PhD in Singapore – Universities, Fees, Eligibility & Jobs

Singapore is a global leader in innovation and educational research today. Thus, pursuing a Ph.D. in Singapore can be rewarding for your career, considering the city-state’s flourishing academic and business sectors. It also ranks high as one of the world’s most preferred study destinations. 

Why study Ph.D. in Singapore? 

A Ph.D. in Singapore for Indian students will be worthwhile for several reasons, including the following: 

• A Ph.D. in any Singapore university will be a globally recognized and acclaimed degree. 
• Several highly ranked and established universities in Singapore for Ph.D. offer cutting-edge research and other infrastructure, world-class faculty, and an innovation-driven learning model. 
• You can also study in English here, which is a major advantage. 
• There are many options for obtaining scholarships with full coverage for living and tuition costs in Singapore. 
• Singapore offers an excellent quality of life. It is one of the cleanest and safest cities globally. 

Leading universities for doing your Ph.D. in Singapore

There are many top-ranked institutions where you can do your Ph.D. in Singapore. Some of them include the following: 

Ph.D. in Singapore with a scholarship for Indian students 

Many options are available if you are looking for a Ph.D. in Singapore with scholarship options. Some of the scholarships include the same: 

President’s Graduate Fellowship (PGF) at NUS.

The award covers a full tuition fee, a one-off air travel allowance of up to S$750, a one-off settling-in allowance of S$1,000, and a monthly stipend of S$3,100. 

Singapore Millennium Foundation (SMF) Research Grant Programme.

The funding per grant amount is SDG$ 750K for three years. 

Singapore International Graduate Award.

The scholarship covers the entire tuition fee, a monthly stipend of S$2,000 to S$2,500, a one-time airfare of up to $1,500, and a settling-in allowance of up to S$1,000. 

Ph.D. opportunities in Singapore

It is possible to do your Ph.D. in Singapore with stipends at many institutions. The duration is usually four years for these programs, although many complete them in three years, depending on the topic and research. Professionals with doctorate degrees occupy elevated positions in the Singapore economy. With Singapore gradually shifting towards knowledge-based revenue models, demand is rapidly growing for Ph.D. holders in Singapore, especially post-doctoral openings in research centers and educational institutions. 

Ph.D. holders can pursue post-doctoral opportunities, transitioning to fellowships directly while taking up other opportunities in research and teaching. Many graduates in scientific fields often prefer taking up R&D job opportunities at leading recruiters such as Chiron Corp, Pharmacia Corp, and others into biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. 

There are flourishing opportunities in clinical research, data science and management, biotechnology, and government and administration. 

Costs of pursuing Ph.D. courses in Singapore

A Ph.D. in Singapore will cost roughly S$22,000-30,000 (roughly INR 12.32 lakhs to INR 16.8 lakhs), although it may vary across institutions. Ph.D. costs are generally higher in fields like nursing and medicine. 

How to apply for your Ph.D. in Singapore

You will require an educational degree in a field of similar/relevant study and a good GRE score and scores in TOEFL/IELTS if you want to study Ph.D. in Singapore. 

You can directly apply to the institution with your academic transcripts, score sheets, admission essays or thesis details (if required), and other documents. Meeting the criteria will not guarantee admission, and GRE scores will be a major determinant in this regard. You may have to go through a personal interview before being selected. 

Required Exams for Ph.D. in Singapore

You can choose your research project for the course, and the supervisor will organize the qualifying examination. You will have to pass this examination to be confirmed as a candidate for the Ph.D. program and work to deliver your thesis. For admissions, you will have to submit scores in the GRE and IELTS/TOEFL examinations. 

Disclaimer! All course fees and salaries are approximate amounts subject to change depending on various conditions.