Social Science Research Council Graduate Research Fellowship

Social Science Research Council Graduate Research Fellowship (SSRC GRF)
The SSRC GRF is now open for application.
Objectives
SSRC GRF is an engagement tool targeting overseas Singaporeans at an early stage in their careers with the following objectives:
Facilitate the engagement of outstanding early‐career Singaporean social science and humanities researchers who have been accepted for their doctoral or postdoctoral training at leading overseas research or academic institutions
Forge strong professional networks with promising early‐career Singaporean social science and humanities researchers. This broadened network of Singaporean researchers based both locally and abroad facilitates a rich exchange of ideas between local and international scholars that strengthens Singapore’s research capabilities
Assist in the development of promising overseas‐based early‐career researchers so as to broaden the potential pipeline of Singaporean researchers who may eventually take up appointments within the local research ecosystem
What the Scheme Offers
The SSRC GRF offers the following:
A two-year research grant of up to SGD$10,000 for PhD Students; and up to $20,000 for Postdoctoral Fellows. The award may be used for travel or other research‐related expenses
An opportunity to be mentored by an experienced researcher in a Singapore Autonomous University (AU), including the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Applicants are required to contact a potential NTU mentor prior to submission of the application. The mentor should be an experienced researcher based on the applicant’s proposed area of research, who can provide access to valuable academic and career guidance. Mentors may be nominated from the following NTU units:
School of Humanities - School of Social Sciences -
National Institute of Education -
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies -
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for applicants are as follows:
Singapore citizens;
Outstanding undergraduate academic record (at least a bachelor’s degree with second upper honours or equivalent);
Applied or accepted for doctoral or postdoctoral training (or equivalent) at a leading overseas academic or research institution; and
Applicants should not be recipients of other scholarships from the Singapore Government.
Applicants must provide supporting documents to show that their home university does not offer postdoctoral fellow positions, and their current position could be considered equivalent to that of a postdoctoral fellow.
Terms
Tenable for a period of two years;
Tenable for research in any social science and humanities discipline, although research on local issues of relevance is encouraged;
Two categories of award: (A) Up to SGD$10,000 per award for doctoral students and (B) SGD$20,000 per award for postdoctoral fellows. The award may be used for travel or other research‐related expenses;
(Specific to NTU) Applicants are required to contact and confirm an NTU mentor prior to submission of the application. The mentor should be an experienced faculty based on the applicant’s proposed area of research, who can provide access to valuable academic and career guidance;
Awardees will be required to return to Singapore at least once during the tenure of award to participate in engagement activities within the AU and with SSRC members; and
Awardees must comply with reporting requirements stipulated by the host AU.
The SSRC GRF is bond‐free, and host AUs are not obliged to hire GRF awardees as faculty members beyond the GRF tenure.
Prospective SSRC GRF awardees may only accept one GRF offer from one host AU at any point in time.
SSRC GRF recipients may reapply for a second award after the term of their first award has been completed. However, an individual will be limited to a maximum of 2 awards in total throughout their career (regardless of category). All applications for the GRF award will compete on an equal basis.
SSRC GRF recipients will inform MOE through the host AU once they receive other scholarships from the Singapore Government post‐award, and the awards will be closed with effect from scholarship start date.
SSRC GRF applicants in the last year of their PhD programme may be offered conditional awards should they have an offer for a suitable postdoctoral position which they would assume upon graduation. Holders of conditional awards will inform MOE and the AU should there be any changes to the pre‐agreed postdoctoral training plans, for review.
SSRC GRF applicants who have yet to secure a PhD programme or postdoctoral position may be offered in‐principle awards by the AUs. The fellowship will only be confirmed when applicants have secured a place in the pre‐agreed PhD programme or postdoctoral position. Applicants should update the AUs on their application status and provide supporting documentation by the acceptance deadline.
Timeline
15 July 2025 Call for SSRC GRF applications open via the AUs
15 September 2025 Call for SSRC GRF applications closes
February 2026 Conveyance of outcome of SSRC GRF call
April 2026 – March 2028 Tenure of the 2025 SSRC GRF award
Application
Interested applicants are to read through the documents listed below, complete the application form, include all supporting documents, and send their applications via NTU Workday (Click the APPLY button on this page).
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