Singapore is among those destinations that always make the cut on virtually every list of the best study destinations. The universities are good, the city is safe, and the job market in all of Asia is tough to beat. If you’ve run the numbers on the cost of tuition and living expenses, then you may have had a little drop in your stomach.
The bright side is there are opportunities for real cash to be made by international students out there. It’s not hard, and you just need to look in the right place. Here’s how I’d go about it.
Why Singapore Is Worth the Effort
NUS, NTU, and SMU regularly appear in Asia’s top universities, and a few feature on the global lists as well. The classes are taught in English, the campuses are foreign, and you will get to know all kinds of people.
However, this isn’t cheap. A scholarship can make all the difference when the costs of rent, food and tuition expenses really start to add up!
The Main Types of Funding
It’s easier to search if you know what you’re looking for.
- Merit Scholarships are based on high grades, test scores, and achievements.
- Need-blind awards take into account your family’s financial needs.
- Research scholarships are typical for Master’s and PhD students (may include a stipend).
- Awards that are country- or region-specific, such as awards for students from ASEAN countries.
Do remember one thing about it: a Tuition Grant Scheme. This does not qualify as a scholarship. But it’s a subsidy that reduces your fees, and you commit to working in Singapore for a specified period of years following your graduation. If you are staying, that’s ok. Otherwise, take the time to read the fine print.
If your coursework keeps piling up, coursework help Singapore offers can keep you on track without the stress.
Where to Actually Look
Start with the universities
This is the best place to begin. The majority of the major universities in Singapore have their own awards for their international students. Visit the scholarships pages of NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD and SIT. There are merit awards worldwide and ASEAN awards at the undergraduate level – and sometimes there is a separate category for postgraduate.
Many of these are automatically assumed or made with a single application at admission; thus, read instructions carefully. You will lose points if you do not complete a tick box.
Government and agency programs
If you’re thinking of heading into research, take a look at the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA), which is a scheme involving a consortium of Singapore institutions for PhD students. ASTAR funds research training, amongst other agencies.
If you are an official from a developing country, you may want to consider the Singapore Cooperation Programme for training awards.
Outside funders
Remember your own backyard! There are numerous study-abroad scholarships sponsored by the home government. Sometimes student awards are sponsored by foundations, companies or professional bodies, and these are generally not as competitive as the large university awards.
Search tools and databases
Scholarship databases will be of assistance in identifying scholarships that you might not have known about, and embassy web sites will often have scholarships listed that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. There is one very important caution: do NOT pay anything to enroll in a scholarship application. No realers ask for it. Only use official university websites and trusted sources.
What You’ll Usually Need
Most of this is to be expected – the requirements vary.
- Academic transcripts
- Students’ English proficiency scores (IELTS or TOEFL scores)
- Recommendation letters
- A personal statement and CV.
- Evidence of leadership experience and/or research experience (extracurriculars)
The thing people underestimate is deadlines. They fall 6-12 months prior to intake, so if you want to start in August, you might have to apply the previous fall.
Making Your Application Stand Out
There are a lot of good students competing, so little effort gets a long way.
Start early. Create a basic spreadsheet containing deadlines and requirements plus login information. It may sound mundane, but it helps you prevent a panic later.
Prepare a personal essay in the voice of the writer. Hundreds of these are read by committees.
A general one gets lost; be specific regarding why you want to learn this subject and why in Singapore.
Demonstrate the work you have completed. Any project, volunteering, competitions or work experience is valid. Describe what you have learned, rather than what you did.
Get feedback. Have an educator or coach read your essay before submitting. A new set of eyes sees what you don’t!
Submit multiple applications. Relying on one scholarship is not a good idea. Apply to several.
Mistakes to Avoid
Most rejections are due to something that could have been avoided, not poor profiles. Beware of these:
- Failure to submit documents on time or in full.Failure to submit documents on time or in full.
- This is the case when the same essay is used across all applications.
- Failure to abide by the terms and conditions, particularly the bond or work-obligation clause
If you’re stuck on a tough topic, Singapore assignment help can guide you from the first outline to the final draft.
Final Thoughts
There is funding available for international students in Singapore, and many people do, in fact, get it. Successful people are typically not geniuses. They simply begin early, are well organized, and think about their applications.
Therefore, bookmark the scholarship pages of your target universities and jot down the deadlines and start your journey today. Got questions about a particular scholarship? Leave them in the comments section and I will do my utmost to assist you.
