Economist Service Scholarship: 2025 Policy Analytics Pathway
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)07 Mar 2025, 10:00 Z
TL;DR\ The Economist Service Scholarship funds economics degrees for future public sector analysts—prove you can turn data into policy insights, collaborate across ministries, and commit to a multi-year public service bond.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Open Until 15 Mar 2026 (last checked 2025-03-07)
- Official Portal: Economist Service Scholarship
- Who It Targets: JC/IP, polytechnic, and university students who excel in quantitative analysis and want to shape national economic policy
- Support Provided: Tuition and compulsory fees, living allowance, return airfare (for overseas paths), preparatory programmes, and internships with the Economist Service
- Tenable Institutions: NTU, NUS, SMU, and approved overseas universities renowned for economics or econometrics
- Bond: Four years (local) or six years (overseas) with the Economist Service under the Prime Minister's Office
Career Path & Development
- Rotational postings – work across agencies such as MTI, MOF, MOM, and MAS on trade, fiscal, and labour analytics.
- Professional training – access to postgraduate sponsorships, econometric masterclasses, and data science upskilling.
- Impactful projects – tackle national issues from cost-of-living to industrial strategy, influencing Cabinet submissions.
- Mentorship culture – economists within PSD coach scholars through summer attachments and early career moves.
Application Roadmap
- Submit application early – cycles typically close in March; prepare transcripts, CCA records, and personal statements.
- Complete psychometric assessments – expect numerical reasoning and situational judgement tests.
- Case study round – analyse an economic problem, craft data-backed recommendations, and present within tight timelines.
- Panel interviews – senior economists and HR leaders evaluate your passion for public service, technical acumen, and ethical compass.
- Pre-departure briefing – successful applicants attend PSD orientation and may receive preparatory courses in mathematics and statistics.
Preparation Playbook
- Sharpen quantitative skills: master calculus, econometrics, and coding basics (R, Python, STATA) to stand out.
- Analyse policy issues: craft viewpoints on productivity, inequality, green transition, or trade competitiveness supported by data.
- Build communication range: practice translating models into narratives for non-technical stakeholders.
- Show service ethos: highlight internships or volunteering that reveal your commitment to Singapore's long-term growth.
- Plan for the bond: map how you will contribute across agencies over 4–6 years, including postgraduate aspirations.
