The NTU Research Scholarship is Nanyang Technological University’s general research award for graduate students, and it is open to international candidates on the same terms as Singapore citizens. It pays a monthly stipend of S$3,000 for international PhD candidates and S$2,900 for international master’s-by-research candidates, covers the annual tuition fee, and carries no bond.
For an Indian student weighing a research degree in Singapore, this is the baseline funding package: every NTU school awards it, the tenure runs up to four years for a PhD, and you are considered simply by ticking the scholarship interest in the admission application. NTU’s own figures place it just below the Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship, which is the university’s flagship doctoral award.
This page covers the stipend by citizenship, the eligibility bar, how long the award runs, the Graduate Assistantship duties that come with it for international students, and how to be considered without a separate scholarship form.
NTU Research Scholarship 2027: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore |
| Last date to apply | No separate closing date – NTU says interested candidates must indicate their interest in the scholarship inside their application for admission, and the outcome arrives with the offer of admission. The deadline that applies is your programme’s graduate admission deadline for the intake you are targeting, published in NTU’s graduate admission guide. |
| Official website | ntu.edu.sg – NTU Research Scholarship |
Monthly stipend by citizenship
NTU revised these rates with effect from January 2026. The table below is for a full-time research candidate; the stipend is paid monthly for the tenure of the award.
| PhD – Singapore Citizen | S$3,800 per month |
| PhD – Singapore PR | S$3,400 per month |
| PhD – International student | S$3,000 per month |
| Master’s – Singapore Citizen | S$3,800 per month |
| Master’s – Singapore PR | S$3,000 per month |
| Master’s – International student | S$2,900 per month |
- The annual tuition fee is covered on top of the monthly stipend.
- PhD scholars who pass the Qualifying Examination / Confirmation may become eligible for an additional stipend of up to S$500 per month, subject to research performance and course standards.
- NTU reserves the right to vary the stipend amount by written notice, and states that coverage and award terms are subject to change.
Who is eligible
- You must be a local or international student seeking admission as a full-time candidate pursuing a Graduate Research programme at NTU – that is, a research master’s or a PhD.
- You need a minimum of Honours (Distinction) or its equivalent. Indian applicants typically map this to a strong first-class bachelor’s or master’s degree; the school assesses the equivalence.
- There is no bond attached to the scholarship – unlike Singapore’s service-obligation schemes, you do not owe the university or the government a period of work after graduation.
- International students must perform teaching or laboratory supervision duties to fulfil the Graduate Assistantship Programme (GAP). Singapore citizens and PRs may do GAP at the discretion of their school.
How long the award runs
- The award is tenable for one year in the first instance and is renewable subject to good progress in the research programme.
- The maximum period is two years for master’s candidates and four years for PhD candidates, as determined by the school and by the availability of research funding in each case.
- Because renewal is performance-linked, the practical risk for a scholar is a slow term, not a funding cut-off date.
How to apply
- Choose the Graduate Research programme and intake you want in an NTU school, and read that programme’s admission requirements and closing date in NTU’s graduate admission guide.
- Submit the NTU admission application before that programme’s deadline.
- Indicate your interest in the NTU Research Scholarship inside the admission application – NTU’s page says there is no separate scholarship application form.
- Wait for the outcome, which NTU says is communicated by email together with the offer of admission.
- After you enrol, update your Singapore bank account details in the student intranet (GSLink) before the 15th of the semester commencement month (January or August) so the first stipend is not delayed.
Documents Indian applicants usually need
- Bachelor’s and, if applicable, master’s degree certificates and full transcripts, with the grading scale explained so the school can assess the Honours (Distinction) equivalence.
- A research proposal or statement of purpose for the intended supervisor’s area, since research admission is tied to a supervisor and funding.
- English proficiency evidence accepted by the programme (IELTS or TOEFL), unless your degree was taught in English and the school grants a waiver.
- GRE or GATE scores where the specific programme requires them – NTU’s programme pages state this per discipline, so check yours rather than assuming.
- Two academic referee reports and a passport copy for the student pass application after admission.
Research Scholarship versus the Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship
NTU runs the two awards side by side. The Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) is the flagship doctoral award with a higher international stipend (S$4,300 a month per the NPGS page, against S$3,000 for the Research Scholarship) plus conference, book, IT and thesis allowances, and it is also applied for by indicating interest inside the admission application. The Research Scholarship is the broader award that every school uses, covers research master’s as well as PhD, and has no allowance stack. Apply to both by expressing interest at admission – they are assessed by the school, not by two separate portals.
Frequently asked questions
S$3,000 per month for international PhD candidates, plus the annual tuition fee, with no bond. After passing the PhD Qualifying Examination, scholars may be eligible for up to S$500 more per month.
NTU publishes no separate scholarship closing date. You are considered when you apply for admission and indicate interest in the scholarship, so your programme’s graduate admission deadline is the real date.
No. NTU states there is no bond attached to the scholarship. International students do have to perform teaching or laboratory supervision duties under the Graduate Assistantship Programme.
A minimum of Honours (Distinction) or its equivalent. The school decides the equivalence for Indian degrees when it reviews your transcripts.
One year initially, renewable on good progress, up to two years for a research master’s and four years for a PhD, as determined by the school and research funding.
Yes. The Research Scholarship covers full-time Graduate Research candidates at both master’s and PhD level, with different stipend rates – S$2,900 a month for international master’s candidates.
No. You indicate interest in the scholarship inside the admission application itself, and NTU sends the outcome with the admission offer.
Official links
- NTU – NTU Research Scholarship (stipend table, tenure, GAP duties and how to indicate interest)
- NTU – Graduate admissions (programme closing dates and application guides)
- NTU – Graduate scholarships (the full award list)
Read more on the site: study abroad scholarships, international scholarships and post graduation scholarships.
Related scholarship posts: NTU Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship, SUTD PhD Fellowship, Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.