Scholarships for International Students in Singapore
Scholarships for International Students in Singapore
Last reviewed: August 15, 2026. Scholarship names, values, deadlines and eligibility can change. Always confirm the current intake on the official provider page.
International students can receive substantial funding in Singapore, but “scholarship” can refer to very different arrangements: a merit award, need-based aid, a research stipend, a tuition subsidy with a work obligation, or institution-specific support. Read the conditions before comparing headline values.
MOE Tuition Grant: a subsidy with an obligation
The Ministry of Education (MOE) Tuition Grant can reduce tuition for eligible full-time undergraduate students at Singapore’s autonomous universities. It is not a cash scholarship, and international students are not entitled to assume it will be offered for every place or program.
International recipients generally sign an agreement requiring them to work full-time for a Singapore-registered company for three years immediately after graduation. Medical and dental programs can carry different service obligations.
Use the official MOE Tuition Grant portal and your university’s current fee page to confirm availability, the subsidised fee and the exact agreement.
NUS scholarships for international freshmen
The earlier version of this guide incorrectly presented the NUS Global Merit Scholarship as an international-student award. NUS places that award in its Singapore-citizen section.
NUS’s verified international-freshman options include:
- NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship — open to exceptional applicants from all countries except Singapore;
- ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship — for citizens of ASEAN member countries except Singapore;
- Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship — for eligible citizens of Asian countries or regions in specified programs; and
- other NUS- or externally administered awards with their own conditions.
The NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship currently covers subsidised tuition after the MOE Tuition Grant and lists living, computer and accommodation allowances. NUS considers and shortlists candidates through the undergraduate admission application. The scholarship itself has no separate bond, but recipients must take the MOE Tuition Grant and its applicable obligation.
See NUS’s official international scholarship page.
NTU scholarships
The Nanyang Merit Scholarship is open to all nationalities for eligible full-time undergraduate programs. NTU currently lists:
- full coverage of subsidised tuition after the Tuition Grant;
- a S$5,000 annual living allowance;
- a one-off S$4,000 travel grant; and
- academic, leadership and co-curricular selection criteria.
Applicants must apply for admission before completing the scholarship application. The award has no separate scholarship bond, but NTU states that the three-year MOE Tuition Grant bond applies to Singapore permanent residents and international students who take the grant.
Verify the current intake on NTU’s Nanyang Merit Scholarship page.
SMU scholarships
SMU maintains a dedicated list for prospective international students. One verified example is the SMU International Scholarship, aimed at applicants from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia and other developing Southeast Asian countries, with academic, conduct, service and financial-need criteria.
SMU currently lists support of S$25,000 per year toward subsidised tuition, tenable for up to four years subject to conditions. Applicants indicate interest in the scholarship section of the admission application; matriculated students must also submit the required bursary application.
Check the official SMU International Scholarship page and SMU’s current international-scholarship directory.
SINGA for research PhDs
The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a collaboration involving A*STAR and participating Singapore universities. It is intended for international research applicants and can fund up to four years of PhD study, including tuition, a monthly stipend and specified one-time allowances.
SINGA is not a general taught-master’s scholarship. Applicants choose eligible research projects and go through competitive selection. Review A*STAR’s official SINGA information.
Scholarship-enabled Asia Pathway programs
Asia Pathway currently marks these Beacon International College listings as scholarship-enabled:
- BSc (Hons) International Business Management (Top-Up)
- MSc Artificial Intelligence
- Master of Arts Education
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
This means scholarship support may be available when applying through Asia Pathway. It does not mean every applicant receives funding, and it is not the same as an NUS, NTU, SMU, MOE or SINGA award. Eligibility, award value, fees after support and payment conditions must be confirmed in writing.
A careful application strategy
- Apply for admission by the correct qualification deadline.
- Check whether scholarship consideration is automatic or requires a separate form.
- Prepare transcripts, references, leadership evidence and financial documents early.
- Compare the award against the correct tuition category—full fee or subsidised fee.
- Read renewal conditions, exclusions, concurrent-award rules and service obligations.
- Budget as if no award exists until you receive a written offer.
Contact Asia Pathway for an individual review of the four scholarship-enabled Singapore programs.
