There were 54,440 Malaysian students studying abroad in 2022 in countries such as Australia, Singapore, the UK and the US.
A scholarship for students in Malaysia who want to study abroad is the ASEAN Scholarship offered by the Singapore government. Singapore is known for its quality education around the world and had consistently ranked top in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for subjects like Reading, Mathematics and Science.
Every year, the Ministry of Education Singapore will offer scholarships to students with excellent academic achievements from the ASEAN region including Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia to study in Singapore.
Read Also: Guide To International School Fees In Malaysia
Scholarships Covering Fees, Accommodation And Travels
Malaysian students can apply for the ASEAN scholarship in Singapore for different stages of schooling namely, Secondary 1, Secondary 3 and Pre-University 1.
The following table shows the types of scholarships available:
| Scholarships | Date of Birth | Current School Level | Duration of Scholarship |
| Secondary 1 | 2 Jan 2011 to 1 Jan 2014 | Standard 6 or Form 1 | 6 years |
| Secondary 3 | 2 Jan 2009 to 1 Jan 2012 | Form 2 or 3 | 4 years |
| Pre-university 1 | 2 Jan 2007 to 1 Jan 2010 | Form 5 (or similar) or taken 2023/2024 SPM / GCE O-Level exam | 2 years |
Source: Ministry of Education Singapore (MOE)
The ASEAN Scholarship covers your school fees and examination fees. Eligible students will also receive an annual allowance with hostel accommodation, settling-in allowance, return transport to Malaysia, and subsidised medical benefits and insurance coverage for accidents.
The scholarship is to be renewed each year and renewal depends on the student’s academic achievements.
Process For Applying The ASEAN Scholarship In Singapore
Before applying, you should check the requirements for the ASEAN scholarship. Firstly, you will need to speak proficient English. You will also need to have a good track record in academic achievements balanced by participation in cocurricular activities.
The application dates for the ASEAN Scholarship in Singapore for Secondary 1 and Secondary 3 students are open from 10 February to 28 April 2025. Meanwhile, the application dates for Pre-University 1 scholarships are set from 10 February to 9 June 2025.
The process is similar for the different schooling years. First, you submit your application online, with no fees required. If you’re shortlisted, you will be informed at least one week prior to take a selection test in Malaysia that may be held in major cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
Then, shortlisted candidates will be invited to undergo an interview in Malaysia. You will again be notified at least a week before for preparations.
If you pass the test and interview, you will receive your scholarship through an email notification some time around September 2025. You are expected to arrive in Singapore by November 2025 to begin your schooling there.
ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship In Singapore
There is also the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship for citizens of an ASEAN member country including Malaysia to study as undergraduates in select universities in Singapore.
These universities include the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Technology And Design (SUTD) and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Successful scholarship applicants will be entitled to benefits including fully paid for tuition fees, expenses allowance of S$5,800 a year, accommodation allowance of S$3,000 a year and a one-off computer allowance of S$1,750.
Similarly, applicants for the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship may also apply online. You will need to first apply to a bachelor’s programme in an university in Singapore. Once accepted, you can proceed to apply for the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship.
You will need to meet requirements such as possessing outstanding academic results in Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘A’ level or other equivalent qualifications.
Other requirements include participation in cocurricular activities and having strong leadership skills.
Each university may have their own unique requirements. For students applying to SUSS, you will need to be an active participant in community service and demonstrate strong language skills. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend a selection interview via email notification.
Many countries invest in their education system as it is one of the best tools for developing a country. Singapore is reputed for its world-class education system and the ASEAN scholarship provides high achieving students in the Asean region with an opportunity to access quality education and build a successful future.
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