Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Graduate Research Fellowship

Overview

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) is a national scheme that aims to facilitate the engagement of outstanding early-career Singaporean social science and humanities researchers who have been accepted for their doctoral or postdoctoral training at leading overseas research or academic institutions.
 
The SSRC GRF offers:

  • A two-year research grant of up to S$10,000 for PhD Students; and up to S$20,000 for Postdoctoral Fellows. The award may be used for travel or other research-related expenses.

  • Assistance in the development of promising overseas-based early-career researchers with the provision of a small research grant and an opportunity to be mentored by an experienced researcher in a Singapore Autonomous University (AU).


Eligibility Criteria

  • Singapore Citizens;

  • Outstanding undergraduate academic record (at least a bachelor’s degree with second upper honours or equivalent);

  • Applied or accepted for doctoral studies or postdoctoral training (or equivalent1) at a leading overseas academic or research institution; and

  • Applicants should not be recipients of other scholarships from the Singapore Government.

1 Applicants must provide supporting documents to show that their home university does not offer postdoctoral fellow positions, and their current position could be considered equivalent to that of a postdoctoral fellow.


Terms & Conditions

  • Tenable for a period of two years;

  • Tenable for research in any social science and humanities discipline, although research on local issues of relevance is encouraged;

  • Two categories of award The award may be used for travel or other research-related expenses;
    • ​(A) Up to S$10,000 per award for PhD Students
    • (B) Up to S$20,000 per award for Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Awardees will be assigned a mentor who is an experienced researcher at the local AUs based on their proposed area of research, who can provide access to valuable academic and career guidance;

  • Awardees will be required to return to Singapore at least once during the tenure of award to participate in engagement activities within the AU and with SSRC members;

  • Awardees must comply with reporting requirements stipulated by the host AU;

  • The SSRC GRF is bond-free, and host AUs are not obliged to hire GRF awardees as faculty members beyond the GRF tenure;

  • Prospective SSRC GRF awardees may only accept one GRF offer from one host AU at any point in time; and

  • SSRC GRF recipients may reapply for a second award after the term of their first award has been completed. However, an individual will be limited to a maximum of 2 awards in total throughout their career (regardless of category). All applications for the GRF award will compete on an equal basis.

  • SSRC GRF awardees are to inform MOE through the host AU once they receive other scholarships from the Singapore Government post-award, and the awards will be closed with effect from scholarship start date.

  • SSRC GRF applicants in the last year of their PhD programme may be offered conditional awards should they have an offer for a suitable postdoctoral position which they would assume upon graduation. Holders of conditional awards are to inform MOE and the AU should there be any changes to the pre-agreed postdoctoral training plans, for review.

  • SSRC GRF applicants who have yet to secure a PhD programme or postdoctoral position may be offered in-principle awards by the AUs. The fellowship will only be confirmed when applicants have secured a place in the pre-agreed PhD programme or postdoctoral position. Applicants should update the AUs on their application status and provide supporting documentation by the acceptance deadline.


Application

Application Period: 8 July 2024 to 6 September 2024

Applications will close on 6 September 2024. Interested parties should submit their application by the specified deadline. The outcome of the application will be made known by February 2025.

Download application form

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