ISEAS PhD Scholarship: 2026 Southeast Asia Research Track
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)01 Oct 2025, 16:40 Z
TL;DR
ISEAS sponsors your PhD (local or overseas) in Southeast Asian economics, politics, history, or sociology, covers tuition and stipends, and bonds you for five years to drive applied research for the institute.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application Cycle Closed (last checked 2025-10-01)
- Official Listing: ISEAS PhD Scholarship
- Who It Targets: Singapore Citizens pursuing or admitted to PhD programmes in Southeast Asia-focused economics, politics, history, sociology, anthropology, or related humanities/social sciences
- Eligibility: Consistent academic excellence, demonstrated research aptitude, and readiness to deliver policy-relevant work on the region
- Tenable Institutions: Reputable universities in Singapore or overseas approved by ISEAS
- Bond: Five-year research service commitment with ISEAS after completion
Award Components
- Full coverage of tuition and compulsory university fees
- Monthly maintenance stipend throughout the PhD candidature
- Funding for conference travel, fieldwork, and archival research across Southeast Asia
- Medical insurance and return air passage (for overseas scholars)
- Preliminary expenses to support relocation and course commencement
- Structured mentorship from ISEAS senior fellows and integration into institute research programmes
Eligibility Highlights
- Singapore Citizen with honours or master's-level distinction in relevant fields
- Admission (or pending admission) to a reputable PhD programme focused on Southeast Asia
- Clear research proposal that addresses applied or policy-relevant questions for the region
- Willingness to conduct fieldwork and collaborate across disciplines
- Commitment to serve a five-year bond at ISEAS upon completion, contributing to publications, conferences, and advisory work
Application Roadmap
- Secure (or be in the advanced stages of securing) admission to a PhD programme aligned with ISEAS research priorities.
- Prepare a comprehensive package: research proposal, academic transcripts, CV, writing samples, and two academic references.
- Submit the scholarship application to ISEAS by the advertised deadline, detailing your proposed fieldwork timeline and output plan.
- Shortlisted applicants present their research to an ISEAS panel; expect questions on methodology, feasibility, and policy relevance.
- Successful candidates finalise university admission, visa arrangements (if overseas), and bond agreements with ISEAS HR.
- During candidature, provide annual progress reports to ISEAS, engage with institute seminars, and co-author briefs when opportunities arise.
Preparation Playbook
- Strengthen your research proposal with clear policy implications and Southeast Asian fieldwork strategies.
- Cultivate language skills, networks, and archival contacts necessary for regional research.
- Build familiarity with ISEAS publications (Perspective, Trends in Southeast Asia, ASEANFocus) to align your work.
- Plan for the five-year bond by mapping how your dissertation can dovetail into long-term research agendas at ISEAS.
- Budget fieldwork timelines carefully to meet both university milestones and ISEAS reporting expectations.
