Financial Aid

Research Scholarship/Tuition Fee Waiver

The Research Scholarship for a Masters student carries a monthly stipend of S$1,500 plus full tuition fee subsidy, i.e., the scholar’s tuition fee is paid for by the University. The award for the scholarship/fee waiver is normally two years, from the date of registration of your candidature.

From 1 March 2008, the monthly stipend for existing and new PhD students are categorised as follows:

The award for the scholarship/fee waiver is normally four years from the date of the registration of your candidature.

If you have been awarded a Research Scholarship or a Tuition Fee Waiver, your scholarship/fee waiver must be renewed each year, together with your candidature, if you would like to continue to receive financial support from the University. This renewal usually takes place towards the end of your present award when the Registrar’s Office sends you a Scholarship/Tuition Fee Waiver Renewal Form. You must complete the form and hand it to your supervisor(s) who will comment on the progress you have made and forward the Form to the Department and Faculty for evaluation.

While each renewal of a scholarship/fee waiver will usually be for a period of six months or one year, a shorter period of renewal or no renewal may result if your progress is found to be unsatisfactory. Please note that if your progress is found to be unsatisfactory before the renewal is due, your monthly stipend can be suspended or your scholarship/fee waiver terminated without notice.

To be considered for a renewal, candidates must complete a minimum of two graded modules per semester, which must count towards their CAP. A Masters candidate much achieve a minimum CAP of 3.00 while a PhD candidate must achieve a minimum CAP of 3.50, during the semester that you are completing your coursework component. For the remaining semesters, renewal will depend on your progress in your research/thesis. For PhD scholars admitted prior to Semester I, 2009/2010, the monthly stipend can also be suspended or scholarship/fee waiver terminated without notice if you fail any component of the PhD QE. Reinstatement will be reviewed after you pass the PhD QE.

The duration of the Research Scholarship/Tuition Fee Waiver will end before the maximum period of your candidature. You should complete your thesis and submit it for examination before the end-date of your scholarship/fee waiver. If you are not able to submit your thesis for examination by the time your scholarship/fee waiver ends, please note that you will have to work on your thesis without any financial support from the University. Should you apply for leave of absence during your award period, the end-date of award will not be extended as a result of your leave.

If your candidature is upgraded from Masters to PhD, the award period of the scholarship/fee waiver during the Masters candidature will be taken into consideration and the four-year period will be calculated with effect from the beginning of your Masters candidature.

Please read carefully the agreement that you have signed with the University, and the terms and conditions of the award. A copy of the current terms and conditions can be accessed here.