The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship 2027offers an opportunity for outstanding applicants to pursue a PhD in Public Policy at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in Singapore.
The scholarship is associated with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP)and is available to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and international students. The official NUS Graduate School listing states that applicants should have a relevant master’s degree, while preference is given to candidates with at least two years of work experience, an academic background in social science and a strong interest in international affairs.
For international students, the current published stipend is SGD 2,200 per month before the PhD Qualifying Examination and SGD 2,700 per month after passing the examination, subject to the scholarship’s terms and conditions. The typical scholarship award period is three years.
Lee Kuan Yew PhD Scholarship 2027 — Quick Overview
Scholarship detail
Information
Scholarship
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship
Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and international students
Relevant academic background
Social Sciences preferred
Work experience
At least 2 years preferred
Scholarship duration
Typically 3 years
International student stipend
SGD 2,200/month before qualifying examination
International student stipend after qualifying examination
SGD 2,700/month
Singapore Citizen stipend
SGD 2,800/month before qualifying examination; SGD 3,300/month after
Singapore Permanent Resident stipend
SGD 2,400/month before qualifying examination; SGD 2,900/month after
Study mode
On campus
Application period
1 August–10 December for August intake
Application route
NUS Graduate Admission application
Application fee for PhD
Waived
The official LKYSPP admission page currently lists the PhD application window as 1 August to 10 December for the August intake.
What Is the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship?
Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship 2027 supports doctoral study in public policy at NUS.
The LKY School describes its PhD programme as an on-campus programme focused on advanced public policy research. The school states that PhD students are expected to complete the programme in four years, although the current scholarship award period is typically three years.
The scholarship is designed for academically strong candidates interested in public policy, social science and international affairs.
Who Can Apply for the Lee Kuan Yew PhD Scholarship?
The official NUS Graduate School scholarship listing states that the scholarship is open to:
Singapore Citizens
Singapore Permanent Residents
International students
Applicants are expected to have a relevant master’s degree. The university also states that preference is given to applicants with at least two years of work experience, an academic background in Social Science and a deep interest in international affairs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should carefully review the official programme requirements before applying.
Relevant Master’s Degree
Applicants should possess a relevant master’s degree.
The scholarship listing identifies a relevant master’s degree as part of the academic prerequisites for the PhD scholarship.
Academic Background
The university indicates a preference for applicants with an academic background in Social Science and a strong interest in international affairs.
Work Experience
At least two years of work experience is preferred.
This is stated as a preference rather than an absolute requirement in the current NUS scholarship listing.
International Applicants
International students are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
The official NUS Graduate School listing specifically includes All International Students among the eligible nationality categories.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship provides financial support during doctoral study.
The LKY School’s financial-aid information states that its scholarships can cover:
Tuition fees
Health insurance
Examination and other approved fees
Monthly maintenance allowance
One-time book allowance
Settling-in allowance
Travel from the student’s home country to Singapore
Travel from Singapore to the student’s home country upon graduation
The exact terms depend on the specific scholarship and applicable conditions.
Prospective applicants should therefore review the official scholarship terms before assuming that every expense associated with studying in Singapore is automatically covered.
Monthly Stipend for International Students
The current official NUS Graduate School listing gives the following PhD stipend structure:
Category
Before Qualifying Examination
After Qualifying Examination
Singapore Citizens
SGD 2,800/month
SGD 3,300/month
Singapore Permanent Residents
SGD 2,400/month
SGD 2,900/month
International Students
SGD 2,200/month
SGD 2,700/month
The scholarship listing states that the typical award period for PhD students is three years.
This distinction is important because third-party scholarship pages may present the SGD 3,300 figure without explaining that it is the post-qualifying-examination rate for Singapore Citizens.
Is the Scholarship Fully Funded?
The scholarship provides substantial financial support, and the LKY School states that scholarships can cover tuition and several approved expenses in addition to a maintenance allowance.
However, applicants should always read the current scholarship terms carefully because the precise benefits and conditions can vary according to the scholarship and applicant category.
Does the Scholarship Have a Bond?
The official NUS Graduate School listing for the LKYSPP PhD Scholarship states that there is no specific service bond requirement.
This differs from some other scholarship schemes that require recipients to work for a sponsoring organisation or government agency after graduation.
English Language Requirements
Applicants should review the programme’s current English-language requirements based on their educational background.
The LKY School’s FAQ states that candidates who do not submit GRE scores and whose bachelor’s or master’s degree was not fully conducted in English may need to provide a valid TOEFL or IELTS score.
The school states that there are no strict minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirements, although successful applicants typically achieve or exceed:
TOEFL iBT: 100 overall, with at least 27 in Writing
IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall, with at least 7.0 in Writing
Applicants whose qualifications were obtained in certain English-medium countries may be exempt. The school also states that applicants educated entirely in English in countries not on its listed exemption list may be considered for a waiver if they provide an institutional letter confirming the language of instruction.
For the PhD application, the LKY School states that GRE submission is optional, effective from Academic Year 2025.
However, the school encourages candidates to submit GRE scores because evidence of strong quantitative, verbal and analytical abilities can strengthen an application.
Applicants should therefore check the latest programme instructions before submitting their application.
How to Apply for the Lee Kuan Yew PhD Scholarship 2027
Applicants apply for the scholarship as part of the NUS graduate admissions process.
Step 1: Check the PhD Requirements
Review the LKY School’s PhD admission requirements and confirm that your academic background is suitable.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Prepare the required academic and supporting documents before beginning the application.
These may include academic records, references, research-related materials and other documents specified by the programme.
Step 3: Apply Through NUS GradApp
Submit your application through the NUS graduate admissions system.
The official scholarship listing states that applicants can apply for the scholarship within their admissions application through GradApp and complete any additional scholarship requirements specified there.
Step 4: Indicate Your Scholarship Interest
Indicate that you wish to be considered for the applicable scholarship or financial aid within the online application.
The LKY School states that applicants should indicate their interest in financial assistance during the online application process.
Step 5: Submit Supporting Documents
Ensure that all required documents are submitted before the application deadline.
The LKY School advises applicants to complete the application and supporting documentation by the stated deadline.
Step 6: Monitor Your Application
Successful shortlisted applicants may be contacted for further assessment or interviews as applicable.
Application Deadline
For the August intake, the official LKY School admissions page currently lists the PhD application period as:
1 August – 10 December
The application must be completed and supporting documents submitted by the stated deadline and Singapore time.
The Scholarship Region article supplied for this SchoolRealm report also lists 10 December 2026 as the deadline for its 2027 scholarship listing.
Applicants should nevertheless confirm the deadline on the official NUS application page before submitting their application.
Application Fee
The LKY School’s current application guide states that the application fee for the PhD programme has been waived.
This means prospective PhD applicants do not currently need to pay an application fee for the PhD programme.
What Does the PhD Programme Focus On?
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s PhD programme is focused on advanced research in public policy.
The programme is particularly relevant to applicants interested in subjects connected with:
Public policy
International affairs
Governance
Political economy
Social policy
Development
Public administration
Policy research
Applicants should consult the current programme information and faculty research areas when developing their research interests.
Can Nigerians Apply?
Yes. The official NUS Graduate School scholarship listing explicitly includes all international studentsamong eligible nationalities.
Nigerian applicants who meet the academic and programme requirements can therefore consider applying.
Applicants from Nigeria should pay particular attention to:
What is the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship?
It is a scholarship associated with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore that provides financial support for eligible PhD students in Public Policy.
Who is eligible for the scholarship?
Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and international students are eligible under the current NUS Graduate School scholarship listing.
Can international students apply?
Yes. The official scholarship listing specifically includes all international students.
What is the stipend for international students?
International PhD students currently receive SGD 2,200 per month before passing the PhD Qualifying Examination and SGD 2,700 per month after passing it, according to the official NUS listing.
How long is the scholarship?
The typical award period for PhD students is three years.
Is GRE required?
GRE submission is optional for the PhD application, although the LKY School says strong GRE results can strengthen evidence of quantitative, verbal and analytical ability.
Is IELTS required?
It depends on the applicant’s circumstances. Applicants who do not submit GRE scores and whose bachelor’s or master’s degree was not fully conducted in English may need to provide TOEFL or IELTS results.
Does the scholarship cover tuition?
The LKY School states that its scholarships can cover tuition fees, health insurance, examination and other approved fees, together with specified allowances and travel support.
Does the scholarship have a service bond?
The official NUS Graduate School listing states that there is no specific service bond for the LKYSPP PhD Scholarship.
What is the application deadline?
For the August PhD intake, the current LKY School admissions page lists 10 December as the application deadline.
Conclusion
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship 2027 offers eligible doctoral applicants an opportunity to pursue public policy research at the National University of Singapore with substantial financial support.
The scholarship is open to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and international students. Applicants should have a relevant master’s degree, while the university gives preference to candidates with relevant social-science backgrounds, an interest in international affairs and at least two years of work experience.
For international students, the current published stipend is SGD 2,200 per month before the PhD Qualifying Examination and SGD 2,700 per month after passing the examination. The scholarship also comes with other financial benefits under its applicable terms.
Prospective applicants should submit their applications through the official NUS graduate admissions system and verify all requirements, documents and deadlines before applying.
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