Singapore’s education system performs strongly in international assessments. For example, Singapore was the top-performing education system worldwide across reading, mathematics, and science in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Singaporean students who plan to study abroad can explore scholarships and research funding opportunities offered by universities, foundations, and public bodies in countries such as Canada and Germany.
If you are a Singaporean student considering an education overseas, the options below can help you identify possible sources of funding. Always review the official program page before applying because eligibility rules, deadlines, and award values may change.
Scholarships for Singaporean Students
1. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: $10,000 or $15,000 for one year
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D. | Offered by: The Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at publicly assisted universities in Ontario. At the University of Toronto, the merit-based award is available for master’s and doctoral studies. A limited number of awards are available to eligible international students who study or plan to study at the university with a valid study permit.
At the University of Toronto, the OGS is valued at $5,000 per academic session. Recipients receive $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or $15,000 for three consecutive sessions. The scholarship is held for one year, and recipients must remain enrolled full time in an eligible graduate program.
2. University Of Windsor Graduate Entrance Scholarship
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: $7,500 for master’s research programs; $30,000 for doctoral programs
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s research programs, Ph.D. | Offered by: University of Windsor
The University of Windsor supports graduate students through a competitive funding program that includes entrance scholarships. To be considered for a Graduate Entrance Scholarship, applicants must submit their complete application package by the earlier of the academic program deadline or the entrance scholarship deadline.
At the time of admission, Canadian and international full-time applicants to research-based programs with an admission average of at least 80% or the equivalent may be considered upon the recommendation of their program. The Master’s Research Entrance Award totals $7,500, paid as $2,500 for three terms. The Doctoral Entrance Award totals $30,000, paid as $2,500 for 12 terms.
Several coursework and professional master’s programs are not eligible for these awards, including the Master of Applied Computing, Master of Engineering, Master of Social Work, Master of Management, and other programs listed by the university. Applicants should review the official eligibility list before applying.
3. Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: €45,000
- Eligible Candidate/s: Internationally recognized researchers working in applied research | Offered by: The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft – Germany
The Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award is a research award rather than a conventional student scholarship. It recognizes internationally renowned academics working in applied research outside Germany for their outstanding scientific achievements. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft jointly present up to three awards each year.
Each award is worth €45,000. Award recipients are invited to conduct a research project of their choice at a German research institution in cooperation with specialist colleagues. The award can support a research stay of between six months and one year.
Researchers cannot nominate themselves. A nomination may be initiated by a director or leading researcher at a Fraunhofer institute in Germany. Humboldt Foundation award recipients working abroad may also submit a nomination jointly with a researcher at a Fraunhofer institute. Nominees must generally have completed their doctorate no more than 18 years before the nomination, although justified exceptions may apply.
4. Friedrich Ebert Scholarship
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: €992 per month for foreign bachelor’s and master’s students; €1,400 per month for foreign doctoral students
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. | Offered by: Friedrich Ebert Foundation – Germany
The Friedrich Ebert Scholarship supports students and doctoral candidates who demonstrate above-average academic performance, civic or sociopolitical engagement, and alignment with social democratic values.
Foreign bachelor’s and master’s applicants must already be studying in Germany. They must also provide evidence of very good German-language skills at the C1 level and initial graded academic results. Foreign doctoral applicants must be admitted to a doctoral program at a state or state-recognized German university. Medical doctoral programs are excluded.
Foreign recipients receive €992 per month for bachelor’s or master’s studies or €1,400 per month for doctoral studies. The foundation also covers health insurance costs. Recipients with children receive an additional childcare allowance of €160 per month for each child. Singaporean applicants should review the official program requirements carefully to confirm that they satisfy the eligibility conditions.
5. DAAD Study Scholarships – In The Field Of Architecture
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: €992 per month plus additional benefits
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, postgraduate degree, or eligible complementary studies | Offered by: DAAD – Germany
This DAAD scholarship helps students pursue postgraduate or continuing studies in architecture in Germany. Applicants must hold a first university degree in architecture, interior design, monument conservation and building in existing contexts, urban design or urban development, landscape architecture, or landscape planning.
The scholarship can fund a master’s or postgraduate degree leading to a final qualification. It can also fund an eligible complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification, provided that it is not an undergraduate course. The studies must take place at a state or state-recognized German university. Funding for a master’s or postgraduate degree generally lasts between 10 and 24 months, while eligible complementary studies are funded for one academic year.
The scholarship provides €992 per month, a travel allowance upon application, a one-time study allowance, and contributions toward health, accident, and personal liability insurance. Additional benefits may be available under certain circumstances. DAAD does not cover tuition fees, so applicants should check whether their chosen university charges tuition.
Choosing a study-abroad destination can be difficult because students must consider transportation, accommodation, tuition, and other expenses. Scholarships and research awards can reduce some of these costs, but applicants should review the official program pages before applying.
Hopefully, this article on scholarships for Singaporean students was informative and helpful. If you are interested, check out the available courses for Singaporean students and the Asia Scholarships Page!
