Best Healthcare Scholarships in Singapore [2023]

For young people thinking of a career in healthcare in Singapore, getting a healthcare scholarship is a great way to gain an immediate professional head start and finance your healthcare studies at the same time. Whether you’re thinking of working in the public or private healthcare sector, a healthcare scholarship is an immense early boost to your professional career. 

Healthcare scholarships in Singapore

Healthcare scholarships in Singapore are centrally administered by Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH). MOHH serves as the holding company for local public healthcare clusters and awards various different kinds of healthcare scholarships at both the undergraduate and graduate level to students who have a passion in developing Singapore’s healthcare sector.

Healthcare scholarships help you to pursue further healthcare-related studies that include one of 13 available health sciences disciplines:

• Diagnostic Radiography
• Dietetics
• Nursing
• Medical Social Work
• Occupational Therapy
• Orthoptics
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Radiation Therapy
• Respiratory Therapy
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Speech Therapy

Beyond sponsoring your healthcare studies, healthcare scholarships are also designed to help you gain early exposure and professional development as a healthcare scholar. 

Source: https://www.healthcarescholarships.sg/your-journey/scholars-development-framework

Undergraduate Healthcare Scholarships

1. Healthcare Merit Award/Healthcare Merit Scholarship

The Healthcare Merit Award is awarded to promising students with strong academic track records and a passion to pursue careers in public healthcare.

The Healthcare Merit Scholarship is awarded to outstanding individuals who are passionate about Singapore’s public healthcare while demonstrating academic excellence, strong leadership qualities and community spirit.

Healthcare Merit Award ​recipients are monitored and assessed for their suitability for an upgrade to Healthcare Merit Scholarship .

Full-Term, Mid-Term and Degree Conversion tracks are available.

Eligibility Criteria

General

• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is willing to take up Singapore citizenship
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership qualities
• Passion for serving in the public healthcare sector
• Good communication skills

Full-Term

• Achieve outstanding A-level results (offered at least 10 academic units), diploma with merit/distinction or equivalent qualifications, (e.g. International Baccalaureate (IB) or NUS high school diploma)

Mid-Term

• Achieve outstanding academic results and on track to graduate with at least a diploma with merit/distinction (for current diploma students), or at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent (for current undergraduates)
• Have completed at least one semester of study in health science disciplines at local polytechnics, local universities or MOHH-approved overseas universities

Degree Conversion (Nursing)

• Achieve outstanding academic results, on track to graduate with at least a diploma with merit/distinction

Benefits

Full-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Pre-study allowance
• Return economy airfare (for overseas study only)
• Clinical placement expense (for overseas study only)
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes
• Commencement award
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)

Mid-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees (back payment from year one of study)
• Monthly allowances and Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes (from the point of award onwards)
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)

Degree Conversion (Nursing)

• Same benefits as Healthcare Merit Award (Full-Term)

Commitment

Application Details

Applications are opened annually from September to March the following year. Interviews will be conducted from January to June each year.

Please do note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply at the Brightsparks Scholarship Portal here.

2. Healthcare Administration Scholarship

The Healthcare Administration Scholarship is offered to students who wish to pursue a meaningful and challenging career as a healthcare administrator in Singapore’s public healthcare sector.

Full-Term and Mid-Term tracks are available.

Eligibility Criteria

General

• Singapore Citizen
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership qualities
• Passion for serving in the public healthcare sector
• Good communication skills

Full-Term

• Achieve outstanding A-level results, diploma with merit/distinction or equivalent qualifications (e.g. International Baccalaureate (IB) or NUS high school diploma)

Mid-Term

• Achieve outstanding academic results and on track to graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent

Benefits

Full-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Overseas exchange allowance (if applicable)

Mid-Term

• One-time grant as partial coverage for university-related expenses

Courses of Study

All disciplines such as Business, Accountancy, Economics except for Medicine, Dentistry and other healthcare related disciplines.

Universities

Full-Term

Only Local Universities are allowed:

• Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
• National University of Singapore (NUS)
• Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
• Singapore Management University (SMU)
• Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
• Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

Mid-Term

All Local and Overseas Universities are allowed without restrictions

Commitment

Full-Term

• SIT: 3 year bond period
• NUS/NTU/SMU/ SUSS/SUTD: 4 year bond period

Mid-Term

• 2-3 year bond period

Application Details

Applications are opened from January to March. Interviews will be conducted from April to June each year. Do note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply with MOE here.

3. Integrated Nursing Scholarship

The Integrated Nursing Scholarship scheme aims to nurture the next generation of nurse leaders.​ It is only offered to outstanding O-Level graduates who demonstrate leadership potential and passion to pursue a career in nursing.

Only Full-Term track is available.

Eligibility Criteria

• Singapore Citizen
• Achieve outstanding O-Level results of ELR2B2 of 10 points and below
• Applied to the nursing course at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) or Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership qualities
• Passion for serving in the public healthcare sector
• Good communication skills

Benefits

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Pre-study allowance
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes
• Commencement award
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)

Commitment

• Diploma (NYP/NP) + Local Degree (SIT): 3 year bond period
• Diploma (NYP/NP) + MOHH-approved Overseas Degree: 3 year bond period

Application Details

Applications are opened annually from September to March the following year. Interviews will be conducted from January to June each year. Do note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply with the BrightSparks Portal here.

4. Community Nursing Scholarship

The Community Nursing Scholarship nurtures the next generation of community nursing leaders. It is offered in partnership with the public healthcare institutions and community care providers.

Full-Term, Mid-Term, and Degree Conversion tracks are available.

Eligibility Criteria

General

• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is willing to take up Singapore citizenship
• Possess good academic results
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership skills
• Strong interest to serve in the community

Full-Term

• Achieve outstanding O-level results, A-level results diploma with merit/distinction or equivalent qualifications, (e.g. International Baccalaureate (IB) or NUS high school diploma)
• Applied to take up nursing studies in local educational institutions (NYP, NP or NUS)

Mid-Term

• Achieve outstanding academic results and on track to graduate with at least a diploma with merit/ distinction (for current diploma students), or at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent (for current undergraduates)
• Be a current nursing student in a local educational institution (NYP, NP or NUS)

Degree Conversion

• Achieve outstanding academic results, on track to graduate with at least a diploma with merit/distinction

Benefits

Full-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Pre-study allowance
• Return economy airfare (for overseas study only)
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes
• Commencement award
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper)

Mid-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees (back payment from year one of study)
• Monthly allowances and Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes (from the point of award onwards)
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)

Degree Conversion

• Same as Full-Term Community Nursing Scholarship.
• Salary for nurses undertaking degree studies with more than one year of work experience in the community setting

Commitment

Application Details

Applications are opened annually from September to March the following year. Interviews will be conducted from January to June each year. Do note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply with the BrightSparks Portal here.

5. Community Care Scholarship

The Community Care Scholarship is awarded to individuals with strong academic track records and a passion to lead and make a difference in community care.

Full-Term, Mid-Term, Degree Conversion and Administration tracks are available.

Eligibility Criteria

• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is willing to take up Singapore citizenship*
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership skills
• Strong interest to serve in the community
• Good communication skills

*Community Care Scholarship (Administration): Singapore Citizens only.

Full-Term

• Achieve outstanding A-Level results, diploma with merit/ distinction or equivalent qualifications (e.g. International Baccalaureate (IB) or NUS high school diploma)

Mid-Term

• Achieve outstanding academic results and on track to graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or Equivalent
• Have completed at least one semester of study in health science disciplines at local universities or MOHH-approved overseas universities

Degree Conversion

• Achieve outstanding results with a diploma with merit/ distinction

Benefits

Full-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Pre-study allowance
• Return economy airfare (for overseas study only)
• Clinical placement expense (for overseas study only)
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes
• Commencement award
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)

Mid-Term

• Tuition and compulsory fees (back payment from year one of study)
• Monthly allowances and Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes (from the point of award onwards)
• Distinction award (for scholars who graduate with at least Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)

Degree Conversion

• Same benefits as Community Care Scholarship (Full-Term)
• Salary for Allied Health Professionals undertaking post-registration degree studies with more than one year of work experience in the community setting

Administration

• Full-Term
• • Tuition and compulsory fees
  • Monthly allowances
  • Pre-study allowance
  • Overseas exchange allowance (if applicable)
• Mid-Term
• • One-time grant as partial coverage for university-related expenses

Course of Study

Full-Term

• Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Social Work

Mid-Term

• Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy

Administration

• All disciplines except for Medicine, Dentistry and other healthcare related disciplines.

Commitment

Full-Term

• Local: 4 year bond period
• Overseas: 6 year bond period

Mid-Term

• Local: 3 year bond period
• Overseas: 3 year bond period

Administration

• Full-Term
• • 3 years bond for studies at SIT
  • 4 years bond for studies at NUS/NTU/SMU/SUSS/SUTD
• Mid-Term
• • 2 to 3 years bond for local or overseas studies

Application Details

Community Care Scholarship (Full-Term, Mid-Term and Degree Conversion):

Applications are opened annually from September to March the following year. Interviews will be conducted from January to June each year.

Do note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply with the BrightSparks Portal here.

6. Public Service Commission Scholarship (Medicine/Dentistry)

The PSC (Medicine) and PSC (Dentistry) Scholarships are offered to existing local medicine and dentistry undergraduates and to those currently pursuing their Doctor of Medicine (MD) studies at Duke-NUS Medical School, to nurture and develop the next generation of leaders in the public healthcare sector.

Only Mid-Term track is available.

Eligibility Criteria

• Singapore Citizen 
• Have completed at least one (1) year of medicine or dental studies and have not embarked on final year of study (local universities) at point of application
• Have strong leadership qualities and potential
• Have good academic and Co-Curricular Activities record

Benefits

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes

Commitment

6 years* (The bond runs concurrently with the Medicine/Dentistry Tuition Grant Bond.)

*All students accepted into the Medicine/Dentistry course in National University of Singapore / Nanyang Technological University / Duke-NUS Medical School are required to sign the medical/dental agreement with the Ministry of Health. This requires the above students to serve in the public healthcare sector for a specified number of years upon graduation.

Application Details

Applications are opened annually from August to March the following year. Please refer to PSC website for more details.

Apply with the PSC here.

Graduate Healthcare Scholarships 

1. Community Care Scholarship (Postgraduate)

The Community Care (Postgraduate) Scholarship is awarded to individuals with strong academic track records and a passion to lead and make a difference in community care.

Eligibility Criteria

• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is willing to take up Singapore citizenship*
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership skills
• Strong interest to serve in the community
• Good communication skills
• Possess a good university degree (Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)
• Good track record of work achievements (if applicable)

Benefits

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Pre-study allowance (for overseas study only)
• Return economy airfare (for overseas study only)
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes\

Course of Study

• Speech Therapy

Commitment

Local Study

• 2 years bond for up to 12 months of study
• 3 years bond for 12 to 24 months of study

Overseas Study

• 3 years bond for up to 12 months of study
• 4 years bond for 12 to 24 months of study

Application Details

Applications are opened annually from September to February the following year. Interviews will be conducted from January to June each year.

Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply with the BrightSparks Portal here.

2. Healthcare Graduate Studies Award

The Healthcare Graduate Studies Award is awarded to individuals who are keen to join the public healthcare sector while demonstrating academic excellence and community spirit. You will be part of a team of healthcare professionals providing direct care to patients or you will work with policy makers or IT systems professionals to improve the Singapore public healthcare system.

Only Full-Term track is available.

Eligibility Criteria

• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is willing to take up Singapore citizenship
• Possess a good university degree (Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent)
• Good track record of work achievements (if applicable)
• Good co-curricular activities record and strong leadership qualities
• Passion for serving in the public healthcare sector
• Good communication skills

*HGSA (Nursing): Posses a good (non-nursing) university degree (Second Class (Upper) Honours or equivalent.

Benefits

• Tuition and compulsory fees
• Monthly allowances
• Pre-study allowance (for overseas study only)
• Return economy airfare (for overseas study only)
• Sponsorship for approved developmental programmes

Courses of Study

• Audiology: Audiologists diagnose, treat and monitor patients with hearing-related disorders as well as help them cope with their hearing loss. Local and overseas universities.
• Biostatistics: Biostatisticians collect and examine data for clinical trials and epidemiological (health and disease control) studies. Overseas universities
• Business Analytics: Using data to predict trends, analysts help healthcare institutions make evidence-based decisions. They also evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programmes and provide inputs to policymakers. Local universities.
• Clinical Psychology: Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat mental and behavioural disorders in hospitals or community settings. They also design and implement mental health programmes. Local and overseas universities. Must have a good Honours degree in Psychology with a research thesis to demonstrate core research skills.
• Epidemiology: Epidemiologists are medical investigators who research the frequency and distribution of epidemics and diseases within the human population. Overseas universities.
• Health Economics: Health economists study the function of healthcare systems and health-affecting behaviours to help review healthcare policy. Overseas universities.
• Medical Informatics: Medical informaticists develop and maintain medical systems, software applications and databases for doctors, nurses and other clinical users. Overseas universities.
• Nursing: A highly-skilled and well-rounded profession with diverse responsibilities, nurses have exciting opportunities to develop their clinical skills to an advanced level, or move into management, teaching or research. Overseas universities.
• Public Health: Public Health officers promote health by reducing the burden of communicable diseases through effective disease control and preventive programmes. Local and overseas universities.
• Speech Therapy: Speech therapists diagnose and treat patients suffering from voice problems, cognition or swallowing disorders due to stroke, brain injury and degenerative disorders. Local and overseas universities.

Commitment

Application Details

Interviews will be conducted from October to January the following year for the following disciplines: Public Health, Epidemiology, Clinical Psychology & Business/Data Analytics.

Interviews will be conducted from February to June for the following disciplines: Biostatistics, Health Economics, Audiology, Medical Informatics, Nursing & Speech Therapy.

Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Apply with the BrightSparks Portal here.

If you are interested in joining the healthcare industry and making an impact on the lives of others, but have no prior healthcare experience, being a caregiver is a great way to start and boost your resume.

Learn more about our careers as a Homage Caregiver or Nurse and apply to be a Care Pro with us today!