BrightSparks Scholarships and Courses 2026
REGULARS
Scholarships and Courses 2026
A comprehensive guide to BrightSparks Scholarship and Course Providers
Agency for Science, Technology and Research Read Feature
National Science Scholarship (BS-PhD)
| Courses / Disciplines: |
• Biomedical Sciences • Physical Sciences • Engineering and Technology • Computing and Information Sciences |
| Universities / Institutions: | • Top global universities overseas |
| Value & Benefits: | Successful applicants will be given support for their undergraduate studies, comprising*: • Full tuition fees • Monthly allowance • Annual return airfare • Pre-studies allowance • Language programme fees (for scholars studying in non-anglophone countries (where applicable)) • Research attachment opportunities at A*STAR Research Institutes Mid-term NSS (BS-PhD) awardees will be offered the same terms of support as the full-term NSS (BS-PhD) awardees from the point of the award, with retrospective payment for all tuition fees and/or any compulsory fees from Year 1 of study onwards. *Rates/allowances vary according to country and university, and are subject to adjustments by A*STAR from time to time. |
| Requirements: |
Applicants must: • Be Singaporean. Non-Singaporeans are required to have obtained minimally Singapore Permanent Residence prior to the commencement of the studies, and convert to Singapore citizenship during their undergraduate studies • Have achieved excellent academic standing in the GCE 'A' Levels (preferably with 11 AUs), polytechnic diploma (preferably with Merit) or equivalent qualifications (e.g. International Baccalaureate or NUS High School diploma) • Be in the last semester of their final year of studies to apply. However, successful candidates will only be awarded the scholarship if they obtain GCE “A” Level or equivalent results that meet A*STAR’s requirements • Have applied or be applying for an undergraduate programme at a top overseas institution, to study in one of the areas as listed under the “Research Areas” section Other requirements: • Applicants should have a keen interest in science and research. Preference will be given to candidates with experience and notable achievements in science- or math-related projects and activities • Male scholars are required to serve National Service prior to commencement of undergraduate studies • Applicants are encouraged to sit for the SAT tests to broaden their choices of institutions for their undergraduate education. Although, A*STAR does not mandate a minimum SAT score as a qualifying condition for the undergraduate scholarships awarded for studies, applicants are encouraged to submit their SAT scores, if available, to be included in the overall assessment of their applications Mid-Term NSS (BS-PhD) applicants must: • Be Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) who intend to take up Singapore citizenship • Be enrolled in a top overseas university and minimally completed at least 1 semester of graded results at the point of scholarship application • Be on track to attain excellent academic standing for current degree • Have good research potential and/or achievements • Tenured track or tenured academics/ Professors (or equivalent) to be at least 1 out of the 2 academic referees The above eligibility criteria is not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on prevailing scholarship policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. |
| Bond Duration: |
• NSS scholars are required to fulfill a 6 year service commitment, inclusive of a compulsory 1 year research attachment at A*STAR prior to their PhD studies • NSS (BS-PhD) scholars who complete their Bachelor’s and/or PhD in a non-anglophone country would serve a 5-year service commitment instead |
National Science Scholarship (PhD)
| Courses / Disciplines: |
• Biomedical Sciences • Physical Sciences • Engineering and Technology • Computing and Information Sciences |
| Universities / Institutions: | • Top global universities overseas |
| Value & Benefits: |
Successful applicants will be given the following support* for up to 6 years:
• Full tuition fees • Monthly sustenance allowance, inclusive of CPF contribution (where applicable) • Monthly overseas living allowance • Annual return airfare Other allowances including • Conference allowance • Thesis allowance • Computer allowance • Settling-in allowance • Language programme fees (for scholars studying in non-anglophone countries (where applicable)) Mid-term NSS (PhD) awardees will be offered the same terms of support as the full-term NSS (PhD) awardees from the point of the award, with retrospective payment for all tuition fees and/or any compulsory fees from Year 1 of study onwards. *All rates/allowances vary according to country and university, and are subject to adjustments made by A*STAR. |
| Requirements: |
Applicants must: • Be Singaporean or other nationals intending to take up Singapore citizenship. Non-Singaporeans are required to have obtained minimally Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) prior to the commencement of the studies, and convert to Singapore citizenship during their undergraduate studies • Have attained a good class of Honours degree or equivalent in relevant disciplines • Be in the last semester of their final year of undergraduate studies to apply. However, successful candidates will only be awarded the scholarship if they obtain a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent results that meet A*STAR’s requirements • Have applied or be applying for a PhD programme at a top overseas institution Mid-Term NSS (PhD) applicants must: • Be Singaporean • Enrolled in a top overseas institution and minimally complete at least 1 semester at the point of scholarship application • On track to attain excellent academic standing for current degree • Good research potential and/or achievements • Current university supervisor to be at least 1 out of the 2 academic referees Other requirements: • Successful candidates are required to undergo a 1 year research attachment at an A*STAR research institute prior to their PhD studies (not applicable for mid-term NSS (PhD) candidates) The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on prevailing scholarship policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. |
| Bond Duration: |
• Upon completion of the PhD programme, scholars will return to Singapore and contribute to A*STAR’s research institutes and/or relevant organisations for 4 years. • Scholars who complete their PhD in non-anglophone country would serve a 3-year service commitment instead. |
A*STAR Graduate Scholarship
| Courses / Disciplines: | • Computing • Semiconductor • Quantum STEM Tracks: • Biomedical Sciences • Physical Sciences • Engineering and Technology • Computing and Information Sciences |
| Universities / Institutions: |
• Autonomous universities in Singapore |
| Value & Benefits: |
Successful applicants will be given the following support* for up to 4 years :
• Full tuition fees • Monthly sustenance allowance, inclusive of CPF contribution (where applicable) • Support for up to 12 months of overseas attachment Other allowances including • Book allowance • Computer allowance • Conference allowance • Thesis allowance Mid-term applicants will be offered the same terms of support as the full-term AGS awardees from the point of the award, with retrospective payment for all tuition fees and/or any compulsory fees from Year 1 of study onward *All rates/allowances are subject to adjustments by A*STAR from time to time. |
| Requirements: |
Applicants must: • Be Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) who have obtained, or are on track to obtain, at least a Second-Class (Upper) Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. Non-SPR foreigners must have completed or are on track to obtain at least a Second-Class (Upper) Honours degree in a Singapore autonomous university • Be in the last semester of their final year of undergraduate studies to apply • Satisfy the criteria for and gain admission to a PhD programme in an autonomous university For Mid-Term AGS applicants: • Be Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) who have obtained at least Second-Class (Upper) Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. Non-SPR foreigners must have obtained at least a Second-Class (Upper) Honours degree in a Singapore autonomous university • Enrolled in a Singapore autonomous university and minimally completed at least 1 semester at the point of scholarship application • On track to attain excellent academic standing for current degree • Good research potential and/or achievements • Current university supervisor to be at least 1 out of the 2 academic referees The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on prevailing scholarship policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. |
| Bond Duration: |
• Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents: No service commitment • For Non-Singaporeans: 3-year service in Singapore-based companies^ without commitment to any specific organization ^Singapore-based companies refer to local companies and international companies that have a base in Singapore and which is registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). |
A*STAR International Fellowship
| Courses / Disciplines: |
• Biomedical Sciences • Physical Sciences • Engineering and Technology • Computing and Information Sciences |
| Universities / Institutions: |
• Leading research institutions or universities overseas |
| Value & Benefits: |
Successful applicants will be given the following support* for up to 2 years of overseas postdoctoral research training: • Monthly overseas living allowance • Monthly sustenance allowance, inclusive of CPF contribution (where applicable) • Annual return airfare • Annual personal insurance Other allowances including: • Settling-in allowance • Computer allowance • Conference allowance Mid-term AIF awardees will be offered the same terms of support as the full-term AIF awardees from the point of the award, with retrospective payment for any compulsory fees incurred from the start of postdoctoral training. *All rates/allowances vary according to country and university/lab, and are subject to A*STAR adjustments from time to time. |
| Requirements: |
Applicants must: • Be Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR). Foreigners who are non-SPRs and with outstanding track records may be considered on an exceptional basis. Non-Singaporeans are required to have obtained Singapore citizenship prior to the commencement of the fellowship • Have completed a PhD within the last 4 years. Applicants in the final stages of their PhD may apply for the AIF. However, their AIF award is confirmed only upon conferment of their PhD degree • Not have existing bonds to any institution Additional track-specific requirements: AIF (Research): • Possess excellent publication records • Have applied or be applying for a relevant postdoctoral position at a top overseas university/laboratory AIF (Innovation): • Demonstrate strong aptitude and aspiration to pursue roles in innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) • Preferably with good publication records Mid-Term AIF applicants must: • Be Singaporean • Enrolled in a top overseas university/lab at the point of scholarship application • Possess good publication records • Current postdoctoral supervisor to be at least 1 out of the 2 academic referees The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on prevailing scholarship policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. |
| Bond Duration: |
• Upon completion of the postdoctoral research training, scholars will return to Singapore and contribute A*STAR’s research institutes and/or relevant organisations for three (3) years. |
