The National University of Singapore (NUS) is accepting applications from qualified Sri Lankan citizens for doctoral scholarships for the academic year 2026 as part of a bilateral partnership between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational education of Sri Lanka and National University of Singapore.

The Number of Nominations to be forwarded to NUS is 40 and the deadline for the application is 30th September 2025.

Below is a list of the fields of study

• Algorithms & Theory

• Artificial Intelligence

• Computational Biology

• Databases

• Programming Languages & Software Engineering

• Security

• Systems & Networking

• Multimedia & Human-Computer Interaction

• Computational Social Science

• Data Science & Business Analytics

• Digital Transformation, Platforms & Innovation

• Financial Technology

• Healthcare Informatics

• Intelligent Systems

• Electrical and Computer Engineering

Medium of Instructions

Study programs are generally available in the English and students must have a level of proficiency in the language of education as required by the institution.

Eligibility Requirements

1. All applicants should be citizens of Sri Lanka.

2. Should Possess a Bachelor’s degree/ a Master’s degree with a high GPA in a relevant field of study from a university recognized by the UGC, Sri Lanka.

3. Should possess high proficiency in English; demonstrated through tests like TOEFL=85 / IELTS = 6.0. (Not compulsory if main medium of instruction of the Undergraduate/Master’s degree is English.)

4. Should be in good health and ready to live in Singapore during the period of study.

5. Standardized test scores such as the GRE (Not compulsory).

6. Publications or involvement in research projects. (Not compulsory, but will be an advantage.

7. The government sector employees should submit their applications through the Head of
the Institute.

8. The candidates are expected to submit the following documents along with the application.

9. A well-crafted statement of purpose detailing research interests, career aspirations, and motivations for choosing the program.

10. Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees, offering valuable insights into the applicant’s qualifications and research potential. (At least two letters.)

11. A comprehensive CV highlighting academic accomplishments and pertinent experience.

Terms of Award

1. Selected candidates shall be responsible for the international round trip cost.

2. Exemption from the payment of tuition fee (four years)

3. A monthly stipend will be provided (monthly stipend of SGD 2700 (top up of SGD 500 a month after passing PhD Qualifying Examination)

Special Notes

1. Award of the scholarship conditions laid down in this notification may vary as per the criteria imposed by the National University of Singapore without prior notice.

2. Any scholarship awardee who declines the offer after the selection process shall be ineligible for consideration for any future scholarships coordinated by this Ministry.

3. Extension of the period of the scholarship will not be recommended by this Ministry

Application Procedure

• Online application is available at:

https://foreignscholarships.mohe.gov.lk/

• Applicants should submit only one application via the above online application

• system and not required to send downloaded applications by post.

• The deadline for the application is 30th September 2025.

• Any statement in the application, which is found to be incorrect at any time will be liable to disqualification and will lead to the withdrawal of the award.

• Incomplete application in any aspect will be rejected.

Eligible applicants will be shortlisted by the Ministry based on academic merit (cumulative GPA) and notified via email to attend an interview at short notice. At the interview, candidates must present their original academic certificates, National Identity Card, and other supporting documents, with all travel and related expenses borne by the applicants. Those selected at the interview will be nominated by the Ministry to the National University of Singapore (NUS) and guided to submit their applications to NUS. However, the final selection rests solely with NUS as the awarding authority, and the Ministry’s nomination should not be regarded as a final scholarship offer. Any false or misleading information provided will result in disqualification and withdrawal of the award, while incomplete applications will not be considered.

For more information, visit the official Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational education, Sri Lanka website for the National University of Singapore Doctoral Scholarships.