The National Science Scholarship (PhD) is run by ASTAR Graduate Academy to develop researchers for Singapore through doctoral study at a leading overseas institution. Full-term scholars normally complete a one-year attachment at an ASTAR research institute before starting the PhD; mid-term scholars are exempt from that attachment.
Support lasts up to five years, and scholars return to Singapore for a four-year service commitment, reduced to three years when the PhD is completed in a non-anglophone country. Applications run in two cycles each year, with off-cycle applications considered case by case.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition fees for up to five years.
- Monthly sustenance allowance, including CPF contributions where applicable, plus a monthly overseas living allowance.
- Annual return airfare and conference, thesis, computer and settling-in allowances.
- Language-programme fees where applicable for scholars studying in non-anglophone countries.
- Mid-term awardees receive the same support from the award date, plus retrospective tuition and compulsory-fee payments from the first year of study.
- Allowance rates vary by country and university; A*STAR does not publish fixed amounts on the programme page.
Eligibility
- Full-term applicants may be Singapore citizens or other nationals intending to take up Singapore citizenship; non-Singaporeans must obtain at least Singapore permanent residence before studies begin and convert to citizenship during the PhD.
- Applicants must hold a good Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, or be in the final semester of undergraduate study and later obtain results meeting A*STAR’s requirements.
- Applicants must have applied, or be applying, to a PhD programme at a top overseas institution; a Master’s degree is not required.
- Mid-term applicants must be Singapore citizens, be enrolled at a top overseas institution, have completed at least one semester when applying, and be on track for excellent academic standing.
- Mid-term applicants need good research potential or achievements, and their current university supervisor must be one of two academic referees.
- No age limit or minimum work-experience requirement is stated.
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Application process
- 1Apply to one or more suitable overseas PhD programmes before or alongside the scholarship application.
- 2Prepare a CV, academic credentials, supporting documents and a description of the proposed research area.
- 3Create an account through the application link on the programme page and submit the online form by the cycle deadline.
- 4Arrange two academic referee reports within seven working days after submission; referees may be university academics or supervisors and principal investigators with whom the applicant has worked.
- 5If shortlisted, complete one interview with a panel of ASTAR scientists and a final interview with ASTAR senior management.
- 6Wait for the outcome by email; A*STAR says the full process typically takes about five months from a complete application.
Program timeline
First application cycle opens
1 January
First-cycle application deadline
1 April
First-cycle interviews
Mid-April to May
First-cycle outcomes
From mid-June
Second application cycle opens
14 July
Second-cycle application deadline
1 October
Second-cycle interviews
Mid-October to mid-November
Second-cycle outcomes
From December
Off-cycle
A*STAR Graduate Academy may consider applications case by case