General questions
- Should I submit my application?
All applications should submitted online at: https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/merlion. The application can be submitted in French or in English. - Is it compulsory for the researchers applying to the Merlion Programme to have a Singaporean or a French nationality?
The researchers might come from any country, as long as the host institutions involved in the MERLION proposal are Singaporean and French. - May I mention two French supervisors or two Singaporean supervisors?
You have to identify one supervisor in France and one supervisor in Singapore. They will receive all information about the programme and they will be the intermediate between the funding providers and the research teams. You can mention your additional partners in the section “Composition of the French Team” and “Composition of the Singaporean Team”. - I do not have a French/Singaporean partner so far. May I still submit the proposal for my project?
At least two partners – one Singaporean and one French – are required for Merlion Project, Merlion Ph.D and Merlion Workshop. A PhD candidate has to be identified for the Merlion PhD Project. - I am unable to submit my proposal by the deadline. Is it possible for me to have an extension?
This deadline must be strictly adhered to. - We have already received funding under Merlion Programme. May we apply again this year?
YES. However, your project will not be considered as priority. - We would like to apply to the Merlion Programme. We are currently/will be funded by an institution/company. May we still be considered for the programme?
YES. You can still apply. Moreover, having sources of funding other than the Merlion Programme is strongly recommended. - I would like to apply for more than one option of the Merlion programme (e.g. Merlion Project + Merlion Workshop).
Is it possible?
YES. You can apply for more than one option at the same time but your applications will be evaluated separately. - How will we know about the outcome of our application?
Once the financed projects are selected, you will be notified by email and the chosen projects will be displayed on our website (https://voilah.sg/results-granted-projects/ ).
On Merlion Project
- I have more than two partners from different institutions for my project. Is it possible?
YES. At least two partners – one Singaporean and the other French – are required. However, it is acceptable to have more than two partners of the same nationality from different institutions. However, you have to identify one supervisor in France and one supervisor in Singapore. They will receive all information about the programme and they will be the intermediate between the funding providers and the research teams.
You can mention your additional partners in the section “Composition of the French Team” and “Composition of the Singaporean Team”. The funding is still up to 7 500 Euros per year from the French and Singaporean side and has to be shared. - What should be the length of my project’s description?
There is no restriction and we encourage you to be as exhaustive as possible. 10 pages is an average for the project description.
On Merlion Workshop
- Can I organize one workshop in France and one workshop in Singapore in the framework of the Merlion Workshop?
NO. This funding is dedicated to organize one Franco-Singaporean workshop with a balanced implication and contribution of each country. It can be held in Singapore or in France, in 2019.
On Merlion Ph.D
- Is it mandatory that the PhD candidate has studied at a Singaporean University?
NO.The PhD student can come from any overseas university but he/she has to be attached to a Singaporean university for his/her PhD. In the case of a French PhD student, the candidate is only eligible under a partnership with SUTD.
1/ France to Singapore: NO. The funding from the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs doesn’t fund scholarship for French students in the framework of this programme.
2/ Singapore to France : YES. The eligible candidate, whose first attachment is in a French Singaporean institution, has to be involved in a Franco-Singaporean research project. - Can we apply with a candidate neither French nor Singaporean?
YES. The PhD student can be Thai, Malaysian, etc… as long as the two host institutions for the Merlion PhD proposal are Singaporean and French. Please check with the French and the Singaporean affiliated institutions if there are any required conditions or restrictions. - I would like to apply to the Merlion Ph.D. I have yet to start my curriculum but I have been given a scholarship.
Am I still eligible to apply?
YES. We highly recommend you to also get a funding from Singapore. - Is the Merlion support pay for the salary of the PhD student?
NO. The Merlion grant is only dedicated to support the PhD project for its mobility aspects. - I am in the middle of my PhD studies. May I still make an application to the Merlion Ph.D?
YES. The PhD student involved in a French-Singaporean research project must be enrolled in a Singaporean university at the time of the application. Each project must have a French coordinator and a Singaporean coordinator, whose affiliations should be clearly identified. In the case of a “co-tutelle” or “double tutelle” Ph.D, the Singaporean and French coordinators will be, exceptions apart, the co-supervisors of the PhD thesis. - If I am successful in my application to the Merlion Ph.D, how many months can I spend in France / Singapore?
The length of stay in France / Singapore supported by Merlion PhD Scheme is 18 months over a period of 3 years with a maximum of 6 months per year. - If I am successful in my application to the Merlion PhD, how much funding will I receive?
The grant for successful applicants to the Merlion PhD from Singapore to France by the French Embassy in Singapore is around 750 Euros a month in 2018 and a medical coverage is included. You will also be granted a France-Singapore flight ticket subject to a maximum of EUR 1150 per year.The grant for successful applicants to the Merlion PhD by SUTD from France to Singapore will provide equivalent level of support than the Merlion Ph.D funding scheme - I have one partner in Singapore/France, we have defined one joint PhD but we don’t have a PhD candidate.
Can we apply to Merlion PhD?
NO. It is mandatory to identify one candidate to apply for a Merlion PhD. - I am candidate for the Merlion PhD but I don’t have a French and Singaporean partner and joint project.
Can I apply to the Merlion PhD?
NO. You need to have a joint project and two supervisors, one in France and one in Singapore.
You did not find the proper answer? Please send your questions to our dedicated email: vincent.hourcastagnou@diplomatie.gouv.fr