NTU Research Scholarship

Overview

The NTU Research Scholarship is NTU's core funding award for students admitted to full-time research-based master's and doctoral programmes at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. It covers your tuition fees and pays a monthly stipend throughout your candidature. You don't submit a separate scholarship application — the university considers you automatically when you apply for admission through the graduate admissions portal. Your scholarship outcome arrives alongside your admission offer.

International PhD students who pass their qualifying examination can receive an additional top-up of up to SGD 500 per month. International students are also required to join the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP), which involves a set number of work hours per week supporting teaching or research activities. No bond is required, so you're free to work anywhere after you graduate.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Value
Funding body	Nanyang Technological University
Host country	Singapore
Degree levels	Master's (Research), PhD
Monthly stipend — International PhD	SGD 3,000 (effective Jan 2026)
Monthly stipend — International Master's	SGD 2,900 (effective Jan 2026)
Monthly stipend — Singapore Citizen PhD	SGD 3,800 + CPF
Monthly stipend — Singapore PR PhD	SGD 3,400
Post-qualifying exam top-up (PhD)	Up to SGD 500/month additional
Duration	Up to 4 years (PhD); up to 2 years (Master's)
Tuition coverage	Annual tuition fees covered in full
Bond	None
Open to	All nationalities

Eligibility Criteria

Academic standing

You need at least an Honours (Distinction) degree or the equivalent from your home institution. This corresponds roughly to a first-class or upper second-class honours result. If your institution uses a different grading scale, NTU will assess equivalency during the admissions review.

Programme type

You must be admitted to a full-time NTU graduate research programme. Coursework-only master's degrees don't qualify. You need to be enrolled in a programme with a research thesis or dissertation component.

Nationality

The scholarship is open to all nationalities. Stipend rates differ for Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, and international students, so check the table above for the rate that applies to you.

Graduate Assistantship Programme (international students)

If you're an international student, you must participate in the Graduate Assistantship Programme as a condition of the scholarship. GAP involves assisting with teaching, lab supervision, or research tasks for a defined number of hours each week. This gives you structured engagement with the department alongside your own research.

Annual renewal

The scholarship renews each year, but renewal depends on satisfactory academic progress. You need to demonstrate that your research is advancing at a reasonable pace. If you run into difficulties, speak with your supervisor early — gaps in progress can affect renewal.

What the Scholarship Covers

• Full annual tuition fees for the duration of the award
• Monthly stipend of SGD 3,000 (international PhD) or SGD 2,900 (international Master's) effective January 2026
• Post-qualifying exam stipend top-up of up to SGD 500/month for PhD scholars who pass
• Higher stipend rates for Singapore Citizens (SGD 3,800 + CPF) and Permanent Residents (SGD 3,400 for PhD, SGD 3,000 for Master's)

How to Apply

1. Go to the NTU graduate admissions portal at gradadmissions.ntu.edu.sg/apply and create an account.
2. Choose your research programme and, where applicable, identify a potential supervisor whose research aligns with your interests before submitting.
3. Complete the full graduate admission application, including academic records, referee reports, research statement, and test scores as required by your programme.
4. Submit your application before the intake deadline for your target start date.
5. The university automatically evaluates eligible applicants for the Research Scholarship — there is no separate scholarship form.
6. Wait for the combined admission and scholarship offer, which will specify your stipend category and conditions.

Required Documents

• Completed online application form
• Official academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of degree certificates with certified English translations if originals are in another language
• Minimum two referee reports submitted directly by referees through the portal
• Research statement or statement of purpose
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Valid passport or national identity document
• English language proficiency scores (IELTS or TOEFL) if your medium of prior instruction was not English
• GRE scores if required by your programme
• Publications list or research outputs if any

Key Dates & Deadlines

NTU admits graduate students for two main intakes: January and August. Application deadlines vary by school and programme, so check the specific programme page on the NTU website. Because the scholarship is assessed as part of your admission application, the scholarship deadline is the same as your programme's admissions deadline — there is no separate scholarship closing date. Your offer letter will confirm the scholarship terms alongside your admission decision.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Contact a potential supervisor before applying. Many NTU research programmes require or strongly prefer applicants to have a supervisor willing to take them on. A prior conversation about your research interests makes your application more credible.
• Write a focused research statement. Describe a specific problem you want to investigate, why it matters in your field, and how your background equips you to tackle it.
• Choose referees who know your research ability directly. A professor who supervised your final-year project will write a more useful letter than a departmental head who barely knows you.
• Make sure your transcripts are certified and that any non-English documents come with certified translations. Missing or unclear documents delay your file.
• Apply early in the admissions window. Popular programmes fill supervisor capacity well before the official deadline closes.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without identifying a supervisor in research areas that require one. Programmes can reject otherwise strong applications on this basis alone.
• Writing a generic research statement that could apply to any university. Tailor it to NTU's facilities, research groups, or faculty you've identified.
• Assuming the scholarship is guaranteed with admission. While a large proportion of admitted research students receive it, your academic standing must meet the threshold.
• Missing the GAP requirement. If you're an international student, factor the weekly assistantship hours into your research planning from the start.
• Submitting referee details without giving referees enough lead time. Referees need adequate time to submit their reports before your application deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply separately for the NTU Research Scholarship?

No. The scholarship is assessed automatically as part of your graduate admissions application. You submit one application through the NTU graduate admissions portal, and if you're eligible, the scholarship offer comes with your admission offer.

What does the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP) involve for NTU Research Scholarship recipients?

GAP requires international scholarship recipients to assist with teaching or research activities within their department for a specified number of hours per week. The exact hours are set by your school or programme. It's a condition of holding the scholarship, not optional.

Can I receive the NTU Research Scholarship if I'm a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident?

Yes. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. Stipend rates are higher for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents than for international students. Citizens also receive CPF contributions on top of their stipend.

How long does the NTU Research Scholarship last?

Up to four years for PhD students and up to two years for research master's students. Renewal each year is subject to satisfactory academic progress as assessed by your supervisor and department.

What is the post-qualifying exam top-up for PhD students?

PhD scholars who pass their qualifying examination can receive an additional stipend top-up of up to SGD 500 per month. This takes your international PhD stipend from SGD 3,000 to up to SGD 3,500 per month.

Is there a bond or service obligation attached to the NTU Research Scholarship?

No bond is required. After you graduate, you're free to work for any employer in any country without penalty.

Does the NTU Research Scholarship cover living expenses or just tuition?

It covers both annual tuition fees and a monthly stipend. The stipend is intended to support living costs, though you'll need to budget carefully for accommodation, food, and other expenses in Singapore.

What academic standard do I need to qualify for the NTU Research Scholarship?

You need at least an Honours (Distinction) degree or equivalent. NTU assesses equivalency across different grading systems, so if your institution doesn't use a standard honours classification, provide as much transcript detail as possible to assist the evaluation.

Can I hold the NTU Research Scholarship alongside other awards?

This depends on the terms of any other award you hold. Check with NTU's graduate admissions office if you're considering combining funding sources. In some cases, holding another scholarship can affect your eligibility or require prior approval.

When will I find out if I've been awarded the NTU Research Scholarship?

Your scholarship outcome is communicated alongside your admission decision. There's no separate notification timeline for the scholarship itself. Once you receive your offer letter, it will state whether the scholarship has been awarded and at what stipend level.