You want to do a PhD. Your research ideas are ready. Your grades are strong.
But your bank account is not.
That single problem stops thousands of brilliant students from ever applying to a doctoral program. Tuition fees alone can run into tens of thousands of dollars a year, and that’s before you count rent, food, or flights home.
The Singapore International Graduate Award, known to almost everyone as SINGA, was built to remove that barrier entirely. It’s a fully funded PhD scholarship that pays your tuition, gives you a monthly living stipend, and covers your flight to Singapore.
No bond. No repayment. No tuition bill waiting for you after graduation.
This guide breaks down exactly who qualifies, how much money you actually receive, and how to build an application strong enough to get noticed among thousands of competing candidates.
What Exactly Is the SINGA Scholarship?
SINGA is a joint PhD funding program backed by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) together with five of the country’s top universities.
Your host institution can be any of the following:
- A*STAR Research Institutes (direct lab-based PhD training)
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
- Singapore Management University (SMU)
- Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
You apply once, through a single centralized portal. SINGA then matches you with a supervisor and a host institution based on your research interests and academic background.
The program runs entirely in English. You do not need to speak Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil to study or live comfortably in Singapore.
Who Can Apply? Full Eligibility Breakdown
Eligibility for SINGA is more specific than most general scholarships. Read this section twice before you invest hours in your application.
Academic Requirements
- You must hold, or be on track to complete, a Bachelor’s degree with strong honors, or a Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Your research area must fall under Biomedical Sciences or Physical Science and Engineering.
- Fields like humanities, arts, pure social sciences, economics, and business are not eligible for this particular award.
Nationality and Prior Study Rules
- SINGA is open to all international students, from any country.
- Singaporean citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents cannot apply.
- Students who have already studied in Singapore on a fully-funded government scholarship are typically excluded too.
English Proficiency
- You need solid written and spoken English skills since the entire program, from coursework to your thesis defense, happens in English.
- Some host universities may still ask for an IELTS or TOEFL score depending on your prior education, so check your specific university’s requirements early.
Reference Requirements
- You need at least two strong academic reference reports, submitted directly by your referees through the online SINGA system.
- A*STAR reserves the right to apply additional internal selection criteria that can shift from cycle to cycle, so treat every published rule as a minimum, not a guarantee.
The Money: Full Financial Benefits Breakdown
This is the part every applicant actually wants to see. Here is exactly what SINGA pays for, broken down honestly.
Tuition Fees
100% tuition waiver for the full duration of your PhD program. You will not receive a tuition invoice at any point during your candidature, provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Monthly Stipend
- Before passing your Qualifying Examination, you receive a monthly living stipend of approximately S$2,700.
- After you clear the Qualifying Exam, usually completed within your first one to two years, your stipend rises to approximately S$3,200 per month.
- This stipend continues for the standard PhD duration, typically four years, as long as your academic performance stays satisfactory.
Stipend figures have shifted slightly between award cycles in recent years, so always cross-check the exact number on the year you apply against the official A*STAR SINGA page before making financial plans.
One-Time Settling-In Allowance
You receive a one-time payment of S$1,000 when you first arrive in Singapore. This is meant to help cover initial costs like your first month’s rent deposit or basic furnishings.
Airfare Allowance
A one-time airfare grant of up to S$1,500 covers your flight into Singapore at the start of your program. This is typically a single reimbursed trip, not a recurring annual travel budget.
What SINGA Does Not Automatically Cover
- Health insurance arrangements vary by host university, so confirm directly with your assigned institution whether medical coverage is bundled in or requires separate enrollment.
- Family accommodation or dependent-pass related costs are generally your own responsibility.
- Personal expenses beyond the stipend, such as leisure travel, are not funded.
Step-by-Step Application Walkthrough
Here’s the process broken into a clear sequence, so nothing catches you off guard halfway through.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility First
Before writing a single word, re-read the eligibility section above against your own academic record. Wasting weeks on an application you don’t qualify for is the single most common mistake applicants make.
Step 2: Browse Research Areas and Pick Projects
Log onto the SINGA portal and go to the “Research Areas” section. You’ll find live research projects posted by supervisors across A*STAR institutes and partner universities.
Shortlist projects that genuinely match your background, not just ones that sound impressive. A supervisor can tell the difference instantly.
Step 3: Prepare Your Document Checklist
Get every document ready before you start the online form, since the system often has session limits. Your checklist should include:
- A valid passport copy
- A recent passport-sized photo (JPEG or PNG format)
- Bachelor’s degree transcripts and certificate, or an official letter confirming you’re on track to graduate
- Master’s transcripts, if applicable
- English translations of any non-English academic documents
- A clear, focused research proposal or statement of interest
- Contact details for your two academic referees
Step 4: Line Up Your Referees Early
Your referees must submit their reports directly through the online system, and your application only moves forward once at least two reference reports are received. Contact your referees weeks in advance, not days.
Step 5: Submit Your Online Application
Fill out the centralized SINGA application form completely. One major advantage here: if you apply through the SINGA portal, you generally do not need to submit a separate application to the host university itself.
Step 6: Wait for Shortlisting
Shortlisted candidates are typically notified within about 12 weeks of the application deadline. If you don’t hear back within that window, it usually means you were not shortlisted for that cycle.
Step 7: Interview Round
Shortlisted applicants are invited for an interview, sometimes conducted by the specific university or A*STAR institute you were matched with. This is often done online for international applicants.
Step 8: Offer and Visa Processing
Once selected, you’ll receive a formal offer letter. From there, your host institution guides you through the Singapore student pass application process.
Key Deadlines You Cannot Miss
- For the August intake, the SINGA application window typically closes around December 1 of the preceding year.
- Deadlines can shift slightly by cycle, so treat any date you read online, including this guide, as a starting reference point and verify the exact current deadline on the official A*STAR SINGA website before you plan around it.
Insider Application Strategy: What Actually Gets You Selected
Generic advice like “write a strong personal statement” won’t help you here. Let’s get specific.
Stop Writing a Personal Statement. Write a Research Pitch.
SINGA reviewers are scientists and engineers, not admissions generalists. They’re scanning for one thing: can this person actually contribute to a lab’s ongoing research?
Structure your statement around a real problem in your field, not your life story. Open with the scientific gap you want to address, then explain your specific technical background that qualifies you to tackle it.
Match Your Skills to the Exact Project, Not the Broad Field
If a supervisor’s project involves computational fluid dynamics for microfluidic devices, don’t just say you’re “interested in engineering.” Mention the specific software, methods, or prior coursework you have that directly overlaps with that project.
Email the Supervisor Before You Apply
This step is skipped by most applicants and it’s precisely why it works. A short, specific email to a potential supervisor, referencing their actual published papers and asking one intelligent question about their current research direction, puts your name in their mind before your file even lands in the system.
Keep this email under 200 words. Attach your CV. Don’t ask them to “guarantee” you a spot; ask if they’re currently accepting SINGA-funded students.
Choose Referees Who Know Your Research Work, Not Just Your Grades
A reference letter that says “excellent student, scored top marks” is forgettable. A reference from a professor who supervised your thesis or lab project, and who can describe your specific problem-solving approach, carries far more weight.
Show a Clear Four-Year Trajectory
Reviewers want to see that you understand what a PhD actually involves: coursework, a qualifying exam, original research, and a thesis defense. Briefly outline how you see your research question evolving across that timeline. It signals maturity that a one-paragraph summary never can.
Common Mistakes That Sink Strong Applicants
- Applying to a research area outside Biomedical Sciences or Physical Science and Engineering, hoping reviewers will “make an exception.”
- Submitting reference requests to referees only days before the deadline.
- Writing a research proposal so broad it could apply to any lab in any country.
- Ignoring the specific host university’s own admission requirements, assuming the SINGA portal handles everything automatically.
- Failing to proofread translated transcripts, which can create unnecessary doubt about document authenticity.
Life in Singapore as a SINGA Scholar
Singapore consistently ranks among the safest, cleanest cities in Asia, with an efficient public transport network that makes campus life genuinely manageable without a car. Your monthly stipend, especially after clearing your Qualifying Exam, is generally enough to cover a modest room, food, and daily transport, though Singapore’s cost of living is higher than many students expect.
On-campus accommodation priority is usually given to first-year students, so apply for housing the moment you accept your offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SINGA really 100% fully funded, with no hidden costs? Tuition, a monthly stipend, a one-time settling-in payment, and a one-time airfare grant are all covered. Personal expenses beyond that, and in some cases health insurance details, depend on your specific host university’s policy.
Can I apply for SINGA straight after my Bachelor’s degree, without a Master’s? Yes. SINGA accepts strong Bachelor’s degree holders directly into the PhD track, though a relevant Master’s degree can strengthen your application and may allow some coursework credit.
Is there a bond or service commitment after I finish my PhD? No. SINGA is described as a bond-free award, meaning you are not obligated to work for a Singapore employer or government agency after graduation.
Can I apply if my field is in social sciences or economics? No. SINGA specifically funds Biomedical Sciences and Physical Science and Engineering research. Other funding routes exist for humanities and social sciences, but they fall outside this particular award.
How competitive is SINGA, realistically? A*STAR does not publish exact acceptance rates, but the program draws thousands of applicants globally each cycle for a limited number of spots, making it highly competitive. A strong, specific research pitch and early supervisor contact meaningfully improve your odds.
What happens if I don’t pass the Qualifying Examination? Continued funding depends on maintaining satisfactory academic progress, which includes the Qualifying Exam. Requirements and consequences of not passing can vary by host institution, so clarify this directly with your assigned university once admitted.
Final Word Before You Apply
SINGA removes the single biggest obstacle standing between you and a PhD: money. What it doesn’t remove is the need for a sharp, specific, well-timed application.
Start your document checklist today, not the week before the deadline. Email a potential supervisor this week, not after you submit your form.
The funding gap that’s been holding you back has a real solution. Now it’s a matter of building an application that matches it.
Disclaimer: Scholarship stipend amounts, deadlines, and eligibility rules can change between award cycles. Always confirm current figures directly on the official ASTAR SINGA website before making application or financial decisions.*
