SUTD PhD President’s Graduate Fellowship | Singapore

The SUTD PhD President’s Graduate Fellowship (PGF) is a competitive doctoral scholarship offered by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to outstanding students pursuing a PhD in Singapore.

The fellowship is open to applicants of all nationalities and provides financial support through applicable tuition fee coverage and a monthly stipend. Under the funding rates effective from 1 January 2026, international PhD students receive a stipend of S$4,300 per month, while Singapore citizens and permanent residents receive different stipend amounts.

The fellowship can cover applicable tuition fees for up to four years. Recipients must also perform teaching or laboratory supervision duties to fulfil the requirements associated with subsidised fees.

For the January 2027 PhD intake, SUTD's current application deadline is 30 October 2026. Applicants should submit their PhD admission application and indicate their interest in scholarship consideration. SUTD confirms that scholarship consideration is requested through the admission application rather than through a separate scholarship application.

The SUTD PhD President’s Graduate Fellowship offers the following benefits to eligible recipients:

• Applicable tuition fee coverage for up to four years
• Monthly stipend of S$4,300 for international students
• Monthly stipend of S$4,800 for Singapore permanent residents
• Monthly stipend of S$5,300 for Singapore citizens
• Opportunity to conduct doctoral research at SUTD
• Access to SUTD's academic, research and innovation environment
• Opportunities to work with faculty members and research teams

The stipend amounts listed above took effect on 1 January 2026. Rates may be revised by the university, so applicants should verify the applicable amount for their intake.

The fellowship can be described as a fully funded PhD opportunity in terms of its applicable tuition fee coverage and monthly stipend.

However, applicants should review the complete scholarship conditions before making financial plans. The university specifies that recipients must undertake teaching or laboratory supervision duties to fulfil the requirements associated with subsidised fees. Applicants should also confirm whether any additional personal or living expenses fall outside the scholarship package.

The SUTD PhD President’s Graduate Fellowship is available for:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Full-time doctoral study
• Research-based doctoral programmes across SUTD's academic pillars

The full-time PhD programme generally takes 36–48 months. The fellowship covers applicable tuition fees for up to four years, subject to the scholarship conditions.

SUTD offers doctoral research opportunities across its academic pillars, which cover science, technology, engineering, design and interdisciplinary research.

Potential research areas include:

• Architecture and Sustainable Design
• Design and Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering Product Development
• Engineering Systems and Design
• Information Systems Technology and Design
• Science, Mathematics and Technology
• Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
• Computing and information systems
• Robotics and intelligent systems
• Sustainable technologies
• Engineering innovation
• Data-driven and interdisciplinary research

The availability of a particular research topic depends on the relevant academic pillar, faculty expertise and doctoral research opportunities. Applicants should review SUTD's PhD programme information to identify a suitable research area.

The SUTD PhD President’s Graduate Fellowship is open to all nationalities.

International applicants, including Pakistani students, can be considered if they meet the PhD admission requirements and the applicable scholarship conditions.

The monthly stipend varies according to the student's residency category. International students are currently listed at S$4,300 per month under the funding rates effective from January 2026.

Applicants should prepare the following documents and information for the SUTD PhD application:

• Undergraduate degree certificate
• Official undergraduate academic transcripts
• Master's degree certificate and transcripts, if applicable
• Official confirmation of the expected graduation date, if the applicant has not yet graduated
• Grading policy or explanation of the grading system used by the institution
• IELTS or TOEFL score report, if required
• Names, designations and institutional email addresses of three academic referees
• Academic or industry portfolio, if relevant
• Evidence of awards, publications or other research achievements, where applicable
• Passport identification pages or Singapore identity documents, as applicable
• Statement of Objectives of approximately 3,000 words
• Certified English translations of documents originally issued in another language

Applicants should notify their academic referees in advance. SUTD states that referees must submit their online recommendations within one week of the PhD application submission.

A non-refundable application fee of S$21.80, inclusive of GST, is also required. Payment must be completed by the application deadline for the application to be processed.

Step 1: Choose a PhD Research Area

Review SUTD's academic pillars and identify a doctoral research area that matches your previous education, research interests and career goals.

Step 2: Check Admission Requirements

Review the PhD programme's academic, research and English-language requirements.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Collect your academic certificates, transcripts, language test results if required, passport information, referee details, research portfolio and Statement of Objectives.

Step 4: Complete the Online PhD Application

Apply through the official SUTD online application portal for the relevant intake.

Step 5: Request Scholarship Consideration

Indicate in your PhD admission application that you wish to be considered for a scholarship. SUTD states that applicants do not need to submit a separate scholarship application for this purpose.

Step 6: Arrange Academic References

Ensure that all three academic referees have been notified and submit their recommendations through the online system within the specified period.

Step 7: Pay the Application Fee

Complete the non-refundable S$21.80 application fee payment before the application closes.

Step 8: Attend an Interview if Invited

Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for an interview as part of the admission process.

Step 9: Await the Decision

SUTD evaluates applications and determines admission and scholarship outcomes according to its selection procedures.

Application Deadline

For the January 2027 PhD intake, SUTD lists the following application period:

• Application opens: 16 April 2026
• Application deadline: 30 October 2026

Applicants should submit their application and complete the required fee payment by the deadline. Academic referees must also submit their recommendations within the university's stated timeframe.

SUTD has two PhD intakes each year, in January and September. Applicants targeting another intake should check the corresponding programme page for its application dates.

The President’s Graduate Fellowship is awarded competitively to outstanding PhD applicants.

The university's published admission requirements emphasise:

• Excellent academic standing
• Strong research interest
• Suitability for the selected PhD research area
• Supporting academic records
• Academic referee recommendations
• Overall strength of the application

Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for an interview. Applicants should ensure that their Statement of Objectives clearly communicates their research interests, academic preparation and reasons for pursuing doctoral study at SUTD.