Singapore MFA Scholarship
The Singapore MFA Scholarship is offered by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Singapore Cooperation Programme — Singapore's flagship technical assistance scheme for partner countries. It funds short technical training programmes and longer Master's degrees at Singapore universities (NUS, NTU, SMU) for junior diplomats and public officers from partner countries. Sri Lankan officials are typically nominated by their home ministry through the Singapore High Commission in Colombo. Programmes target governance, public policy, urban planning, finance, and digital government — Singapore's areas of comparative expertise.
Rolling — Sri Lankan public officers apply via the Singapore High Commission in Colombo
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Fully Funded
Duration
1-2 Year Master's
Travel
Return Airfare + Settlement Allowance
Stipend
Singapore-equivalent living 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
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 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
Full Tuition + Living Stipend + Flights. 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
Partner Country National (Sri Lanka inc.)
Open to nationals of partner countries — Sri Lanka is a longstanding partner under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Applicants must be employed by the Sri Lankan government or its agencies.
Junior / Mid-Career Public Officer
Typically 3-10 years of work experience in the Sri Lankan public sector — line ministries, the Central Bank, regulatory agencies, or development bodies. Junior diplomats are explicitly targeted for the MFA strand.
Bachelor's Degree
Recognised Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with strong academic record. English-language ability sufficient for Singapore Master's study — most courses don't require IELTS but a proxy assessment is standard.
Government Nomination
Sri Lankan applicants must be nominated by their employer ministry through the Singapore High Commission in Colombo. There is no direct application route; the scholarship is allocated via official nomination.
account_tree Application Process
Internal nomination by your ministry
Your Sri Lankan ministry / agency submits a nomination to the Singapore High Commission in Colombo specifying the proposed Master's programme, the candidate's profile, and the return-of-service plan.
High Commission shortlisting
The Singapore High Commission reviews nominations against the year's available scholarship slots and Singapore Cooperation Programme priorities. Shortlisted candidates are forwarded to MFA Singapore for final review.
Master's admission to NUS / NTU / SMU
Selected candidates apply to the relevant Master's programme (typically LKYSPP / MPA at NUS, MAPS at NTU, or similar) via the standard university application route — with scholarship endorsement attached.
Confirmation + visa
Final scholarship confirmation comes from MFA Singapore alongside university admission. Use the offer for the Singapore Student's Pass application — visa processing is streamlined for government scholars.
About the Singapore Cooperation Programme
Established in 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme has trained over 130,000 officials from 170+ countries. It sits within Singapore's foreign policy as a soft-power instrument and a way to share Singapore's development experience with partner states.
Since 1992
Programme Running
170+
Partner Countries
130,000+
Total Officials Trained
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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