Category Archives: Singapore Scholarships

Introduction

If you’re considering pursuing a full-time PhD at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, the Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) is one of the most prestigious and competitive scholarships available. It is designed for students who demonstrate excellent academic achievement, strong leadership qualities, and outstanding research potential. In addition to financial support, it carries prestige and opens doors in academia and research industries. This article covers the scholarship in detail, including the exact requirements for English test scores, the CGPA / degree classification needed, stipend & benefits, application process, and tips to increase your chances.

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What is the Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship 2025?

• Purpose: The NPGS is intended to attract outstanding graduates (or final-year undergraduates) to begin a research career by pursuing a full-time PhD at NTU.

• Who can apply: All nationalities are eligible, though preference may be given to Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.

• Duration: The scholarship is tenable initially for one year and renewable annually subject to satisfactory progress. The maximum is four years for PhD candidates, depending on school and funding.

• No bond: There is no service bond attached to the scholarship.

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Exact Academic Qualification / Degree Classification (CGPA)

One of the strictest and most important criteria is the academic standing of your Bachelor’s degree. NTU requires applicants to have:

• Honours (Highest Distinction) or equivalent at Bachelor’s level. If you are in your final year, you must provide documentation proving you are on track to achieve “Honours (Highest Distinction)” or its equivalent.

What does “Honours (Highest Distinction)” mean at NTU?

NTU undergraduate honours degrees are classified under a CGPA system with precise cutoffs. According to NTU’s Academic Handbook:

• A CGPA of 4.50 – 5.00 (on a 5.0 scale) corresponds to Honours (Highest Distinction).

• Honours (Distinction) corresponds to a CGPA range of 4.00 – 4.49.

There are additional course or project requirements in some colleges (for example, for certain disciplines the grade in the Final Year Project (FYP) must meet a certain standard, such as A- or B+ depending on the faculty).

Thus, to meet the requirement of “Honours (Highest Distinction)” you would generally need:

• CGPA ≥ 4.50 / 5.00, and

• If applicable, the Final Year Project (FYP) must attain a high grade (often A- or B+, depending on college).

If your degree is from outside NTU, you need to have an equivalent first-class honours or very high distinction standard in your university / country. Most international equivalent systems set this at something like top 5-10% of cohort, or an equivalent high GPA / percentage. The specific conversion will depend on the university.

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Exact English / Language & Test Score Requirements

Because NTU is an English-medium institution, proficiency in English is essential, especially for international applicants or those whose prior degree was taught in a non-English medium. According to NTU’s published requirements for NPGS:

• If English was not the medium of instruction in your previous degree, you must submit English proficiency test scores (e.g., TOEFL or IELTS). Alternatively, you can provide a letter from your home university certifying that English was the medium of instruction to request a waiver.

• Also, applicants who are not graduates of Autonomous Universities in Singapore must usually submit a valid GRE or GMAT score, unless the specific graduate research programme states otherwise.

What are the minimum English scores expected?

While NTU does not always publish a fixed “you must have at least this score” under NPGS for all programmes, based on the General Entry Requirements and past admissions policy in NTU, the following are typical benchmarks:

• TOEFL iBT: ~ 100 (internet-based), or equivalent score in other TOEFL formats (paper- or computer-based).

• IELTS Academic: Minimum 7.0 overall is commonly required.

These are not always explicitly stated in the NPGS page, but are the standard for NTU’s PhD / Research graduate programmes in similar situations. If an applicant’s degree was taught in English, these may be waived with appropriate proof.

• For international applicants (especially outside Autonomous Universities in Singapore), a valid GRE (or sometimes GMAT) is required, unless the specific PhD programme says otherwise.

• Test dates must be within 5 years of the application date.

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Scholarship Benefits: Stipend, Allowances & What’s Covered

Once selected, NPGS offers generous benefits. Here are the exact numbers (as per recent published data):

Other allowances include:

• Conference Allowance: Up to S$4,000 per financial year (April – March) to support conference travel / presentation.

• Book Allowance: Annual grant of S$500 for books / journal subscription.

• IT Allowance: One-time allowance of S$1,500 for purchase of computing or research equipment.

• Thesis Allowance: One-time S$600, disbursed in the final year upon renewal.

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Application Requirements & Process of Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship 2025

To apply for NPGS, you should properly prepare the following:

1. PhD Program Choice & Supervisor

   • It is recommended to approach / identify a potential supervisor in your field before applying. If you don’t, NTU may assign one based on your research interests.

2. Required Documents

   • Academic transcripts + degree certificate(s) (or proof of pending degree with Highest Distinction).

   • Resume/CV including any research experience, publications etc.

   • Research proposal (if required by your intended PhD programme).

   • Two (or more) academic references.

   • English test scores (TOEFL / IELTS) if your prior education was not in English. Or a waiver letter.

   • GRE / GMAT / GATE (for Indian applicants) if applicable.

3. Application Window

   • The portal typically opens between October to December each year.

   • Check the specific PhD programme and department pages because some may have earlier deadlines or different intake timelines.

4. Selection & Interviews

   • After document screening, strong applicants may be shortlisted for interview or additional assessment.

   • Final award decisions will usually be communicated a few weeks after interviews.

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Putting It Together: A Hypothetical Example

Let’s take an example of what a strong candidate might look like numerically, to satisfy all requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university (outside NTU)

• Equivalent to first-class honours or “Highest Distinction” (e.g. a CGPA of ~ 4.50 / 5.00 or its local equivalent: often ~ 85-90%+ in many percentage systems)

• Final Year Project grade of at least A- or equivalent, if required by your faculty

• If your degree is from non-English medium: TOEFL iBT score of about 100 (or higher), or IELTS 7.0 overall (with good scores in each band)

• GRE total ≥ around 319 (Quant + Verbal) if required, with acceptable subscores, depending on the department

This candidate would also have research experience (publications, if any), good references, a solid proposal, and probably some leadership or extra-curricular distinction—since NPGS also values leadership and research potential.

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Tips & Strategies to Strengthen Your Application

• Verify degree equivalence: If your university uses a different grading system (e.g. 4.0 scale, % system, etc.), find out what “first class honours” / “top distinction” is and include that equivalence or calculation if possible.

• Focus on Final Year Project / Capstone quality: Because some faculties require a high FYP grade (e.g. A- or B+), putting effort into this can be crucial.

• Get English test scores early: If you need TOEFL / IELTS / GRE, take them well before the application deadline; test validity matters (typically 2 years for English tests, 5 years for GRE/GMAT).

• Reach out to potential supervisors: Even though not strictly required, having a supervisor interested in your proposal can help.

• Strong recommendation letters: Get them from people who know your research potential.

• Polish your research proposal: Be clear, feasible, and aligned with research strengths at NTU.

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Summary of Exact Requirements at a Glance

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Conclusion on Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship 2025

The Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) is highly competitive, but deeply rewarding. To stand a good chance:

• You’ll need academic excellence—first-class honours or its equivalent, often meaning being at the top of your class.

• English proficiency that meets or exceeds typical standards (TOEFL ~100 / IELTS ~7.0) if your prior education was not in English.

• GRE / GMAT / GATE scores where required.

• Strong supporting documents: FYP / thesis, recommendations, proposal, and evidence of research or leadership.