A*STAR International Fellowship: Overseas Postdoctoral Research and Innovation Support
The A*STAR International Fellowship supports early-career researchers with up to two years of overseas postdoctoral training through Research and Innovation tracks, plus living, travel, settling-in, conference and insurance allowances.
A*STAR International Fellowship: Overseas Postdoctoral Research and Innovation Support
The ASTAR International Fellowship (AIF) supports early-career researchers pursuing up to two years of postdoctoral training at leading overseas universities and research institutions. Its Innovation track can also place fellows at qualifying overseas deep-tech startups linked to top-tier venture capital or venture-builder firms. ASTAR Graduate Academy administers the fellowship for the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
The application window that closed on 1 October 2026 has passed. ASTAR’s official fellowship page lists two recurring application periods—1 January to 1 April and 1 July to 1 October—and says off-cycle applications may be considered case by case. It does not attach a year-specific announcement to the next application window on the page checked for this update. This entry is therefore a historical reference to the 2026 round, not an open opportunity. Check ASTAR’s official page for confirmation that a future window is open before preparing a submission.
AIF combines overseas training with a return commitment. At the end of the postdoctoral training, awardees return to Singapore and contribute to A*STAR research institutes and/or relevant organisations for three years. Applicants should weigh that service commitment alongside the academic or innovation opportunity before applying.
Key details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | A*STAR International Fellowship (AIF) |
| Administrator | ASTAR Graduate Academy, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) |
| Status of the 2026 round | Closed; the listed closing date was 1 October 2026 |
| Published application periods | 1 January to 1 April and 1 July to 1 October; A*STAR may consider off-cycle applications case by case |
| Fellowship duration | Up to two years of overseas postdoctoral training |
| Tracks | Research and Innovation |
| Host settings | Leading overseas universities and research institutions; qualifying deep-tech startups or, where appropriate, venture capital or venture-building firms for Innovation placements |
| Cash amount | No single universal figure is published; rates vary by country and host university or laboratory and may be adjusted |
| Published support | Monthly overseas living and sustenance allowances, annual return airfare, settling-in, computer and conference allowances, and annual personal insurance |
| Service commitment | Three years in Singapore after training, contributing to A*STAR research institutes and/or relevant organisations |
| Official information | A*STAR International Fellowship |
A listed allowance category is not a promise of a specific amount. The official page says rates vary by country and university or laboratory and may change. Applicants should request the current figures for a proposed destination before making a relocation budget. ASTAR says the fellowship does not provide extra financial support for spouses or family members. It also says research consumables and research-related fees are the responsibility of the overseas university, not ASTAR.
What the fellowship offers
The central benefit is overseas postdoctoral training for up to two years. Fellows can deepen expertise, develop professional connections, and gain experience in a research environment or entrepreneurial setting beyond Singapore. The official programme description frames the return to Singapore and contribution to its research, innovation and enterprise ecosystem as part of the fellowship’s purpose.
The Research track is for early-career researchers aiming to deepen subject expertise, lead independent projects and contribute to high-impact research. AIF describes preparation for careers in A*STAR, academia, industry and other public-sector organisations or research institutes. Applicants should be able to show why the proposed host and project fit their next research step, rather than relying only on the host’s reputation.
The Innovation track is for researchers who want to develop technical expertise, innovation capability and enterprise experience. A*STAR describes placements at high-quality deep-tech startups that are portfolio companies of top-tier venture capital or venture-builder firms. Where needed, placements may also take place in venture capital firms, particularly those with entrepreneur-in-residence programmes, or venture-building firms. Check the official partner information and confirm that a proposed organisation is eligible before building an application around it.
The published support categories include a monthly overseas living allowance; a monthly sustenance allowance, inclusive of CPF contribution; annual return airfare; settling-in, computer and conference allowances; and annual personal insurance. Mid-term awardees receive the same terms from the point of award, with retrospective payment for compulsory fees incurred from the start of postdoctoral training. The rates depend on country and institution. Applicants should also confirm visa, tax, housing, health-care and relocation costs with the host and A*STAR rather than assuming the allowance package covers every expense.
Research and Innovation tracks
A Research application should make its project logic clear: the question, why it matters, the approach, and why the selected overseas supervisor and institution are suitable. The official eligibility criteria require an excellent publication record and that the candidate has applied or is applying for a relevant postdoctoral position at a top overseas university or laboratory. A strong proposal connects the applicant’s previous work, host expertise and facilities, and the contribution expected after returning to Singapore.
An Innovation application should explain the applicant’s interest and aptitude for innovation and entrepreneurship. It should also describe what the candidate wants to learn from the placement and how the research or technical work could relate to translation or venture development. AIF prefers good publication records for this track, but states the core track requirement as a strong aptitude and aspiration to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship roles. Describe real experience and development goals; do not present an unvalidated research result as a ready-made business.
ASTAR’s published research areas currently include biomedical topics such as antimicrobial resistance, bioinformatics, food science and processing, human potential and clinical sciences, infectious diseases, MedTech, metabolic and brain health, precision and preventive health, synthetic biology and therapeutics. Science and engineering areas include automated hub operations, data, AI and compute, quantum, resilient and optimised supply chains, semiconductors, smart and sustainable advanced manufacturing, and sustainable energy and chemicals. The list is not exhaustive. ASTAR advises candidates whose field is not listed to contact the organisation and check whether it is relevant.
Eligibility
The general requirements published by ASTAR are that candidates be Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents, have completed a PhD within the last four years, and have no existing bond to an institution. ASTAR may exceptionally consider non-Singaporean, non-permanent-resident applicants with outstanding track records. Non-Singaporeans must obtain Singapore citizenship before the fellowship begins. Anyone relying on a citizenship application should confirm timing and eligibility directly with A*STAR.
Candidates in the final stages of a PhD may apply, but the award is confirmed only after the degree has been conferred. The application should accurately distinguish a completed doctorate from one awaiting examination or conferral.
Research-track candidates need an excellent publication record and must have applied or be applying for a relevant postdoctoral position at a top overseas university or laboratory. Innovation-track candidates must demonstrate strong aptitude and aspiration for innovation and entrepreneurship; good publication records are preferred. A*STAR says its criteria are not exhaustive and additional criteria may apply under prevailing scholarship policies.
Mid-term applicants have separate requirements: they must be Singaporean, enrolled at a top overseas university or laboratory at the time of application, and have a good publication record. Their current postdoctoral supervisor must be one of their two academic referees. The FAQ also says someone who has already started overseas postdoctoral training may apply; A*STAR will assess the relevance and value of the research and the strength of the supervisor and institution.
Host and project requirements
A*STAR’s FAQ advises applicants to contact a supervisor at an overseas university or institution and establish a project proposal before applying. The award is conditional on a confirmed place at an approved university or institution, and the proposed host should be leading in the candidate’s research area. This means a general preference for a country or institution is not enough: candidates should discuss the role, project scope, expected start and host acceptance with a prospective supervisor.
The proposed topic should align with ASTAR’s research direction and be relevant and valuable to its research institutes. ASTAR strongly advises applicants to discuss a proposed topic with the institute of interest before applying. This conversation can also clarify how the applicant’s post-training contribution could fit the three-year service commitment.
Innovation applicants should use the official fellowship page to check listed partners and confirm the status of a startup, venture capital firm or venture-building organisation. The track is not a general grant for any accelerator or startup. Ask A*STAR whether an unusual placement qualifies before relying on it in a proposal.
Application steps and selection
The 2026 application period is over, so these steps describe the process to prepare for a future window, subject to A*STAR’s current instructions:
- Check the official fellowship page and live application route. A*STAR lists the two regular application periods and may consider off-cycle applications case by case. The historic applicant portal states that applications have moved to a new platform and that it no longer accepts new applications. Follow the current application link from the official AIF page; do not submit through an older portal or assume a link remains active.
- Choose the Research or Innovation track and identify a suitable host. Contact an overseas supervisor and develop a project before applying. Research applicants should apply for or be applying to a relevant postdoctoral position. Innovation applicants should check the partner criteria for the intended organisation.
- Discuss fit with A*STAR. Align the proposed topic with ASTAR’s research direction and speak with the relevant research institute about the project and potential return contribution. Confirm details that affect eligibility, host approval or citizenship directly with ASTAR.
- Prepare the application according to the live portal. The official page and FAQ require a complete application and may request further information during review. The public page checked does not publish a definitive attachment checklist, so use the current portal’s document list and formats. Prepare accurate PhD status information, a project proposal, host details and referee information as applicable to that live form; do not treat this preparation list as an exhaustive official checklist.
- Submit within the confirmed window and monitor follow-up. A*STAR says processing may take up to five months from receipt of a complete application to notification. Shortlisted candidates are invited to at least two interview rounds and may have additional tests. Successful candidates are notified by email.
- Prepare for the first interview and service endorsement. Before the first interview, candidates need endorsement from the proposed A*STAR Research Institute supervisor and Executive Director for the three-year service commitment at the chosen institute after training. The first interview includes a 15-minute project presentation followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers. The process includes virtual and in-person sessions; candidates unable to attend in person for valid reasons may request a virtual interview in writing.
The official AIF page gives the recurring timeline as: first cycle opens 1 January and closes 1 April, with interviews from mid-April to May and outcomes from mid-June; second cycle opens 1 July and closes 1 October, with interviews from mid-October to mid-November and outcomes from December. Those are recurring calendar periods, not a year-specific notice that a particular future round is open. Confirm the next round on the official page before relying on a date.
Preparing a focused proposal
A short project summary is a useful first drafting tool. State the research or innovation problem, the intended advance, the methods or work plan, why the host is needed, what capabilities the candidate expects to gain, and how the experience could contribute in Singapore after the fellowship. This helps keep the full proposal consistent and makes early conversations with prospective supervisors more concrete.
Ask the overseas supervisor to confirm the role, project scope, facilities, likely start timing and any host acceptance conditions. A specific explanation of why the project belongs in that laboratory is more helpful than a generic expression of support. For Research, select publications that demonstrate readiness for the proposed work. For Innovation, describe authentic experience in translation, collaboration, problem discovery, user engagement, prototyping, intellectual property or venture activity where relevant.
Choose referees who can discuss research quality, independence, technical judgment, collaboration and the applicant’s prospective contribution. Mid-term applicants should account for the explicit rule that their current postdoctoral supervisor must be one of the two academic referees. Give referees the project summary and current schedule once an application window is confirmed. Check the portal’s actual requirements and submission deadlines for referee material before completing the application.
Common points to verify
The three-year service commitment is central to the fellowship. Candidates should be comfortable with returning to Singapore and serving at an A*STAR research institute and/or relevant organisation after overseas training. Discuss institute fit early so the commitment is connected to a plausible research direction.
Do not rely on an old cash figure. ASTAR publishes categories of support, not one fixed total for every fellow; rates vary by country and host and may be adjusted. The official FAQ also says there is no additional support for spouses or family, and ASTAR does not cover research consumables or research-related fees, which are to be supported by the overseas university.
Confirm host approval, PhD conferral, citizenship timing, research fit and referee arrangements before applying. These can affect eligibility, award confirmation or the proposed start. If the official page, application platform and older materials differ, follow the current official fellowship page and obtain clarification from A*STAR.
FAQ
Is the 2026 application round still open?
No. The second cycle’s listed closing date was 1 October 2026, which has passed. This page records that round as a historical reference. A*STAR lists regular application periods of 1 January to 1 April and 1 July to 1 October, but check its official page to confirm a future window and its live submission route.
How much funding does AIF provide?
A*STAR does not publish one universal cash amount. It lists monthly overseas living and sustenance allowances, annual return airfare, settling-in, computer and conference allowances, and annual personal insurance. Rates vary by country and host university or laboratory and may be adjusted.
Can I apply before my PhD is officially awarded?
Applicants in the final stages of a PhD may apply. A*STAR confirms the award only after the PhD has been conferred.
Must I secure an overseas host before applying?
A*STAR’s FAQ says candidates should contact a prospective overseas supervisor and establish a project proposal before applying. The award is conditional on a confirmed place at an approved university or institution.
Can a non-Singaporean apply?
ASTAR may exceptionally consider outstanding applicants who are neither Singapore citizens nor permanent residents. Non-Singaporeans must obtain Singapore citizenship before the fellowship begins. Confirm individual circumstances and timing with ASTAR.
What happens after training?
Awardees return to Singapore and contribute to ASTAR research institutes and/or relevant organisations for three years. The interview process includes endorsement of the service commitment by the proposed ASTAR Research Institute supervisor and Executive Director.
Official source and next steps
Use the official A*STAR International Fellowship page for the tracks, eligibility, coverage, research areas, regular application periods and partner information. The A*STAR scholarships overview also lists the AIF and its application deadlines. The A*STAR scholarship FAQ describes processing, interviews, host requirements, allowances, the service commitment and costs.
The 2026 round is closed. A prospective applicant should first verify that ASTAR has opened the next window, then use the application route linked from the current fellowship page, contact an appropriate overseas supervisor, and discuss topic fit with the relevant ASTAR institute. Do not infer a year-specific deadline from the recurring schedule alone. Confirm the date, required materials and submission instructions with A*STAR before applying.