Singapore is Asia’s most internationally competitive study destination, home to the National University of Singapore (NUS), which ranks in the world’s top 15, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which ranks in the world’s top 25.
For international students from developing countries, Singapore offers scholarship pathways that are genuinely world-class — and the country’s strategic position as Asia’s technology and finance hub provides exceptional career opportunities post-graduation.
This guide covers every major pathway to studying in Singapore for free in 2026.
Why Study in Singapore?
Top-ranked universities. NUS ranks #8 globally. NTU ranks #15 globally. Singapore Management University (SMU) is regionally recognized. These rankings are genuine, Singapore’s universities are research powerhouses with world-class faculty.
English-medium. All instruction at Singapore universities is in English, making it the most accessible English-medium top-tier study destination in Asia.
Technology and finance hub. Singapore hosts regional headquarters of Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and hundreds of other global companies, providing exceptional internship and career opportunities.
PhD stipends. Singapore PhD stipends are among the highest in Asia — SGD 2,000–2,500/month (~$1,500–$1,900 USD) with full tuition waiver, sufficient for comfortable living in Singapore.
Gateway to Asia. Singapore’s location provides unparalleled access to Southeast Asian and broader Asian markets, professionally valuable for students from any developing country.
Top Scholarships to Study in Singapore for Free 2026
1. Singapore Government Scholarship (Various Programs) 🇸🇬
The Singapore government administers several scholarships through different agencies for international students.
A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (AGS): The most prestigious Singapore government scholarship for research PhD students, administered by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition at NUS or NTU
- Monthly stipend SGD 2,500 (~$1,900 USD) during PhD
- Conference and research travel funding
- Post-PhD research and career placement support
Eligibility:
- Applying for PhD in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
- Outstanding academic record — typically top 5-10%
- IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 minimum
- GRE may be required for some programs — check specific requirements
A*STAR Research Attachment Programme (ARAP): Shorter research attachment (3–12 months) for international students, fully funded.
Deadline: Rolling applications — check a-star.edu.sg
2. NUS Research Scholarship 🇸🇬
The National University of Singapore (NUS) offers fully funded PhD research scholarships as standard for admitted international PhD students.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend SGD 2,000–2,500 (~$1,500–$1,900 USD)
- Health insurance
Eligibility:
- Admitted to NUS PhD programs
- Strong academic record and research experience
- IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 85 minimum
- GRE recommended for some departments
Strongest Programs at NUS: Computer science, AI, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, physics, business, law, medicine, and social sciences.
How to Apply: Apply for PhD admission at nus.edu.sg — scholarship consideration is part of the PhD admission process.
Deadline: January–April 2027 for August intake; July–September 2026 for January intake
3. NTU Research Scholarship 🇸🇬
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) offers equivalent fully funded PhD scholarships for international students.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend SGD 2,000–2,500
- Health insurance
Strongest Programs at NTU: Materials science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, AI and data science, business, education, and life sciences.
NTU Specific Award: Nanyang President Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) — top 1-2% of PhD applicants — additional SGD 500/month top-up + enhanced research funding.
Deadline: January–March 2027 for August intake
4. SINGA Scholarship — Singapore International Graduate Award 🇸🇬
The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a joint scholarship by A*STAR, NUS, NTU, and SUTD — specifically designed for international students pursuing PhD in Singapore in biomedical and life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and computing.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition at host institution
- Monthly stipend SGD 2,000 during coursework, SGD 2,500 during thesis
- One-time SGD 1,000 settling-in allowance
- Annual SGD 1,000 conference travel allowance
Eligibility:
- International students (non-Singaporean)
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with excellent academic record
- Strong research aptitude
- English proficiency — IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90
SINGA Fields: Biomedical sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and computing.
Deadline: June 2026 (for January 2027 intake) and January 2027 (for August 2027 intake)
This is one of the most straightforward fully funded PhD pathways to Singapore, apply directly at singa.a-star.edu.sg
5. NUS Master’s Scholarships 🇸🇬
Beyond PhD funding, NUS offers several scholarships for international Master’s students.
NUS Merit Scholarship:
- Partial tuition reduction for outstanding international applicants
- Available across most Master’s programs
NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School):
- Several fully funded fellowships for government and public sector professionals from Asia
- Lee Kuan Yew School scholarship — full fees + SGD 2,000/month + travel
- Mid-career professionals in government strongly preferred
Eligibility for LKY School:
- Mid-career government or public sector professional
- Minimum 8 years relevant experience
- English proficiency required
Deadline: March–April 2027
6. Singapore Management University (SMU) Scholarships 🇸🇬
SMU, Southeast Asia’s leading business and law university, offers merit scholarships for outstanding international students.
SMU Management Scholarship:
- Partial tuition waiver
- Available for Master’s programs in business, law, accounting, and information systems
Deadline: February–April 2027
7. SUTD-MIT Graduate Fellowship 🇸🇬
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), co-developed with MIT, offers research fellowships for PhD students with strong engineering and design backgrounds.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend SGD 2,000–2,500
Strongest Fields: Engineering product design, architecture and sustainable design, engineering systems and design, and information systems technology and design.
Deadline: January–March 2027
Singapore PhD — How It Works
For most international students, the most accessible path to fully funded study in Singapore is through PhD programs because Singapore PhD positions are funded as a matter of course, unlike Master’s which require separate scholarship applications.
1: Apply for PhD admission Apply to NUS, NTU, or SUTD PhD programs in your field. Include a research proposal.
2: Contact supervisors Email professors at NUS or NTU whose research aligns with yours. Singapore academics are internationally oriented and responsive. A supervisor who wants to work with you significantly improves admission chances.
3: Scholarship is part of admission For NUS Research Scholarship and NTU Research Scholarship, scholarship is awarded as part of the PhD admission offer. No separate application needed.
4: Apply for SINGA (additional option) Apply simultaneously to SINGA scholarship at singa.a-star.edu.sg — separate from direct university applications.
Singapore Living Costs
Singapore is expensive by Asian standards:
| Expense | Monthly (SGD) |
|---|---|
| University accommodation | 400–700 |
| Food (hawker centres + cooking) | 400–600 |
| Transport | 100–150 |
| Personal/misc | 200–300 |
| Total | ~SGD 1,100–1,750 |
PhD stipend SGD 2,000–2,500 comfortably covers living costs. Singapore’s famous hawker centre food culture keeps food costs remarkably low despite the overall expensive reputation.
IELTS Requirements
| Scholarship/University | Min IELTS |
|---|---|
| A*STAR AGS | 6.5 |
| NUS Research Scholarship | 6.0 |
| NTU Research Scholarship | 6.0 |
| SINGA | 6.5 |
| LKY School | 6.5 |
| SMU | 6.5 |
📖 Use our Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice Tests
Free Tools for Your Singapore Scholarship Application
- 🔬 Free Research Proposal Generator — Essential for Singapore PhD applications
- 📄 Free SOP Generator
- 💌 Free Motivation Letter Generator
- 📑 Free CV Builder
- 📜 Free Reference Letter Generator
- 📖 Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice
FAQ — Study in Singapore Free 2026
Q: Can international students study in Singapore for free?
PhD programs at NUS and NTU are fully funded as standard, full tuition + SGD 2,000–2,500/month stipend. SINGA scholarship provides full funding across institutions. Master’s funding requires separate scholarship applications.
Q: What is SINGA scholarship?
Singapore International Graduate Award, joint scholarship by A*STAR, NUS, NTU, and SUTD for international PhD students in STEM fields. Full tuition + SGD 2,000–2,500/month. Apply at singa.a-star.edu.sg.
Q: Is NUS scholarship fully funded?
Yes, NUS Research Scholarship for PhD includes full tuition waiver + SGD 2,000–2,500/month stipend + health insurance. Awarded as part of PhD admission.
Q: What GPA do I need for Singapore scholarships?
Top 10% of graduating class is typical for NUS/NTU PhD scholarships. SINGA is competitive but accessible for students with strong research background and compelling research proposal.
Q: Can I work in Singapore after PhD?
Yes, Singapore Employment Pass allows PhD graduates to seek employment. Singapore’s tech and finance sectors actively recruit from NUS and NTU.
Q: Is IELTS required for Singapore universities?
Yes, IELTS 6.0–6.5 minimum depending on program. All Singapore university instruction is in English.