Singapore is home to two of the world's top 20 universities — National University of Singapore (NUS, #8) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU, #15). While tuition is not free, Singapore offers extensive scholarship support that can cover 30–100% of costs for outstanding Indian students. Here is every scholarship available in 2026.
NUS (National University of Singapore) Scholarships
| Scholarship | Value | Eligibility | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUS Research Scholarship (PhD) | Full tuition + SGD 2,000/month stipend | Exceptional PhD candidates; research proposal required | Apply with PhD application |
| NUS Graduate School Scholarship | Full tuition + SGD 2,200/month stipend | Top PhD applicants in STEM | Offered with PhD admission |
| NUS Tuition Fee Scholarship (Master's) | 50–100% tuition waiver | Academic merit; GPA 3.5+ equivalent | Apply separately via NUS Financial Aid |
| Faculty-specific scholarships | 20–50% tuition waiver | Varies by faculty; check NUS financial aid portal | After admission |
| NUS Achievement Award | SGD 5,000 one-time | Academic excellence + community involvement | Nomination by department |
NTU (Nanyang Technological University) Scholarships
| Scholarship | Value | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship | Full tuition + SGD 2,000/month + conference travel | Outstanding PhD candidates; very competitive |
| Nanyang Research Scholarship | Full tuition + SGD 1,500–2,200/month | PhD students with strong research background |
| NTU Master's Research Scholarship | Full tuition + SGD 1,500/month stipend | Master's by Research applicants |
| College of Engineering Scholarship | 25–50% tuition waiver | Merit-based; engineering Master's students |
| NTU ASEAN Scholarship (Undergrad) | Full tuition + SGD 5,940/year living allowance | ASEAN region — India not eligible; only for ASEAN nationals |
⚠️ Note: The NTU/NUS ASEAN Scholarship is only for students from ASEAN member countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc.) — Indian nationals are NOT eligible. However, all merit-based scholarships open to international students are available to Indians.
Singapore Government Scholarships
- Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) — Full PhD funding at NUS/NTU/ASTAR; for outstanding international PhD candidates; covers tuition + SGD 2,000/month + settling-in allowance; apply at singa.a-star.edu.sg
- A*STAR Graduate Scholarship — full PhD funding for research at A*STAR Research Institutes; SGD 2,500/month stipend; strong preference for STEM subjects
- MOE PhD Scholarships — occasional scholarships funded by Ministry of Education for specific disciplines
SMU (Singapore Management University) Scholarships
| Scholarship | Value | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| SMU Graduate Merit Award | 25–50% tuition waiver | Merit-based; GPA 3.5+ from recognised university |
| SMU-PATA Scholarship (Accounting) | Partial funding | Professional Accounting students |
| Partner University Scholarships | Variable | Students from SMU's partner universities |
Private and External Scholarships for Indians in Singapore
- India-Singapore Partnership Scholarship — facilitated by Indian High Commission Singapore; limited awards
- Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Scholarship — for tech/media students entering Singapore workforce
- Economic Development Board (EDB) scholarships — for students committing to work in Singapore after graduation
- Company-sponsored scholarships: Tata, Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant Singapore all have employee education sponsorship programs
How to Maximise Scholarship Chances at NUS/NTU
- 1Apply early — scholarship consideration is often tied to admission round; early applicants get more consideration
- 2Email potential supervisors (for research degrees) — a professor's endorsement significantly improves scholarship chances
- 3GPA matters: NUS/NTU scholarships are heavily GPA-weighted; 3.5+ from recognised universities
- 4Research publications or conference papers give major advantage for PhD scholarships
- 5Writing samples / research proposals: Prepare a 2–3 page research proposal even for coursework Master's
- 6Leadership and extracurriculars: Singapore universities explicitly value leadership roles
- 7Apply to SINGA and A*STAR separately from university application — they run on their own deadlines (December)
Tuition Fees at Singapore Top Universities (Without Scholarship)
| University | Master's Tuition (SGD/year) | Approx INR/year |
|---|---|---|
| NUS | SGD 18,000–40,000 | ₹11L–₹24.5L |
| NTU | SGD 18,000–38,000 | ₹11L–₹23.2L |
| SMU | SGD 30,000–50,000 | ₹18.3L–₹30.6L |
| SUTD | SGD 20,000–28,000 | ₹12.2L–₹17.1L |
🎯 Strategy: Apply for both admission AND the SINGA scholarship simultaneously. If SINGA selects you, NUS/NTU will admit you. The SINGA application is separate (singa.a-star.edu.sg) and has a December deadline — many applicants miss it by only applying through the university portal.