The NUS Amgen Scholars Program is an annual summer research program hosted by the National University of Singapore with support from the Amgen Foundation. Selected undergraduates complete eight weeks of full-time biomedical or biotechnological research with NUS faculty and research staff.
Participants work in Singapore, present their projects, and attend the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium in Tokyo. The 2026 cycle is closed, and NUS has not published the next opening date.
Benefits & funding
- All scholars receive NUS-arranged accommodation and an SGD 6,000 stipend for the eight-week research attachment.
- International scholars may receive up to SGD 1,500 toward travel from their home country to Singapore and from Japan back to their home country; NUS initiates the required TEP visa application and covers its fee.
- For local scholars, the program arranges and covers round-trip airfare for the symposium in Tokyo.
- Scholars must arrange and pay for their own private health and travel insurance. The stipend is intended to cover living costs such as meals, local transport, and social activities.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be current undergraduates in Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline at a bachelor’s-degree-awarding college or university in an eligible Asian location.
- Eligible home-university locations are Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, China Hong Kong SAR, China Macao SAR, China Taiwan Province of China, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, and Yemen.
- Applicants must have completed at least their first undergraduate year by the program start, must not graduate before the program begins, and must return to undergraduate study for at least one semester or quarter after it ends.
- Applicants need a strong academic record, an interest in pursuing a PhD, and working English. Those without English as a first language or an English-medium university must provide an accepted score: TOEFL iBT 72, IELTS 5.5, Cambridge English FCE, TOEIC 1095, TOEIC L&R 785, or TOEIC S&W 310. An official English-medium instruction letter is accepted instead when applicable.
- Citizenship and residence are not eligibility gates. Full-time participation, residence in NUS-provided accommodation, and attendance through the Tokyo symposium are required. Scholars may not take courses or hold a job during the program.
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Application process
- 1Complete the NUS online application during the published application window using accurate, current information.
- 2Follow the email instructions sent after submission and upload one correctly labelled ZIP folder containing the student-status letter, English transcript, one-page CV, one-page personal statement, and English-proficiency evidence where required.
- 3Nominate at least two faculty referees using professional email addresses and follow up so they submit their reports independently by their stated deadlines.
- 4Wait for the admission decision; shortlisted applicants receive the available project list and rank their preferences before assignment.
Program timeline
Applications for the 2026 cycle opened.
Nov 1, 2025
Applications closed.
Feb 1, 2026 at 18:00 SGT
Admission notifications began.
Mid-March 2026 onward
Scholars arrived in Singapore.
May 30, 2026 to May 31, 2026
Orientation and research attachment began.
Jun 2, 2026
Research attachment ended.
Jul 31, 2026
Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium took place in Tokyo.
Aug 4, 2026 to Aug 6, 2026
Scholars were dismissed in Japan to return home.
Aug 6, 2026