Studying in Singapore is an exciting adventure that can bring you countless advantages and enriching experiences. The country is known for universities that make a global impact in multiple fields, such as science, technology, and business. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University are ranked among the top global universities. You can also jumpstart your career in Singapore, as it is a major business hub with many multinational and regional employers. Its strong public safety record and stable environment can help you feel at ease even though you are away from home.
An even better thing about studying in Singapore is the opportunity to reduce your study costs significantly. Singapore does not generally offer tuition-free higher education to international students, but through timely preparation, you can apply for universities and secure a scholarship to cover most or all of your education. Besides fully funded scholarships, eligible students may also lower their tuition through Singapore’s Tuition Grant Scheme, affordable institutions, and external financial grants. However, international students and Singapore Permanent Residents who take the Tuition Grant are usually required to work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation.
How to Study in Singapore for Free
1. Study Hard and Prepare Your Application Early
Studying in Singapore for free can be your one-way ticket to achieving financial freedom while pursuing higher learning for your career. To get this, you need to prepare a reliable application. Your application should showcase your academic skills, knowledge, competencies, achievements, and potential. The aim of creating an impressive application is to show how valuable you can be as a student and, eventually, as a professional in your chosen field.
Since you will need to show the best parts of yourself as a student, studying hard is the first step you should take. Excellent grades, high test scores, and a strong GPA do not happen overnight. You can only achieve these through hard work, consistency, and motivation to keep going. Besides your academic records, having the skills and attitude to work with different people can also help you succeed in your studies abroad.
With an academic profile built on hard work, perseverance, and determination, it will be easier for you to study in Singapore for free and prepare for your college application. Look out for the opening dates of applications at your target universities.
You can also do web research and gather information on the general requirements to study abroad. This way, you can prepare these documents early. After completing all necessary application forms, make sure to submit them as early as you can.
2. Apply for Scholarships in Singapore
As you look for opportunities to study in Singapore for free, an important detail to know before sending your application to your target university is the availability of scholarships. Numerous schools across the world recognize academic excellence through merit-based scholarships and awards. Meanwhile, other universities also offer need-based scholarships to encourage students to pursue higher education despite financial challenges.
Besides universities, the Singapore government and private institutions offer different scholarships to international students. These scholarships may cover partial or full costs of attendance at your chosen university. For instance, the SINGA Scholarship is open to eligible international applicants pursuing research-based doctoral studies, while the National University of Singapore has several scholarships for students taking bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies.
Make sure to find the available scholarships in your destination country. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, apply to as many suitable opportunities as you can. With scholarships covering your attendance costs, you can focus on your studies and worry less about financial problems.
3. Apply to Affordable Universities in Singapore
Besides scholarships, applying to affordable universities can also help you study for free in Singapore. Scholarships in Singapore can be highly selective, and the competition for limited slots can be very tight. While your chances mostly depend on your application, the large number of applicants can reduce your chances of getting accepted for a full-ride scholarship.
However, some partial scholarships offer tuition grants in monetary value instead of full waivers. Considering this option, you can choose an affordable university or polytechnic with tuition costs that match your scholarship contribution.
In Singapore, lower tuition does not necessarily mean lower academic quality. You can find relatively affordable study options at institutions such as Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, and Nanyang Polytechnic, especially if you are eligible for subsidized fees through the Tuition Grant Scheme. Annual subsidized international-student fees vary by institution and program. For example, Nanyang Polytechnic lists annual fees of S$12,578.59 for ASEAN international students and S$13,778.59 for other international students taking the Tuition Grant. NTU lists subsidized annual tuition of S$18,050 for ASEAN international students and S$21,400 for other international students in most undergraduate programs, while SMU lists S$25,150 to S$26,200 for most undergraduate programs and higher fees for law.
Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in Singapore
For your undergraduate degree, Singapore has several scholarships that can help undergraduate students study for free or at a much lower cost.
1. Nanyang Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
One of the country’s top schools is Nanyang Technological University. This prestigious school offers the Nanyang Global Scholarship, which covers the full subsidized tuition fees after the Tuition Grant, a living allowance of S$6,500 per academic year, and an accommodation allowance of up to S$2,000 per academic year for scholarship holders who live in NTU hostels. It also provides a one-time computer allowance of S$2,000 and a travel grant of up to S$8,000 for an overseas program for new cohorts from AY2025.
2. NUS Undergraduate Scholarships
The National University of Singapore lists several scholarships for incoming undergraduate students, including the Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarship. It covers 100% of subsidized undergraduate tuition fees after the MOE Tuition Grant and provides an annual living allowance of S$6,000.
Successful applicants also receive a one-time computer allowance of S$1,750, a one-time settling-in allowance of S$200, an annual accommodation allowance equivalent to the lowest double-room rate for on-campus accommodation, and travel support for incoming passage to Singapore and return passage after completing the program, subject to the scholarship’s conditions.
3. SMU Undergraduate Scholarships
The Singapore Management University offers many scholarships, and one such example is the Lee Kong Chian Scholars’ Programme, which is offered to full-time first-year undergraduate students of any nationality who meet the program’s academic and leadership criteria. It provides a waiver of annual subsidized tuition fees for regular terms for up to four years, a S$16,000 Global Opportunities grant, a S$5,000 annual living allowance, and a S$1,800 one-time computer allowance.
4. SUTD Undergraduate Scholarships
The Singapore University of Technology and Design also has several scholarship options for students. For ASEAN international students, the SUTD ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship covers subsidized tuition fees after the Tuition Grant for the normal duration of the degree, a living allowance of S$5,800 per academic year, an annual accommodation allowance of S$3,000, and a one-off computer allowance of S$1,750. Through these universities and scholarships, you can work toward earning your undergraduate degree in Singapore for free or at a much lower cost.
Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in Singapore
For your master’s degree, these universities offer scholarships and financial aid that can make your study free or substantially subsidized, depending on the award and your program.
1. NTU Research Scholarships
Nanyang Technological University offers graduate scholarships to incoming local and international applicants. Students seeking a research master’s degree can apply for NTU Research Scholarships, which cover the annual tuition fee and provide a monthly stipend. With effect from January 2026, the monthly stipend for master’s candidates is S$3,800 for Singapore citizens, S$3,000 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$2,900 for international students.
2. NUS Research Scholarships
The National University of Singapore also offers various financial awards to prospective applicants to its master’s programs, and one such program called the Research Scholarship provides a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend. From January 2026, the monthly stipend for master’s by research students is S$3,800 for Singapore citizens, S$3,000 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$2,900 for international students.
3. SMU Master’s Scholarships
The Singapore Management University has several financial aid options depending on your preferred program. SMU also advertises tuition-fee savings of up to 40% for master’s programs beginning in January 2025. However, award availability and coverage vary by program, so students should check the school and program of their choice to confirm whether the scholarship is partial or can fully cover tuition.
4. SUTD Graduate Fellowships
Besides undergraduate scholarships, the Singapore University of Technology and Design also offers graduate fellowships and scholarships. The SUTD MEng (Research) Fellowship is open to all nationalities and covers applicable tuition fees for up to 18 months. With effect from January 2026, it provides a monthly stipend of S$3,800 for Singapore citizens, S$3,000 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$2,900 for international students.
Getting your master’s degree in Singapore for free or at a reduced cost is possible, but it depends on the program, scholarship coverage, and eligibility requirements.
Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in Singapore
You can take your education further with a Ph.D. in Singapore with scholarship support that may cover tuition and living costs.
1. NTU Ph.D. Scholarships
Besides undergraduate and master’s degrees, Nanyang Technological University also offers scholarships for Ph.D. candidates. The NTU Research Scholarship covers the annual tuition fee and provides a monthly stipend. With effect from January 2026, the monthly stipend for Ph.D. candidates is S$3,800 for Singapore citizens, S$3,400 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$3,000 for international students. Scholars who pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination or confirmation may be eligible for an additional stipend of up to S$500 per month.
2. NUS President’s Graduate Fellowship
The National University of Singapore offers its President’s Graduate Fellowship to Ph.D. candidates who show exceptional promise or accomplishment in research. It provides a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend of S$4,800 for Singapore citizens, S$4,400 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$3,900 for international students. International students may also receive a one-off settling allowance of S$1,000 and a one-off air travel allowance of up to S$750 for travel to Singapore to begin their studies.
3. SMU Ph.D. Scholarships
On the other hand, Singapore Management University’s full scholarships cover registration and subsidized tuition fees. With effect from January 2026, SMU Full Scholarship recipients receive a monthly living stipend of S$3,800 for Singapore citizens, S$3,400 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$3,100 for foreign students before the qualifying exam. After passing the qualifying exam, the monthly stipend increases to S$4,300, S$3,900, and S$3,600, respectively. Students awarded an SMU Presidential Doctoral Fellowship or CGRS Fellowship may receive a higher monthly stipend of S$5,300 for Singapore citizens, S$4,800 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$4,300 for international students.
4. SUTD President’s Graduate Fellowship
Aside from these universities, the Singapore University of Technology and Design also offers its President’s Graduate Fellowship and Ph.D. Fellowship. The SUTD Ph.D. President’s Graduate Fellowship is open to all nationalities and covers applicable tuition fees for up to four years. With effect from January 2026, it provides a monthly stipend of S$5,300 for Singapore citizens, S$4,800 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$4,300 for international students. The SUTD Ph.D. Fellowship also covers applicable tuition fees for up to four years and provides a monthly stipend of S$3,800 for Singapore citizens, S$3,400 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and S$3,100 for international students, with an additional stipend of up to S$500 per month after passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.
Singapore is a great study destination for international students. Although the country does not generally offer tuition-free higher education, you can still find ways to reduce or fully cover your academic costs through scholarships, fellowships, grants, and subsidized tuition options. Grab the opportunity to study at one of Asia’s renowned universities!
We hope that this article on studying in Singapore for free was helpful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Singapore Study Guide and Available Programs for International Students!
