Established in 1983, this is an annual event which grants 9-13 scholarships each year to outstanding postgraduates not only for their academic achievements but also for their work related to community services. They should also be pursuing their Masters or PhDs in universities either locally or abroad. Every year TKKF receives 140-180 applications out of which about 20 names are shortlisted for interviews by a panel of academics and TKKF committee members.
Besides the Tan Kah Kee Foundation itself, some of the scholarships are awarded under the names of other parties such as the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation (for the humanities) and the Li Siong Tay Foundation (for the arts and arts-related subjects). Each scholarship awardee would also be presented with the title Tan Kah Kee Scholar, a rare and prestigious accolade which would stand them in good stead in their future resumes. Open only to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, the scholarships are worth $12,000 each and there are no bonds attached.
During the last 38 years, Tan Kah Kee Foundation has supported more than 400 postgraduate students with scholarships amounting to over S$4 million. Under the TKKF umbrella, the following scholarships are awarded in 2021:
Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship
Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Humanities)
Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Journalism)
Li Song Tay Postgraduate Scholarship (Education and Arts)
Madam Doreen Liu Postgraduate Scholarship (Economics)
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the entire selection process was conducted online. The 2021 annual award ceremony was also conducted online on 21 Jul 2021. The guest-of-honour was Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai, Minister, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; Second Minister, Minister of Law.
TKK Postgraduate Scholarship Awardees 2021 | |||
Name | Course (Undertaking) | School (undertaking) | Award Type |
Lim Zhihao | Ph.D. in Economics | Columbia University | Mdm Dorren Liu Postgraduate Scholarship (Economics) |
Lin Hui-Yi | Master of Fine Arts | China Central Academy of Fine Arts | Li Siong Tay Postgraduate Scholarship |
Michelle Low Yin Yin | Doctor of Audiology (Au.D) | University of Kansas | Li Siong Tay Postgraduate Scholarship |
Lai Kam Yuue Clinc | Ph.D. Psychology | Pennslyvannia State University | Li Siong Tay Postgraduate Scholarship |
Thiyaghessan s/o Poongundranar | Master of Arts in Computational Social Science | University of Chicago | Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Humanities) |
Jonathan Kuek Han Loong | Doctor of Philosophy (Psychiatric Rehabilitation) | The University of Sydney | Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Humanities) |
Aerin Elizabeth Lai Jiaqi | PhD, Sociology | University of Edinburgh | Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Humanities) |
Zhou Jiajia | PhD in Political Science | University of Toronto | Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Humanities) |
Michael Zhou Xizhuang | Master of Science in Contemporary Chinese Studies | University of Oxford | Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Humanities) |
Lo Hoi Ying | Master of Journalism | The University of Hong Kong | Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (Journalism) |
Samuel Low Yuen Wei | MS + PhD AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS | STANFORD UNIVERSITY | Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship |
Jane Teo Sze Hui | Doctorate in Clinical Psychology | University College London (UCL) | Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship |
Chew Suet Mei | MSc in Epidemiology | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship |
