In June 2010, the Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF) set up the SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship with a S$10-million donation from philanthropist and sports enthusiast, Mr Peter Lim. The gift remains the single largest donation in Singapore from an individual towards sports development.
The driving force behind the Scholarship is the desire to ensure that no promising young athlete, committed to chasing his sporting dreams, should be hampered by financial considerations.
The Scholarship aims to:
- Help young deserving sports talents from humble backgrounds to achieve their sporting goals; and
- Support under-18, high-performing athletes to pursue sporting excellence in their chosen fields.
From 2011 to 2015, more than 1,450 scholarships, totalling over S$3.8 million, were disbursed.
Tenure, Categories & Quanta of Awards
The tenure of the Scholarship is one year. The Scholarship has 4 categories. The cash award for each category of scholarship is as follows:
| Category | Student Status/Age Group | Minimum Level of Sporting Achievements | Quantum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary+ | Primary school student |
Good performance at interschool (minimal zonal) or equivalent competition/s |
S$1,000 per year |
| Secondary+ | Secondary school student |
Good performance at interschool (minimal national) or equivalent competition/s |
S$2,000 per year |
| JC/IP/Tertiary+ | Junior College, Integrated Programme (Yr 5/Yr 6), Tertiary student |
Good performance at age-group, inter-school (minimal national) or equivalent competition/s |
S$3,000 per year |
| High Performance (U18)^ |
18 years old and below as at 31 Dec 2015 |
Commendable performance in regional/international competition/s | S$5,000 per year |
+ Key considerations: Applicant’s family income & sports performance.
^ Key considerations: Applicant’s sports performance and potential.
Important Dates
- 4 January 2016: Application opens at 10am
- 29 January 2016: Application closes at 4pm
- Mid March 2016: Scholarship interviews for ‘High Performance (U18)’ category applicants & selected group of applicants.
- April 2016: Notification of successful applicants
- May 2016: Award presentation ceremony. All successful applicants must attend the ceremony.
- By November 2016: Submission of ‘Scholar’s Annual Report’ by awardees
Eligibility
The scholarship is awarded only to Singapore citizens who are either:
- financially-deserving* and promising athletes from primary, secondary/junior college and tertiary educational institutions; or
- talented athletes under 18 years old who have represented Singapore in overseas competitions.
Existing scholars who wish to apply for a renewal of scholarship must put in a fresh application when application opens for the year. Unsuccessful applicants of previous selection exercises are welcome to apply again if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Special considerations will be given to athletes who require specific funding support which is not provided by existing schemes of the National Sports Associations (NSA) or Sport Singapore.
Primary/Secondary/Junior College/Tertiary Categories
The applicant:
- is a Singapore citizen;
- is financially-deserving*;
- has shown outstanding performance from January to December 2015 in either age-group, inter-school/zonal (Primary category)/national, and/or national sports association-recognised competition/s of his/her selected sport;
- must be of good character & conduct;
- must have his/her application endorsed by his/her school** or the relevant National Sports Association; and
- agrees to be profiled in materials produced/approved by the Singapore Olympic Foundation and to allow the use of his/her photos/images in these materials.
** Applicants waiting for school postings can get their alma maters to endorse their applications.
High Performance (U18) Category
The applicant:
- is a Singapore citizen;
- is under 18 years old as of 31 December 2015;
- has shown commendable performance from January to December 2015 in regional or international sporting competition/s recognised by the relevant national sports associations;
- is not a recipient of SpexScholarship;
- must have his application endorsed by the relevant National Sports Association; and
- agrees to be profiled in materials produced/approved by the Singapore Olympic Foundation and to allow the use of his/her photos/images in these materials.
* Details of Income Limit for Primary/Secondary/Junior College/Tertiary Categories
The applicant’s monthly gross per capita income (PCI) must not exceed the income limit set by the SOF. This income limit is subject to a regular review by the SOF Board so as to preserve the relevance of the Scholarship.
PCI is computed based on the applicant’s gross household income divided by the number of living members in the same household, including the applicant and his/her parents, siblings and grandparents. For computation of the PCI, the applicant must submit original copies of the income documents and photocopies of NRICs/birth certificates of relevant family members as documentary proof.
Important note: Information of both parents’ incomes must be furnished.
| Reason | Documentary Proof |
|---|---|
| Unemployment | CPF statement showing the contribution history in the last 6 months or latest IRAS tax computation statement |
| Chronic illness of parent | Letter/medical report by a medical doctor registered with the Singapore Medical Council |
| Single-parenthood due to divorce or death | Court documents stating amount of financial contribution from former spouse or death certificate, where applicable |
| Other extenuating reason | Contact SOF for assistance |
How to Apply
- Complete the online application form.
- Applications will close on 29 January 2016 at 4pm. Only successful applicants will be notified by email.
- Ensure that all entries are correct before clicking on the ‘Submit’ button. (SOF’s decisions pertaining to the disbursement of the Scholarship are final. All applicants are strongly advised to provide all relevant and pertinent information in their online application.)
- Print out application form.
- Submit the hardcopy of the application form, together with the supporting documents, to your school or National Sports Association (NSA) for endorsement. For National/National Youth Team athletes, a letter of support from the NSA must be attached.
- Organise the documents in the following order:
- Duly signed application form, endorsed by applicant’s school or NSA;
- Certified true copies of 2015 school results;
- Certified true copies of 2015 CCA records and/or other certificates/awards received in 2015;
- Photocopies of the NRICs/Birth Certificates of all the members in the same household; and
- Original or certified true copies of relevant income documents and/or supporting documents from employers, CPF Board, IRAS, Courts, professional and medical bodies, or relevant authorities.
- A Letter of Support is required for the applicants for High Performance U18 category.
- Submit your application by mail to:
Singapore Olympic Foundation – Peter Lim Scholarship 2016
c/o Singapore National Olympic Council
3 Stadium Drive, #01-02
Singapore 397630
Important Notes
All completed applications must reach the SOF by 4pm on 29 January 2016 (Friday). Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Each applicant can only submit ONE (1) application form per year. An applicant who submits multiple applications will be disqualified. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered. We regret that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.
Contact Information
For more information on the Scholarship, you may contact:
Mr Chay Keng Fai
Email: chaykengfai@snoc.org.sg
Contact no.: +65 6702 5154
Frequently-Asked Questions
Q1. Must I submit my application form directly to the Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF)?
Yes, you must submit your application form directly to the SOF before the application window closes. Please allow sufficient delivery time for your mail to reach the SOF.
Q2. What if I miss the scholarship application deadline?
All applicants must submit the completed application form and supporting documents by the stipulated closing date. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Amendments to your application will not be allowed after your online submission.
Q3. If I am awarded the Scholarship, what information must I include in the Scholar’s Annual Report to SOF?
All recipients of the Scholarship are required to submit a ‘Scholar’s Annual Report’ to detail how they have spent the cash awarded with the scholarship. This report must be submitted by November 2016.
Recipients of the Scholarship must also submit his/her training schedule and self-reflection on his progress as an athlete to the SOF. This report can be compiled by the individual, and endorsed by his/her school or National Sports Association.
Q4. How can the Scholarship fund be deployed?
The scholarship fund can be used to pay for expenses incurred in the course of training/competitions e.g. cost of transport, coaching fees, competition registration fees, training equipment and gear.
Q5. Can I use the scholarship fund for my overseas training and competition?
Yes, although these should be funded by your school or the National Sports Association. However, if you are not funded for various reasons, you may use this scholarship fund for your overseas training and competition.
Q6. Do I need to submit original receipts in my Scholar’s Annual Report to SOF?
Yes. All items purchased with the scholarship fund should be kept for record purposes and must be attached to the awardee’s Scholar’s Annual Report.
Q7. How will I receive the cash awarded with the Scholarship?
The scholarship awardee will have a cheque, made payable to him/her, mailed to the postal address provided in his/her application form.