SINGA PhD Scholarship: How ASEAN Students Apply for Singapore's A*STAR Graduate Award
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Scholarships & Funding, Study in Southeast Asia
SINGA funds a 4 year PhD in science or engineering at a Singapore university jointly with an A*STAR research institute. It pays a monthly stipend of SGD 2,700, rising to SGD 3,200 after passing the Qualifying Examination, full tuition, a settling-in allowance and a one-time airfare grant, with no service bond attached.
🎓 Hosted jointly by NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU and A*STAR research institutes
💵 SGD 2,700 monthly stipend, rising to SGD 3,200 after the Qualifying Examination, plus tuition, settling-in allowance and airfare
Open to international students, including all ASEAN nationals, with a strong record in science or engineering
No service bond after graduation, unlike A*STAR's AGS and NSS awards
The most recently published deadline (2026-27 cycle) fell on 1 January 2027
What SINGA is
The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) funds a 4 year PhD in science or engineering, jointly hosted by A*STAR's research institutes and one of Singapore's research universities: National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, or Singapore Management University . You are supervised by faculty at the university and researchers at an A*STAR institute at the same time, which gives access to both academic training and A*STAR's lab infrastructure.
Who applies
SINGA is open to international students, so all 11 ASEAN nationalities qualify. You need a strong undergraduate degree, or a master's degree, in a science or engineering field, plus a research interest that matches an active A*STAR research area. There is no citizenship restriction beyond the standard international-student track, unlike scholarships that publish a fixed eligible-country list.
What the award pays
Confirm the current stipend figure directly on a-star.edu.sg before applying, since the primary SINGA page could not be verified live for this article.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | SGD 2,700, rising to SGD 3,200 after passing the Qualifying Examination |
| Tuition fees | Fully covered |
| Settling-in allowance | One-time payment |
| Airfare | One-time grant |
| Programme length | Up to 4 years |
No service bond
SINGA carries no mandatory work bond after you finish your PhD. This sets it apart from A*STAR's other flagship schemes, the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (AGS) and National Science Scholarship (NSS), which both require 3 to 5 years of service inside Singapore's research sector after graduation. A*STAR encourages SINGA graduates to stay in Singapore's research ecosystem, but nothing in the award terms obligates you to.
Application timeline
SINGA reviews applications in rounds through the year rather than a single annual deadline. The most recently published cycle closed 1 January 2027. Because dates shift, confirm the open round and its closing date directly on the A*STAR scholarships portal before you assemble your documents, rather than relying on a deadline from a previous year.
What you need to apply
Degree transcripts and certificates
A research statement matching an A*STAR institute's active research areas
Two or more academic references
English test scores if your prior degree was not taught in English
GRE scores if required by your target department, since requirements vary by field
Choosing a host institute
Your choice of A*STAR research institute matters as much as your choice of university. Institutes range from the Genome Institute of Singapore and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering to the Institute for Infocomm Research, each with its own research focus. Read the specific institute's active projects and match your research statement to a group actively recruiting, not just to the university brand.
SINGA versus other Singapore PhD funding
Singapore universities also offer their own graduate scholarships directly, separate from SINGA. The difference is host structure: a university-only PhD scholarship keeps you inside one department, while SINGA pairs you with an A*STAR institute for lab access and funding on top of the university relationship. If your research area overlaps with an active A*STAR programme, such as genomics, materials science or artificial intelligence, SINGA usually offers stronger lab resources than a university-only track.
Life as a SINGA PhD student
SINGA students split time between coursework at their host university and lab-based research at their A*STAR institute, with the exact balance depending on field and year of study. Most SINGA scholars complete required coursework in the first year or two, then move into full-time thesis research at the A*STAR lab for the remaining years.
Common mistakes to avoid
Applying to a university without checking whether an A*STAR institute actively works in your research area wastes an application cycle. Match your research statement to specific ongoing projects at your target institute, not a general interest in the field, since faculty and researchers rank applications on fit as much as academic record. Skipping direct contact with a potential supervisor before applying also weakens your file, since a supportive faculty response strengthens your case at the interview stage.
How to apply
Pick a university and a matching A*STAR institute research area.
Apply for the PhD programme through your chosen university's graduate admissions, noting SINGA as your funding source.
Submit the SINGA scholarship application alongside or shortly after your university application, following the current round's instructions on the A*STAR portal.
Attend an interview if shortlisted, usually with faculty from both the university and the A*STAR institute.
What SINGA does not cover
The stipend and allowances cover core living and study costs, but SINGA does not fund a spouse or dependents, personal travel outside the one-time airfare grant, or visa application fees for family members. Budget separately for these if you plan to bring family to Singapore during your PhD.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a supervisor lined up before applying?
Identifying a research area and target institute strengthens your application, though formal supervisor matching often happens after an interview, not before you submit your initial application.
Is SINGA only for fresh graduates?
No. Both recent graduates and applicants with a master's degree already in hand apply, as long as the PhD represents genuine further study rather than a repeat of prior research.
Does SINGA fund a spouse or dependents?
No. The award covers the scholar only. Dependent pass costs and family living expenses in Singapore are the scholar's own responsibility.