Scholarships for International Students in Singapore

Scholarships make Singapore affordable

Tuition at Singapore's public universities is already lower than comparable US or UK degrees, and merit scholarships for international students are generous. Here are the main routes.

MOE Tuition Grant

The Ministry of Education (MOE) Tuition Grant substantially subsidises tuition for eligible international students at NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, and other public institutions. In return, graduates commit to working in Singapore for 3 years after graduation. This is the single biggest financial lever for most international students — for many programs it cuts fees by half or more.

NUS Scholarships

• NUS Global Merit Scholarship — covers tuition, accommodation, and a living allowance, plus an overseas exchange grant.
• NUS College and Faculty scholarships — many departments run their own awards for top applicants.

Applications are largely automatic: being offered admission with strong results puts you in the pool, though a few require a separate essay.

NTU Scholarships

NTU runs a similar slate, including the NTU Undergraduate Scholarship and the NTU–A*STAR research awards. International students with outstanding grades are typically considered automatically at admission.

SMU Scholarships

SMU awards the SMU Global Impact Scholarship and various merit and need-based grants. SMU is worth a special look if you're targeting finance or consulting — its scholarship packages are competitive with the big international schools.

Private and government awards

• Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) — fully funded PhDs for international students at Singapore research universities.
• Institution- and department-specific awards you can stack on top of the Tuition Grant.

How to apply

1. Apply for admission with your best grades — most scholarships are auto-considered.
2. Complete any separate scholarship essays early (deadlines often fall before admission decisions).
3. Accept the MOE Tuition Grant bond only if you're comfortable committing 3 years of work in Singapore after graduating.

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