PhD Scholarship in National University of Singapore (NUS) 2025

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is one of the most respected research universities in the world. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, NUS is ranked 8th globally, making it the highest-ranked university in Asia. Established in 1905 by a group of local leaders including Tan Jiak Kim, NUS was founded to offer high-quality education and world-class research opportunities. Today, it continues to attract talented students from all over the world. NUS offers several fully funded PhD scholarships for international students across various fields. If you’re planning to pursue a PhD at NUS, this guide will help you understand everything about the scholarships available in 2025.

NUS PhD Scholarships 2025: Quick Highlights

University Name	National University of Singapore (NUS)
Location	Singapore
Scholarship Name	NUS Research Scholarship
Degree Level	PhD (Full-Time)
Tuition Fees	Fully covered (for up to 4 years)
Stipend Amount (Intl. Students)	SGD 2,700/month (before qualifying exam); up to SGD 3,200/month after
Other Scholarships Available	SINGA, Commonwealth, ASEAN PhD Awards
Deadline (Aug 2025 Intake)	Varies by department (usually Nov–Dec 2024)
Official Website	nus.edu.sg

Also Read: Harvard University Scholarships for Indian Students

Why Study at the National University of Singapore?

There are several reasons you should choose to study at the National University of Singapore:

• NUS is ranked 8th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025, making it the highest-ranked university in Asia.
• NUS offers an excellent quality of education and research facilities 
• The university is open to international students and has worldwide collaborations 
• The National University of Singapore offers plenty of scholarships for Singaporeans and for international students. 

Also read: University of Strathclyde Scholarships

What is the NUS Research Scholarship?

The NUS Research Scholarship is the main funding scheme for full-time PhD candidates at the National University of Singapore. It covers full tuition fees and provides a monthly living stipend, starting at SGD 2,700 for international students, with a SGD 500 top-up after passing the PhD Qualifying Exam. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years, based on academic progress and faculty approval. 

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National University of Singapore PhD Scholarship: Eligibility

The general eligibility criteria for the National University of Singapore PhD scholarships are listed below. Do note that the scholarship eligibility criteria vary depending on the scholarship type.

• The student must possess an excellent academic record. That is top performance in undergraduate studies/postgraduate studies/graduation from top programs/other academic achievements. The minimum academic qualification accepted is a second upper-class honors degree.
• Demonstrate strong research skills and expertise/interests that can result in a path-breaking piece of work. 
• Additionally, the student must possess strong ethical skills and high potential to be successful in the Ph.D. program
• The applicant must have already received the offer letter from the NUS for a full-time higher degree program
• Some scholarships are only applicable to international students. Hence, students from Singapore cannot apply
• New scholarships require international students to complete 312 hours under the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP)
• Submission of IELTS/TOEFL scores, GRE scores, and Oral Qualification Examination (OQE) (if applicable)

List of National University of Singapore PhD Scholarships

A total of 20 National University of Singapore PhD scholarships are available for international students. These are listed below:

S.No	National University of Singapore PhD Scholarships
1	NUS Research Scholarship
2	Commonwealth Scholarship
3	President’s Graduate Fellowship
4	Tuition Fee Allowance
5	NUS-SIngha Scholarship
6	A*Graduate Scholarship
7	A*STAR Computing and Information Science (ACIS) Scholarship
8	Data-Science Scholarship
9	CQT Scholarships
10	CSI Singapore PhD Graduate Scholarship
11	NUS Industry-Relevant PhD Scholarship (NUS-IRP)
12	NUS Medicine Graduate Studies Award
13	LKY School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship
14	NUS Suzhou Research Institute Scholarship
15	Tianjin University (TJU) – NUS Joint Institute in Fuzhou Scholarship
16	NUS Chongqing Research Institute Scholarship
17	MBI PhD Research Scholarship
18	Asian Institute of Digital Finance Scholarship
19	AI Singapore Scholarship
20	AI Singapore Scholarship

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National University of Singapore (NUS): Benefits 

The following are the benefits of the National University of Singapore. The deadlines for the same are provided below:

National University of Singapore PhD Scholarships	Benefits
NUS Research Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $2800
Commonwealth Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $2000
President’s Graduate Fellowship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $3500
Tuition Fee Allowance	Partial tuition subsidy
NUS-SIngha Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $2000
A*Graduate Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy
A*STAR Computing and Information Science (ACIS) Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy
Data-Science Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $3600
CQT Scholarships	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $3700 + CPF
CSI Singapore PhD Graduate Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $3600
NUS Industry-Relevant PhD Scholarship (NUS-IRP)	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $2700
NUS Medicine Graduate Studies Award	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $3,600 + CPF
LKY School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $1350
NUS Suzhou Research Institute Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $2700 + CPF
Tianjin University (TJU) – NUS Joint Institute in Fuzhou Scholarship	Tuition Fee Subsidies for 4 years
NUS Chongqing Research Institute Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $2200- $2700
MBI PhD Research Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $3600 with CPF
Asian Institute of Digital Finance Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $6000
AI Singapore Scholarship	Full tuition subsidy + monthly stipend $6000 with CPF
AI Singapore Scholarship	Tuition Fee Subsidies for 4 years

NUS PhD Scholarships: Documents Required

The following documents are required to apply for the National University of Singapore Ph.D. scholarships:

• Proof of academic qualifications and achievements
• IELTS/TOEFL scores, if the medium of instruction in the previous university was not English
• Submission of GRE scores is mandatory

Also Read: How to Get PhD Funding?

Important Deadlines for NUS PhD Scholarships 2025

NUS offers two main research program intakes each year, August and January. Applying by the Round 1 deadline ensures priority consideration for PhD scholarship funding, especially the NUS Research Scholarship and other awards.

Intake	Deadline for International Students	Deadline for Singapore-Based Applicants
January 2026	1 August 2025 (Round 1 with scholarship option)	1 September 2025 (if applying with scholarship)
August 2026	15 January 2026 (Round 1 with scholarship option)	1 March 2026 (with scholarship); later for admission only

Tip: Always apply in Round 1, especially if you wish to be considered for full scholarships. Round 2 may still be open, but scholarship funds may no longer be available after Round 1.

How to Apply for the National University of Singapore PhD scholarships?

To apply for the National University of Singapore PhD scholarships follow the steps below:

• Apply for a Ph.D. program and secure an offer letter from the NUS
• To receive the scholarship incoming students must state their interest in the scholarship in their admission application form
• The successful applicants will be notified by the university
• Notification will be provided in the month of May for admissions in August. Similarly, successful applicants will be notified in October for admission in January

Also Read: PhD Scholarships

FAQs

This was everything you needed to know about the NUS PhD Scholarships 2025, what they offer, who is eligible, the deadlines, selection process, and how to apply. If you’re a research-driven student aiming to. For more such updates on fully funded global scholarships, check the Scholarships Page on Leverage Edu and stay one step ahead in your study abroad journey.