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DAS – DAS Academy Scholarship

Master of Arts Scholarship

Join a programme where professional growth and compassionate service go hand in hand, where your work truly matters.

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Scholarship Objectives

Empowering Mid-Career Professionals to Lead in Special Education

The DAS – DAS Academy Scholarship is your opportunity to embark on a meaningful and rewarding journey into the Special Educational Needs (SEN) sector, where your skills, experience, and passion can transform lives.

This partial academic scholarship is designed for individuals looking to make a mid-career switch into SEN, in line with our mission to empower people with dyslexia and other specific learning differences.

Through this scholarship, you’ll receive financial support to pursue the Master of Arts in Special Educational Needs/Additional Learning Needs — a rigorous, three-year, part-time postgraduate programme that equips you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead in inclusive education.

Whether you’re a teacher, social worker, manager, or professional from another field, this programme will help you:

  • Cultivate specialist skills to support diverse learners
  • Channel your experience into a purposeful new career
  • Join a community of passionate changemakers

We believe mid-career professionals bring valuable insight and empathy to the SEN field. This scholarship catalyses capable, values-driven individuals to make a lasting difference, particularly in the lives of children who need it most.

Target Audience

Who This Scholarship Is For

This first-of-its-kind scholarship is open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who are ready to upskill and pursue a meaningful career supporting learners with learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, and other hidden learning needs that may not be immediately visible in traditional classrooms.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds:

Related fields

General education, special needs, early childhood, social work, and tuition

Unrelated sectors

Finance, engineering, IT, marketing, and more — your skills are transferable and valued

We also encourage special education teachers to apply if you’re looking to broaden your expertise beyond the more complex needs typically addressed in SPED schools, and focus on supporting students with specific learning differences.

If you’re seeking a purposeful second career that changes lives, this scholarship is your gateway into a sector that needs compassionate, capable, and committed individuals.

Procedure

Application Procedure

Scholarship applicants must apply for and be accepted into the MA SEN/ALN programme before seeking the scholarship.

There are two scholarship application periods each year.

Application PeriodApply for MA SEN/ALNApply for ScholarshipInterview PeriodJoin Programme
1By 11 Jan 2026By 18 Jan 202626 Jan – 6 Feb 2026Mar 2026 (Week 3)
2By 16 Mar 2026By 27 Mar 202613 Apr – 24 Apr 2026June 2026 (Week 1)
Scholarship Value
Required Documents

Required Documents

1

The scholarship application form (click to access)

2

A personal statement for scholarship

  • Background information
  • Motivation for applying for this scholarship
  • What you hope to achieve through this programme
  • How you wish to contribute or further contribute to the SEN field
3

A Scholarship Referee Report. The reference should ideally be typed on letterheaded paper, signed, and dated. It should:

  • Contain the title, name, position, and contact details of the referee;
  • State how long and in what capacity the referee has known the applicant;
  • Comment on ALL following areas: academic performance, study/research skills, relevant personal qualities, motivation and suitability for the intended programme or research project, as well as his/her career aims and prospects;
  • Make a recommendation for the scholarship applicant based on his or her ability to contribute to the SEN community (I recommend, I strongly recommend, I do not recommend, I am unable to comment…)
4

Complete proposal plan for giving back to the DAS community. (Download form here). As part of giving back, scholarship recipients should contribute a minimum of six hours of service at Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS)/ DAS Academy every six months from commencement of the programme. i.e. a minimum of 36 hours within 3 years.

Scholarship Value and Fee Breakdown

Total Programme Cost
$28,879.80
Value of Scholarship
$19,253.20
Self-Funded Amount
$9,626.60

Payment schedule

Your self-funded portion will be paid in 6 equal instalments of $1,604.43 every six months, starting from the time of enrolment.

How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria

  • Hold a Bachelor’s degree, equivalent qualification, or have at least

5 years of relevant work experience

in the field of Special Educational Needs (SEN).

  • Applicants may come from related sectors (e.g. general education, special needs, early childhood, social work, tuition) or unrelated sectors (e.g. finance, engineering, IT, marketing, or currently unemployed).
Selection Process

Selection Process

Candidates will be assessed based on their interview and a proposed plan to complete at least 36 hours of volunteer service with DAS or DAS Academy. This proposal is to be submitted after the interview.

There is an equal opportunity for both mid-career switchers and individuals already working in the special needs sector (e.g. SPED teachers looking to specialise in specific learning differences).

Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions of the DAS – DAS Academy Scholarship

The DAS – DAS Academy Scholarship supports aspiring professionals in their journey toward a meaningful career in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) sector. To ensure a strong foundation and commitment to the field, recipients are expected to fulfil the following conditions:

1. Commitment to the SEN sector

Recipients are expected to actively engage with the SEN field throughout the duration of their studies. Early involvement will help scholars develop a grounded, real-world perspective that strengthens their practice and learning.

As part of giving back, scholarship recipients must contribute a minimum of 6 hours of volunteer service at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) or DAS Academy every six months, adding up to at least 36 hours over the 3-year programme. A proposed volunteer service plan must be submitted before the interview and the finalised version submitted within a week after the interview. Volunteer roles may include project support, outreach, mentoring, or other relevant contributions.

To ensure accountability and reflection on professional growth: Recipients must submit a brief Impact Report every six months from the start of the programme. Each report must be endorsed by a relevant DAS department and submitted to the Sponsorship Panel.

Recipients are expected to: Complete the Master of Arts in SEN/ALN programme within 36 months; Pass every module with at least the minimum required grade.

The scholarship may be revoked and reimbursement required if any of the following conditions are not met: Attaining a minimum pass grade for each module; Completing the required volunteer hours (minimum 6 hours per 6-month period); Submitting biannual impact reports; Completing the programme within the 36-month timeframe.

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