EDB Scholarship: 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)03 Oct 2025, 21:20 Z
TL;DR\ EDB sponsors high-potential Singapore Citizens and PRs for global undergraduate study—funding tuition, living allowances, language immersion, and postgraduate top-ups—while grooming them for industry development and strategy roles. Expect bonds of four to six years depending on study location and full- or mid-term entry, plus mandatory internships for penultimate-year applicants.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application Cycle Closed (next intake opens Oct 2025; last verified 2025-10-03)
- Official Listing: EDB Scholarship — Singapore Economic Development Board
- Who It Targets: Singapore Citizens/PRs committed to driving national economic strategy through account management, industry development, and policy roles at EDB
- Eligibility: All-rounded leadership profile, strong critical thinking and communications, and tenacity to deliver outcomes for Singapore's economy; discipline flexibility excluding Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy
- Tenable Institutions: Overseas universities in the US, UK, Europe, China, Japan and other approved destinations; mid-term scholars may remain at local universities with sponsored overseas attachments
- Bond: 6 years for overseas full-term pathways; 5–6 years for non-English speaking destinations; 4–5 years for mid-term scholars (depending on remaining duration and overseas components)
Award Components
- Tuition & Fees:
- Full-term scholars receive full overseas tuition, examination, and compulsory fees throughout their undergraduate programme.
- Mid-term scholars are reimbursed retroactively for fees already paid and have remaining tuition covered by EDB.
- Sponsored Master's studies can be added post-graduation, subject to EDB approval.
- Allowances: Living allowances from programme commencement (or point of award for mid-term recipients) covering accommodation, meals, and daily expenses.
- Development Exposure: Funding for summer schools, language immersion, foreign language classes, and other overseas development programmes to build global fluency.
- Foreign Language Development Programme: Intensive language training at premier institutes in Singapore and subsequent immersion overseas for languages such as Japanese, Bahasa Indonesia, French, and German.
- Internships: Penultimate-year applicants must complete an EDB Summer Internship Programme placement before scholarship consideration; performance feeds directly into selection.
Bond Guide
| Study Route | Max Study Duration | Bond Duration |
| US/UK undergraduate | 4 years | 6 years |
| Non-English-speaking destination (e.g., France, Germany, China, Japan) | 5 years | 6 years |
| Master's (including optional language year) | up to 5 years | 5 years |
| Mid-term (local university) + overseas exposure (up to 2 years) | 5–6 years | 4–5 years |
Eligibility Highlights
- Citizenship: Open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs); PRs are expected to take up citizenship before embarking on the bond.
- Academic standing:
- Full-term: JC/IP Year 5–6, IB, polytechnic diploma (with merit), or high school diploma holders—applications allowed up to two years after results release.
- Mid-term: Current undergraduates up to their penultimate year; those in the penultimate year must complete the EDB internship first.
- Course scope: Engineering, science, economics, business, and adjacent disciplines encouraged; double majors/minors are supported to broaden expertise.
- Character fit: Demonstrated leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills, plus passion for advancing Singapore's economy.
- Discipline exclusions: Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy are not covered by the scholarship.
Application Roadmap
- Track the annual opening in October and prepare academic transcripts, CCA records, testimonials, and a motivation statement aligned with EDB's mission.
- Full-term applicants: Submit your application before or immediately after final examination results; shortlisted candidates will interview between December and March.
- Mid-term applicants (pre-penultimate): Apply directly for the scholarship and outline your remaining study plan, overseas interests, and language targets.
- Mid-term applicants (penultimate year): Apply for the EDB Summer Internship Programme and indicate your scholarship interest—the internship assessment doubles as scholarship evaluation.
- Prepare for multi-round interviews focusing on economic strategy case discussions, stakeholder engagement scenarios, and values alignment; National Service enlistees are advised to apply early for pre-enlistment interview slots.
- Upon award, sign the bond, confirm overseas study arrangements with EDB, and map your language immersion or development programmes before departure.
Preparation Playbook
- Build awareness of EDB's industry verticals (advanced manufacturing, sustainability, digital economy) and be ready to discuss ideas for attracting investment or talent.
- Highlight cross-cultural exposure—student exchanges, language study, or international projects—to demonstrate global readiness.
- Develop a long-term learning plan that includes foreign language milestones, double majors/minors, and experiential programmes championed by EDB.
- For penultimate-year applicants, treat the internship as a live assessment: demonstrate stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and the ability to turn insights into actionable industry plans.
- Stay in touch with scholarship officers about any programme changes or external awards so funding arrangements remain accurate.
