Introduction
AI and advanced IT are reshaping every sector: healthcare, agriculture, education, finance and climate resilience. For students in Africa and Asia, the chance to join a vibrant research ecosystem like NUS brings two big advantages:
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Cutting-edge training and infrastructure. NUS labs, industry partnerships and regional AI initiatives give you access to datasets, compute and mentors few universities can match.
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Networks that translate into impact back home. Many scholarship recipients take their skills into startups, government projects, NGOs and university positions that scale solutions to local problems.
In 2025, scholarship schemes at NUS and across Singapore are particularly active — the city-state is investing heavily in AI talent pipelines and is intentionally recruiting global students to strengthen regional research capacity. This guide explains how to find those scholarships, what to expect financially (stipends, allowances), and a practical roadmap from first contact to arrival on campus.
Overview of the scholarship landscape at NUS
NUS offers several scholarship types that support IT and AI students:
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NUS Research Scholarship (NUSGS) — University graduate scholarship that funds research degrees (MPhil/PhD) and provides a monthly stipend plus tuition subsidy. Amounts vary by faculty but are competitive.
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School/Department scholarships — e.g., scholarships administered by the School of Computing (SoC) for research students, which often include monthly emoluments and full tuition fees.
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Programmatic awards & industry fellowships — such as the AI Singapore PhD Fellowship and other corporate-sponsored fellowships which connect students with industry projects and additional funding.
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External international scholarships deployable at NUS — programs like SINGA (Singapore International Graduate Award) or bilateral scholarships that fund students placed at Singapore universities.
Different schemes target different levels (MSc by research, MPhil, PhD) and have varying stipend amounts and obligations. Later in this article you’ll find a comparison table, step-by-step application schedule and practical tips for students from Africa and Asia.
Why Singapore NUS IT & AI Scholarships 2025 matter
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Strategic location for AI innovation. Singapore is an AI hub with strong industry research presence and a national AI strategy. Studying at NUS places you at the center of that ecosystem.
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High-quality mentorship and facilities. NUS hosts world-class labs, datasets and cross-disciplinary collaborations (medicine, urban planning, fintech).
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Financial feasibility with stipends. Many research scholarships at NUS include monthly stipends that make living and studying in Singapore sustainable for international students. For example, NUS Research Scholarships typically include monthly emoluments for international PhD candidates.
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Gateway to industry collaborations. Fellowships and industry projects often allow you to work with companies (local and global) while remaining an academic student — a powerful combination for employability.
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Global students, local impact. NUS alumni from African and Asian countries frequently return home or collaborate regionally, amplifying the social and economic returns of their training.
Key importance — what the funding typically covers
Scholarship packages vary, but a generous research award at NUS commonly includes:
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Full tuition fee subsidy (tuition waived for the duration of the degree).
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Monthly stipend / emolument intended to cover accommodation, food, local transport and basic incidentals (amounts depend on the scholarship; PhD stipends for international students commonly fall in the SGD 2,500–2,700/month range for many NUS research awards at present).
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Research support (lab access, small travel or conference grants).
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Potential top-ups from industry partners for specific projects or if you’re on a joint industry-academic scholarship (these can raise your effective monthly resources).
These awards are competitive — they’re granted to candidates with strong academic records, relevant research interests, and a clear fit with supervisors’ projects.
Key insights — how the scholarships are structured (what to know)
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Primary decision makers are supervisors and school committees. Research scholarships are awarded after matching a student to a faculty supervisor and a funded project or general research slot. Reaching out to potential supervisors early increases your odds.
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AI-focused fellowships may be nomination-based. For example, national AI fellowship programmes sometimes require university nomination (AI Singapore’s PhD Fellowship is an example of a nomination-based initiative).
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Stipend amounts may increase after milestones. Several NUS graduate scholarship awards increase the monthly emolument after a successful qualifying exam or progression milestone. That’s common for long PhD tracks (a small raise after the Qualifying Examination).
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There are diverse routes to funding. Direct NUS scholarships, national fellowships (AI Singapore), and international awards (SINGA, industry partners) create several entry points. Consider multiple concurrent strategies.
Comparison table — scholarship features at a glance
| Scholarship / Route | Level | Tuition coverage | Typical monthly stipend (intl.) | IELTS / English evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUS Research Scholarship (NUSGS) | PhD / MPhil | Full tuition subsidy | ~SGD 2,500–2,700 (varies; may increase after Qualifying Exam). | MOI or test; department may accept alternatives | University-level core research award |
| NUS School of Computing Research Scholarships | PhD / MPhil | Full tuition subsidy | Monthly emoluments; amounts set by school. | Departmental guidance — alternatives possible | Supervisor match recommended |
| AI Singapore PhD Fellowship (AISG) | PhD | Tuition + fellowship support | Fellowship package varies; supports top AI candidates. | English proficiency required; nomination by university | National initiative; competitive |
| SINGA (Singapore International Graduate Award) | PhD | Tuition + stipend (bond-free) | Stipend varies (competitive) | Standard university requirements | Pan-Singapore research award |
| Programmatic/Industry Fellowships | MSc/PhD | Tuition + top-ups possible | Company top-ups vary | Depends on sponsor | Often project-specific; can include internships |
Notes: Stipend amounts and terms change; consult official pages when applying. The table summarizes typical scenarios and pathways.
Step-by-step application guide — from “I’m interested” to “I’m funded”
This practical roadmap is written for first-time applicants and assumes you’re aiming for a research master’s (MPhil/MSc by research) or PhD in AI/IT at NUS.
Step 1 — Clarify your research focus (Weeks 0–2)
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Narrow to 1–3 problems you care about (e.g., “AI for low-resource healthcare diagnostics,” “efficient models for edge computing,” “fairness in ML for financial inclusion”). Make it concrete — funders prefer focused impact.
Step 2 — Create a short research pitch (Weeks 1–3)
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Write a one-page research pitch (background, problem statement, proposed approach, data needs, expected outcomes, supervisory fit). This helps when contacting potential supervisors.
Step 3 — Identify supervisors and projects (Weeks 2–6)
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Browse NUS School of Computing faculty pages and NUS AI labs. Find faculty whose recent papers match your interests, and read 2–3 of their publications before reaching out.
Step 4 — Reach out with a tailored email (Weeks 3–7)
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Subject: “Prospective PhD applicant — research pitch on [topic]”
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Attach: CV, transcripts, 1-page pitch, and a short statement of availability. Ask if they are accepting students and whether they have funded projects or can support an NUS Research Scholarship nomination.
Step 5 — Formal application (Deadlines vary)
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Apply to the relevant NUS program via the official Grad School portal, following application deadlines. Upload transcripts, references, CV, statement of purpose (SOP) and any required test scores. Cite your supervisor contact and project in the SOP.
Step 6 — Apply/express interest in scholarships & fellowships (Concurrently)
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For AI Singapore PhD Fellowship or SINGA, follow their timelines and nomination rules. Request your department to nominate you if required.
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Prepare to discuss technical details, past projects, data ethics, and expected impact. Show familiarity with the supervisor’s work. Request clarification on stipend amounts, payment schedules, and any return conditions.
Step 8 — Acceptance & visa logistics
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If you get an offer and scholarship, the official acceptance letter will include scholarship details. Use these documents for your Student’s Pass (visa) application and any bank/financial proofs required. NUS typically provides pre-arrival guidance for international students.
Step 9 — Arrival & settling in (Preliminary months)
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Attend orientation, set up banking, and discuss your PhD milestones with your supervisor (Qualifying Exam, candidature reviews) — stipend adjustments may occur at those milestones.
Benefits — beyond money and tuition
A scholarship at NUS brings several spillover benefits:
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Professional mentorship: Most PhD scholarships are tied to a supervisor who invests time and connections in your development.
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Industry placements & internships: Many AI projects are co-funded by industry (healthcare firms, financial institutions), giving you real product experience.
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Conference funding: Travel grants are often available for presenting at key AI conferences — invaluable for building reputation.
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Cross-disciplinary exposure: NUS encourages interdisciplinary work (AI + medicine, AI + urban planning), expanding your impact potential.
Real-world examples — how students from Africa & Asia have used these scholarships
Below are anonymized composites that reflect typical successful pathways (based on observed programme outcomes and alumni cases).
1) International student — Aisha, Nigeria (PhD — AI for diagnostics)
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Background: MSc in Computer Science, experience in ML applied to chest X-ray analysis.
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Strategy: Contacted two NUS faculty working on medical imaging, submitted a focused proposal and secured supervisor support. NUS Research Scholarship awarded; stipend covered rent and living; collaboration with a local hospital enabled clinical validation studies.
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Outcome: Published in a top radiology conference and returned part-time to a Nigerian telemedicine startup to integrate the model.
2) Educator — Dr. Kumar, India (Sabbatical fellowship / Faculty exchange)
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Background: Senior lecturer seeking to modernize an AI course back home.
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Strategy: Applied for a short faculty development fellowship connected to an NUS-industry project; received a funded placement and a modest housing allowance.
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Outcome: Redesigned the home university curriculum and set up a joint student exchange programme.
3) Parent (supporting applicant) — Mrs. Amal, Egypt (MSc applicant)
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Background: Daughter finished a BSc in Computer Engineering and wants an AI MSc with research.
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Strategy: They applied to NUS MSc (Research) and targeted department scholarships; the daughter produced a strong SOP tying her research to public-health data challenges. She received a departmental scholarship and monthly stipend that covered living costs.
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Outcome: She now works at a regional AI startup while contributing to an open-source health dataset initiative.
These examples show scholarship recipients leverage NUS funding to build research outputs, industry collaborations and local impact projects.
Your Statement of Purpose — A Simple, Strong Structure
A concise SOP matters. Use this adaptable 6-paragraph structure (≈700–900 words):
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Hook (1 paragraph): Start with a specific technical problem or an experience that motivated you (e.g., “Watching rural clinics miss early sepsis signs drove me to study low-resource diagnostic AI”).
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Academic preparation (1 paragraph): Summarize your degrees, GPA, and a notable project or publication.
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Technical readiness (1 paragraph): Describe specific methods you know (deep learning frameworks, ML ops, data engineering) and a small example of applied work.
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Fit with NUS (1 paragraph): Name the faculty or lab you want to work with and explain why their work aligns with your project. Mention potential supervisors by name if contacted.
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Impact & plan (1 paragraph): Explain how you’ll translate research to impact (pilots, public datasets, open tools) and the expected timeline.
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Closing (1 short paragraph): Reaffirm commitment and availability to start and your appreciation for consideration.
Common mistakes — and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Applying without contacting supervisors
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Fix: Email at least two suitable faculty with a tailored research pitch.
Mistake 2: Weak or unfocused research questions
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Fix: Keep your proposal focused, measurable and data-aware.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the nomination rules for fellowships
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Fix: If a fellowship is nomination-based (e.g., AISG), ask your department about nomination timelines early.
Mistake 4: Overlooking stipend terms
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Fix: Ask whether stipends are pre-tax, the disbursement schedule and whether top-ups exist for conference travel.
Mistake 5: Relying on a single funding source
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Fix: Apply for multiple scholarships, and consider SRA (Student Research Assistant) roles, departmental teaching assistantships or short industry contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions (Concise but Useful)
Q1 — How much is the PhD stipend for international students at NUS?
A: Monthly emoluments for international PhD students under the NUS Research Scholarship commonly fall around SGD 2,500–2,700, with potential increases after milestones such as the Qualifying Examination. Exact amounts vary by faculty and scholarship scheme.
Q2 —Can I apply without IELTS?
A: NUS and associated scholarship programmes may accept alternatives (a Medium of Instruction letter, previous degree taught in English, or other tests). Check departmental requirements and state your case clearly in your application.
Q3 —What is the AI Singapore PhD Fellowship and how do I apply?
A: The AI Singapore (AISG) PhD Fellowship is a national scheme to support top AI researchers in Singapore-based universities. It is typically nomination-based, meaning universities nominate candidates. Consult AISG and your department for nomination timelines.
Q4 —Are scholarships obliged to cover healthcare or insurance?
A: Many NUS scholarships include basic medical insurance or assistance in obtaining Student Health coverage; confirm specifics in your award letter.
Q5 —Will scholarship recipients have to teach?
A: Some students accept short TA (teaching assistant) roles for extra income or experience; core research scholarships generally do not require teaching, but opportunities may be available.
Practical checklist — 90-day sprint before a typical intake
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Finalise research pitch (1 page)
- Shortlist 5 potential supervisors and send tailored emails
- Gather certified transcripts & prepare 2–3 referee contacts
- Draft SOP and CV (highlight publications, code repos, projects)
- Apply to NUS program and mark funding deadlines (NUS Graduate School portal)
- Check AI Singapore and SINGA nomination deadlines and departmental nomination windows.
Conclusion — recap & clear call to action
Recap: NUS offers multiple, well-funded pathways for IT and AI students in 2025. The most reliable routes for full scholarship support and monthly stipends are:
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NUS Research Scholarships for graduate research students (MPhil/PhD) — university-level awards that include monthly emoluments and tuition subsidies. NUS Graduate School (NUSGS)
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School/department scholarships in the NUS School of Computing — funded positions administered by research groups and supervisors. comp.nus.edu.sg
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National & programmatic fellowships (e.g., AI Singapore PhD Fellowship) and cross-Singapore awards (SINGA) that supply additional funding and industry connections. AI Singapore+1
Call to action: Ready to start? Do these two things today:
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Write a one-page research pitch (problem, proposed approach, data needs, impact) and paste it into a message here — I’ll help refine it for supervisor emails.
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Pick 3 NUS faculty profiles that match your interests and send me their names — I’ll draft a short, high-impact outreach email you can send.
Take the first step now — your research and leadership in AI could transform systems and communities across Africa, Asia and beyond.
“Talent is universal; opportunity is not. Move toward environments that invest in your research and give you the stipend, the lab, and the network to build solutions.”
