MPA Mid-Term Scholarship: 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)14 Oct 2025, 02:05 Z
TL;DR\ The MPA Mid-Term Scholarship lets high-performing undergraduates pivot into maritime public service mid-way—expect funding for remaining semesters, internships that dive into port operations, and a pro-rated bond with Singapore's port regulator.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Open Until 15 Mar 2026 (last checked 2025-10-14)
- Official Portal: MPA scholarships portal
- Who It Targets: Local undergraduates (typically Year 2 or 3) in maritime, engineering, analytics, policy, or related disciplines ready to commit to MPA
- Eligibility: Singapore Citizens/PRs with strong CAP/GPA, leadership stories, and demonstrated interest in maritime transformation
- Tenable Institutions: NUS, NTU, SMU (selected programmes) with approval for other local universities on a case-by-case basis
- Bond Guide: Pro-rated bond up to four years, depending on semesters of support
Funding & Opportunities
- Coverage of remaining tuition and compulsory fees plus monthly stipend for living expenses
- Pre-studies allowance for laptops, textbooks, or overseas immersion costs
- Sponsored student exchange or summer school relevant to maritime strategy, subject to approval
- Guaranteed internships before and during the remainder of your studies to immerse you in MPA culture and industry operations
- Access to the same leadership acceleration pathway and mentorship network as full-term scholars
Eligibility Checklist
- Maintain a CAP/GPA typically ≥ 4.0/5.0 (or equivalent) with strong grades in quantitative and maritime-related modules
- Demonstrate leadership via CCAs, maritime clubs, research, or internships
- Evidence of maritime passion—projects on decarbonisation, port analytics, or shipping policy stand out
- Secure recommendations from professors or supervisors who can vouch for technical competence and mindset
- Be ready to articulate long-term service plans with MPA, including potential rotations or specialisations
Application Timeline & Checklist
- August – October 2025: Discuss your interest with MPA HR; gather transcripts, resume, and internship portfolios.
- By 15 March 2026: Submit the mid-term application highlighting semesters remaining and targeted graduation date.
- Late March: Complete psychometric tests and written exercises focusing on analytical reasoning and public service judgement.
- April: Attend assessment centre—group case on maritime disruptions, individual interviews with division heads, and behavioural scenarios.
- May: Final interview with MPA senior leadership to align expectations on bond duration, rotations, and postgraduate aspirations.
- June: Offers issued; align scholarship start date with upcoming semester and plan internships accordingly.
Selection Breakdown
- Academic review: MPA examines module choices, maritime relevance, and progression trends; be ready to explain any dips.
- Case discussions: Present structured solutions to port security, sustainability, or digitalisation challenges.
- Motivation interview: Articulate how you discovered your maritime interest mid-way and what roles you see yourself taking on after graduation.
- Cultural fit: Highlight collaboration, adaptability, and resilience—core traits for working across government and industry stakeholders.
Bond & Career Path
- Join MPA as an Assistant Manager upon graduation; bond duration matches the support duration (e.g., 3-year bond if sponsored for 3 academic years).
- Participate in rotational postings across policy planning, operations, industry development, or technology offices.
- Opportunities for postgraduate sponsorship remain open after meeting performance milestones and bond obligations.
- Early exit requires repayment of pro-rated funding plus damages—discuss alternatives (e.g., secondments) with HR first.
Tips for a Strong Mid-Term Application
- Highlight internships or research in maritime logistics, supply chain analytics, cybersecurity, or sustainability.
- Quantify impact: share data dashboards, optimisation models, or policy recommendations you produced.
- Network with current MPA scholars/officers to understand problem statements and reference them in interviews.
- Build awareness of global maritime trends (digital twin ports, green corridors, IMO regulations) to show sector fluency.
- Practise concise responses for behavioural interviews—use the STAR method to structure answers.
Stay Updated
- Follow MPA's LinkedIn and Maritime Singapore Week announcements for networking opportunities.
- Join maritime student societies or hackathons to keep sharpening your domain expertise.
- Sign up for MPA career briefings so you can ask mid-term specific questions ahead of submitting your application.
