Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity and related technology fields are among the strongest areas for fully funded graduate research opportunities. Several universities and research organizations offer scholarships that combine full or substantial tuition support with monthly stipends, research funding and additional benefits.
For students looking specifically for high-value funding in IT and AI, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar currently stand out.
Among the opportunities reviewed, the AI Singapore PhD Fellowship advertises a stipend of up to S$6,700 per month, while the A*STAR Computing and Information Science scholarship provides S$4,550 per month for international PhD students. NUS also offers research scholarships for computing-related research, while MBZUAI in Abu Dhabi provides full scholarships for its AI master’s and PhD programmes.
This guide explains the strongest opportunities, their funding, eligibility, application process and what applicants should know before applying.
Top IT and Computer Science Scholarships 2027 at a Glance
| Scholarship | Country | Degree | International Funding | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Singapore PhD Fellowship | Singapore | PhD | Up to S$6,300/month for international students under the latest published guideline | Next nomination cycle to verify |
| A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Computing) | Singapore | PhD | S$4,550/month | Intake-dependent |
| MBZUAI Graduate Scholarships | UAE | MSc/PhD | AED 15,500/month MSc; AED 17,500/month PhD | Next cycle should be checked when applications open |
| NUS Research Scholarship | Singapore | Research Master’s/PhD | S$2,900–S$3,500/month | Programme/faculty dependent |
| HBKU Graduate Scholarships | Qatar | Master’s/PhD | QAR 7,000/month Master’s; QAR 9,000/month PhD | 2027 applications open October 1, 2026 |
The figures above are from the latest official scholarship information available. Some rates are published for 2026 rather than specifically guaranteed 2027 rates, so applicants should confirm the amount in the award terms for their intake.
1. AI Singapore PhD Fellowship
The AI Singapore (AISG) PhD Fellowship is one of the most attractive options for students pursuing advanced AI research.
The fellowship supports full-time AI-related PhD study at Singapore’s autonomous universities, including:
- National University of Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
- Singapore Management University
- Singapore University of Technology and Design
AISG states that applicants of all nationalities can apply, although its current programme page particularly encourages Singaporean, Singapore permanent-resident and ASEAN applicants.
AI Singapore PhD Fellowship Benefits
The latest published AISG guideline gives the following monthly sustenance allowances:
- Singapore citizens: S$6,700
- Singapore permanent residents: S$6,500
- International students without Singapore PR: S$6,300
The fellowship also provides full tuition fees and support for up to four years of study at Singapore-based autonomous universities. An international fellow has a two-year post-graduation service obligation under the published guideline.
AISG also advertises an AI conference travel allowance of up to S$8,000.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is intended for:
- New full-time PhD applicants
- Existing PhD candidates who are no more than two years into their PhD
- Candidates pursuing AI-related fundamental research
- Applicants studying at participating Singapore autonomous universities
Important Application Point
This is not a scholarship where you simply submit a standalone AISG application and wait.
The programme is nomination-based.
Universities recommend suitable applicants to AI Singapore. New applicants normally apply for their intended PhD programme through the relevant university first.
Research Areas
AISG identifies research themes including:
- Trustworthy and explainable AI
- Privacy-aware AI
- Resource-efficient AI
- Collaborative AI
- Continuous-learning AI
Competition
This should be considered highly competitive.
AISG specifically targets top AI research talent and expects fellows to produce significant research publications. The current published guideline also expects fellows to have at least four qualifying publications by the end of candidature, with the fellow as the main or primary author.
2. A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Computing)
An important naming update is necessary here.
The scholarship formerly known as the A*STAR Computing and Information Science Scholarship (ACIS) was renamed A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Computing) in 2025.
This is a particularly relevant opportunity for students interested in:
- Computer Science
- Computing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Information Science
- Related technology research
A*STAR Computing Scholarship Benefits
For PhD students, the latest NUS Graduate School information lists:
| Applicant | Monthly stipend |
|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | S$5,800 |
| Singapore Permanent Resident | S$4,800 |
| International Student | S$4,550 |
The typical PhD award period is four years, and full tuition fees are covered.
For an international student, S$4,550 per month equals:
S$54,600 per year
before considering other applicable allowances.
Additional Support
The scholarship can include additional research-related support and allowances. Published scholarship information has included areas such as:
- Conference allowance
- Thesis allowance
- Computer allowance
- Book allowance
- Miscellaneous allowance
- Overseas attachment opportunities
International Student Requirement
Applicants should pay close attention to the current nationality and study-path conditions.
The scholarship is connected to Singapore’s autonomous universities and computing/information-science research. The precise eligibility conditions can differ according to the current A*STAR scholarship cycle.
Do not assume that simply having a Computer Science degree makes you eligible.
Application Strategy
The application should be approached as a PhD research application, not a normal taught master’s scholarship application.
A strong candidate should have:
- Strong academic preparation
- Relevant technical background
- Clear research interests
- Strong references
- Evidence of research potential
3. MBZUAI Graduate Scholarships — UAE
The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is one of the strongest options for students who want to specialize specifically in AI.
MBZUAI offers graduate programmes in areas including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Computer Vision
- Machine Learning
- Robotics
- Statistics and Data Science
- Computational Biology
Its Computer Science PhD covers areas including algorithms, data structures, software engineering, AI-driven systems, efficient hardware, LLM training, edge computing and secure/privacy-preserving technologies.
MBZUAI Scholarship Benefits
MBZUAI states that full-time master’s and PhD students receive full scholarships.
The current published funding information lists:
| Student | MSc | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| UAE nationals | AED 37,500 | AED 43,500 |
| International students | AED 15,500 | AED 17,500 |
The university notes that these stipend figures include housing support, with students responsible for paying housing costs directly under the stated arrangement.
MBZUAI also lists:
- 100% tuition coverage
- Monthly stipend
- UAE visa sponsorship
- Health insurance
- Housing support
for eligible full-time graduate students.
PhD Funding
MBZUAI explicitly describes its PhD programmes as offering a full scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, healthcare, student visa and a monthly stipend.
That makes MBZUAI particularly attractive for international AI applicants.
MBZUAI Computer Science PhD
The Computer Science PhD is especially relevant for IT students.
Research areas include:
- Algorithms
- Data structures
- Software engineering
- AI systems
- Hardware optimization
- Large language model training
- Edge computing
- Security
- Privacy-preserving technologies
Who Should Consider MBZUAI?
This is particularly suitable for applicants who want a research-intensive AI career rather than a conventional coursework-based master’s degree.
The university describes its PhD programmes as research-oriented and intended for students interested in scientific research, academia, industry research or entrepreneurship.
4. NUS Research Scholarship
The National University of Singapore Research Scholarship is broader than the AI Singapore and A*STAR awards, but it is highly relevant to students pursuing Computer Science and other technology research.
NUS offers research scholarships to full-time research students.
NUS Scholarship Benefits
For international students, the current published rates are:
- Research Master’s: S$2,900/month
- PhD before qualifying examination: S$3,000/month
- PhD after qualifying examination: additional S$500/month
The typical award period is:
- Master’s by Research: 2 years
- PhD: 4 years
The scholarship provides a full tuition-fee waiver.
The published stipend rates took effect from January 1, 2026, so applicants targeting 2027 should verify the applicable rate when their award is issued.
Computer Science Applicants
NUS Computer Science research students can pursue areas across computing and related fields.
This makes the scholarship relevant to applicants interested in:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Information Security
- Data Science
- Computer Engineering
- Machine Learning
- Other technology research
NUS research scholarship availability and admission requirements can depend on the specific graduate programme and faculty.
Important Condition for International Students
International scholarship recipients are required to participate in the Graduate Assistantship Programme under the published scholarship conditions.
Applicants should therefore read the service and assistantship conditions carefully before accepting an award.
5. HBKU Graduate Scholarships — Qatar
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) offers graduate financial support across several programmes, including its College of Science and Engineering.
This is especially relevant to applicants interested in:
- Computer Science
- Computer Engineering
- Information Technology
- Data-related fields
- Engineering and technology research
HBKU Scholarship Benefits
The official scholarship guidelines list:
International PhD
QAR 9,000/month
or:
QAR 108,000/year
for up to 45 months.
International Master’s
QAR 7,000/month
or:
QAR 84,000/year
for up to 21 months.
HBKU also lists a 100% tuition waiver for PhD STEM programmes, which includes Computer Science and Engineering.
Additional Benefits
International students receiving the applicable support are provided with:
- A single round-trip airfare during candidature
- An inbound ticket when starting
- An outbound ticket upon graduation
Important: Scholarship Is Not Automatically Guaranteed
This is a critical point.
HBKU explicitly states that:
- Tuition waivers depend on available funding.
- Stipends depend on available funding.
- Scholarships are awarded on a merit or need basis.
- Stipends are generally connected to full-time graduate students serving as research or teaching assistants.
Therefore, don’t write:
“Every admitted student automatically receives a fully funded scholarship.”
That would be inaccurate.
HBKU 2027 Application Dates
This is one of the strongest upcoming opportunities because the next cycle has clearly published dates.
For international graduate applicants:
Applications open: October 1, 2026
International deadline: February 1, 2027
For Qatari and resident applicants seeking funding:
Deadline: March 15, 2027
So HBKU is not open today, but it is an upcoming 2027 opportunity with a confirmed opening date.
How to Choose the Right IT Scholarship
The biggest mistake is choosing solely according to the largest stipend.
Instead, compare:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Degree level | Some are PhD-only |
| Research area | AI, CS, robotics, data science etc. |
| Tuition coverage | Full or partial |
| Monthly stipend | Determines living-cost support |
| Housing | Particularly important in Singapore/UAE/Qatar |
| Service bond | Some awards impose post-study obligations |
| Nationality | Requirements differ |
| Admission process | Scholarship may be nomination-based |
| Research requirements | Important for PhD applicants |
| Application deadline | Some programmes are seasonal |
Which Scholarship Has the Highest Stipend?
Based on the latest official figures reviewed:
1. AI Singapore PhD Fellowship
Up to S$6,300/month for international students under the latest published guideline.
2. A*STAR Graduate Scholarship — Computing
S$4,550/month for international PhD students.
3. NUS Research Scholarship
Up to S$3,500/month for international PhD students after the qualifying examination under the current published rates.
4. HBKU Graduate Scholarship
QAR 9,000/month for international PhD students.
5. MBZUAI
AED 17,500/month for international PhD students, with the university describing the full-time graduate package as fully funded.
However, don’t compare these numbers directly without considering local living costs and whether housing is included. A larger nominal stipend does not automatically mean more disposable income.
How to Apply for IT and Computer Science Scholarships
Although every scholarship has its own process, most research scholarships follow a similar structure.
Step 1: Choose Your Research Area
Start by deciding what you actually want to study.
Examples include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Computer Vision
- Natural Language Processing
- Cybersecurity
- Software Engineering
- Data Science
- Robotics
- Computer Systems
- Human-Computer Interaction
Your research direction should match the university’s available programmes and supervisors.
Step 2: Check the Degree Requirement
Determine whether the scholarship is for:
- Master’s by Research
- PhD
- Both
For example, AISG is focused on PhD-level AI research, while MBZUAI provides both master’s and PhD opportunities.
Step 3: Check International Eligibility
Don’t assume that “international scholarship” means every nationality is eligible.
Check:
- Citizenship
- Previous degree location
- Current residence
- Degree-awarding institution
- Whether you already hold a PhD
- Whether you are already enrolled in the university
This is particularly important for Singapore scholarships.
Step 4: Find a Suitable Research Programme
For research scholarships, your university programme matters.
You should identify:
- Degree
- School
- Research area
- Potential supervisor
- Available project
- Scholarship route
A scholarship should support your research direction rather than the other way around.
Step 5: Prepare Your Academic Documents
Most research applications require some combination of:
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates
- CV
- Research proposal or research statement
- Personal statement
- Recommendation letters
- English-language evidence
- Passport
- Publications, if applicable
Exact requirements vary by university.
Step 6: Build a Research-Focused CV
For IT/CS PhD scholarships, your CV should highlight:
- Research projects
- Publications
- GitHub/open-source work
- Technical projects
- Internships
- Research assistant experience
- Conference presentations
- Competitions
- Relevant employment
- Technical skills
Do not turn the CV into a list of every programming language you have ever touched.
Focus on evidence of research and technical ability.
How to Write a Strong Research Statement
A good research statement should answer:
What problem do you want to investigate?
Clearly identify the problem.
Why does it matter?
Explain the technical or societal significance.
What is already known?
Show that you understand the existing research.
What gap exists?
Identify what is missing.
What do you want to investigate?
Explain your proposed direction.
Why this university?
Connect your interests to actual faculty, laboratories or research groups.
Why are you prepared?
Use your previous projects, research, coursework and technical experience as evidence.
Common Mistakes IT Scholarship Applicants Make
Applying Only Because the Stipend Is High
A large stipend doesn’t compensate for a poor research fit.
Applying to a PhD Without Research Preparation
Many of these scholarships are designed for research-intensive candidates.
A portfolio of unrelated coding projects is not necessarily equivalent to research experience.
Ignoring the Supervisor
For research degrees, supervisor and research-group fit can matter significantly.
Calling Every Scholarship “Fully Funded”
This is a major problem in scholarship content.
Some awards cover:
- Tuition + stipend
while others cover:
- Tuition only
or:
- Stipend only
Always distinguish these.
Ignoring Service Bonds
Some Singapore scholarships have post-study obligations.
For example, the latest AISG guideline states a two-year service obligation for international students.
Assuming the Published 2026 Stipend Is Guaranteed for 2027
Scholarship rates can change.
Use the current published rate but clearly identify it as the latest published amount unless the university has already confirmed the 2027 figure.
Are These Scholarships Extremely Competitive?
Yes, particularly the top AI and computing awards.
But there is an important distinction:
There is no reliable official acceptance-rate figure for most of these scholarships.
Therefore, applicants should not trust websites claiming:
“Only 2% of students get this scholarship.”
unless the university or scholarship provider actually publishes that statistic.
Instead, competition can be assessed through:
- Limited scholarship numbers
- Research requirements
- Academic standards
- Selection process
- Nomination requirements
- Research publications
- Faculty/supervisor fit
AISG, for example, explicitly describes its fellowship as targeting top AI research talent, while NUS describes its research scholarships as competitive.
Which IT Scholarship Should You Apply For?
If you want AI research:
MBZUAI and AI Singapore are the strongest choices.
If you want Computer Science/Computing research:
A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Computing) and NUS Research Scholarship are excellent options.
If you want Qatar:
HBKU is particularly interesting because its 2027 application dates are already published.
If stipend is your main priority:
The latest published international rates make AISG particularly notable, followed by A*STAR Computing. But the application route and eligibility conditions are substantially different.
Important 2027 Application Timeline
For someone planning applications now, the dates currently verified are:
August 2026
A*STAR/NUS and other Singapore research scholarship cycles may have programme-specific deadlines, so applicants need to check the exact faculty or scholarship intake rather than assuming one universal deadline.
October 1, 2026
HBKU graduate applications open.
February 1, 2027
HBKU international graduate application deadline.
AI Singapore
The current AISG page shows the August 2026 nomination cycle closed on April 15, 2026, so I would not label AISG as currently open on August 30, 2026. The next cycle should be confirmed from AISG when published.
This distinction matters if you’re publishing the article as an “active scholarship” page.
Final Verdict
For students specifically targeting IT, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, these are among the most interesting high-value opportunities to watch:
- AI Singapore PhD Fellowship — exceptionally high stipend and strong AI research focus.
- A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Computing) — highly relevant to Computer Science and Information Science.
- MBZUAI Graduate Scholarships — excellent AI specialization with full scholarship support.
- NUS Research Scholarship — strong general research funding for computing-related graduate study.
- HBKU Graduate Scholarships — strong Qatar option with a confirmed 2027 application cycle.
The most important thing is not to treat all five as currently open. As of August 30, 2026, HBKU is an upcoming opportunity with applications opening October 1, while AISG’s currently displayed August 2026 nomination cycle has already closed. MBZUAI’s current official pages confirm the scholarship structure and funding, but applicants should wait for the relevant 2027 application cycle to be officially published rather than assuming the previous deadline carries forward