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Scholarships

MHA Civilian Scholarship

The Ministry of Home Affairs Civilian Scholarship is awarded to all-rounded individuals who are passionate about strengthening Singapore’s safety and security in a civilian appointment.

Depending on your interests and aspirations, you can choose from a range of meaningful and rewarding career options as a Generalist or Specialist (Commercial Affairs, Intelligence, Internal Security, Psychology).

This scholarship will allow you to kickstart your leadership journey in the Home Team. You will receive the opportunity to pursue your undergraduate studies at a prestigious local or overseas university. Upon your return, you can look forward to learning and development opportunities to equip you as a future leader in the Home Team.

Scholarship Details

Career trackOffered by
MHA Civilian (Generalist) Career

MHA Civilian (Specialist) Career 		Civilian (Generalist) *

Civilian (Specialist) - *There will be opportunities for one to be posted to other Home Team agencies in the course of one’s career.
Country of studyCourse of study
Local or overseas universities

For the Civilian (Generalist) track, the Civilian (Specialist) - Internal Security track and the Civilian (Specialist) - Intelligence track:

  • Most disciplines (except medicine, dentistry and architecture)^

For the Civilian (Specialist) - Psychology track:

  • Psychology

For the Civilian (Specialist) - Commercial Affairs track:

  • Accountancy, Law, Business Administration, Business or Economics.^

^Applicants intending to pursue a degree in Law will not be called to the Bar while serving in the Home Team.

Application periodBond period
Applications will open in September 2024.

  • 4 years for local studies

  • 5 years for studies in non-English speaking countries

  • 6 years for studies in English speaking countries

The bond period starts on the day Scholarship recipients assume official duty after completing their studies.
 Scholarship Tiers
 The Scholarship Board can decide to offer you the following Scholarship tiers -

Singapore Government Scholarship (SGS), Local Merit Scholarship (LMS), Home Team Local Study Award (HTLSA)

 

Award Value and Benefits

tuition

Tuition fees and other approved charges

maintenance

Monthly overseas or local maintenance allowance (including accommodation)

pre-studies

Pre-studies allowance e.g. warm clothing, computer

return-economy

Return economy class airfare*

master-programme

Sponsorship of Master’s and exchange programmes (if requirements are met)

Vacation Attachment Programme icon

Vacation Attachment Programme 

*for selected scholarship tiers

Eligibility

  • Singapore Citizen or SPR who is intending to take up Singapore Citizenship
  • Have strong leadership qualities and potential
  • Possess strong interest in safeguarding the safety and security of Singapore
  • Have good academic and Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) records
  • Have a GCE A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, Polytechnic, NUS High School, or other high school diploma/certificate
  • Current Undergraduate students (not in final year of studies) may also apply. Click here for more details on a mid-term scholarship.

 

Your Leadership Journey

You will be exposed to various areas of work and leadership development opportunities throughout your career with the Home Team. Leadership and talent programmes are put in place to prepare MHA scholars to take up key appointments.

If you meet the criteria, you will be placed on the Home Team Leaders-in Development Programme, and be groomed as a future Home Team leader.

You may also be emplaced on the Public Sector Leadership Programme (PSLP), where you will acquire knowledge and capabilities to take on key leadership appointments in the Home Team and the wider Public Service.

Choose your career track:

 

Generalist

As a Management Executive in the Home Team, you play an important role alongside our uniformed and specialist colleagues to ensure the safety and security of Singapore.

Through regular postings, within the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters and other Home Team agencies, you can embark on a wide-ranging career in different Home Team departments and tracks, ranging from policy and research to corporate functions such as communications, HR and finance. You can also choose to deepen your knowledge in your area of interest.

Learn more about HASE

Specialist

Play an important role in safeguarding Singapore’s integrity as a world-class financial and commercial centre through vigilant and professional enforcement of the law.

You can look forward to a varied and challenging career in financial crime investigation, intelligence and policy within the Commercial Affairs Department in the Singapore Police Force.

Learn more about specialist careers

As a specialist in the Singapore Police Force intelligence domain, you will analyse information by creating links and piecing seemingly unrelated data together to form a useful picture for law enforcement and policy formulation. You will also conduct research and produce actionable intelligence to support operations and investigations.

Learn more about specialist careers

Be part of a multi-disciplinary team of research, technology and operations officers in the Internal Security Department that confronts and addresses Singapore’s security issues and latent threats. You will ensure timely and accurate collection and analysis of intelligence, and make professional assessments and policy recommendations to the Government.

Learn more about ISD

As a Home Team Psychologist, you play an important role in providing vital psychological interventions and contributions to operational and policy decisions for the Home Team. You will be responsible for identifying, planning, initiating and monitoring new and existing programmes and activities for Home Team officers and the organisations. You can look forward to posting opportunities within the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters and other Home Team agencies.

Learn more about specialist careers


 

 

FAQ

When awarded the scholarship, you will know if you are earmarked for a specific track, or for the Uniformed or Civilian scheme. This is to help you to make your decision.

If you wish to change to a different track or scheme, you would have to provide strong justifications and MHA will consider the appeal on a case-by-case basis.

The scholarship is available for all fields of studies. If you choose the specialist track, you will have to choose the relevant discipline.

You can indicate your preferred track at the point of interview.

There is no difference. Promotions are based on your potential and performance while in service.