Fully Funded Research Internship 2026: NUS IRIS Singapore — SGD 1,200/Month, Free Housing, 2-Month Lab Placement

If you want a two-month stretch of hands-on research at one of Asia’s most respected universities without paying a cent for housing or application fees, read on. The NUS IRIS Internship 2026 (Internship and Research Immersion in Singapore) is a fully funded summer research program at the National University of Singapore aimed at undergraduates and first-year master’s students from any discipline. Think paid lab time, mentorship from faculty, structured events, and a certificate from the NUS Graduate School — all packed into two months that could reshape your CV and your thinking about research.

This is not a sightseeing tour dressed up as academic work. Participants collaborate on concrete projects inside NUS labs, take part in program events, and get exposure to Singapore’s research ecosystem. The program refunds travel (a modest allowance), pays a stipend, and covers campus accommodation — which in a city like Singapore, is worth a lot. If your goal is a short, intense experience that helps you confirm your interest in research, sharpen lab or analytical skills, and make a faculty contact at a top institution, IRIS is exactly the kind of opportunity you should prioritize.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

NUS IRIS is a compact research immersion: two months inside labs or research groups where you’ll contribute to ongoing projects rather than shadowing from the sidelines. The program supplies a monthly stipend of SGD 1,200 and a SGD 600 travel allowance to help with airfare. Accommodation is arranged on campus, which reduces daily distractions and makes it easier to join evening seminars and social events. At the end you’ll receive a certificate from the NUS Graduate School confirming your participation.

Beyond money and housing, the real value is practical experience. You’ll join a team and be expected to contribute—design experiments, analyze data, run simulations, write short reports, or develop prototypes depending on your field. NUS runs a busy calendar of academic events; IRIS includes opening and closing sessions and a handful of cultural or industry visits, which help you understand how Singapore’s research ecosystem connects to startups, hospitals, and government labs.

The program is intentionally multidisciplinary. Whether you study mechanical engineering, political science, biomedical sciences, or data analytics, you’ll find labs and faculty working in adjacent areas. This breadth means applicants should articulate how their background and goals match potential NUS groups — not just that they want an international experience.

Who Should Apply

IRIS is ideal if you’re an undergraduate (any year) or a first-year master’s student who wants a real test of whether research fits your interests and strengths. It’s especially valuable if you:

• Have completed coursework relevant to research methods in your field and want practical application.
• Want faculty mentorship and a short project you can point to on graduate school or job applications.
• Need a concentrated period to build skills (lab techniques, coding, field methods, statistical analysis).
• Are considering graduate study and want to see how a research group operates.

Real-world examples: a third-year mechanical engineering student wanting to try experimental fluid mechanics; a biology major wanting focused exposure to molecular techniques; a computer science student interested in machine learning applications to environmental data. Even students from non-traditional research disciplines — economics, design, public policy — will find faculty-led projects that need their skills.

If you’re unsure whether you have enough experience, don’t let that stop you. The selection committee looks for motivation and fit as much as polished resumes. Show how you’ll contribute in two months and what you’ll learn.

Features of the Program and Typical Activities

Participants do more than sit through lectures. Expect a mix of:

• Team-based research projects with defined deliverables.
• Regular check-ins with a faculty mentor and possibly graduate student supervisors.
• Workshops on research methods, data management, or ethics.
• Social and cultural activities that help you settle in quickly.
• Final presentations or a short report summarizing your project outcomes.

Two months is short, so projects are scoped to produce a tangible outcome: a dataset, a prototype, a poster, or a short report. The experience is intensive — long days of lab or coding work are common — but you’ll come away with something concrete to show.

Financial Benefits — What’s Covered and What to Expect

The program covers:

• SGD 1,200 monthly stipend (x 2 months = SGD 2,400 total typically).
• SGD 600 one-time travel allowance.
• Campus accommodation provided at no cost.
• No application fee and no IELTS requirement.

Small out-of-pocket costs you should plan for: visa fees (if required by your country), local transit beyond what’s covered, personal spending, and any required immunizations. The stipend is modest for Singapore, but the free accommodation and travel allowance significantly lower your net cost. Factor in that two months in NUS also gives you access to libraries, gyms, and campus dining — which reduces living expenses further.

Required Materials — What to Prepare and How to Shape It

The application is straightforward but competitive. At minimum, you’ll typically need:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Focus on academic achievements, relevant coursework, technical skills, and any prior research, internships, or projects. Keep it to 1–2 pages.
• Personal Statement: Explain your research interests, what you hope to learn in two months, and why NUS. Be concrete: name themes or techniques you want to work on and how they connect to your prior experience.
• Academic Transcript (optional but recommended): Even if optional, including it gives reviewers context on your academic preparation.
• Letters of Recommendation (optional): If you can get one strong letter from someone who supervised research or a course, include it. If not, a teacher who can speak to your analytical skills is fine.

Because some items are optional, treat “optional” as “recommended when it strengthens your case.” Quality matters far more than quantity. A crisp CV and a focused personal statement will often outshine a generic multi-page transcript.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

This section matters. Two months is short; reviewers want to know you’ll use it well. Here are seven specific tactics that increase your chances:

1. Tailor your personal statement to NUS, not just “a summer abroad.” Name a research area or technique offered at NUS that you want to learn and explain why it matters to your academic trajectory. If you can mention a faculty member (courteously) whose work aligns with your interests, do it — but don’t sound like you’re only looking for prestige.

2. Scope your goals to fit two months. Propose achievable deliverables: contribute to data cleaning and initial analysis, validate a protocol, or produce a literature review plus pilot data. Reviewers flag overly ambitious plans.

3. Show evidence of relevant skills. If you list “PCR experience,” say where and on what scale. If you’ve coded, mention languages and a short project result (e.g., “built a data visualization pipeline for 10,000 records”).

4. Use one strong recommender rather than two lukewarm ones. A letter that speaks specifically about your research potential and work ethic is a major differentiator.

5. Prepare for the interview (if required). Practice explaining your project idea in 90 seconds, focusing on clarity and outcomes. Faculty appreciate candidates who communicate concisely.

6. Proofread and format for humans. Use readable fonts, clear headings, and short paragraphs. Reviewers read dozens of applications; clarity is an advantage.

7. Reach out politely to potential mentors before applying only if the program permits it. A brief email outlining your background, interest, and availability can help you identify labs open to hosting short-term interns. If you contact faculty, keep messages under 200 words and attach nothing unless requested.

These moves cost little time but improve your odds significantly.

Application Timeline — Work Backwards from January 15, 2026

Two months of work needs two months of preparation.

• 6–8 weeks before deadline (early December 2025): Draft your personal statement and CV. Identify a recommender and ask them for a letter; provide your CV and a one-paragraph summary they can use.
• 4 weeks before deadline (mid-December): Finalize documents, have a mentor or advisor review your personal statement, and polish your CV.
• 2 weeks before deadline (early January 2026): Complete the GDA3 portal registration — institutional portals can have delays. Upload documents and double-check formatting. Submit at least 48 hours early in case of technical issues.
• After submission: Prepare logistics — passport validity, visas, vaccinations. Start reading recent papers in the research area you listed and sketch goals for the two months.

Registering early in GDA3 is not optional; it can take time. Also check whether your country requires a visa for a short research visit to Singapore and begin that process as soon as you’re accepted.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Reviewers want three things: fit, feasibility, and enthusiasm that’s backed by evidence. Fit means your interests clearly match what an NUS lab does. Feasibility means your described plan can produce a meaningful deliverable in two months. Enthusiasm backed by concrete examples — prior coursework, a mini-project, or technical skills — signals you’ll hit the ground running.

Specific scoring signals that make applications stand out include:

• Conciseness in the personal statement with explicit goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work in teams (group projects, lab group roles).
• Clear mention of methods you’re familiar with and those you want to learn.
• Letters that describe you as reliable and curious, not just “a good student.”
• Realistic timelines and deliverables tied to the two-month window.

If you can explain what success looks like at the end of your internship — e.g., “I will deliver a cleaned dataset and a 10-minute presentation demonstrating preliminary trends” — reviewers can imagine you succeeding and are more likely to select you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many applicants sabotage themselves with avoidable errors:

• Vague personal statements that read like a travel brochure. Avoid generic lines about wanting to “gain international exposure.” Be specific about skills and projects.
• Overly ambitious project proposals. Two months is not a dissertation; propose pilotable, well-scoped tasks.
• Submitting at the last minute. Portal hiccups happen. Submit early and confirm all files uploaded correctly.
• Forgetting to tailor documents. A CV that highlights unrelated jobs (bartender, cashier) without connecting skills to research won’t help. Reorder sections to prioritize relevant experience.
• Weak recommendations. Don’t assume any professor will write a strong letter; ask someone who actually supervised your work.
• Ignoring logistics. Acceptance may hinge on your ability to arrive on time or secure a visa quickly. Demonstrate preparedness.

Fix these before hitting Submit and you’ll improve your odds a lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can international students apply? A: Yes. The program is open to students of all nationalities. Funding and accommodation are provided to selected international applicants.

Q: Do I need IELTS or other English tests? A: No formal IELTS requirement is listed for IRIS applications. However, your personal statement and any interviews will effectively test your communication skills. Clear written English helps.

Q: Can graduate students beyond first year apply? A: The program targets undergraduates and first-year master’s students. If you’re beyond year one, check the program site or contact administrators for exceptions.

Q: Is there a placement guarantee with a specific lab? A: Placement depends on faculty availability and fit. The selection committee matches applicants to groups where skills and interests align. Indicating specific research areas helps placement.

Q: Will funding cover full travel costs and visa fees? A: The program provides a SGD 600 travel allowance and free accommodation. Visa or vaccination costs are typically the applicant’s responsibility; check the official page for country-specific guidance.

Q: Are letters of recommendation required? A: They’re optional but strongly recommended if available. A strong letter improves competitive applications.

Q: Can I extend the internship or convert it into a longer research visit? A: Extensions are uncommon and depend on host faculty and administrative approvals. If you hope for an extended stay, discuss it with your mentor during the program, but plan on the two-month structure initially.

How to Apply — Next Steps and the Official Link

Ready to get started? Here’s a compact checklist to move forward:

1. Draft a 1–2 page CV focused on research-relevant experience.
2. Write a concise personal statement (500–800 words) that names research interests, methods you know, and what you’ll accomplish in two months.
3. Ask one or two recommenders early and provide them with your CV and a short summary of your goals.
4. Register in the Graduate Admission System (GDA3) and select “Non-Degree Programme,” “Full-Time,” and enroll in the “May 2026 Special Term” (or the August session if that’s your preference).
5. Upload documents and submit at least 48 hours before the January 15, 2026 deadline.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page and follow the application instructions: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/graduate/iris-nus/#application

If you want one more practical tip: before you submit, ask a professor or an advisor outside your immediate circle to read your personal statement. If they nod and ask good questions, your application is probably in good shape. Good luck — this two-month window could be the clearest experiment you ever run on whether research is your thing.