Academic Awards

Undergraduate Awards

Cheng Moh Loi Prize

In July 2022, Mr Goh Kok Wee (FASS Alumnus, Class of 1994, Southeast Asian Studies major) made an expendable gift of S$15,000 to establish the Cheng Moh Loi Prize. The prize will be given out annually starting from AY2022/23 to recognise academic excellence amongst students in Southeast Asian Studies. Subject to rule 3 below, the prize will be awarded as follows:

A cash prize, valued at S$1,000, will be awarded to the Best Honours Thesis in Southeast Asian Studies with the highest numerical grade. In addition, the student must have obtained a minimum grade of A- in the thesis.
In the event of there being more than one candidate of equal merit for the award, the prize will be shared equally.
No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
The prize will be awarded by the Board of Undergraduate Studies or its nominee.
The gift shall be governed by the University Statutes and Regulations, specifically, Statute 7 on Gifts to the University and the corresponding Regulation.

The department reserves the right to not award any prize if there are no candidates of sufficient merit. The decision of the selection committee is final. Enquiries or disputes surrounding its decisions will not be entertained.

ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute Prize

“The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Prize” was donated by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in 1995 for the best student in Southeast Asian Studies in the Arts III Examination. Following the renaming of ISEAS to ISEAS‐Yusof Ishak Institute in August 2015, the prize is renamed as “ISEAS‐Yusof Ishak Institute Prize”. The prize will be awarded annually under the following conditions:

Subject to Rule 3 below, the prize will be awarded to the best student in Southeast Asian Studies in the Arts III Examination.
The prize will be awarded by the Board of Undergraduate Studies on the recommendation of the relevant Board of Examiners.
No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
The prize, valued at $300, will be in the form of cash.

Kernial Singh Sandhu Prize

Donated in 1995 by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in memory of Kernial Singh Sandhu, former Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, the prize is awarded annually to the best student in Southeast Asian Studies in the B.A. Honours Examination.

1. The prize is awarded by the Board of Undergraduate Studies on the recommendation of the relevant Board of Examiners.
2. No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
3. The prize, valued at $300 will be in the form of cash.

NUS Southeast Asian Studies Exposure Course Prize

In October 2022, the family of the late Mr Wan Boo Sow pledged an endowment of S$500,000 and expendable gift of S$50,000 to the Department of Southeast Asian Studies to establish three new awards. The NUS Southeast Asian Studies Exposure Course Prize will be awarded annually to encourage students from FASS and other faculties to take the exposure course offered in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies. Subject to rule 5, the award is governed by the following conditions:

Up to six (6) cash prizes, valued at up to S$1,000 each, will be awarded to the best performing students in the Exposure Course (SE1101E) offered by the Department of Southeast Asian Studies in each semester.
The GPA will be used as a tie-breaker when two or more students score the same marks.
Students who are Singapore citizens must have obtained a minimum grade of ‘B’ or ‘Merit’ (or equivalent) in his/her Mother Tongue Language at the O/AO/A Level.
Only students who are Singapore citizens born in Singapore and/or are Singaporean-at-birth, or naturalised Singapore citizens who were born in or were at birth a citizen of an ASEAN country, or students who are ASEAN citizens born in or be at birth a citizen of an ASEAN country are eligible. Male students who are Singapore citizens must have completed full-time National Service.
No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
The Head of Department may adjust the number of cash prizes and/or value of the cash prizes in such a manner he/she deems fit, subject to sufficiency of funds and/or available income and the University’s prevailing spending policies. All winners awarded in the same academic year will each receive the same cash prize amount.
The prize will be awarded by the FASS Board of Examiners on the recommendation of the Head of the Department.
The gift shall be governed by the University Statutes and Regulations, specifically, Statute 7 on Gifts to the University and the corresponding Regulation.

NUS Southeast Asian Studies General Education (GE) Prize

In October 2022, the family of the late Mr Wan Boo Sow pledged an endowment of S$500,000 and expendable gift of S$50,000 to the Department of Southeast Asian Studies to establish three new awards. The NUS Southeast Asian Studies General Education (GE) Prize will be awarded annually to encourage students from FASS and other faculties to take the GE offered in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies. Subject to rule 6, the award is governed by the following conditions:

Prizes are applicable to all GE courses (subject to additions, deletions or changes in course titles at the discretion of the Department) offered by the Department of Southeast Asian Studies in each semester.
Up to six (6) cash prizes, valued at up to S$1,000 each, will be awarded to the best performing students for each GE course in each semester of the academic year.
The GPA will be used as a tie-breaker when two or more students score the same marks.
Students who are Singapore citizens must have obtained a minimum grade of ‘B’ or ‘Merit’ (or equivalent) in his/her Mother Tongue Language at the O/AO/A Level.
Only students who are Singapore citizens born in Singapore and/or are Singaporean-at-birth, or naturalised Singapore citizens who were born in or were at birth a citizen of an ASEAN country, or students who are ASEAN citizens born in or be at birth a citizen of an ASEAN country are eligible. Male students who are Singapore citizens must have completed full-time National Service.
No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
The Head of Department may adjust the number of cash prizes and/or value of the cash prizes in such a manner he/she deems fit, subject to sufficiency of funds and/or available income and the University’s prevailing spending policies. All winners awarded in the same academic year will each receive the same cash prize amount.
The prize will be awarded by the FASS Board of Examiners on the recommendation of the Head of the Department.
The gift shall be governed by the University Statutes and Regulations, specifically, Statute 7 on Gifts to the University and the corresponding Regulation.

NUS Southeast Asian Studies Prize

In October 2022, the family of the late Mr Wan Boo Sow pledged an endowment of S$500,000 and expendable gift of S$50,000 to the Department of Southeast Asian Studies to establish three new awards. The NUS Southeast Asian Studies Prize will be awarded annually to recognise undergraduate students who have achieved academic excellence in Southeast Asian Studies. Subject to rule 7 below, the award is governed by the following conditions:

Up to two (2) cash prizes, valued at up to S$1,500 each, will be awarded to the best Arts 3 student in Southeast Asian Studies with the highest SJGPA (Subject Grade Point Average) in Southeast Asian Studies courses throughout the programme of study in the examinations leading to the Bachelor degree in FASS.
Up to two (2) cash prizes, valued at up to S$2,000 each, will be awarded to the best Arts 4 student in Southeast Asian Studies with the highest SJGPA (Subject Grade Point Average) in Southeast Asian Studies courses throughout the programme of study in the examinations leading to the Bachelor degree in FASS.
In the event of there being more than one candidate of equal merit for the award, the GPA will be used as a tie-breaker.
Students who are Singapore citizens must have obtained a minimum grade of ‘B’ or ‘Merit’ (or equivalent) in his/her Mother Tongue Language at the O/AO/A Level.
Only students who are Singapore citizens born in Singapore and/or are Singaporean-at-birth, or naturalised Singapore citizens who were born in or were at birth a citizen of an ASEAN country, or students who are ASEAN citizens born in or be at birth a citizen of an ASEAN country are eligible. Male students who are Singapore citizens must have completed full-time National Service.
Students must have read a Southeast Asian language that is not his/her mother tongue language.
No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
The Head of Department may adjust the number of cash prizes and/or the value of the cash prizes in such a manner he/she deems fit, subject to sufficiency of funds and/or available income and the University’s prevailing spending policies.
The prize will be awarded by the Board of Undergraduate Studies or its nominee.
This gift shall be governed by the University Statutes and Regulations, specifically, Statute 7 on Gifts to the University and the corresponding Regulation.

Special Prize (Southeast Asian Studies)

Graduate Awards

Benjamin Batson Medal and Prize

Donated in 1996 by the Department of History from the bequest of the late Dr Benjamin Batson, a gold medal is awarded from the proceeds of a capital sum of S$15,000. In 2016, with the consent of the donor’s family, a cash prize was added to the award. In 2024, the quantum for the cash prize increased to a maximum of $1,000.

The award is governed by the following conditions:

Subject to rule 3 below, a gold medal and cash prize will be awarded to the best candidate for the Master of Arts (Contemporary Southeast Asia) programme.
The medal and prize will be awarded by the Board of Graduate Studies or its nominee.
No award will be made unless there is a candidate of sufficient merit.
The prize, valued at up to S$1,000, will be in the form of cash.
The Head of Department may adjust the value of the cash prize in such a manner as he/she deems fit, subject to sufficiency of funds and/or available income and the University’s prevailing spending policies.
This gift shall be governed by the University Statutes and Regulations, specifically, Statute 7 on Gifts to the University and the corresponding Regulation.