Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme (SMU): 2025 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)02 Mar 2025, 13:30 Z
TL;DR\ SMU's Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme provides a full tuition waiver, generous allowances, and overseas exposure—show academic excellence, leadership, and a growth mindset to secure this bond-free award.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application cycle closed (last checked 2 Mar 2025; scholarship interest captured during SMU admissions)
- Official Portal: SMU Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme
- Who It Targets: High-achieving freshmen (any nationality) who blend academic excellence with leadership, community service, and entrepreneurial drive—up to 60 scholars selected each intake
- Eligibility: Full-time SMU students pursuing a single or double degree who meet the second-major requirements (Business students may take any second major; all other degrees must add an LKCSB second major or at least six LKCSB course units), exhibit strong co-curricular involvement, and partner actively with the Student Success Centre
- Bond: None—scholars participate in structured leadership/service initiatives instead
Funding & Development Pathway
- Financial package: Full tuition waiver (after MOE grant), S$5,000 annual living allowance, S$1,800 notebook grant, and a S$16,000 global opportunities fund to combine exchanges, summer schools, overseas study missions, OCSPs, and case competitions.
- Leadership & mentorship: The Student Success Centre stewards scholars' holistic growth through bespoke workshops, mentoring, and entrepreneurial development.
- Global exposure: Multi-year planning enables multiple overseas experiences—from exchange semesters to study trips and service projects—fully supported by the global grant.
- Tuition Grant note: Non-Singaporeans must accept the MOE Tuition Grant and serve three years in a Singapore-registered company after graduation, per national policy.
Application Timeline & Selection Flow
- Submit SMU admissions application: Indicate LKCSP interest in the scholarship section, complete the personal essay, and (optionally) nominate referees to submit recommendations online.
- Shortlisting & assessments: SMU reviews academic history, CCAs, and essays; shortlisted candidates may sit psychometric or written tasks focusing on leadership and problem-solving.
- Panel interviews: Expect an in-person interview at SMU exploring intellectual curiosity, community impact, and fit with the programme's leadership ethos.
- Offer & onboarding: Recipients receive the full package, join the Student Success Centre's induction, and co-design a global + leadership roadmap for the four-year journey.
Preparation Playbook
- Articulate a growth plan: Outline how you will use the global grant to pursue exchange, study missions, and community projects.
- Highlight leadership narratives: Prepare STAR stories on leading teams, launching initiatives, or solving real-world problems.
- Demonstrate community spirit: Share sustained volunteering or social entrepreneurship efforts, not just one-off hours.
- Show interdisciplinary curiosity: Describe interests across business, tech, law, or social sciences to reflect SMU's second-major requirement.
- Engage with SMU resources: Attend info sessions, connect with current scholars, and study the Centre for Scholars' Development programmes.
