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.
Open for the August 2027 intake — applications close around 1 December 2026. SINGA runs two windows a year: the December round for the following August intake, and a June round for the January intake after it.
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
info How this award actually works
This is a separate, highly competitive application
Government awards like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.
Who awards it
A*STAR Singapore — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.
What it covers
Fully Funded PhD + S$2,700/mo Stipend. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.
Where we come in
We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.
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)
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for SG, in LKR as well as local currency.
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Check the requirement arrow_forwardSimilar Scholarships
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Nanyang Technological University
NUS Research Scholarship
National University of Singapore