University scholarships Singaporeans can apply for
Scoring university scholarships is like getting a free upgrade to first class. You get your tuition paid for free and enjoy plenty of bonuses along the way, too – like laptop upgrades, internship opportunities, and even free vacations. But getting one is easier said than done.
You’ll have to fill out the paperwork, showcase a stellar track record and impress them with your interview skills. You’d also have to do plenty of research to find one that suits your needs before you even begin. If you’re thinking of trying for one but don’t know where to start, we’ve done the legwork for you. Here are some university scholarships for you to consider.
Table of Contents
- University scholarships Singaporeans can apply for
- What types of university scholarships are available & what are the eligibility requirements?
- What do university scholarships typically cover?
- 1. NUS Global Merit Scholarship
- 2. Nanyang Global Scholarship
- 3. Changi Airport Undergraduate Scholarship
- 4. Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship
- 5. Singapore Airlines Open Scholarship
- 6. Healthcare Merit Scholarship (HMS)
- 7. JTC Undergraduate Scholarship
- 8. Enterprise Singapore Global Executive Scholarship
- 9. ST Engineering Local Scholarships
- 10. GIC Scholarship Programme
What types of university scholarships are available & what are the eligibility requirements?
| Type of scholarship | Eligibility requirements |
| Merit-based | Academic performance
Generally open to all nationalities |
| Financial need-based | Family income |
| Industry-sponsored | Company-specific |
| Government scholarships | Singapore citizens |
| Research scholarships | Postgraduate students |
| Sports & Arts scholarships | Extracurricular achievements |
What do university scholarships typically cover?
Generally, university scholarships cover full or part of the tuition fees. It may also include living expenses for on-campus accommodation, books required for the course, and sometimes even travel costs. Each scholarship’s coverage varies depending on terms and conditions, so it’s best to read them thoroughly before taking them on.
Another thing to consider is whether the scholarship comes with any strings attached, like a penalty for cutting short your degree or having to work for a specific period of time with the sponsoring company after graduation.
1. NUS Global Merit Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Singapore citizens with strong leadership qualities, a good CCA record, and outstanding qualifications from A Levels, poly diploma, or IB.
Image credit: @nus_singapore via Instagram
Perks:
- Full coverage of tuition fees (after MOE Tuition Grant subsidy)
- S$6,000 annual living allowance
- S$2,000 one-time computer allowance upon enrolment
- S$4,700 annual accommodation allowance if scholar is staying in an NUS Hall of Residence; or S$4,950 for Ridge View Residential College; or S$5,150 if scholar is staying in University Town, PGP Residence, or NUSC Cinnamon Wing; or S$6,500 for NUSC West Wing
- S$7,500 Student Exchange Programme/NUS Overseas Colleges allowance per semester for non-Asian countries and Japan, and S$5,000 per semester for other Asian countries
- Guaranteed an offer of a 1-semester Student Exchange Programme (SEP) with one of NUS’ overseas partner universities
Application/T&C:
- Referee’s appraisal is needed for applicants
- Recipients of the scholarship (scholars) may not concurrently hold any other scholarship, fellowship, bursary, grant, award or allowance without prior approval from the University.
- The scholarship will be monitored and renewed every semester provided the scholar maintains a Cumulative Average Point (CAP) of at least 4.0 (or equivalent) and good conduct.
Discipline of Study:
All full time undergraduate degrees at NUS, although the scholarship is not available for students in Dentistry, Medicine and Music.
Bond: None
Deadline for application: 19th March 2025
Find out more about NUS undergraduate scholarships.
2. Nanyang Global Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Full-time undergraduate degree programme at NTU, outstanding academic achievements, excellent co-curricular records, and strong leadership qualities.
Perks:
- Full coverage of subsidised tuition fees (after MOE Tuition Grant subsidy).
- Living allowance of S$6,500 per academic year.
- Accommodation allowance of up to S$2,000 per academic year for scholarship holders who reside in NTU hostels
- Travel grant of S$8,000 for an overseas programme (one-off).
- Computer allowance of S$2,000 (one-off).
Application/T&C:
- Referee’s appraisal is needed for applicants
- Personal essay
- Scholarship holder is required to maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 over 5.0. Academic performance will be reviewed every semester.
- Scholarship holder is required to take on the role of student ambassador, or any other similar role, representing the university to give publicity talks, to receive guests, etc, as and when called upon to do so.
Bond: None
Deadline for application: Dependent on your respective educational qualification, the deadline for the admission application and scholarship application is the same.
Find out more about the Nanyang Global Scholarship.
3. Changi Airport Undergraduate Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Excellent A Levels results, outstanding CCA records, and strong leadership qualities.
Perks:
- All tuition and compulsory fees
- Monthly maintenance allowance
- Pre‐Studies allowances, including settling‐in and computer allowance (one‐off)
- Hostel fees (local)
- Opportunities for sponsorship of student exchange or summer programmes
- Postgraduate sponsorship upon approval by management
- Internships with the diverse business areas with Changi Airport Group
Discipline of Study:
All disciplines of study, excluding medicine and dentistry
Bond: 3 years if you’re studying in a local university, 5 years if you’re studying abroad.
Deadline for application: 11th March 2025
Find out more about the Changi Airport Group scholarships.
4. Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Singapore citizens that have demonstrated strong leadership qualities and academic achievements.
Image credit: Teo Chee Hean via Facebook
Perks:
- Tuition fees and other approved charges
- Maintenance and other allowances
- Return airfare (if applicable)
- Sponsorship of PSC development programmes, approved student exchange programmes, summer programmes and CCAs
- Sponsorship of Master’s degree (if requirements are met)
Application/T&C:
Apply via the PSC website
Discipline of Study:
Courses approved by the agency and this depends on which PSC scholarship you choose (PSC Engineering, Foreign Service, Legal Service, Public Finance and Teaching Service Scholarships)
Bond:
- For undergraduate study in English-speaking countries: 6 years
- For undergraduate study in non-English speaking countries (e.g.Germany, China): 5 years
- For undergraduate study in Singapore: 4 years
Deadline for application: 15th March 2025
Find out more about PSC scholarships.
5. Singapore Airlines Open Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Strong academic performance and leadership qualities.
Image adapted from: @singaporeair via Instagram
Perks:
- Tuition and other compulsory fees
- Maintenance allowance
- One-off pre-studies allowance,
- Air passage at beginning and end of course,
- Annual trip to any point on Singapore Airlines’ global network.
- Reimbursement of university application and entrance test fees.
- Vacation attachment to a Singapore Airlines’ office
Application/T&C:
Apply via BrightSparks
Discipline of Study:
All courses are considered except Architecture, Biomedical, Biotechnology, Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy
Tenable for top overseas universities
Bond: 6 years
Deadline for application: 28th February 2025
Find out more about the Singapore Airlines scholarships.
6. Healthcare Merit Scholarship (HMS)
Eligibility criteria: Strong academic results, CCA records, leadership qualities, and people skills. You must have a passion for serving in the public healthcare sector.
Perks:
- Tuition fees and compulsory charges
- Monthly maintenance allowance
- Sponsorship for approved developmental activities, such as Student Exchange Programmes, Professional seminars and conferences during course of study
- One-Off Distinction Award for Academic Excellence (for those who graduated with at least 2nd Upper Honours degree)
Application/T&C:
Only applicable for MOHH-approved universities in Australia, Ireland, Singapore, UK and USA. Potential recipients will need to undergo additional rounds of interviews.
Discipline of Study
- Diagnostic Radiography
- Dietetics
- Medical Social Work
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Orthoptics
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Radiation Therapy
- Respiratory Therapy
- Prosthetics & Orthotics
- Speech Therapy
Bond: 4 years for local universites, 6 years for overseas universities
Deadline for application: 21st March 2025
Find out more about the Healthcare Merit Scholarship.
7. JTC Undergraduate Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Excellent academic results, CCA records, strong leadership qualities, and a passion to contribute to Singapore’s industrial landscape.
Perks:
- Maintenance allowance
- Tuition, examination and other related fees
- Opportunity for sponsorship for approved student exchange programmes
- Internships within JTC
- Airfare (for overseas students only)
Discipline of Study:
- Engineering
- Real Estate
- Facilities Management
- Architecture
- Urban Planning
- Economics
- Accountancy
- Courses that are relevant to different areas of work in JTC (excludes Law, Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy)
Bond: 2 years for local universities, 5 years for overseas universities
Deadline for application: 2-3 weeks after the release of A Level results
Find out more about JTC scholarships.
8. Enterprise Singapore Global Executive Scholarship
Eligibility criteria: Singapore citizens with excellent academic results, good CCA track record, and a keen sense for global business.
Image adapted from: @enterprisesg via Instagram
Perks:
- Full tuition and compulsory fees
- Monthly maintenance allowance
- Pre-studies allowance
- Medical or health insurance
- Internship opportunities
- Sponsorship for student exchange programme
Application/T&C:
Only applicable to NUS, NTU, SIT, SMU, SUTD
Discipline of Study:
All local undergraduate courses in approved universities that are deemed suitable for a career at SPRING and/or SMES. Excludes Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Architecture, Music, Real Estate, Facility Management, Industrial Design, Art, Design & Media, Education & Sports Science and a non-exhaustive list of equivalent courses
Bond: 2 years
Deadline for application: Mid March
Find out more about the Enterprise Singapore Global Executive Scholarship.
9. ST Engineering Local Scholarships
Eligibility criteria: Singapore citizens graduating from A Level, IB, or polytechnics.
Perks:
- Full tuition fees and other approved charges
- Allowance for living expenses and hostels
- Attachment/internship opportunities in ST Engineering companies
- Possibility of sponsorship for exchange programme and Master’s degree
Application/T&C:
Only applicable to NUS, NTU, SIT, SMU, SUTD, SUSS
Discipline of Study:
- Engineering courses
- Double Degree programme with one degree in Engineering
- Other courses that are relevant to the businesses of ST Engineering such as Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Naval Architecture
Bond: 3 to 4 years, depending on the duration and value of the award
Deadline for application: 19th March 2025
Find out more about ST Engineering scholarships.
10. GIC Scholarship Programme
Eligibility criteria: Pre-tertiary students of all nationalities with good academic results, CCA records, and involvement in community service.
Image credit: GIC
Perks:
- Full tuition and compulsory fees
- Monthly living allowance
- One-time pre-studies allowance for return economy fare
Application/T&C:
- Applicable to both local and overseas universities
- Have to intern with GIC during your second year of study
Discipline of Study:
All courses except Medicine and Dentistry.
Bond: 3 to 5 years depending on university location
Deadline for Application: TBC
Find out more about the GIC Scholarship Programme.
Finding the right university scholarship for you
It’s the middle of the uni app season right now, and while you’re filling in the paperwork for the various universities, it might be worthwhile to try for a scholarship too. Who knows, you might just impress someone enough to score a subsidy for your uni education!
More university guides:
Originally published on 2nd March 2018. Last updated by Aditi Kashyap on 14th March 2025.