NUS–MOE Science Research Programme 2026: Application & Portfolio Guide
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)19 Sep 2025, 00:00 Z
TL;DR
Assemble your STEM evidence early: combine strong JC1 fundamentals, teacher endorsements, and a clear research pitch. Use SRP milestones to create reusable assets for competitions, scholarships, and university admissions.
1 Programme Snapshot (2026 Intake)
- Organisers: National University of Singapore Faculty of Science + MOE Gifted Education Branch.
- Target audience: JC1 students from IP/JC schools with strong science aptitude.
- Cohort size: ~110–130 students across disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Engineering).
- Application window: Typically opens October and closes mid-November of JC1 year. (NUS SRP site)
- Selection criteria: Academic results, teacher nomination, passion for research, and proposed project alignment.
2 Application Components Checklist
| Component | What to prepare | Tips |
| Application form | Personal particulars, academic history, CCA achievements | Use consistent formatting; highlight STEM competitions and leadership roles |
| Personal statement | 400–600 words on research interests & motivations | Link curiosity to specific lab techniques or societal challenges |
| Teacher recommendation | Usually from science HOD or subject tutor | Provide mentor with achievement dossier, reflection on commitment |
| Project preference | List up to 3 research areas or faculty mentors | Research NUS lab publications; align interests with available expertise |
| Portfolio artifacts | Optional but valuable (research posters, coding repos, Olympiad certificates) | Ensure artefacts have captions explaining impact |
🗂️ Pro tip: Build a single PDF "Research Snapshot" containing transcripts, achievements, and mini-abstracts. Attach to teacher emails to streamline recommendations.
3 Programme Timeline & Deliverables
| Phase | Period | What happens | Student actions |
| Application | Oct–Nov 2025 | Submit forms via school; attend briefing | Finalise statement, secure teacher endorsement |
| Selection | Dec 2025–Jan 2026 | Shortlisting, interviews (if needed) | Prepare 3-minute pitch on research interests |
| Induction | Jan 2026 | Orientation at NUS, mentor pairing | Set expectations, agree on communication cadence |
| Research phase | Feb–Jul 2026 | Weekly lab sessions/tutorials | Maintain lab logbook, meet mentor milestones |
| Symposium | Aug 2026 | Present findings at SRP Congress | Craft poster, rehearse viva, capture photos/videos |
4 Mentorship & Project Management
4.1 Outreach etiquette
- Craft concise emails: introduce yourself, highlight strengths, propose ideas/questions.
- Attach CV + Research Snapshot; suggest potential meeting slots.
- Follow up politely if no response after a week.
4.2 Collaboration protocol
- Agree on lab access days, safety briefings, and documentation formats (Google Drive, GitHub, lab notebooks).
- Use a shared Trello/Notion board with "To do / Doing / Done" columns to track experiments and analysis.
- Schedule fortnightly mentor check-ins; circulate agendas 24 hours in advance.
4.3 Academic integrity
- Cite all references (journal articles, datasets) properly.
- Log AI tool usage (if any) for transparency—align with IB/JC integrity policies.
5 Packing Outcomes Into Your Portfolio
| Asset | How to create | Where to use |
| Technical abstract | Condense project into 250 words (problem, method, results, impact) | SSEF submissions, scholarship apps |
| Poster PDF | Export from PowerPoint/Canva with high-resolution visuals | SRP Congress, school open houses |
| Video elevator pitch | 90-second recording summarising insights & future directions | DSA interviews, LinkedIn showcase |
| Reflection journal | Weekly entries (challenges, breakthroughs, skills gained) | IB CAS reflections, scholarship essays |
6 Pathway Extensions
- Competitions: Repackage work for Singapore Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF) or Regeneron ISEF qualifiers. Align with our SSEF roadmap.
- Scholarships: DSTA, A*STAR, and university scholarships value authentic research experience—reference mentors and outcomes in interviews.
- University admissions: Incorporate findings into personal statements and recommendation letters; share GitHub repos or datasets as evidence of rigour.
7 Support Stack & CTA
7.1 Reference links
7.2 CTA
- Download our SRP application tracker (timeline + checklist) to avoid missing milestones.
- Book a portfolio audit—we review statement drafts, artefacts, and mentor outreach emails.
- Join the SRP project clinic (8-week series) for data analysis coaching and congress presentation rehearsals.
