2026 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship in Singapore

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore offers a fully funded PhD scholarship open to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and international students alike, with no service bonds or post-graduation work commitments attached — a genuinely rare structure among government-linked Asian scholarships, most of which require returning to serve the sponsoring country or institution.

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One correction worth making clearly: this isn’t a scholarship with a “January intake” as some guides describe. NUS’s own official page confirms the application window runs from August 1 to December 10 each year, feeding into a single Semester 1 intake that begins in August of the following year. If you’re reading this in August 2026, the window for the AY2027/28 intake has likely just opened, giving you the full application period ahead rather than a narrow closing window.

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About the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship

Founded in 2004, LKYSPP has graduated more than 3,500 leaders working across academia, international organisations, governments, and NGOs, and positions itself deliberately at the intersection of Asian pragmatism and Western policy scholarship — not simply a regional school, but one aiming to shape how Asia engages with global policy challenges.

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What makes the PhD scholarship specifically attractive is its structural simplicity: unlike many government-linked scholarships in the region that tie funding to mandatory return-service periods or bonded work commitments after graduation, LKYSPP is explicit that there are no service commitments, no bonds, and no hidden terms attached to this funding. The scholarship supports the standard three-year PhD term, with stipend amounts that scale up automatically once you pass your PhD Qualifying Examination — a built-in incentive tied directly to your academic progress rather than external conditions.

Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Summary

Eligibility Requirements

• You need a relevant Master’s degree — this scholarship isn’t open at the Bachelor’s level, and requires a postgraduate qualification already in hand.
• You need a solid academic background in the social sciences, alongside genuine interest in international affairs.
• At least two years of work experience is preferred, though the school frames this as a preference rather than an absolute requirement — a strong academic profile can still be competitive without it.
• Eligibility spans all nationalities: Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students from any country are equally eligible to apply and be considered for this scholarship.
• You need to be applying for, or already pursuing, a PhD at LKYSPP — scholarship holders can pursue any of the school’s graduate programmes, not a single fixed track.

What the Scholarship Provides

• Singapore Citizens: SGD 2,800 per month, rising by SGD 500 after passing the PhD Qualifying Examination, with CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions included on top of the stipend.
• Singapore Permanent Residents: SGD 2,400 per month, with the same SGD 500 increase after the Qualifying Exam.
• International students: SGD 2,200 per month, also rising by SGD 500 after the Qualifying Exam.
• Up to 3 years of full funding, covering the typical PhD term.
• No service commitments, bonds, or hidden terms and conditions — this is stated explicitly by NUS, and is a genuinely distinctive feature worth weighing against other Asian PhD scholarships that often carry mandatory return-service periods.

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Documents to Prepare

When applying for the PhD in Public Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (National University of Singapore – NUS) and competing for fully funded scholarship consideration, your digital application dossier must meet strict institutional standards. Physical documents are not required during initial submission; all files must be clear PDF scans uploaded directly to the graduate admissions portal.

1. Official Transcripts & Degree Certificates:

Scope: Academic records and official degree scrolls for all prior tertiary education (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or equivalent).

Mandatory Grading Scale: Must include the official Grading Description/Key (typically found on the back of official transcripts) explaining the institution’s evaluation scheme (e.g., GPA scale, letter grades, or class distinctions).

Certified Translations: Non-English documents must be accompanied by official, notarized English translations.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Résumé:

Structure: Detailed academic and professional background, highlighting publication records, research projects, honors, and leadership achievements.

Employment Details: For each position held, you must state the organization name, exact dates (Month/Year to Month/Year), key responsibilities, and supervisor title. Any gaps in employment history must be explicitly explained.

3. Standardized Test Scores (GRE / TOEFL / IELTS):

GRE (Optional but Highly Recommended): Submission of valid GRE General Test scores is strongly encouraged by the admissions committee to demonstrate analytical, verbal, and quantitative readiness.

TOEFL / IELTS (English Proficiency): Mandatory if your prior degrees were not taught entirely in English and you are not submitting a GRE score.

• Target Scores: TOEFL iBT 100+ (or 5.0+ on post-Jan 2026 scoring scale) | IELTS Academic 7.0+ overall.

4. Letters of Reference (2 Academic Referees):

Requirements: Two confidential referee reports submitted directly by academic references via the online portal.

Content Focus: Referees should be former professors or research supervisors capable of evaluating your advanced academic preparation, research aptitude, and potential for scholarly contributions.

5. Research Proposal (PhD in Public Policy):

Core Alignment: Must fall under one of LKYSPP’s four primary research pillars: Policy Studies/Governance, Social Policy, International Relations/Global Governance, or Economic Development.

Faculty Identification: You must explicitly identify a potential research supervisor (Full, Associate, or Assistant Professor at LKYSPP) whose work aligns with your proposed topic.

Structure: State your central research question, literature context, methodology, expected policy contributions, and target dataset/empirical approach.

6. Statement of Intent (Statement of Purpose):

Focus: A personal essay outlining your intellectual journey, motivation to pursue doctoral-level research, and long-term career ambition in academia or research-intensive public institutions.

Substance: Explain why LKYSPP specifically fits your research trajectory.

7. Writing Sample:

Format: A single-authored or primary-authored piece of academic writing (e.g., a Master’s thesis chapter, published journal article, or analytical policy paper).

Objective: Demonstrates your capacity for independent critical inquiry, logical structure, rigorous argument development, and scholarly English writing style.

How to Apply — Step by Step

1. Confirm you hold a relevant Master’s degree and genuine background in social sciences before starting, since this is a firm academic prerequisite.
2. Gather every required document well ahead of time — transcripts, CV, test scores, references, research proposal, statement of intent, and writing sample — since assembling all of these properly takes real preparation, not something to rush close to December 10.
3. Set up your account on the NUS GradApp system, following the platform’s own step-by-step guidance for getting started.
4. Complete the main PhD in Public Policy application through GradApp. You’re automatically considered for the scholarship as part of this process, but check within the system for any additional scholarship-specific requirements.
5. Upload your documents as soft copies through the online application portal.
6. Submit your complete application before 11:59 PM (GMT+8) on December 10 — this deadline applies regardless of when within the August–December window you actually start, so don’t assume submitting in October versus December changes your standing, but do give yourself buffer time before the hard cutoff.
7. Await review. Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview as part of the selection process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really a scholarship with a “January intake,” as some guides describe?

No. NUS’s official page confirms the application window runs August 1 to December 10 each year, feeding into a single Semester 1 intake beginning the following August — there’s no separate January start date.

Is the application window currently open?

Based on the confirmed annual pattern (August 1 to December 10), the window for the next intake is either open now or about to open, depending on exactly when you’re reading this — check NUS’s official LKYSPP scholarship page directly to confirm the current status.

Do I need to be from a specific country or region to apply?

No. This scholarship is genuinely open to all nationalities — Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students from any country are all eligible on equal footing.

Will I be required to work for the Singapore government or NUS after graduating?

No. NUS states explicitly that there are no service commitments, bonds, or hidden terms attached to this scholarship — a meaningful difference from many other government-linked Asian PhD scholarships.

Do I need prior work experience to apply?

It’s preferred — the school lists at least two years of work experience as a preference — but it isn’t described as an absolute requirement, so a strong academic profile without extensive work experience can still be competitive.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from the National University of Singapore’s official website as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on NUS’s official LKYSPP scholarship page before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the National University of Singapore.

Official Application Portal