The Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship (SAFOS), is a scholarship by the Public Service Commission (Singapore).
The SAFOS is second in prestige to the President's Scholarship. Singaporean males have to serve two years of National Service upon completion of their GCE A level or International Baccalaureate examinations. The SAFOS scholarships are given to outstanding officer cadets with excellent A level/IB results, impressive co-curricular activities and outstanding Officer Cadet School performance. They are culled from the Scholar Delta Company in Singapore Armed Forces Officer Cadet School (Singapore).
After they are selected through rigorous rounds of interviews, scholars disrupt from Officer Cadet School, to begin their undergraduate studies overseas, typically in the United Kingdom or United States, depending on the commencement of the school term of the countries.
Upon graduation, SAFOS scholars have a different tour of duty from the rest of the officers as they are exposed to a broader view of the organisation, the Government and have experience in various civilian ministries in Singapore.
SAFOS scholars are groomed for the highest levels of command and management in the SAF and beyond. They generally do another post-graduate degree in Master of Business Administration or Master in Public Policy overseas in the middle of their careers to prepare themselves for appointments beyond the Singapore Armed Forces.
Past SAFOS scholars include Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Hsien Yang, BG George Yeo, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Ministers Lim Hng Kiang, Lim Swee Say, Chan Chun Sing, Tan Chuan Jin, former head of civil service Peter Ho, chief executive of Changi Airport Group Lee Seow Hiang, Permanent Secretaries Desmond Kuek, Tan Yong Soon.