NUS President’s Graduate Fellowship 2027: PhD Stipend, Eligibility and Deadlines
- Study in
- Singapore
- Levels
- PhD
- Funding
- Fully funded (S$3,900 a month for international students)
- Covers
- Full tuition, monthly stipend, S$1,000 settling allowance, up to S$750 airfare, research incentive allowances
- Who can apply
- Full-time PhD applicants of any nationality to NUS, nominated by their department
- Run by
- NUS Graduate School, National University of Singapore
On this page
The President’s Graduate Fellowship (PGF) is the top PhD award at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It is run by the NUS Graduate School and is open to full-time PhD students of every nationality, including applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and India. It pays a monthly stipend of S$3,900 for international students, covers full tuition and can last up to four years.
Status: No single deadline. You cannot apply for the PGF on its own. Your department nominates you from its strong PhD applicants, so the deadline that matters is the PhD admission deadline of the faculty you apply to. For the August 2027 intake, these range from 1 November 2026 to 15 January 2027 depending on the faculty (checked October 27, 2026).
What it covers
- Monthly stipend: S$3,900 for international students, S$4,400 for Singapore permanent residents and S$4,800 for Singapore citizens (citizens also get CPF contributions on top).
- Full waiver of NUS tuition fees.
- A one-off settling allowance of S$1,000 for international students.
- Up to S$750 for a one-way economy flight to Singapore for new international students.
- The NUSGS Research Incentive Award: an extra monthly allowance over four years, plus a one-time research allowance after you pass the PhD Qualifying Examination in year two. The official page does not state the amounts.
The award is first given for one year. It is then renewed each semester if your progress is good, up to a maximum of four years.
Who can apply
- PhD applicants of any nationality, in any NUS graduate research programme.
- You need a good GPA in a relevant degree, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation and a CV.
- GRE scores, publications and research experience are optional but strengthen your case.
- TOEFL or IELTS may be needed if English is not your first language or the medium of your degree. Some departments, such as Statistics and Data Science, ask for IELTS 6 or TOEFL iBT 85.
- International PGF holders must complete 312 hours of teaching duties under the Graduate Assistantship Programme.
Key details
| Run by | NUS Graduate School, National University of Singapore |
|---|---|
| Level | PhD (full-time) |
| Stipend (international) | S$3,900 a month |
| Tuition | Fully waived |
| Duration | Up to 4 years |
| Selection | By department or faculty nomination |
| Results | May for August intake, October for January intake |
Admission deadlines for the next intakes
Each faculty sets its own PhD closing dates. Examples from official NUS pages:
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health: August 2027 intake closes 1 November 2026.
- Statistics and Data Science: August 2027 intake runs 16 May to 15 November 2026.
- School of Computing: August intake cut-off is 15 December. The January intake cut-off is 15 June of the year before, so 15 June 2027 applies to January 2028 at Computing only.
- College of Design and Engineering: August 2027 intake closes 15 January 2027 for international candidates.
January 2028 dates for most faculties are not yet posted. As a guide, the College of Design and Engineering closed its January 2027 intake on 1 August 2026.
How to apply
- Choose your PhD programme and check that faculty’s deadline.
- Apply for admission on NUS GradApp and apply for a research scholarship in the same application.
- Upload your transcripts, statement of purpose, CV, referee details and any test scores.
- If your department rates you as excellent, it nominates you for the PGF. NUS shares any extra steps if you are found eligible.
- If you are offered the award, sign the letter of undertaking.
Tips before you apply
- Apply early. Your faculty deadline may be months before the date you saw for another faculty.
- Write a clear research plan and name possible supervisors in your statement of purpose.
- Pick referees who know your research work well.
- If you are not nominated for the PGF, you can still be considered for the NUS Research Scholarship through the same application.
Read the full terms on the President’s Graduate Fellowship page.
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Details are taken from the official NUS Graduate School website, checked on October 27, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
