The scholarship

Who Can Apply for SINGA 2027

International BSc/MSc applicants who want a research PhD in Singapore. The official criteria are not exhaustive, so confirm the live wording on A*STAR.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 3 min read Updated Oct 6, 2026

Quick eligibility checker

Answer seven questions drawn from published official materials. This is a planning tool, not an official A*STAR decision, and the criteria are not exhaustive.

0 of 7 answered

1
Are you an international BSc/MSc student or graduate?
Not a Singapore citizen on the NSS track.
2
Do you hold, or are you on track for, a Bachelor's or Master's in a relevant science/engineering field?
3
Are you applying for a research PhD — not a standalone Master's?
4
Are you proficient in written and spoken English?
5
Can you provide strong academic references?
6
Are you applying for SINGA — not AGS, NSS, ARAP, or SRAP?
7
Will you apply via the current official A*STAR scholarship website and applicant system?
Not an old blog link.

Result

You meet these published planning gates. Next: confirm the live 2027 call on A*STAR, then start the official file.

Result

You may not be eligible on these rules. One or more published gates failed, or you may belong on AGS / NSS instead. Confirm on A*STAR.

This is a planning tool, not an official A*STAR decision. The 2023 brochure says criteria are not exhaustive.

What official materials publish

The 2023 A*STAR SINGA brochure (accurate as of 1 November 2023) lists these gates and then says they are not exhaustive. Complete criteria sit on the official website, but that dedicated page has returned 404 since at least 22 September 2026 (re-checked 6 October 2026). Use the current scholarships site and singa_enquiries@hq.a-star.edu.sg until A*STAR republishes the SINGA page.

International BSc/MSc students and graduates

SINGA is open to current Bachelor's or Master's students and to graduates — current students can apply. The brochure frames SINGA as a unique award to pursue a PhD in science and engineering in Singapore.

Passion for research and a strong academic record

Selection, per the same brochure, looks at academic record, publications, referee recommendations, personal achievements, and the ability to excel in research. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.

Written and spoken English

The brochure requires proficiency. It does not publish a TOEFL or IELTS floor on that page. Host universities may still ask for a test, so confirm on the live call.

Strong academic references

The current applicant-portal FAQ treats referee emails as a live field. Wrong referee addresses are corrected by emailing singa_enquiries@hq.a-star.edu.sg with your application number.

SINGA is not AGS

Funding →

The live A*STAR scholarships listing still publishes AGS in detail. AGS funds a PhD or EngD at a Singapore autonomous university for up to four years. International AGS applicants must have completed, or be on track for, a degree at a Singapore AU. Non-SPR foreigners serve a three-year service commitment in a Singapore-based company. AGS also publishes a stipend table. None of that is SINGA.

Don't cross the forms

Do not send a SINGA file into the AGS form, or the reverse. The portal FAQ uses a separate SINGA declaration and a separate enquiry inbox (singa_enquiries@hq.a-star.edu.sg versus tellusmore@hq.a-star.edu.sg).

Hosts — only as A*STAR lists them

Find a supervisor →

The 2023 brochure names A*STAR, NTU, NUS, SMU, and SUTD. An official A*STAR Research article says SINGA began with NUS and NTU and later added SUTD and SMU. Indexed A*STAR pages also had supervisor directories for A*STAR, NUS, and SUTD; those talent URLs still return 404. SIT appears on some A*STAR material — do not treat SIT as a current host unless A*STAR lists it on a live page.

NUS has named SINGA on its Service Obligation page (unconfirmed on 6 October 2026: the page blocked our check). A*STAR’s live SINGA recipients page lists 2023 awardees at NTU, NUS, SMU and SUTD. NTU's Asian School of the Environment still lists SINGA for international applicants on its graduate page, and A*STAR's Bioinformatics Institute lists it on its graduate research page.

Confirm the current wording on the official scholarships site. Enquiries: singa_enquiries@hq.a-star.edu.sg.