A Quick Look at What This Scholarship Is About:
Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, better known as ASTAR, runs one of the most generous PhD funding programmes in Asia for students who want to build a career in computing. The ASTAR Computing and Information Science Scholarship, shortened to ACIS, is built for exactly that purpose. It is meant for people who are serious about spending several years digging deep into a computing-related research problem and coming out the other side with a doctorate and real career options in research labs, universities, or tech companies.
This is a fully funded award, meaning tuition, living costs, and a long list of extra allowances are all covered by A*STAR. There is no mention of an application fee anywhere in the official documentation, so applicants should not expect to pay anything just to submit their candidacy. The scholarship is open to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students from any country, which makes it one of the more inclusive PhD funding routes out there. The subject area is computing and information science broadly, which covers things like deep learning applied to healthcare, data analytics that improves how machines learn, and simulation work for advanced technical applications.
Two intake windows exist each year. If someone wants to start in August, the paperwork needs to be in by February 8. If January is the preferred start, August 1 is the cutoff. Missing either date means waiting for the next cycle, so timing matters a lot here.
Below, every part of the scholarship is broken down piece by piece so that a prospective applicant does not have to hunt through scattered pages to understand what they are signing up for.
Snapshot: The Essentials at a Glance:
- Degree Level: This funding is exclusively for PhD candidates. Master’s or undergraduate applicants are not eligible under this particular scheme.
- Host Country: Singapore, with research carried out at A*STAR’s research entities and in partnership with local universities such as NUS.
- Field of Study: Computing and Information Science, a broad umbrella that includes machine learning, data science, computational modelling, and related technical disciplines.
- Application Deadline: February 8 for the August intake, and August 1 for the January intake.
- Funding Type: Fully funded. Tuition, monthly stipend, and multiple allowances are included.
- Open To: Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students from any nationality.
- Application Fee: None specified in the official scholarship materials.
- Award Duration: Typically four years, matching the standard length of a PhD programme.
- GRE Requirement: Not mandatory, but scores can be submitted voluntarily to strengthen an application.
Why This Scholarship Is Worth Serious Consideration:
A lot of PhD funding packages cover tuition and little else, leaving students to scramble for rent money or conference travel funds. ACIS takes a different approach. Once someone is accepted, they walk away with a package that touches almost every cost a doctoral student is likely to face.
Here is what a scholar actually gains, not just what they are asked to do:
- Complete tuition coverage, so there is no lingering fear of debt piling up over four years of study.
- A monthly stipend that reflects nationality status, giving Singapore Citizens SGD 5,800 per month, Permanent Residents SGD 4,800 per month, and international students SGD 4,550 per month. This is enough to cover housing, food, and daily living without the financial stress that pushes many PhD students into part-time work.
- CPF contributions on top of the stipend for Singapore Citizens, which means long-term retirement savings continue building even while studying.
- A book allowance, so buying reference material or textbooks does not eat into personal savings.
- A computer allowance, recognising that serious research in computing needs decent hardware, not a struggling five-year-old laptop.
- A conference allowance, which opens the door to presenting research internationally, meeting people in the field, and building a professional network early in a research career.
- A miscellaneous allowance and a thesis allowance, covering the smaller, often-overlooked costs that come with finishing a doctoral dissertation.
- Up to twelve months of funded overseas attachment, giving scholars a chance to work in a different research environment, pick up new techniques, and expand their global exposure before their PhD even ends.
- Eligibility for the A*STAR International Fellowship after graduation, which can fund up to two years of postdoctoral training at a top overseas laboratory. This is a rare bridge from PhD straight into an internationally recognised postdoctoral career.
Put simply, this scholarship is not just paying for a degree. It is investing in a scholar’s entire early research career, from the first year of coursework to postdoctoral work abroad years later.
Who Can Apply:
Eligibility here is refreshingly straightforward compared to many competitive scholarships. That said, a few boxes need to be ticked before applying.
- Applicants need at least a Second Upper Class Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification, in a discipline relevant to computing and information science.
- There is no restriction based on nationality. Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, and international candidates from anywhere in the world are all welcome to apply.
- A genuine interest in pursuing a long-term research career is expected, whether that career eventually leads to an industry R&D lab, a spin-off company, a large tech enterprise, or academia itself.
- GRE scores are optional. If an applicant already has them, submitting them can add weight to the overall assessment, but their absence will not disqualify anyone.
- Non-Singaporean scholars agree to a three-year service commitment with a Singapore-based company after graduation, though there is flexibility here since it does not have to be tied to one specific employer. Preference is given to roles connected to computing and information science.
- Singaporeans and Permanent Residents face no service commitment at all.
- There are no specific bond payment requirements attached to this award.
Research Fields Covered Under This Scholarship:
Since this award falls under the wide umbrella of computing and information science, applicants from a range of technical backgrounds can find a home here. The following fields are generally recognised as falling within scope:
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Data Science and Data Analytics
- Deep Learning Applications (including healthcare-focused research)
- Computational Modelling and Simulation
- Information Systems
- Software Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Robotics and Automation (where computing-focused)
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Cybersecurity and Information Security
Since the exact list of approved supervisors and specific projects changes over time, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to check the current “Research Areas and Supervisors” listing on the official A*STAR Graduate Scholarship webpage before finalising their proposal.
Breaking Down the Application Process:
Getting through this application involves more than filling out one form and waiting for a reply. It is a multi-step process that runs parallel to a university admission application.
- Apply to a university at the same time. Since A*STAR scholars complete coursework requirements set by their host university (commonly NUS), a separate PhD admission application needs to be submitted alongside the scholarship application, not after it.
- Pick a research direction and, ideally, a supervisor. The scholarship webpage lists approved supervisors under a dedicated tab. If a preferred supervisor is not on that list, reaching out to them directly to discuss a possible project is a reasonable next step before applying.
- Prepare a research proposal. Applicants need to describe their intended research area in enough detail for reviewers to understand the direction and relevance of the proposed work.
- Gather two referee reports. These need to come from people who can genuinely speak to the applicant’s academic ability and research potential.
- Submit full academic transcripts and credentials. Every qualification claimed needs supporting documentation.
- Go through at least two rounds of interviews. These involve senior leadership from either the Biomedical Research Council or the Science & Engineering Research Council, along with researchers from within A*STAR’s own research entities. This is not a quick formality; it is a genuine, in-depth evaluation.
- Wait for supervisor and project approval. Even after clearing interviews, the final choice of supervisor, project, and university for successful candidates is subject to A*STAR’s approval, so flexibility matters throughout the process.
A Word on Timing and Planning Ahead:
Given how many moving parts this application has, from referee reports to interviews to a parallel university application, leaving everything until the final week before a deadline is a risky approach. Reaching out to potential supervisors months in advance, requesting referee letters early, and drafting a research proposal well before the deadline all reduce the last-minute pressure that trips up so many strong candidates.
It is also worth remembering that the deadlines are tied to intake, not to when someone happens to discover the scholarship. February 8 belongs to the August intake, and August 1 belongs to the January intake. Getting these dates mixed up is one of the more common and entirely avoidable mistakes applicants make.
Frequently Asked Questions?:
Is the A*STAR ACIS Scholarship fully funded? Yes. It covers full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, CPF contributions where applicable, and several additional allowances including book, computer, conference, thesis, and miscellaneous allowances.
Can international students apply for this scholarship? Yes. The scholarship is open to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students from any nationality.
Is there an application fee for this scholarship? No application fee is mentioned in the official scholarship information.
What is the monthly stipend under this scholarship? Singapore Citizens receive SGD 5,800 per month, Permanent Residents receive SGD 4,800 per month, and international students receive SGD 4,550 per month.
Do I need to submit GRE scores to apply? No, GRE scores are optional. If available, they can be included to support the overall assessment, but they are not a requirement.
Is there a service commitment after completing the PhD? Non-Singaporean scholars commit to three years of work with Singapore-based companies, with flexibility in choosing the employer. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents have no service commitment.
How long does this scholarship last? The typical award period for PhD students is four years.
Can I choose my own PhD supervisor? Applicants are encouraged to select a supervisor from the approved list published on the ASTAR Graduate Scholarship webpage, or contact a supervisor outside that list to discuss a possible project. The final decision remains subject to ASTAR’s approval.
What happens after I finish my PhD? Graduates of this scholarship become eligible to apply for the A*STAR International Fellowship, which can fund up to two years of postdoctoral research at a top overseas laboratory or institution.
When are the application deadlines? February 8 for the August intake, and August 1 for the January intake.
