Graduate Studies

NUS Graduate Scholarship for ASEAN Nationals

 

Applying for the NUS Graduate Scholarship for ASEAN Nationals

Introduction

The National University of Singapore [NUS] offers scholarships each year to nationals of ASEAN* member countries to take full-time coursework graduate degrees at NUS. Singapore citizens and permanent residents are ineligible. These awards, known as the NUS Graduate Scholarship for ASEAN nationals [NUS GSA], are financed by the People of Singapore and the University. The scholar has no obligation or bond to NUS or Singapore but is expected to complete the graduate degree and return to the home country.

*(ASEAN comprises the 10 nations of South East Asia - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as on 1 May 1999.)

The NUS GSA is only for MOE-subsidised, single-degree, full-time coursework graduate degrees** conducted at NUS and designated for the scholarship. Candidates receiving other awards will be disqualified from the NUS GSA. A copy of the terms and conditions can be assessed here.

**(The NUS GSA is not for Research or Doctorate [Ph.D.] programmes. The NUS Research Scholarship is available for these programmes. For more information, please here.

Application for the NUS GSA

Application for the NUS GSA is decentralised to each NUS Faculty/ School and integrated into the application for each designated graduate degree. Therefore, the application period and due date for the designated graduate degree is applicable to the NUS GSA. There are, however, different application periods and due dates for each designated graduate degree.

Prospective candidates to refer to the respective graduate degree web pages and administrators regarding application for admission and the scholarship.

Designated Graduate Degrees and Administrators

The following NUS Faculties/Schools conduct full-time course-work graduate degrees designated for the NUS GSA:

Details of the designated graduate degrees and the administrators are given in these web pages.

Other Eligibility Criteria

There is a limited number of NUS GSA available each academic year and, therefore, it is awarded on a very competitive basis. Only exceptional candidates will be considered. In addition to the eligibility requirement of nationality, a candidate must have:

  • an excellent academic record and has been or will be admitted by a NUS Faculty/School to pursue a designated graduate degree:
    • A candidate should be in the top 10% of the class.
    • Admission will be in Semester 1 (commencing in August) or, where available, Semester 2 (commencing in January).
  • a good command of the English language:
    • an excellent academic record and has been or will be admitted by a NUS Faculty/School to pursue a designated graduate degree:
      • A candidate's English language proficiency will be determined by
        • the Test of English as a Foreign Language [TOEFL] score of at least 580 for the paper-based test or 237 for the computer-based test or 85 for the internet-based score; or
        • the International English Language Testing System [IELTS] result of at least 6.0.
      • If the NUS Faculty/School specify a higher TOEFL score (e.g. 600 for the paper-based test or 250 for the computer-based test) or IELTS result (e.g. 7.0) as a minimum requirement for a designated graduate degree, the higher score or result will apply.
      • The organisations conducting the respective tests are:
        TOEFL
        Educational Testing Service [ETS]
        PO Box 6151
        Princeton NJ 08541-6151
        USA
        Tel: (609) 951-1100
        or contact your local United States Information Service

        IELTS
        University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate [UCLES]
        1 Hills Road
        Cambridge CB1 2EU
        United Kingdom
        Tel: (01223) 55-3311
        or contact your local British Council

    • The TOEFL and IELTS are internationally established standards to compare the English language proficiency of candidates from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. This is regardless of whether the English language is the native language or medium of instruction for the candidate, as these do not ensure that the candidate:
      • has a very good command of the English language;
      • will cope and benefit from the designated graduate degree (usually conducted in the English language); and
      • is an outstanding candidate for the NUS GSA.
    • Please note that:
      • other English language 'proficiency tests' are unacceptable, as they are inconsistent and are not of international standards or comparable to TOEFL or IELTS;
      • tests that claim to be predictions, estimations, simulations, equivalents, practices, etc. of the TOEFL or IELTS are invalid;
      • the ETS Institutional Testing Program cannot be used for admission; and
      • TOEFL score or IELTS result are only valid for 2 years after the test and should be valid at the beginning of the application period for the designated graduate degree.
  • a minimum of 2 years of relevant working experience as at the application due date:
    • The years of working experience may be cumulative over different periods of time; and
    • The scope of working experience should be within the discipline of the designated graduate degree.

A candidate will not be considered for the NUS GSA if:

  • the candidate does not fulfil the nationality and the 3 eligibility requirements at items 9(a), (b) and (c); or
  • the candidate's application is incomplete or received after the due date.