Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Singapore: What Exists and How to Apply

Start with the Tuition Grant, not a scholarship

Before looking at named scholarships, know that the MOE Tuition Grant Scheme already reduces tuition for most students at the 6 Autonomous Universities, polytechnics, ITE and arts institutions. Singapore Citizens take it with no service obligation. Permanent Residents and international students who accept it commit to a 3-year bond, working full-time for a Singapore-registered company right after graduation. This grant is the baseline nearly every other scholarship builds on top of.

ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship

Students from other ASEAN countries applying to NUS or NTU can apply for the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship, which sits on top of the Tuition Grant. Based on the universities' own published terms, it covers:

• 100% of subsidised tuition fees, after the Tuition Grant is applied.

• A living allowance of about S$5,800 per academic year.

• An accommodation allowance of about S$3,000 per academic year.

• A one-time computer allowance of about S$1,750 upon enrolment.

The scholarship itself carries no separate bond, but recipients must take the MOE Tuition Grant to qualify, which means international recipients still owe the standard 3-year work bond in Singapore after graduating. Check the current terms and conditions on the NUS Office of Admissions or NTU Admissions financial matters page, since coverage amounts are reviewed each intake.

Government scholarships with a service bond

Several Singapore government bodies fund scholarships for both citizens and, in some cases, international ASEAN students, in exchange for a longer post-graduation service commitment:

• Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarships: fund study at top local or overseas universities, bonded to public sector service, typically 4-6 years depending on the scholarship tier.

• Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Home Team (Police, Civil Defence) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarships: cover tuition and a monthly allowance, bonded to service in the respective agency.

• These are aimed primarily at Singapore Citizens; eligibility for non-citizens is limited and varies by agency, so check each scheme's own eligibility page before assuming you qualify.

University merit and need-based aid

Each Autonomous University runs its own scholarship and bursary programmes on top of the schemes above:

• Merit scholarships: awarded on academic results, leadership and co-curricular record, usually covering tuition and sometimes a living allowance, no bond attached beyond any Tuition Grant obligation already in place.

• Need-based bursaries: for citizens and PRs from lower-income households, assessed against per capita household income, covering part or all of the subsidised fee.

• Residential and hostel bursaries: help cover accommodation costs for students who qualify for financial aid, reducing the hostel bill on top of tuition support.

Private and corporate scholarships

Foundations and companies (for example Lee Foundation-linked awards, bank-sponsored scholarships, and industry scholarships tied to specific faculties like engineering or computing) also fund a smaller number of places each year, often with a work commitment to the sponsoring company for 1-3 years rather than a fixed government bond. These are usually listed on each university's own scholarship portal alongside the government-linked options, so check your target faculty's page directly rather than relying on third-party scholarship listing sites, since terms and funding amounts change every intake.

How to apply

1. Submit your university admission application first. Most scholarships, including the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship, are assessed from the same application, not a separate form.

2. Check each scholarship's own deadline. Some close earlier than the general admission deadline.

3. Prepare for an interview. Merit-based and government scholarships commonly interview shortlisted candidates before a final offer.

4. Read the bond terms before accepting. Confirm whether the bond is tied to the Tuition Grant only, or to the scholarship itself, since the service length and penalty for breaking it differ.