About the SSHR–TG

Social Science & Humanities Research Thematic Grant

The Social Science & Humanities Research Thematic Grant (SSHR-TG) is the first major initiative launched in 2016 by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), aimed at boosting social science and humanities research in areas of strategic relevance to Singapore and Asia.

Interested applicants are encouraged to read through the following sections which cover the application process, funding, eligibility and evaluation criteria of the SSHR-TG.

How to Apply
The 2025 Call for proposals was launched on 9 May 2025. All applications must be submitted through the respective Offices of Research (or equivalent) by 1 Aug 2025 at 5pm. For information about the latest thematic areas or past projects and awardees, click on the links below. List of SSHR-TG Themes List of past projects & awardees

How to Apply

The 2025 Call for proposals was launched on 9 May 2025. All applications must be submitted through the respective Offices of Research (or equivalent) by 1 Aug 2025 at 5pm.

For information about the latest thematic areas or past projects and awardees, click on the links below.

Funding Tiers

There are three tiers of funding available:

Type A: S$100,000 to S$1 million / 3 – 5 years
		(Type A) For smaller-scale investigator-led research in areas of strategic relevance
Type B: S$1 million to S$5 million / 3 – 5 years
Type C: S$5 million to S$10 million / 3 – 5 years
		(Type B & C) For large-scale research where research performers are encouraged to collaborate to pursue more ambitious inter-disciplinary research on issues of cross-cutting interests

Eligibility

Principal Investigators (PI) and co-PIs must hold a primary full-time appointment (defined as a minimum commitment of nine months per year) in the eligible Host Institution, at time of application.

The eligible Host Institutions are:

1	National University of Singapore (NUS)
2	Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
3	Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
4	Singapore Management University (SMU)
5	Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
6	Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
7	ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS)
8	Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
9	Singapore-Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Centre
10	University of the Arts Singapore (UAS)

Prospective applicants may contact the Office of Research (or equivalent) in their respective Host Institutions for more information on the application process.

The SSHR-TG allows for joint submissions from eligible Host Institutions, subject to the eligibility of the applicants. Host Institutions that are eligible to apply for and receive the SSHR-TG may work in partnership or collaboration with any other organisations locally or overseas, subject to the conditions of the SSHR-TG.

Unless expressly allowed by MOE, the funds or any part thereof shall not be channelled to fund research and development activities overseas. Expenditure on overseas fieldwork must be specifically provided for in the research proposal and approved as part of the grant.

Evaluation Criteria

Submitted proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1	Relevance: Relevance to the grant call’s thematic focus
2	Potential Impact: Potential benefits of the research to Singapore
3	Synergy: Synergies with existing research capabilities in the broader research landscape in Singapore
4	Capability-building: Potential to boost and catalyse the development of local social science and humanities research capabilities in Singapore
5	Technical Merit: Scientific and intellectual rigour, potential to create new and important knowledge, appropriateness of the research design and methods, and the effective use of innovative and inter-disciplinary approaches
6	Quality of Research Team: Capabilities and track record of the proposed research team
7	Execution: Coherence in the proposed execution plans, feasibility of carrying out the research within the given timeframe, and the cost-effectiveness and value-for-money of the research