NUS Research Scholarship

Overview

The NUS Research Scholarship (NUS RS) supports full-time graduate research students at the National University of Singapore. It covers full tuition and pays a monthly stipend for the duration of your study. International PhD students receive SGD 3,000 per month, with an additional up to SGD 500 per month after passing the Qualifying Examination (QE). International Master's (Research) students receive SGD 2,900 per month. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents receive higher stipend rates with CPF contributions included. The scholarship runs for up to four years for PhD students and up to two years for Master's (Research) students. There's no service bond. International recipients must complete 312 hours of teaching duties under the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP) over the scholarship tenure. The scholarship is assessed as part of the graduate admissions process — there's no separate scholarship application.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Funding body	National University of Singapore
Host country	Singapore
Degree levels	Master's (Research), PhD
Monthly stipend — International PhD	SGD 3,000 (+ up to SGD 500 after Qualifying Examination)
Monthly stipend — International Master's (Research)	SGD 2,900
Monthly stipend — Singapore Citizen (PhD)	SGD 3,800
Monthly stipend — Singapore PR (PhD / Master's Research)	SGD 3,400 / SGD 3,000
Tuition	Full waiver
Duration	Up to 4 years (PhD); up to 2 years (Master's Research)
Service bond	None
GAP teaching obligation (International)	312 hours over scholarship tenure
Eligible nationalities	All
More information	nusgs.nus.edu.sg/scholarships/nus-research-scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

Academic requirements

• You must hold a bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division), Honours (Distinction), or the equivalent from your home country's grading system.
• You must be offered and accept a place in a full-time NUS graduate research programme.

Enrolment and residency

• The scholarship is open to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, and international students.
• You must be enrolled full-time — part-time or distance research students are not eligible.

Conditions for international recipients

• You must participate in the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP), contributing 312 hours of teaching or teaching-related duties over your scholarship tenure.
• You may not hold concurrent employment or another scholarship without NUS's written approval.

What the Scholarship Covers

• Full tuition-fee waiver for the duration of the scholarship
• Monthly stipend of SGD 3,000 for international PhD students (effective January 2026)
• Monthly stipend of SGD 2,900 for international Master's (Research) students
• An additional up to SGD 500 per month for PhD students after passing the Qualifying Examination
• CPF contributions for Singapore Citizens

How to Apply

1. Identify a full-time NUS graduate research programme and faculty you want to join.
2. Contact potential supervisors before applying if possible — a supervisor who supports your application strengthens your case for scholarship consideration.
3. Submit your application through the NUS Graduate Admissions portal for your chosen programme.
4. Indicate in your application that you want to be considered for scholarship support — there's no separate form.
5. Your faculty or school reviews your academic record, research proposal, and references alongside your admission application.
6. If shortlisted, you may be contacted for an interview or asked for additional information.
7. Scholarship offers are included with admission offers — accept or decline according to the instructions in your offer letter.

Required Documents

• Completed NUS graduate programme application via the NUS admissions portal
• Academic transcripts from all tertiary institutions attended
• Degree certificates
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Research statement or study plan
• Two to three academic recommendation letters
• English language proficiency test results (TOEFL or IELTS) if your undergraduate degree was not taught in English
• GRE scores if required by your target faculty

Key Dates & Deadlines

The NUS Research Scholarship is tied to two annual graduate admission intakes. The August intake (Semester 1) typically has faculty application deadlines between November and February of the preceding year. The January intake (Semester 2) typically has deadlines between May and July. Faculty-specific deadlines vary significantly. Always check the admissions page for your target faculty or school, not just the general NUS graduate admissions page, to get the correct deadline for your programme.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Reaching out to a potential supervisor before you apply — faculties give more weight to applicants a supervisor is already interested in working with.
• A research statement that identifies a specific problem, explains your approach, and connects clearly to faculty work at NUS.
• Recommendation letters from academics who can speak directly to your research ability, not just your coursework performance.
• Prior research experience — an undergraduate thesis, published papers, conference participation, or research internships — is a meaningful differentiator.
• A GPA that's high relative to your institution's grading scale, particularly above 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or the local equivalent.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on the general NUS admissions page for deadlines — individual faculties often have earlier cutoffs for the same intake.
• Writing a research statement that describes a general interest area without linking to specific problems or faculty expertise at NUS.
• Ignoring the GAP requirement — 312 hours of teaching over your tenure is a real time commitment; plan for it when you structure your research timeline.
• Applying for two scholarships concurrently without NUS approval, which can result in your scholarship being revoked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to submit a separate application for the NUS Research Scholarship?

No. You apply for the scholarship as part of your graduate programme application. When you submit, indicate that you want to be considered for scholarship support. Your faculty or school evaluates scholarship eligibility alongside the admission decision.

What is the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP) required by the NUS Research Scholarship?

GAP is a teaching obligation for international scholarship recipients. You complete 312 hours of teaching or teaching-related duties — such as tutorial facilitation, marking, or laboratory supervision — spread across your scholarship tenure. Your faculty coordinates the responsibilities, and the hours are part of your funding package, not separate employment.

Can I take on part-time work while holding the NUS Research Scholarship?

You need written approval from NUS before taking on any employment or holding any other scholarship concurrently. Concurrent commitments without approval can result in your scholarship being suspended or withdrawn.

Does the NUS Research Scholarship cover accommodation or living expenses beyond the stipend?

The scholarship covers tuition and pays a monthly stipend. It doesn't separately pay for accommodation. You'll need to budget for housing from your stipend. NUS graduate student housing exists but isn't guaranteed.

What happens to the NUS Research Scholarship if I fail the Qualifying Examination?

If you fail the QE, you don't receive the additional stipend top-up (up to SGD 500/month), which only activates after you pass. Your faculty will advise you on retake policies and scholarship continuation conditions, which vary by department.

Is the NUS Research Scholarship renewable each year?

The scholarship runs for the approved duration — up to four years for PhD, two years for Master's (Research) — subject to satisfactory academic progress. You must meet progress milestones set by your faculty for the scholarship to continue.

Can I transfer from a Master's (Research) to a PhD programme while holding the NUS Research Scholarship?

Transfer from Master's to PhD is possible at NUS, and scholarship conditions are reassessed at that point. Contact your faculty's graduate office early if you're considering this path — the timing and eligibility of continued scholarship support depends on when you transfer and your academic standing.

Are the NUS Research Scholarship stipend amounts the same across all faculties?

The base rates are set centrally by NUS: SGD 3,000/month for international PhD students and SGD 2,900/month for international Master's (Research) students, effective January 2026. Some faculties may offer supplemental funding on top of these amounts — check directly with your prospective faculty.

Does the NUS Research Scholarship apply to professional master's programmes?

No. The scholarship applies to research-based graduate programmes only. Professional master's degrees (coursework programmes) are not eligible.

What's the difference between the NUS Research Scholarship and the NUS President's Graduate Fellowship?

Both cover full tuition and include a monthly stipend, but the President's Graduate Fellowship (PGF) is NUS's top PhD award, given by Faculty/Department nomination to applicants with exceptional research promise. The PGF stipend is higher (SGD 3,900/month for internationals vs SGD 3,000/month under the Research Scholarship), and it includes a settling-in allowance and airfare grant. You can't apply for the PGF directly — your faculty nominates you.