President Graduate Fellowship 2027 at National University of Singapore Open
A fully funded PhD needs more than a tuition waiver: it needs a research environment where your question can develop into worthwhile work. The National University of Singapore President’s Graduate Fellowship (PGF) brings those considerations together, supporting outstanding doctoral researchers in Singapore while assessing research promise and supervision quality. International students preparing for January 2028 entry can begin building that case now.
This is a preparation guide based on NUS’s current fellowship terms and recurring admission schedules, rather than a confirmed January 2028 call. The important distinction is nomination: you request funding through admission, but your faculty or department must put you forward for PGF.
01. Start with a Research Question and a suitable department
PGF supports PhD research, with eligibility open to all nationalities. Your intended department determines academic entry requirements and whether January admission is available; the fellowship is not a route into taught master’s study.
I would shortlist research groups before polishing a generic scholarship essay. NUS’s nomination guidance values original research, alignment with faculty expertise and high-quality supervision. Read potential supervisors’ recent work and explain where your interests connect. Follow the department’s rules on supervisor contact rather than assuming an acceptance letter is universally compulsory.
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02. What financial support should you plan around?
The current package includes full tuition fees and a monthly stipend of S$3,900 for international recipients. Singapore Permanent Residents receive S$4,400 and Singapore Citizens S$4,800.
- International recipients qualify for a one-off S$1,000 settling allowance.
- Eligible newly registered international students can claim up to S$750 towards one-way economy airfare to Singapore.
- PGF recipients are eligible for the additional NUSGS Research Incentive Award; the main page does not publish its amounts.
Funding begins with a one-year award and may be renewed each semester for satisfactory progress, up to four years. Accommodation is not listed as a separate free benefit, so include rent in your stipend budget.
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03. Prepare evidence your department can support
A convincing application connects academic preparation with a feasible research contribution. NUS considers academic performance, the statement of purpose, recommendations and CV; departmental instructions determine the exact submission package.
I would prepare a short evidence file before drafting: what did you investigate, which decisions were yours, and what did the results teach you? Use our research proposal guide to turn those observations into a clear question and method.
| Prepare | Practical purpose |
|---|---|
| Transcripts and certificates | Establish subject preparation; arrange translations early. |
| Statement or required proposal | Explain the question, approach and NUS fit. |
| CV and referees | Substantiate your research contribution with specific examples. |
| Required test results | Meet the programme’s language and testing rules. |
A research proposal and a statement are not automatically interchangeable. Science, for example, specifies a proposal for Chemistry and personal statements for Biological Sciences and Physics.
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04. Follow the admission-to-nomination process
Scholarship consideration starts within admission; PGF selection then requires faculty nomination. There is no independent public application that bypasses your department.
- Confirm your programme and intake. Check the relevant Science, Arts and Social Sciences or Computing instructions, including tests and exemptions.
- Complete the required documents. Upload PDFs and required English translations. Science requires two online referee reports and permits no changes after submission; Computing requires certified English translations and originals for enrolment verification.
- Apply through NUS GradApp. Select the appropriate programme/intake when available, request scholarship consideration, fulfil additional funding requirements, pay the applicable fee and retain your application number.
- Follow your faculty’s assessment. Review the official PGF terms and ask the graduate office how nomination operates for your programme. Eligible candidates receive further instructions; successful recipients sign an award undertaking.
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05. Questions worth settling before submission
Do I need a publication to be considered?
The central PGF page treats publications or research-project involvement as optional supporting evidence. Your programme’s rules still apply; explain your own research contribution accurately rather than assuming a publication guarantees selection.
Can I apply without IELTS or GRE?
Only if your programme’s requirements or approved exemptions allow it. The fellowship page’s optional-test wording does not override departmental admission rules.
Does a PhD admission offer confirm PGF funding?
No. Check the named scholarship and financial terms in your actual offer. Admission, nomination and a confirmed fellowship award are distinct stages.
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06. January 2028 planning Deadlines
Under NUS’s currently published recurring schedules, the admission cutoff for January 2028 would be 15 May 2027 for Science and Arts and Social Sciences, and 15 June 2027 for Computing.