The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to Encourage Upgrading (LKY-STEP) Award

The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to Encourage Upgrading (LKY-STEP) Award was established from donations received from Mr Lee Kuan Yew through the sale proceeds of autographed editions of Volume 2 of his Memoirs. The objective of the award is to encourage lifelong learning and will be offered to outstanding polytechnic graduates pursuing full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) or Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

• Open to Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents.
• Successful awardees should read a full-time undergraduate degree programme leading to a first degree at NTU, NUS, SMU, SUTD, SIT or SUSS.
• Possess outstanding Diploma awarded by a polytechnic in Singapore (preferably Diploma with Merit)
• Excellent co-curricular records.
• Strong leadership qualities and potential.

The LKY-STEP Award covers up to the normal programme duration on the condition that the holder maintain a record of good academic performance and exemplary conduct.

• One-off cash award of S$3,500.
• Subsidised Tuition fees will be waived by the universities if LKY-STEP Award holders are unsuccessful in securing a concurrent scholarship.
• No bond attached, apart from the three-year work obligation applicable to all Singapore PRs under the MOE Tuition Grant Scheme.

Note:

• Award holders must commence their study in any full-time undergraduate programme at NTU, NUS, SMU, SUTD, SIT or SUSS in the same academic year of application.
• Holders of the award are allowed to hold concurrent scholarships offered by NTU, NUS, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS or other organizations. 
• Award holder is required to maintain satisfactory academic performance. The academic performance is reviewed every semester. 
• The Award may be withdrawn at any time if, in the opinion of the University, the award holder's progress or behaviour has not been satisfactory. 
• If the award holder decides to terminate the scholarship prematurely, a repayment will be imposed.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is the Secretariat for LKY-STEP Award in AY2026/2027.

The application period will be from 11 May to 2 June 2026. (Click here to apply)

• Only applicants shortlisted for an interview will be informed via e-mail in June. Interviews will take place in mid-June 2026.