Dr Goh Keng Swee Scholarship 2025

The Dr Goh Keng Swee Scholarship was named after the former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore. Started in honor of Dr. Goh Keng Swee, this private sector scholarship is managed by The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS). The scholarship is offered to pursue undergraduate studies at one of the following reputed universities in Singapore- National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)). As a bond for this scholarship, candidates will serve a 3-year service upon completion of their studies. Read ahead for full details:

Aspects	Details
Offered by	The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS)
Type of Award	Need Based/ Merit Based
Level of Study	Undergraduate
Subjects/ Fields	All fields
Deadline	March 31st, 2025 (check details below)
Website	https://www.abs.org.sg/dr-goh-keng-swee-scholarship

eligible countries

Dr. Goh Keng Swee Scholarship is available to international students from 15 Asia Pacific economies including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

scholarship benefits

Dr. Goh Keng Swee Scholarship is awarded to full- time undergraduate students for a maximum of 4 years. The scholarship covers the following:

• Tuition and other compulsory fees
• One- time to and fro airfare charges
• Maintenance allowance of SGD 6,500 annually
• Hostel allowance
• SGD 200 once for easy settling- in in Singapore

Also Read: Canada ASEAN Scholarships

scholarship bond

As a necessary term for this scholarship, you will be required to work for 3 years upon completion of your studies. This can be finished either at a company in Singapore or at your home country for a company based in Singapore.

eligibility criteria

• Citizens/ Passport holders of one of the above listed countries
• SAT exam 
• IELTS/ TOEFL depending on the university
• Interested to study in any one of the following- NUS, NTU, SMU or SUTD
• Possess and showcase strong leadership qualities along with academic and co- curricular achievements
• Singapore citizens and PRs are not eligible

documents required

• Application form (if required)
• University application form
• Personal Statement
• Academic Transcripts
• SAT scores
• English Language Test scores
• CV
• Copy of Passport
• Other documents required by the university

application process

There is no separate application portal for Dr Goh Keng Swee Scholarships. You can show your intent for scholarship in the university application form. Select your choice of university among the four- NUS, NTU, SMU and SUTD. Check your eligibility required for the course. Also align with the scholarship eligibility mentioned above. Now, apply to your choice of university.

The four universities have different processes for scholarship application. Check out here:

• NUS– No separate application required as well as no need of indicating your interest. You will be considered automatically upon admission.
• NTU– A separate application form is required for scholarship application. Links will be provided when admission opens.
• SMU– No separate application required but you need to show your interest in the Program and Scholarship section.
• SUTD– No need for separate applications but indicate an interest under the admission application form to be considered for GKS scholarship.

important dates

Dr. Goh Keng Swee Scholarships are currently open for the 2025 upcoming intake and so are the admissions at top universities in Singapore. Check out the exact dates below:

• National University of Singapore (NUS)– Applications started on 20th Nov, 2024 and ends on 26th Feb, 2025.
• Nanyang Technological University (NTU)– Applications started on 4th Nov, 2024 and ends on 1st Jan, 2025.
• Singapore Management University (SMU)– Applications began on 18th Nov, 2024 and will end on 19th March, 2025.
• Singapore University of technology and Design (SUTD)– Applications will begin from 2nd of January with deadline on 31st March, 2025.

Candidates shortlisting will be done once the applications are closed. You may be called for an interview depending on the university you are applying for. Here is a general timeline for the scholarship:

selection process and criteria

After submitting the applications, the applicants of Dr. Goh Keng Swee Scholarships are nominated based on their overall academic and non-academic achievements. The first round of nominations take you to the second step of the selection, which is an interview. The final selection will be made considering the first and second factors both by the university’s scholarship committee. 

Also remember that the award will be reviewed annually. Make sure that you maintain satisfactory performance in academics and other fields consistently to be able to continue with the award. 

tips for applicants

• Mark the deadline: The four different universities have four different deadlines and methods of application. Keep in mind the deadlines and start your applications as early as possible.
• Demonstrate Leadership Involvement: The scholarship focuses highly on leadership qualities possessed by the applicants. Make sure you highlight instances of your leadership and community involvement.
• Gather Documents Ahead of Time: Collect all required documents, such as transcripts, identification, and certificates, well before the deadline. Ensure all documents are up-to-date and in the correct format.
• Prepare for the Selection Interview: Research common interview questions and practice your responses. Be ready to discuss your academic interests, career aspirations, and scholarship interest questions.
• Maintain Exceptional Academic Performance: The scholarship continuously monitors your achievements. Ensure that your academic records are outstanding throughout , as the scholarship targets top-ranking students.

FAQs