PA Scholarship: 2025 Profile & Service Roadmap
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)03 Oct 2025, 11:00 Z
TL;DR
PA Scholars receive full funding and structured leadership rotations to empower Singapore communities—connect your grassroots track record to national priorities and be ready for a four-year public service bond.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application Cycle Closed (last checked 2025-10-03)
- Official Portal: People's Association Scholarship
- Who It Targets: ‘A' Level, IB, NUS High, or Polytechnic graduates with proven passion for community engagement pursuing local or approved overseas degrees
- Eligibility: Singapore Citizens with stellar academics, sustained grassroots involvement, leadership potential, and strong communication skills
- Tenable Institutions: NUS, NTU, SMU, SUSS, SIT, SUTD, and renowned overseas universities approved by PA
- Bond: Four-year bond with the People's Association (longer if fully sponsored overseas)
Award Components
- Full tuition and compulsory fees for approved course
- Annual living allowance and book grant
- Sponsored overseas exchange or study mission aligned with community development priorities
- Structured internship with PA divisions during school breaks, including community events, policy labs, and national campaigns
- Mentorship by senior PA leaders and access to the PA Talent Development Framework
Eligibility Checklist
- Singapore Citizen with outstanding academic results
- Strong portfolio of grassroots service: RC/NC leadership, Youth Network projects, community events, or social innovation work
- Leadership roles in school or national-level organisations
- Passion for community cohesion, multiracial engagement, and national identity building
- Willingness to serve ground-up residents, handle crisis response, and work non-standard hours when required
Application Roadmap
- Submit application via Public Service Division portal during PSC scholarship window, selecting PA as preferred agency.
- Preliminary assessments: psychometric profiling, situational judgement, and group discussions.
- Agency interview: with PA senior management focusing on grassroots experience and leadership philosophy.
- Final selection by Public Service Commission (if applicable) or PA scholarship board.
- Bond briefing & development plan: outline rotations through Community Development & Engagement, Youth & Sports, and Emergency Preparedness divisions.
Selection Tips
- Ground your stories: describe how you improved resident participation, volunteer retention, or youth engagement metrics.
- Demonstrate empathy: share experiences mediating conflicts or supporting vulnerable groups.
- Show policy awareness: reference national initiatives like Forward Singapore, SGSecure, or Active Ageing.
- Highlight adaptability: explain how you manage cross-cultural communication and work in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Ask mission-driven questions: seek clarity on digital engagement, sustainability of community programmes, or leadership tracks.
Bond & Career Pathway
Scholars undergo attachments at Community Clubs, Constituency Offices, and PA HQ (e.g., ActiveSG, National Integration, Emergency Preparedness). Career progression typically leads to Constituency Director, Group Director, or policy specialist roles, with secondments to MCCY or national secretariats possible.
