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Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme

About the Programme
Funding Support
Programme Format
Eligibility
Application Period & Submission Requirements
Timeline
Past Year's Participants

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 two-page 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 

  • Postgraduate Research Studies at SMU: An Introduction
  • Ice Breaker: Fun Facts About my University/Country
  • Meet-and-Greet Your PhD Student Buddies
  • Welcome Lunch
  • Campus Tour

Day 2 

Wednesday, 13 May 2026 

Research Engagements @ Schools

  • Tour of SMU Institutes, Centres and Labs
  • Research Showcase at Schools
  • Research Seminars/Workshops
  • Networking Session with Faculty Members & PhD Students

Day 3 

Thursday, 14 May 2026 

Singapore Rising Scholars Conference

  • Welcome & Opening Address
  • Keynote Address & Fireside Chat
  • General Panel Discussion – Theme 1 
  • Seminars & Conference Breakout Sessions

Day 4 

Friday, 15 May 2026 

Singapore Rising Scholars Conference

  • General Panel Discussion – Theme 2 
  • Seminars & Conference Breakout Sessions 
  • Best Paper Award Ceremony & Dinner Reception

Day 5 

Saturday, 16 May 2026

The Singapore Experience

  • City Tour of Popular Singapore Districts

2 Weeks Later 

Saturday, 30 May 2026 

Post Fellowship Programme

  • Submission of Guided Reflection 

  * Accurate as of 5 June 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.  More information will be available in October 2025.

Applicants are expected to have a copy of the following documents ready before application submission:

  • Passport
  • Most Recent Academic Transcript from Home University
  • Curriculum Vitae 
  • Statement of Purpose 
  • Academic Referee Letter (Optional but strongly encouraged)
  • Note: All documents must be submitted in the English language

Key Timeline*

DateMilestone
1 November 2025Application Opening for 2026 Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme
31 December 2025Application Closing for 2026 Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme
1 to 31 January 2026Evaluation of Applications
1 to 8 February 2026Release Outcome of Applications and Issuance of Offer Letters
15 February 2026Deadline for Offer Acceptance
16 February to 31 March 2026Participants to Make their Travel Arrangements
By 30 April 2026Participants to Receive Final Programme Itinerary
12 to 16 May 20262026 Rising Scholars Fellowship Programme
30 May 2026Submission of Reflection by Participants
By 30 June 2026Issuance of Certificate of Participation

  *Accurate as of 5 June 2025


Past Year's Participants

Click here to view the list of participants from 2025. 

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