Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)
SINGA is an alliance between Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and four host universities — NUS, NTU, SMU and SUTD. It funds PhD research in science and engineering at A*STAR research institutes paired with one of the partner universities. Sri Lankan applicants who have strong undergraduate research experience (final-year projects, publications, lab assistantships at Peradeniya / Moratuwa / Colombo) are well placed — the award is competitive but open to all nationalities, not just South Asia, with no country quota.
A*STAR Singapore
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Fully Funded
Duration
4-Year PhD
Travel
S$1,500 Airfare + S$1,000 Settling Allowance
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor's with Strong Honours
Recognised Bachelor's degree with at least a strong upper second-class (2:1) or equivalent — first-class honours from a Sri Lankan university (UoC, UoM, UoP, USJ) is the typical benchmark for shortlisting.
Open to All Nationalities
SINGA is open to all international applicants outside Singapore. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible — there is no country quota, but no special preference either. Selection is purely on academic and research merit.
Research Aptitude
Strong research aptitude evidenced through a final-year project, publications, or research assistant experience. Two academic referee reports are required and weigh heavily in shortlisting.
English Proficiency
IELTS / TOEFL is optional at the SINGA stage and assessed during interview, but individual host universities (especially NUS and NTU) may require IELTS 6.5+ for admission.
account_tree Application Process
Identify your A*STAR supervisor and project
Browse the SINGA project listings on a-star.edu.sg — each project is tied to a specific A*STAR PI and a partner university department. Sri Lankan applicants should email the PI with their CV and research interests before applying.
Submit the online SINGA application
Apply via the SINGA portal by 1 December 2025 for the August 2026 intake (a second window in June is for the January 2027 intake). Upload transcripts, CV, research proposal alignment statement, and two referee reports.
Interview with A*STAR PI
Shortlisted applicants are interviewed (online or in person) by the prospective A*STAR supervisor and a selection panel — typically February to April. Interview focus is on research fit, not generic motivation.
University admission
Successful awardees are concurrently admitted to the partnered university (NUS / NTU / SMU / SUTD) for the PhD. The award covers tuition and stipend for up to 4 years.
Why SINGA?
A*STAR is Singapore's lead public research agency — 18+ research institutes spanning biomedical, physical sciences, and engineering. SINGA scholars do their research at A*STAR labs (where the equipment and PIs are) while their degree is conferred by the partner university.
S$2,700/mo
Stipend (rises to S$3,200 post-QE)
240+
PhD Scholars Recruited Annually
4 Universities
Partner Hosts (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD)
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