SkillsFuture Study Award (SFSA)

Financial Specialist Scholarship (FSS)

Financial Specialist Scholarship

The Financial Specialist Scholarship (FSS) (previously known as the Finance Scholarship Programme) is a postgraduate scholarship programme that helps develop specialist leaders in a variety of fields in Singapore's financial services sector.

The FSS has been discontinued. IBF is no longer receiving any applications from January 2023. Existing candidates can reach out to [email protected]

What is the FSS? 
​The FSS is a postgraduate scholarship programme to develop a pipeline of specialist leaders in the following areas of specialisation. There is a heavier focus on technology and data analytics in finance as these are skills in greater demand.
  • Finance, with modules in areas of quantitative methods and modelling, analytics, risk management or technology applications. Other areas of specialisation may be considered
  • Economics, with focus on quantitative skills, advanced econometrics and computational methods
  • Technology in finance, with focus on software engineering, digital transformation, cyber security, cloud computing, blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Data science, data analytics
  • Risk management, including technology risk in the operation of banking, insurance and asset management business
  • Sustainable finance and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)
  • Actuarial science
  • Financial engineering
  • Digital transformation and innovation in banking, insurance and asset management
  • Wealth and asset management

    Only top postgraduate programmes in the respective areas of specialisation will be considered.
Company Track
The FSS will co-fund with Singapore-based financial institutions (FIs) * the cost of sending their eligible Singaporean employees to attend postgraduate study in the areas of specialisation outlined above.

FIs applying for FSS funding should ensure that their candidates have applied directly to and secured admission into top postgraduate programmes in the targeted areas, before submitting their applications.
Individual Track
The FSS will co-fund outstanding Singaporeans’ pursuit of postgraduate study in the areas of specialisations mentioned above.  Candidates must apply on their own to the respective universities prior to submitting their applications for the FSS.  The applicant is not required to secure admission to the programme at the point of application. 
Eligibility
FSS is open to Singapore citizens only, and Singaporean candidates would need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
  • Has good honours degree (second upper or cum laude and above).
  • Has an excellent GRE score of at least 275, or GMAT score of at least 650.
  • Demonstrate strong leadership qualities.
  • Possess at least two years of financial services sector* work experience.
  • Not a civil or public servant.
Discontinuation of the FSS
The Financial Specialist Scholarship scheme has been discontinued. IBF will no longer be receiving any applications. Please contact us at [email protected].
Enquiries