Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme
About the Programme
The Rising Scholar Fellowship Programme (RSFP) aims to attract the best and brightest rising young scholars from Singapore and around the world for an exciting opportunity to have a glimpse of our postgraduate experience at the Singapore Management University (SMU).
Located right in the heart of Singapore and Asia, SMU is a globally recognised research intensive institution known for its innovative curriculum and teaching excellence. Helmed by SMU’s College of Graduate Research Studies (CGRS), the RSFP is a short immersion programme that provides participants with unique opportunities to immerse themselves in a rich learning environment featuring engaging workshops and seminars, enlightening tours of our city campus, and an opportunity to also participate in our annual Singapore Rising Scholars Conference where doctoral students present their latest research and explore new research ideas in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas.
The RSFP involves engaging participants in a five-day stint on SMU campus and they can expect to interact closely with academics and doctoral students with similar research interests to grow their scholarly network. Participants will spend two weeks back in their home country to produce a Guided Reflection for submission to SMU CGRS and they will be awarded with a Certificate of Participation.
Funding Support
Participants will receive an award of SGD2,000 from SMU at the end of the fellowship programme. This amount is meant to provide partial coverage of their round-trip airfare, accommodation (for 6 nights), visa and living expenses (food/transport) during their stay in Singapore. Additional funding, either from their home university or through other avenues, may be helpful in covering the balance expenses incurred.
Tentative Programme Format (At a Glance)*
| Timeline | Key Activities |
| Day 1 Tuesday, 12 May 2026 | Welcome to SMU • Introduction to Postgraduate Research Studies at SMU • Meet-and-Greet with PhD Student Buddies • Tour SMU's City Campus |
| Day 2 Wednesday, 13 May 2026 | Research Engagements @ SMU Schools • Get up close with SMU faculty and PhD students • Tour our Research Institutes, Centres and Labs • Experience our research ecosystem through seminars and workshops |
| Day 3 Thursday, 14 May 2026 | Singapore Rising Scholars Conference • Welcome and Opening Address • Keynote Address and Fireside Chat • General Panels • Seminars and Conference Breakout Sessions |
| Day 4 Friday, 15 May 2026 | Singapore Rising Scholars Conference • General Panels • Seminars and Conference Breakout Sessions • Best Paper Award Ceremony and Dinner Reception |
| Day 5 Saturday, 16 May 2026 | The Singapore Experience • City Tour of Popular Singapore Districts |
| 2 Weeks Later Sunday, 31 May 2026 | Post Fellowship Assessment • Submission of Guided Reflection & share your post-fellowship reflections with us |
* Accurate as of 30 October 2025
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s (penultimate or final year) or master’s students
- Excellent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or equivalent
- Strong interest in SMU’s PhD programmes
- Research experience and other noteworthy accomplishments beyond academia would be a plus
Application Period & Submission Requirements
Applications will open from 1 November to 31 December 2025.
Applicants are expected to have a copy of the following documents ready before application submission:
- Most Recent Academic Transcript from Home University
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Purpose
- Academic Referee Letter (Optional but strongly encouraged)
- Research Topic of Interest (Optional)
Note: All documents must be submitted in the English language
Key Timeline*
| Date | Milestone |
| 1 November 2025 | Application Opening for 2026 Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme |
| 31 December 2025 | Application Closing for 2026 Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme |
| 1 to 31 January 2026 | Evaluation of Applications |
| 1 to 28 February 2026 | Release Outcome of Applications and Issuance of Offer Letters |
| 15 to 28 February 2026 | Deadline for Offer Acceptance |
| 16 February to 31 March 2026 | Participants to Make their Travel Arrangements |
| By 1 May 2026 | Participants to Receive Final Programme Itinerary |
| 12 to 16 May 2026 | 2026 Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme |
| 31 May 2026 | Submission of Reflection by Participants |
| By 30 June 2026 | Issuance of Certificate of Participation |
*Accurate as of 30 October 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
I am currently working (or on a gap year) and have already completed my bachelor's and/or master's degree. Am I eligible to apply for the programme?
- Yes, you are welcome to apply for the programme.
Is there any GPA or GRE/TOEFL requirement?
- No, there is no minimum GPA and/or GRE/TOEFL requirement.
Is there a quota for successful applicants from the same university or country?
- No, there isn’t any quota on the number of selected applicants from the same university or country. Up to 25 candidates may be selected for this programme annually.
Is there a list for Faculty Profile or Research Areas?
- Yes, you may refer to the list here.
How to be eligible for the SGD $2,000 funding support?
- Participants must be residing outside of Singapore. Participants residing in Singapore are not eligible for the SGD$2,000 funding. Participants must complete the full 5-day programme and Guided Reflection. Terms and conditions would be stated in the Invitation Letter.
How is the fellowship funding support disbursed?
- Participants would receive the SGD $2,000 estimated by end-June 2026 via bank transfer.
Am I allowed to leave in the middle of the fellowship programme? Will I still be eligible for the funding support?
- Participants would be expected to attend the full 5-day programme. Requests and eligibility of funding support would be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis. This is subjected to approval from the College of Graduate Research Studies.
I would be flying into Singapore directly from another country instead of my home country. Would I still be eligible for the funding support?
- Yes, you will still be eligible for the funding support. Only Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents would not be eligible for the funding support.
Will there be any accommodation provided?
- There is no available on-campus dormitory accommodation. Successful applicants would be required to source for their own lodging and transport.
Does the programme cater for food?
- Certain programme segment would cater for meals. It would be indicated in the final itinerary that would be sent to you closer to the event day. Participants would be expected to cover their food expenses aside from the arranged meals.
I would like to book my flights, what are the start- and end-time of the programme?
- Participants would be encouraged to arrive in Singapore 1-day before (11 May 2026) and depart 1-day after (17 May 2026) the programme. The agenda on the last day (16 May 2026), would end around 5 to 6 pm, subjected to changes.
Would I be enrolled into SMU PhD Programme if my application is successful?
- Acceptance to this programme does not guarantee a PhD admission in SMU. However, you may take this programme opportunity to network and find out if there is matching research interest with the faculty members which may hopefully help in your SMU PhD application.
When and how would I be informed of my application outcome?
- Applicants will receive a confirmation email from the College of Graduate Research Studies (CGRS) to inform them of their outcome by 28 February 2026.
Past Year's Participants
Click here to view the list of participants from 2025.
