The National University of Singapore’s Stephen Riady Young Entrepreneur Scholarship is an initiative to nurture and support young entrepreneurs in the University. The scholarship is a full-term, bond-free scholarship with a start-up seed funding option of up to S$50,000.
Who is eligible: Open to freshmen from all disciplines
What does it cover: Tuition fees and living allowances for four years of study at NUS
After graduation: Scholarship recipients keen to start a new business can apply for seed funding of up to S$50,000
How young would-be entrepreneurs can apply
To secure this unique scholarship, which offers access to mentorship and guidance from NUS Enterprise, students need to demonstrate a keen interest in creating start-up companies, on top of academic excellence and outstanding leadership qualities.
Scholars will be able to participate in the prestigious NUS Overseas Colleges Programme, during which they will study in partner universities and intern in start-ups in entrepreneurial hotspots overseas to gain entrepreneurial and international exposure.
Inspiring young entrepreneurs
In the new academic year that has commenced in August 2018, six freshmen received the inaugural awards of the prestigious scholarship.
One of the recipients is Kee Qian Ling, an NUS Faculty of Engineering undergraduate. Among her inventions is the co-designed Barcode Alarm – an app that forces users to scan the barcode of household items such as toothpaste tubes to turn off the alarm. It won the MIT App Inventor Most Innovative App of the Month Award in 2016. She’s also pitched innovative business ideas such as NeedQMeh, an app that allows diners to queue from the comfort of their homes, as well as Virtual Ready, a software that trains healthcare workers to handle emergency situations through virtual reality which won the Best Social Impact award at the Youth Innovation Challenge 2017.
In 10 years, the University expects as many as 50 start-ups to be spawned by these scholars. These start-ups can go on to play a major role in advancing economic and social development in Singapore and the region.
