Singapore Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded NUS, NTU & A*STAR Guide (August 2027 Intake)

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Full name	Singapore graduate funding: NUS Research Scholarship, NUS President’s Graduate Fellowship, NTU Research Scholarship, A*STAR Graduate Scholarship, SUTD PhD Fellowship
Funded by	National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), A*STAR, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Ministry of Education Singapore
Coverage	Full tuition + monthly stipend (+ travel/conference allowances on some awards)
Level	PhD and Master’s by Research
Intake	August 2027 (main intake)
Deadline	Faculty-dependent — most applications run May–November 2026; several close Nov 1–Dec 1, 2026
Who can apply	All nationalities — no country quotas

Singapore has quietly become one of Asia’s most generous destinations for fully funded graduate study. The National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), A*STAR, and SUTD all fund international PhD and research Master’s students with full tuition plus a monthly stipend — and unlike many Western programs, there are no nationality quotas. Applications for the August 2027 intake are opening now through late 2026, so this is the moment to build your file.

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What Does It Cover?

Benefit	Details
Full tuition	Covered for the entire program (PhD up to 4 years, research Master’s up to 2 years)
Monthly stipend (NUS Research Scholarship)	~S$2,700–3,200/month for PhD — verify current rates on nusgs.nus.edu.sg
Monthly stipend (President’s Graduate Fellowship)	Higher-tier NUS award for outstanding PhD students — over S$3,000/month (verify current rate)
NTU Research Scholarship	Tuition + monthly stipend for PhD and research Master’s at NTU
ASTAR Graduate Scholarship	Tuition + stipend + annual conference allowance for STEM PhDs at local universities, with ASTAR research attachment
SUTD PhD Fellowship	Tuition + stipend for PhDs at SUTD
Extras	Conference travel support, book/computer allowances on several awards, access to world-class research institutes

Singapore’s university stipends are tax-free for scholars in most cases and, combined with subsidized housing, comfortably cover living costs. A PhD in Singapore is treated like a funded research job.

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Eligibility

✅ You Must:

• Hold (or be completing) a Bachelor’s degree with honours for Master’s by Research, or an honours Bachelor’s/Master’s for PhD

• Have a strong academic record — competitive applicants typically hold first-class or near-first-class results

• Meet the English requirement of your chosen faculty (IELTS/TOEFL where applicable)

• For A*STAR: show clear commitment to a research career in science and technology

• Be available for interviews (usually January–May for the August intake)

❌ Not Eligible If:

• You are applying for a coursework-only Master’s (most Singapore graduate scholarships target research degrees; MBA/LLM funding is handled separately)

• Your faculty’s application window has closed — missed windows are deferred to the next intake

• You cannot document research experience or potential for research degrees

• You hold another full scholarship that prohibits dual funding

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How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Your Faculty and Its Exact Window

NUS and NTU set faculty-specific application periods, not one universal deadline. For the August 2027 intake:

• NUS Arts & Social Sciences (most departments): May 16 – November 1, 2026

• NUS Economics: April 1 – December 1, 2026

• NUS Law (PhD): September 15 – October 31, 2026; NUS Law (JD): September 1 – October 15, 2026

• NUS Chemistry (PhD): standard deadline November 15, 2026

• NUS College of Design & Engineering: portal opens in autumn; international Round 1 deadlines typically November–December 2026 (verify per department)

Step 2: Contact Potential Supervisors Early (PhD)

For research degrees, a supervisor’s support dramatically improves your chances. Email faculty members whose work matches your proposal with your CV, transcripts, and a one-page research idea — ideally 2–3 months before the deadline. Some departments (e.g., NUS Chemistry) run early-offer rounds for outstanding applicants.

Step 3: Submit Through the Official Portal

Apply via the NUS Graduate Admission System (GDA3) or NTU’s graduate portal. Select the scholarship option inside the application — for most research programs, scholarship consideration is automatic with admission.

Step 4: Apply in Round 1

NUS evaluates scholarship applications in two rounds and gives priority to Round 1. Submitting in the first weeks of the window (not the final week) materially improves your odds.

Step 5: Interviews and Outcomes

Shortlisted applicants attend interviews (January–May for the August intake). Final outcomes for the August 2027 intake are released by May 31, 2027; enrolment follows in August 2027.

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Insider Tips

1. Treat Deadlines as Faculty-Specific, Not Universal

The single biggest mistake: assuming NUS has one deadline. Economics closes December 1 while most FASS departments close November 1, and Law closes at the end of October. Build a spreadsheet with your department’s exact window.

2. Apply in Round 1 — It’s Not a Suggestion

NUS explicitly prioritizes Round 1 scholarship applications. Round 2 consideration is “subject to availability.” Submitting on day one of the window is a real strategic advantage.

3. The Supervisor Email Is Half the Battle

For PhD funding, a faculty member who wants you is worth more than a perfect transcript. Email supervisors with a tailored research pitch — and follow up once if you hear nothing.

4. Consider A*STAR for STEM

The A*STAR Graduate Scholarship adds a prestigious research-institute attachment to your PhD, plus an annual conference allowance. It’s one of the best-funded STEM routes in Asia. Applications typically open in autumn (October–November) for the following August intake — verify the current cycle on a-star.edu.sg.

5. Pair Singapore With Other Asian Flagships

Singapore is an excellent complement to other Asian programs. Compare it with Japan’s MEXT scholarship, Korea’s Global Korea Scholarship, and Yenching Academy at Peking University — then apply to two or three in the same cycle.

6. Watch the Application Fees

NUS research programs charge around S$50–100 (Law JD: S$100; PhD: S$50). Fees are non-refundable, so finalize your documents before paying.

7. Pre-University Route: SIA Youth Scholarship

For high-school students from ASEAN countries and India, the SIA Youth Scholarship funds two years of pre-university (junior college) study in Singapore. Applications historically run June–July with awards announced in November — the previous round closed around 31 July, so check the official MOE/SIA page for the 2027 cycle.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the NUS scholarship fully funded?

Yes — the NUS Research Scholarship and President’s Graduate Fellowship cover full tuition plus a monthly stipend for the duration of your research degree. Living costs in Singapore are high, but stipends are set to cover them for scholars.

Can international students apply for Singapore scholarships?

Absolutely. NUS, NTU, A*STAR, and SUTD welcome applicants of all nationalities — there are no country quotas, which makes Singapore rarer and more accessible than many Western programs.

What is the NUS August 2027 application deadline?

It depends on the faculty: most FASS departments close November 1, 2026; Economics closes December 1, 2026; Law closes October 31, 2026 (PhD); and some science/engineering windows run through November–December 2026. Verify your department’s exact dates.

Do I need to apply separately for the scholarship?

For most NUS/NTU research programs, scholarship consideration is automatic when you apply for admission and indicate you’re seeking funding. A*STAR and SUTD have separate application procedures.

Is there an application fee?

Yes — typically S$50–100 depending on the program, payable online. It’s non-refundable.

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Timeline Table

Date	Milestone
April 1, 2026	NUS Economics window opens (Aug 2027 intake)
May 16, 2026	Most NUS FASS departments open
Sep 1 – Oct 15, 2026	NUS Law JD window
Sep 15 – Oct 31, 2026	NUS Law PhD window
Oct–Nov 2026	A*STAR Graduate Scholarship cycle (verify)
Nov 1, 2026	Most NUS FASS deadlines
Nov 15, 2026	NUS Chemistry standard deadline
Dec 1, 2026	NUS Economics deadline
Nov–Dec 2026	NUS CDE/engineering Round 1 deadlines (verify per dept)
Jan–May 2027	Interviews and rolling outcomes
May 31, 2027	Final outcomes for August 2027 intake
August 2027	Enrolment

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Your Action Plan

1. This week: Pick your target faculty and program at NUS, NTU, SUTD, or via A*STAR — and note the exact application window.

2. This month: Draft a one-page research proposal and email 3–5 potential supervisors.

3. By deadline: Submit through GDA3 or the NTU portal in Round 1, with scholarship indicated.

4. After submission: Prepare for interviews (January–May 2027) and line up referees.

5. Meanwhile: Apply to 2–3 other Asian programs — MEXT, GKS, and Yenching — to spread your risk.

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Singapore is one of the most accessible fully funded destinations in Asia — no quotas, real stipends, world-class research. Share this with someone who’s considering an Asian PhD or research Master’s.