NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship

Overview

The NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship is Nanyang Technological University's merit award for exceptional undergraduate candidates from the ten ASEAN member states excluding Singapore. NTU is consistently ranked among the world's top universities in engineering, business, and the natural sciences, and this scholarship makes a Singapore education financially accessible to outstanding students from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

The award covers subsidised tuition fees—that is, the portion of fees remaining after the Singapore government's Tuition Grant has been applied—plus an annual living allowance of SGD 5,800, an annual accommodation allowance of SGD 3,000, and a one-time computer allowance of SGD 1,750. In practical terms, you pay nothing for tuition while enrolled. The Tuition Grant is a government subsidy applied to fees before the scholarship kicks in; the scholarship then zeroes out what remains.

One condition to plan for is the three-year Tuition Grant bond, which requires you to work in a Singapore-registered company for three years after graduation. This applies broadly to international students receiving the government's Tuition Grant and is not unique to this scholarship. For many ASEAN graduates, the bond doubles as a structured entry into Singapore's professional market—one of the most active in the region.

Key Facts at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality Requirements

You must be a citizen or permanent resident of an ASEAN country other than Singapore. The ten eligible countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Academic Requirements

Outstanding results in a recognised pre-university qualification: Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level, a Singapore polytechnic diploma, NUS High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, or a Year 12-equivalent national qualification. No single published score cutoff exists; successful candidates typically score in the upper bands of their qualification.

Co-curricular and Leadership Requirements

Excellent co-curricular activity (CCA) records and demonstrated leadership are explicitly required. Academic performance alone is not sufficient.

Programme Restrictions

The scholarship covers all full-time NTU undergraduate degree programmes except the Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP).

Retention Requirements

You must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.5 out of 5.0, assessed each semester. You cannot hold concurrent scholarships, bursaries, or student loans, and no more than 25% of credits can come from overseas study programmes.

What the Scholarship Covers

• Full subsidised tuition fees (after the Tuition Grant deduction) for the normal programme duration
• Annual living allowance of SGD 5,800
• Annual accommodation allowance of SGD 3,000
• One-time computer allowance of SGD 1,750
• Note: a three-year Tuition Grant bond applies, requiring post-graduation employment with a Singapore-registered company

How to Apply

1. Submit your NTU admission application. Apply through the NTU undergraduate admissions portal for your chosen programme.
2. Access the scholarship section. Once assigned an applicant number, open the scholarship application section within the admissions portal.
3. Write the personal essay. Submit a 250-word essay on the compulsory topic provided in the application.
4. Upload your photograph. A passport-size photo is required.
5. Arrange a teacher appraisal. Ask a non-relative teacher or lecturer to submit an appraisal on your behalf. They have seven days from your request to submit, so give early notice.
6. Attend an interview if shortlisted. A-Level, diploma, and IB applicants are typically interviewed March to May. Year 12 international applicants are interviewed within two months of receiving a programme offer.
7. Receive notification. Decisions for A-Level and IB applicants typically go out by mid-May.

Required Documents

• Academic transcripts and results certificates for all pre-university qualifications
• 250-word personal essay (completed within the scholarship application portal)
• Passport-size photograph
• Teacher appraisal from a non-relative referee
• Passport copy
• CCA records, certificates, and evidence of leadership roles
• English proficiency evidence if your pre-university education was not conducted in English

Key Dates & Deadlines

The scholarship is considered as part of your undergraduate admissions application—there is no separate deadline. For A-Level, diploma, and IB applicants the admissions window typically opens in October/November and closes in early March. For Year 12 international applicants, applications are accepted year-round and tied to the programme offer date. Apply as early as possible; scholarship competition increases as the cycle progresses.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Give your teacher referee early notice—they have only seven days to submit, and a rushed appraisal is weaker
• Use the 250-word essay to show genuine motivation for your specific degree and field, not just your academic record
• List leadership positions with concrete outcomes, not just membership in clubs
• Apply early in the admissions cycle; scholarship places are limited

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating the scholarship as automatic—the CCA and leadership requirement means strong academics alone rarely win
• Writing a generic essay that does not reflect your reasons for choosing NTU and Singapore specifically
• Accepting without checking the 3.5/5.0 CGPA retention requirement against your study plan
• Ignoring the three-year Tuition Grant bond—factor it into your post-graduation career plans before accepting

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

Citizens or permanent residents of ASEAN countries excluding Singapore—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—applying to a full-time NTU undergraduate programme (excluding REP).

What does the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship cover?

Full subsidised tuition fees (after the Tuition Grant), an annual living allowance of SGD 5,800, an annual accommodation allowance of SGD 3,000, and a one-time SGD 1,750 computer allowance.

Do I need to submit a separate application for the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

You complete the scholarship application within the NTU admissions portal after submitting your main application. It includes a 250-word essay and a teacher appraisal—so there is an additional step, but it is part of the same portal.

What CGPA do I need to maintain for the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

A minimum CGPA of 3.5 out of 5.0, assessed each semester. Falling below this can result in non-renewal.

Is there a bond requirement with the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

Yes. The Tuition Grant Scheme that subsidises your tuition comes with a three-year bond requiring you to work with a Singapore-registered company after graduation.

Does the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship cover accommodation?

It includes an annual accommodation allowance of SGD 3,000. Actual accommodation must be arranged separately; the allowance offsets part of the cost.

Which NTU programmes are excluded from the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

The Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP) is excluded. All other full-time NTU undergraduate degree programmes are eligible.

When will I find out if I have received the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

For A-Level, diploma, and IB applicants: interviews run March to May and notifications typically go out by mid-May. For Year 12 international applicants: within two months of receiving a programme offer.

Can I hold another scholarship alongside the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

No. The scholarship cannot be held concurrently with other scholarships, bursaries, or student loans.

Is English proficiency required for the NTU ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship?

NTU teaches in English. If your pre-university education was not in English, you will need to provide IELTS or TOEFL scores meeting NTU's current admissions threshold.