NUS Medicine establishes new mental health scholarship with S$3 million gift from Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation

Published: 26 Nov 2025

NUS Medicine has received a significant boost with a S$3 million gift from the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation (EESF). The donation, their first to NUS and NUS Medicine, will establish a new scholarship for NUS Medicine’s Master of Clinical Mental Health and Psychotherapy (MCMHP) programme, supporting up to 24 full-time students over the next three years.

This gift marks the largest single scholarship gift received for the programme to date. The scholarship will fully cover the tuition fees and provide a monthly stipend of S$3,000 for the 18-month full-time programme. Up to 24 scholarships will be awarded over three years, based on merit.

Launched in 2024, the MCMHP was developed to meet the rising demand for trained mental health professionals in Singapore and the region. The programme aligns with the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy and its Tiered Care Model, equipping graduates to support individuals with mild to moderate mental health needs in both clinical and community settings.

The scholarship is open to local and international applicants enrolled full-time in the MCMHP programme, with no service bond required. However, recipients are encouraged to make a two-year moral commitment to working in the mental health and related sectors. Scholars will be selected by a joint committee from MCMHP and EESF.

“We are deeply grateful for this generous gift from Mr and Mrs Saverin. At a time when mental health challenges are becoming increasingly urgent and widespread, this donation will enable us to train more individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to support those in need,” said Professor Chong Yap Seng, Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine, Dean of NUS Medicine. “We hope this contribution will not only strengthen our capacity for mental health education but also help drive meaningful transformation across the sector.”

“Our family believes that mental health stands at the heart of human progress. We are committed to advancing meaningful solutions that promote wellbeing across all walks of life—through the resources we dedicate, the partnerships we nurture, and the hope we seek to inspire. Through the scholarship, we aim to empower visionary individuals to lead with compassion, challenge the norms that hold us back, and drive lasting change that uplifts communities everywhere,” said Elaine Saverin.

“Our partnership with the NUS Mind Science Centre reflects our shared belief that every individual—across all generations—deserves the opportunity to thrive. By focusing on mental health, we aim to unlock human potential and foster resilience, creativity, and empathy across communities. We are confident that the Scholars will not only carry this mission forward but also inspire others to join in making mental wellbeing a universal reality,” added Mrs Saverin.

“We are deeply grateful for Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation (EESF)’s visionary gift, which reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Singapore’s mental health ecosystem,” said Associate Professor Shefaly Shorey, Director of the Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre, a research centre of NUS and the National University Health System (NUHS). “The scholarship will empower a new generation of mental health professionals to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care across clinical and community settings. By investing in human potential, this scholarship advances our collective mission to build a resilient and flourishing society.”

The inaugural cohort of the MCMHP programme began in January 2025. Each cohort admits around 25 students drawn from frontline sectors such as healthcare, social services, education, and allied health.

Applications for the next intake will open on 1 December 2025 and close on 3 March 2026, with classes commencing in August 2026.