Content Curator | Updated On - Nov 9, 2023
Known for its academic reputation worldwide, Singapore is recognized not only in Asia but around the world as a hub of educational excellence. The country is home to some of the top universities in the world, including the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, both ranking among the top 20 globally. Additionally, Singapore has emerged as a center for multinational corporations, housing the Asian headquarters and global research centers of giants like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Dyson, and Tencent.
Education holds a significant place in Singapore, with approximately 20% of the annual budget allocated to it. This funding helps state education and government-assisted private education for Singaporean citizens. However, international students face comparatively higher expenses when enrolling in Singaporean Universities, both government and government-aided schools. According to a recent report, Singapore ranks as the second most expensive city in the world.
Cost of living in Singapore is estimated to be approximately SGD 3,700 (2 lakhs INR) per month, excluding tuition fees.The tuition fees can range anywhere from 15,000 to 56,000 SGD a year (9 lakhs to 34 lakhs INR). All these expenses can be overwhelming for an international student on a budget. This is where scholarships, grants, and fellowships come into play. There are 3 main types of scholarships to study in Singapore provided to international students, they are: Government scholarships and University-specific scholarships.
Singapore Government Scholarships
The Ministry of Education of the Singapore Government provides several merit based, need based and country specific scholarships in Singapore. Here is some information about the most relevant scholarships in Singapore for international students here.
| Scholarships | Eligibility | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Grant Scheme | The applicant must enroll to a full-time undergraduate, postgraduate or diploma course | Total tuition grant will be provided in the form of a loan, in lieu of which, the international students need to sign a Tuition Grant Agreement stating a contract to work at Singapore for 3 years after graduation |
| Dr Goh Keng Swee Scholarships | Universities enrolled in for UG studies: Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, the Singapore University of Technology and Design and the Singapore Management University. | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | Tuition | Airfare | Annual maintenance allowance of 6,500 SGD | Hostel allowance | Settling-in allowance (one-off expense) of 200 SGD |
| Singapore International Pre-Graduate Award (SIPGA) | 3rd and 4th year undergraduate and master’s students from international universities in STEM courses | Interest in research career | English proficiency | Monthly stipend of 2,000 SGD |
| National Science Scholarship (PhD) | Undergraduate with an interest in Computer Science, Biomedical Science, and Physical Science or Engineering | Non-Singaporeans with Singapore Permanent Residence before starting their studies. | Full tuition fee | Monthly living allowance | Return airfare (funding for up to 5 years) |
| A*Star Computing And Information Science (ACIS) Scholarship | Students who want to pursue PhD in Computer Science and related disciplines | International students should have finished or be working on a degree from a Singapore autonomous university. | Full tuition fee | Monthly living allowance of 4,550 SGD (funding for up to 4 years) |
| A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (AGS) | International students should have finished or be working on a degree from a Singapore autonomous university. | Full tuition fee | Monthly living allowance (funding for up to 4 years) |
| Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) | International graduates with interest in research | Excellent academic results | English proficiency | Universities enrolled in: Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, the Singapore University of Technology and Design and the Singapore Management University. | Full Tuition fees | Monthly stipend of 2,200 SGD | One-time airfare grant of up to 1,500 SGD | One-time settling-in allowance of 1,000 SGD |
| GIC Scholarship Programme | Students enrolled in all disciplines excluding Medicine and Dentistry | Excellent academic results | Co-curricular achievements | Covering tuition, mandatory fees, monthly living stipend, and a one-time allowance for pre-studies needs, including return airfare, warm clothing, and settling-in expenses. |
University-Specific Scholarships in Singapore
There are 34 universities present in Singapore. Six of these universities are national. Most of these universities provide funds to their meritorious students applying for admissions to Singapore universities. Details of some supportive scholarships in Singapore for international students are listed below:
| Scholarships | Awarding Institution | Eligibility | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science & Technology (S&T) Undergraduate Scholarship | National University of Singapore | Applicants of Computing, Engineering or Science (excluding Environmental Studies and Pharmacy) at NUS | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | Tuition fees | 6,000 SGD annual living allowance | 1,750 SGD one-time computer allowance | 200 SGD one-time settling-in allowance | Annual accommodation allowance | One-way air passage from home country to Singapore at the beginning and return air passage from Singapore to home country at the end of the program. |
| Nanyang Scholarships | Nanyang Technological University | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | Full coverage of subsidized tuition fees (after Tuition Grant) | Living allowance of 6,500 SGD | Accommodation allowance 2,000 SGD | Travel grant 5,000 SGD for an overseas program | Computer allowance 1,750 SGD |
| NTU Science and Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship | Nanyang Technological University | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | Students from Asian countries | Enrolling in Engineering or Science UG programs | Full coverage of subsidized tuition fees (after Tuition Grant) | Living allowance of 6,000 SGD | Annual accommodation allowance | Settling-in allowance of 200 SGD | One off computer allowance of 1,750 SGD | One-way air passage from home country to Singapore at the beginning and return air passage from Singapore to home country at the end of the program |
| Nanyang Business School Scholarship | Nanyang Technological University | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | Full coverage of subsidized tuition fees (after Tuition Grant) |
| GIIS Scholarships | Global Indian International School in Singapore | Need based | Talent based | Academic excellence | Variable tuition fee coverage |
| Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme | Singapore Management University | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | Tuition fee waiver | 16,000 SGD Global Opportunities grant | 5,000 SGD annual living allowance | 1,800 SGD one-time computer allowance |
| SUTD Global Excellence Scholarship | Singapore University of Technology and Design | Strong leadership qualities | Good academic and co-curricular achievements | UG students | Covers the subsidized tuition fees (after Tuition Grant) for up to four years | Grant of 9,000 SGD which may be applied towards one Approved Overseas Programme+ or for two Approved Overseas Programmes+ |
allowance of 7,000 SGD every 2 terms |
Availing scholarships to study in Singapore is tougher than getting admission in a Singapore university. The applicants need to apply for the Singapore students visa before availing any scholarships to Singapore for a course of their choice. The students need to take good care of their scores in the previous academic courses to get shortlisted for the scholarship programs.
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