Yes, the Singapore International Graduate Award, known as SINGA, pays for a full PhD in Singapore. It covers tuition fees for up to four years, pays a monthly stipend for living costs, and adds one-time help with airfare and settling in.
The award is run by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, known as A*STAR, together with five partner universities. It is for international graduates in science and engineering. The deadline for the August intake is 1 December 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Singapore time (GMT+8).
Read this first: who cannot apply
SINGA is designed for people who are new to studying in Singapore, so its restrictions are strict. If you are a Singapore citizen, you cannot apply. If you are a Singapore permanent resident, you cannot apply either. The same applies if you graduated from a Singaporean institution, even if you hold another nationality.
If any of these three descriptions fits you, this award is not the right one, and your time is better spent elsewhere.
What a SINGA PhD looks like
A PhD is a research degree. Instead of mainly attending taught classes, you work on one research question in depth. Training is carried out in English, at an A*STAR research institute or a partner university.
The partners are the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Management University (SMU), and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). SINGA is also bond-free, so it does not tie you to working in Singapore for a set period after you finish.
What the funding covers
Tuition fees are fully covered for up to four years, which removes the largest single cost for most applicants. The monthly stipend starts at S$2,700 and rises to S$3,200 after you pass the Qualifying Exam, a formal check of your readiness to continue doctoral research.
Two one-time payments complete the package: an airfare grant of up to S$1,500 and a settling-in allowance of S$1,000. Both are paid once, not every year, so they help at the start but do not replace the monthly stipend. Health insurance is not covered, so arrange your own cover and include that cost in your planning.
| Detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Programme | Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA), PhD |
| Organiser | A*STAR, with NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU and SIT |
| Location | Singapore |
| Duration | Up to 4 years |
| Tuition fees | Fully covered for up to 4 years |
| Monthly stipend | S$2,700, rising to S$3,200 after the Qualifying Exam |
| One-time grants | Airfare grant up to S$1,500; settling-in allowance S$1,000 |
| Not covered | Health insurance |
| Bond | Bond-free |
| Deadline | 1 December 2026, 11:59 p.m. GMT+8 (August intake) |
Who SINGA is looking for
SINGA covers four research areas: Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering and Technology, and Computing and Information Sciences. If your degree and interests sit clearly inside one of these areas, you are in the right field. A background in a different field, such as law or history, does not fit this award, no matter how strong your grades are.
You need an excellent bachelor’s or master’s degree, plus clear research potential. That means more than good exam marks: you can ask a useful question and stay with a project when results are slow. Past research, such as a final-year project, lab work, or a dissertation, helps show this. You also need good written and spoken English, and two referee reports from people who know your academic work well.
Judge your own fit before applying
Ask three direct questions. Does my degree fit one of the four research areas, or am I stretching the connection? Can I point to at least one piece of real research work and explain what I did and learned? Can two referees who know my work write strong, specific reports, rather than general praise?
If all three answers are yes, you have a sensible basis for applying. If the first answer is no, look elsewhere, because a weak field fit is hard to fix with a well-written form. If the referee question worries you, act early: a rushed request sent days before the deadline rarely produces a careful report.
How to apply
Start by reading the official SINGA page and checking your field, degree, and background against the rules, especially the restrictions above. Then think about where your past work fits best, rather than picking a popular topic with little connection to what you have done.
Approach your two referees early and explain the deadline plainly. Give them a short summary of your work, so their reports can mention specific projects. Ask directly whether they can submit on time, since an application without the required reports is incomplete. Then complete the online form carefully, check each section before submitting, and keep copies of what you submit.
After you apply
Only shortlisted candidates are notified, within about 12 weeks of the closing date. Silence after that window means you were not shortlisted. Have other applications in progress too, so one result does not decide your whole year.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can Singapore citizens or permanent residents apply for SINGA?
A: No. Singapore citizens and permanent residents are not eligible, and neither are graduates of Singaporean institutions.
Q: How much is the monthly stipend?
A: The stipend is S$2,700 per month, rising to S$3,200 after you pass the Qualifying Exam. Tuition is fully covered for up to four years.
Q: Does SINGA cover health insurance?
A: No. Health insurance is not included, so scholars must arrange their own cover and budget for it separately.
Q: When will I hear back after applying?
A: Only shortlisted candidates are notified, within about 12 weeks of the closing date.
SINGA suits an international science or engineering graduate with strong grades, real research experience, and a genuine interest in doctoral research in Singapore. If that fits you and none of the restrictions apply, give your referees plenty of time and apply well before the deadline.
