- Tuition + stipendSupport
- NUS (Singapore)Host institution
- MPhil / PhD by researchLevels
- S$2,700→3,200/moStipend
- With admissionHow awarded
- Top-award routesPGF / SINGA
At a glance
full
Funding
€30k
Max amount
Nov 15, 2026
Deadline
Any country
Country
National University of Singapore
Provider
The NUS Research Scholarship supports full-time research postgraduate students — those pursuing a master's by research or a PhD — at the National University of Singapore, which ranks among the top universities in Asia and the world. The scholarship enables talented researchers to focus on their work with financial support. The scholarship covers full tuition fees and provides a monthly stipend (around S$2,700, rising to about S$3,200 per month after the PhD qualifying examination) for the duration of the research programme. Outstanding applicants may instead be offered higher-value awards such as the NUS President's Graduate Fellowship or the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA). The scholarship is tied to admission: you apply for the NUS research postgraduate programme, and funded places come with the scholarship. Applications follow the NUS graduate admission cycle, with the main August-intake round commonly closing around November of the previous year (a January intake also exists for some programmes).
What's covered
- Tuition fees — Full tuition fees for the research postgraduate programme.
- Monthly stipend — ~S$2,700/month, rising to ~S$3,200/month after passing the PhD qualifying examination.
- Duration — For the normal candidature — ~2 years (MPhil) or ~4 years (PhD), subject to progress.
- Higher-value routes — Strong applicants may receive the NUS President's Graduate Fellowship or SINGA instead, with higher stipends.
How to apply
Apply for an NUS research postgraduate (MPhil/PhD) programme; funded places include the Research Scholarship, and strong applicants are considered for higher awards.
- Identify a programme & supervisor — Find an NUS research programme and area (and potential supervisor) that fit your research.
- Note the deadline — Check the research postgraduate deadline (main August intake commonly closes ~November).
- Prepare your application — Assemble transcripts, a research proposal/statement, references, and English scores.
- Apply for admission — Submit your NUS research postgraduate application, indicating interest in scholarship support.
- Selection — Departments assess applicants and allocate the Research Scholarship to admitted research students.
- Offer — Funded offers include the scholarship; top applicants may receive PGF/SINGA instead.
Eligibility
ProgrammeAdmitted to a full-time research postgraduate (MPhil/PhD by research) programme at NUS.
Academic meritA strong academic record (e.g. a good honours degree or research master's).
Research fitA good match with a department, supervisor, and research area.
EnglishEnglish proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) where required.
Full-timeEnrolled full-time for research study.
The scholarship comes with a funded research place — you apply for the MPhil/PhD programme, not a separate scholarship form. Outstanding applicants may be put forward for higher awards (President's Graduate Fellowship, SINGA).
Eligible countries
Any country
Deadlines
2027 August research intake2026-11-15
Selection
Departments select funded research students on academic and research merit and fit with supervisors and research areas. The Research Scholarship accompanies a funded place; the strongest applicants may be put forward for higher-value awards (NUS President's Graduate Fellowship or SINGA), which have their own selection.
Verified sources
- NUS Research Scholarshipnus.edu.sgofficial
About the provider
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore's flagship university and consistently ranks among the top universities in Asia and the world. It funds research postgraduate students through the NUS Research Scholarship and higher-value awards to attract talented researchers across its faculties.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the NUS Research Scholarship?
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A scholarship supporting full-time research postgraduate students (MPhil/PhD by research) at the National University of Singapore with full tuition and a monthly stipend.
Who is eligible?
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Students admitted to a full-time NUS research postgraduate programme with a strong academic and research background and a good fit with a department and supervisor.
How much is the stipend?
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Around S$2,700 per month, rising to about S$3,200 per month after you pass the PhD qualifying examination, alongside full tuition coverage.
Is tuition covered?
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Yes — the scholarship covers full tuition fees for the research programme, in addition to the monthly stipend.
How do I get the scholarship?
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It comes with a funded research place — you apply for the MPhil/PhD programme rather than a separate scholarship form, and departments allocate the scholarship to admitted research students.
When is the deadline?
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The main August intake commonly closes around ~November of the previous year; some programmes also offer a January intake with an earlier deadline. Confirm with NUS.
What are the higher-value awards?
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Outstanding applicants may instead receive the NUS President's Graduate Fellowship or the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA), which carry higher stipends.
What levels does it cover?
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Research postgraduate degrees — master's by research (MPhil, ~2 years) and PhD (~4 years), full-time, subject to satisfactory progress.
Do I need a supervisor first?
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It helps to identify a research area and potential supervisor, as departments consider research fit when allocating funded places, especially for PhD study.
How competitive is it?
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Competitive — NUS is among the world's top universities, and funded research places (and the higher PGF/SINGA awards) go to the strongest applicants.
Which fields can I research?
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Across NUS's faculties — science, engineering, computing, medicine, business, design and environment, and humanities and social sciences.
How long does the scholarship last?
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For the normal candidature of the degree — about 2 years for an MPhil and up to ~4 years for a PhD — subject to satisfactory progress.