible research interest
- An excellent statement of purpose
- Strong academic or professional recommendations
- A comprehensive academic CV
- Evidence of research projects, publications, or other scholarly achievements
- Good character
- Strong potential to succeed in doctoral research
GRE scores and English-language results are not listed as compulsory central documents for every candidate, but they can strengthen the application and may be required by the selected programme.
Preference under the Lee Kong Chian-supported President’s Graduate Fellowship may be given to applicants who demonstrate leadership ability and commitment to community service.
Applicants cannot apply directly for PGF. They must first submit a strong NUS PhD application and be nominated by the relevant faculty or department.
English-Language Requirements
NUS does not impose one universal IELTS or TOEFL requirement across all undergraduate qualifications and graduate programmes.
For undergraduate admission, the accepted English evidence depends on the applicant’s secondary-school qualification. Some qualification categories require an English test or standardised examination, while others do not. Applicants must select their qualification on the international admission requirements page and follow the instructions provided there.
Graduate research requirements also differ by faculty. For example:
- Several computing, science, humanities, and engineering research programmes use IELTS 6.0 as a minimum.
- Some programmes require a higher score.
- Applicants who completed previous education in English may receive an exemption when the programme accepts their evidence.
Applicants should check the specific department rather than assuming that IELTS 6.0 applies to every NUS research degree.
You can review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but NUS makes the final decision on whether an applicant’s previous education or alternative qualification satisfies the English requirement.
How to Apply for National University of Singapore Scholarships?
The application procedure differs between undergraduate and graduate research scholarships.
How to Apply for NUS Undergraduate Scholarships?
(1) Review the NUS undergraduate programmes and choose a degree that matches your academic subjects, qualifications, and career plans.
Check the programme prerequisites before applying. Competitive courses such as medicine, dentistry, law, architecture, industrial design, nursing, and music may require interviews, tests, portfolios, or additional documents.
(2) Select your high-school qualification on the NUS international admission page.
Review:
- Minimum academic requirements
- Required subjects
- English-language requirements
- Standardised tests
- Final-result submission dates
- Programme prerequisites
Requirements differ for applicants presenting A Levels, IB, Indian Standard 12, Gaokao, HKDSE, STPM, AP, national examinations, and other qualifications.
(3) Create an application through the NUS undergraduate admissions system when the 2027–2028 application period opens.
Applicants submit only one undergraduate application and rank their preferred programmes in the form. The non-refundable application fee for an international student presenting international qualifications is currently S$20 and must be paid before the application deadline.
(4) Complete the aptitude-based admission section carefully.
NUS assesses applicants using academic achievement as well as relevant interests, activities, leadership, community service, competitions, work experience, and other accomplishments.
Scholarship applicants should provide specific evidence of:
- Leadership positions
- Community involvement
- Academic competitions
- Research or innovation projects
- Entrepreneurship
- Sports, arts, or creative achievement
- Awards and distinctions
- Meaningful responsibilities outside the classroom
Do not list activities without explaining your individual contribution or impact.
(5) Upload the supporting documents required for your qualification.
The application may require:
- Passport
- High-school examination results
- Most recent school results
- Additional test scores
- English-language results
- University transcripts for applicants with previous tertiary study
- Supporting evidence for achievements
- Certified translations where necessary
The exact checklist is generated according to the information entered in the application.
(6) No separate application is required for the three main international undergraduate scholarships.
Eligible candidates are automatically considered for:
- NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship
- Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship
- ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
NUS will contact only applicants shortlisted for scholarship interviews.
(7) Attend the scholarship interview if shortlisted.
The interview may assess:
- Academic motivation
- Leadership experience
- Co-curricular achievements
- Reasons for choosing NUS
- Understanding of the selected programme
- Career plans
- Willingness to accept the applicable employment bond
You can review our guide to scholarship interview questions and answers when preparing, but your examples should remain specific to your own experience.
(8) Review the scholarship and bond conditions before accepting the award.
International Undergraduate Scholarship recipients must accept the three-year MOE Tuition Grant obligation. Science & Technology Scholarship recipients must accept the six-year employment bond.
Do not accept the award without understanding:
- The length of the work obligation
- Eligible employers
- GPA renewal conditions
- Repayment consequences for withdrawal
- Restrictions on holding another scholarship
How to Apply for the NUS Research Scholarship?
(1) Search the NUS graduate programme catalogue and choose an eligible master’s by research or PhD programme.
Check:
- Research areas
- Faculty profiles
- Programme-specific academic requirements
- English-language score
- GRE requirement
- Application deadline
- Intake availability
- Scholarship availability
Each NUS faculty sets its own application period.
(2) Identify a potential thesis advisor working in your research area.
Use the NUS thesis advisor directory and the selected faculty’s academic staff pages.
Contact the most relevant academic with a concise email explaining:
- Your current qualification
- Previous thesis or research
- Proposed research area
- Publications or research outputs
- Technical or professional experience
- Why your interests align with the professor’s work
- Your intention to apply for the NUS Research Scholarship
Attach your academic transcripts, preliminary proposal, and a focused academic CV.
Prior supervisor agreement is not presented as one universal NUS requirement, but some departments expect or strongly prefer applicants to identify a suitable supervisor before applying.
(3) Prepare your statement of purpose or research proposal.
Explain:
- The research problem
- Existing knowledge gap
- Research questions
- Proposed methods
- Expected contribution
- Relevant previous experience
- Reasons for selecting NUS
- Long-term academic or professional objectives
Our guide on writing a statement of purpose for scholarship can help you organise the document, but the final statement should follow your programme’s exact instructions.
(4) Apply through the NUS Graduate Admission System before the programme deadline.
Select the correct faculty, degree, intake, and research programme. Application fees and closing dates differ by school.
(5) Indicate within the admission application that you want to be considered for the NUS Research Scholarship.
Applicants may need to complete additional scholarship questions or upload extra evidence within the Graduate Admission System. A separate stand-alone central application is not normally required.
(6) Nominate suitable academic or professional referees.
Choose people who can evaluate your:
- Academic ability
- Research experience
- Independence
- Analytical skills
- Perseverance
- Communication
- Suitability for graduate research
You can use our guide on requesting a scholarship recommendation letter when contacting referees.
(7) Upload all supporting documents and submit the application before the faculty deadline.
NUS may invite shortlisted applicants to an interview or request additional documents. Research applicants are generally informed of outcomes by early June for an August intake and early November for a January intake, although individual programmes may use different schedules.
How to Apply for the President’s Graduate Fellowship?
(1) Submit an outstanding application for an eligible NUS PhD programme through the Graduate Admission System.
The application should present strong academic results, a focused research proposal, convincing recommendations, a detailed CV, and evidence of research potential.
(2) Indicate your interest in available graduate funding when completing the admission application.
There is no direct PGF application form for prospective candidates.
(3) The faculty or department identifies exceptional PhD candidates and nominates them for the President’s Graduate Fellowship.
The NUS Graduate School then selects a limited number of recipients each semester.
(4) Applicants considered eligible will receive further application or nomination instructions from the university.
Candidates should not email a separate PGF application to the Graduate School unless requested by their academic unit.
Documents Required for National University of Singapore Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarship Documents
International undergraduate applicants should prepare:
- Completed NUS undergraduate application
- Passport information page
- Birth certificate where a passport is unavailable
- High-school graduation certificate
- National or international high-school examination results
- Most recent school results for students awaiting final examinations
- Predicted results where accepted
- IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, ACT, AP, or other test results where required
- University transcripts for applicants with previous tertiary enrolment
- Certified English translations
- Evidence supporting leadership and co-curricular achievements
- Certificates for competitions, awards, volunteering, sports, arts, or community service
- Programme-specific portfolio, interview, or test materials
- Additional documents generated by the Applicant Portal
Applicants should upload clear copies and retain the original documents for verification. Requirements vary by secondary-school qualification.
Graduate Research Scholarship Documents
Research master’s and PhD applicants should prepare:
- Completed NUS graduate admission application
- Passport or identity document
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Bachelor’s academic transcripts
- Master’s degree certificate and transcripts for PhD applicants, where applicable
- Official institutional grading scale
- Statement of purpose
- Research proposal where required
- Academic CV
- Recommendation letters or referee reports
- English-language test result where required
- GRE or other standardised test result where required
- Evidence of publications, research projects, patents, or conference papers
- Previous thesis or dissertation abstract
- Employment or professional certificates where relevant
- Certified translations
- Scholarship-related information requested in GradApp
- Programme-specific writing sample, portfolio, or supplementary form
NUS Graduate School identifies GPA, statement of purpose, recommendations, and CV as the core evidence used in research admission assessment. GRE scores, publications, research projects, and English-language results can further strengthen the application or may be compulsory for a particular programme.
Website
For more information about the National University of Singapore Scholarships, please visit the official pages:
- NUS Scholarships for International Students
- NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship
- NUS Research Scholarship
Frequently Asked Questions
Are National University of Singapore Scholarships fully funded?
The NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship covers subsidised tuition fees and provides living, accommodation, and computer allowances. The Science & Technology Scholarship adds settling-in and travel support.
The NUS Research Scholarship and President’s Graduate Fellowship cover full tuition fees and provide monthly stipends. However, benefits such as health insurance, family support, and annual international travel are not included universally.
Can students from every country apply for the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship?
Yes. Citizens of all countries except Singapore can be considered.
Applicants must be new freshmen, have outstanding high-school results, demonstrate leadership and co-curricular achievement, and apply for a full-time undergraduate programme.
Do I need a separate undergraduate scholarship application?
No. Eligible international students are considered through their NUS undergraduate admission application.
Only shortlisted applicants are contacted for scholarship interviews.
Does the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship have a bond?
The scholarship itself is described as bond-free, but recipients must accept the MOE Tuition Grant.
International recipients of the Tuition Grant must work for a Singapore-registered company for three years after graduation. Medicine and dentistry students have separate, longer Ministry of Health service requirements.
How long is the Science & Technology Scholarship bond?
Recipients must work for a Singapore-registered company for six years immediately after graduation.
Applicants should consider this obligation carefully before accepting the scholarship.
How much is the NUS PhD scholarship stipend?
International NUS Research Scholarship recipients receive S$3,000 per month before passing the PhD Qualifying Examination and may receive up to S$3,500 per month afterward.
President’s Graduate Fellowship recipients receive S$3,900 per month. The published rates took effect in January 2026 and may be revised for 2027.
Is the NUS Research Scholarship available for master’s students?
Yes. International master’s by research students can receive S$2,900 per month and a full tuition-fee waiver for up to two years.
Coursework master’s programmes are not covered by the central NUS Research Scholarship.
Can I apply directly for the President’s Graduate Fellowship?
No. Applicants submit a normal NUS PhD application.
The faculty or department nominates exceptional candidates for the President’s Graduate Fellowship, and NUS selects only a limited number each semester.
Is IELTS compulsory for NUS Scholarships?
Not always. Undergraduate English requirements depend on the applicant’s qualification, while graduate requirements vary by faculty and programme.
Some applicants can use previous education completed in English, while others must provide IELTS or TOEFL results.
Can NUS scholarship recipients hold another award?
Generally, scholarship recipients cannot simultaneously hold another scholarship, fellowship, grant, award, allowance, or employment without prior NUS approval.
Applicants must disclose other funding and follow the conditions stated in their scholarship offer.
