The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship 2027 at the National University of Singapore (NUS) offers financial support to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students pursuing a PhD in Public Policy. The scholarship provides a monthly stipend, with the amount increasing by S$500 after the PhD Qualifying Examination, and the typical award period is three years. The programme is designed for applicants with a relevant Master’s degree, a Social Science background, an interest in international affairs, and preferably at least two years of work experience.

Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship 2027 – Key Details

• Host Country: Singapore
• University: National University of Singapore (NUS)
• School: Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
• Study Level: Postgraduate | PhD
• Field: Public Policy
• Eligible Applicants: Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and International Students
• Scholarship Type: Fully Funded / Financial Support
• Monthly Stipend: Up to S$3,300 after passing the PhD Qualifying Examination
• Award Duration: Typically 3 years
• Work Experience: At least 2 years preferred
• Application Deadline: December 10, 2026

About the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) PhD Scholarship supports students pursuing advanced research and training in public policy at NUS.

The PhD in Public Policy develops analytical and research skills for careers in academia, international organisations, governments, and NGOs. The programme is highly competitive, with only around six to eight candidates admitted each year.

Scholarship holders can pursue graduate programmes at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, subject to the applicable scholarship requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Nationality: Open to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students.
• Graduate Study: Applicants must intend to pursue an eligible graduate programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
• Academic Qualification: Applicants should hold a relevant Master’s degree.
• Academic Background: Candidates should have an academic background in Social Science and a strong interest in international affairs.
• Work Experience: At least two years of work experience is preferred.
• Academic Excellence: Applicants should demonstrate a strong academic and professional record.

Scholarship Benefits

Monthly Stipend

The scholarship provides different monthly stipend levels according to the student’s nationality or residency status.

Before the PhD Qualifying Examination:

• Singapore Citizens: S$2,800 per month
• Singapore Permanent Residents: S$2,400 per month
• International Students: S$2,200 per month

After Passing the PhD Qualifying Examination:

An additional S$500 per month is added to each stipend:

• Singapore Citizens: S$3,300 per month
• Singapore Permanent Residents: S$2,900 per month
• International Students: S$2,700 per month

Three-Year Award Period

The typical scholarship award period for PhD students is three years, providing financial support during the programme.

No Service Bond

The official NUS scholarship page states that there are no specific service commitments or service bond requirements attached to this scholarship.

CPF for Singapore Citizens

Singapore Citizens receive CPF contributions on top of the stated stipend amounts.

English Language Requirements

The scholarship itself does not state a blanket “No IELTS Required” policy. For the PhD in Public Policy, applicants may need to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores if their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree was not fully conducted in English and they do not submit GRE scores. Applicants with qualifications from specified English-medium countries may be exempt.

Therefore, international applicants should check the current English-language requirements before applying.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the documents required for the PhD admission application, which may include:

• Relevant Master’s degree certificate
• Academic transcripts
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Research proposal or other programme-specific materials
• References
• English-language test scores, where applicable
• Other supporting documents requested by LKYSPP

The current NUS information states that two referees are needed for the scholarship application.

How to Apply for the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship 2027

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Visit the official NUS Graduate School scholarship page.
2. Review the PhD in Public Policy admission requirements.
3. Check your academic and professional eligibility.
4. Prepare your academic documents, references, and other required materials.
5. Complete the online NUS graduate application through GradApp.
6. Indicate your interest in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship within the admissions application.
7. Complete any additional scholarship requirements stated in the application.
8. Submit your complete application before December 10, 2026.

Application Deadline

For the August intake (Semester 1), the application window is August 1 to December 10. For the 2027 intake, the deadline is therefore:

Application Deadline: December 10, 2026

Applicants should submit all required materials before the deadline.

Who Should Apply?

The scholarship may be suitable for:

• International students interested in public policy research.
• Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents seeking PhD study at LKYSPP.
• Applicants with a relevant Master’s degree.
• Candidates with a Social Science academic background.
• Students interested in international affairs and public policy.
• Applicants with relevant professional or work experience.
• Students seeking doctoral training at NUS.

Apply Now

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship 2027?

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy PhD Scholarship is a financial award for eligible PhD students pursuing graduate study at NUS’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

2. Who can apply for the scholarship?

The scholarship is open to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and international students.

3. What is the monthly stipend for international students?

International students receive S$2,200 per month before passing the PhD Qualifying Examination. After passing the examination, an additional S$500 is added, bringing the stipend to S$2,700 per month.

4. What is the stipend for Singapore Citizens?

Singapore Citizens receive S$2,800 per month before the qualifying examination and S$3,300 per month after passing it.

5. What is the stipend for Singapore Permanent Residents?

Singapore Permanent Residents receive S$2,400 per month before the qualifying examination and S$2,900 per month after passing it.

6. How long is the scholarship awarded?

The typical award period for PhD students is three years.

7. Is there a service bond?

No. NUS states that there are no specific service commitments or service bond requirements for this scholarship.

8. Do I need a Master’s degree?

Yes. A relevant Master’s degree is listed among the academic prerequisites for the scholarship.

9. Is work experience required?

At least two years of work experience is preferred, according to the official scholarship information.

10. Is IELTS required?

There is no blanket IELTS waiver. Depending on your academic background and other submitted qualifications, you may need to provide IELTS or TOEFL results.

11. Can international students apply?

Yes. The scholarship explicitly includes all international students among the eligible nationalities.

12. When is the application deadline?

The deadline for the August intake is December 10, 2026.

13. How do I apply?

Applicants apply through the NUS graduate admissions system, GradApp, and indicate their interest in the scholarship as part of the application.

14. How many referees are required?

The current NUS scholarship information states that two referees are required.