Fullyfunded i-SEA Fellowship 2026 brings 40 student content creators to Singapore for ethical storytelling, mentorship, industry visits, and a global hackathon.
Fullyfunded i-SEA Fellowship 2026 in Singapore
The Fullyfunded i-SEA Fellowship 2026 is a month-long hybrid program for young student content creators who want to explore ethical storytelling, digital media, information integrity, and responsible artificial intelligence.
Selected fellows will join online masterclasses and mentoring sessions before traveling to Singapore for a fully funded in-person program from December 7 to 12, 2026. The Singapore component includes workshops, industry visits, and an international hackathon. Applications are free, and the program will select 40 young content creators from eligible countries and regions.
Fullyfunded i-SEA Fellowship 2026 Overview
The fellowship is intended for students who are already active online and want to improve the quality, responsibility, and impact of their content.
What Is the i-SEA Fellowship?
The i-SEA Fellowship is an educational and leadership program focused on the relationship between content creation, public information, and digital responsibility.
Participants will examine how stories are created and shared online, how audiences assess information, and how creators can communicate accurately without contributing to misinformation or harmful online behavior. The program also introduces fellows to responsible uses of artificial intelligence and modern digital tools.
The fellowship is organized by the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet, known as IN-cube, at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. It is supported through a partnership with the Temasek Foundation and the NTU ASEAN, China and India Mobility Fund.
This combination gives the program an academic, professional, and regional focus. Fellows will not simply attend lectures; they will take part in discussions, mentoring, visits, and collaborative activities connected to real media and technology environments.
What Does the Fullyfunded Program Include?
Selected participants will take part in online and in-person activities during the fellowship period.
Online Masterclasses
The online portion of the program includes sessions led by specialists in digital storytelling, information integrity, media, and related fields. These masterclasses are designed to help participants strengthen both their creative skills and their understanding of responsible communication.
Topics may include identifying unreliable information, building audience trust, using digital platforms effectively, and creating content that is informative as well as engaging.
Mentorship
Fellows will receive guidance from experienced content creators and media professionals. Mentorship can help participants improve their ideas, refine their communication style, and think more carefully about the effect their content has on audiences.
For applicants, it is useful to consider what they hope to gain from a mentor. A clear answer might involve improving short-form video production, developing a fact-checking process, building a responsible AI workflow, or reaching audiences across different cultural backgrounds.
Industry Visits in Singapore
The program includes visits to organizations such as:
TikTok
MediaCorp
SPH Media
These visits are intended to give fellows a closer look at how media and technology organizations develop, distribute, and manage content. Participants may also gain insight into professional roles, editorial decision-making, audience engagement, and the challenges of maintaining information quality at scale.
International Hackathon
The Singapore component includes an international hackathon. Fellows will work with other participants to develop ideas or solutions related to digital media, information integrity, ethical storytelling, or responsible technology.
Applicants should be ready to collaborate with people from different academic and cultural backgrounds. The ability to listen, contribute constructively, and explain an idea clearly can be just as important as technical expertise.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The Fullyfunded i-SEA Fellowship is open to young content creators who meet the program’s age, education, location, and participation requirements.
Applicants must generally:
Be between 18 and 25 years old if applying from outside Singapore
Be between 16 and 25 years old if applying from Singapore
Be a citizen or resident of an eligible country in Southeast Asia, China, or India
Be enrolled in a junior college, polytechnic, university, or another post-secondary institution
Obtain a nomination or endorsement from their educational institution
Have at least 1,000 followers on a social media platform
Post content regularly each month
Be active on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or another suitable platform
Be available for the full fellowship program
The follower requirement indicates that the program is intended for active creators rather than applicants who are only beginning to explore social media. However, a large audience alone does not guarantee selection. The quality, consistency, originality, and responsibility of an applicant’s content are likely to be important factors.
What Kind of Applicants May Be a Good Fit?
The program may suit students who create content about subjects such as:
Education
Youth issues
Technology
Culture
Sustainability
Public health
Media literacy
Social development
Current affairs
Community initiatives
Applicants do not necessarily need to study journalism or communications. Students from technology, business, social sciences, design, education, and other disciplines may also be suitable if they can demonstrate genuine interest in ethical digital storytelling.
A strong applicant should be able to show more than a follower count. Useful evidence may include a consistent posting history, examples of original work, thoughtful engagement with an audience, and a clear reason for wanting to learn about information integrity and responsible AI.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
Review Your Content Portfolio
Select several examples that represent your best work. Choose content that demonstrates clear communication, creativity, research, or positive community engagement.
Do not submit examples simply because they received the most views. Explain what you created, who it was for, and what you learned from producing it.
Explain Your Motivation
A convincing application should explain why the i-SEA Fellowship fits your goals. Avoid relying on generic statements about wanting to “make a difference.” Instead, describe a specific challenge you have encountered as a content creator.
For example, you might want to learn how to verify information before publishing, use AI without losing editorial judgment, communicate complex topics to younger audiences, or create content that works across multiple languages and cultures.
Demonstrate Responsible Communication
Because the fellowship focuses on information integrity, applicants should review their public content before applying. Check whether captions are accurate, sources are appropriately identified, and sponsored or edited material is clearly presented.
Creators should also be prepared to discuss how they handle corrections, disagreement, sensitive subjects, and uncertainty. These practical details can demonstrate maturity and trustworthiness.
Secure Institutional Endorsement Early
Applicants need a nomination or endorsement from their educational institution. Contact the relevant teacher, department, student affairs office, or international programs team as soon as possible.
Allow time for the institution to review your request and provide the required endorsement. Waiting until the final hours could make it difficult to complete the application properly.
Fullyfunded Benefits in Singapore
Selected fellows will receive funding for participation in the Singapore program. The benefits include:
Funded travel to Singapore
Accommodation during the program
Covered expenses connected with participation
Access to workshops and masterclasses
Mentorship from experienced creators
Visits to major media and technology organizations
Participation in an international hackathon
The opportunity to meet other young creators from across the region
Applicants should read the official terms carefully for the precise coverage, travel arrangements, required documents, and any conditions attached to the funding.
The program takes place in Singapore from December 7 to 12, 2026, so selected fellows must be available for the complete in-person schedule as well as the online activities that precede it.
Application Deadline and Process
The deadline to apply for the i-SEA Fellowship 2026 is August 30, 2026. Applications are free.
Before submitting, applicants should prepare:
Personal and educational information
Details of their social media platforms
Evidence of at least 1,000 followers
Examples of published content
A motivation statement
Information about their interests in ethical storytelling and digital media
Institutional nomination or endorsement
Availability for the online and Singapore-based portions of the fellowship
Submit the application through the official i-SEA Fellowship application channel and follow the instructions provided by the organizers. Since the deadline is close, applicants should avoid leaving the endorsement and portfolio sections until the last minute.
Why Apply for the i-SEA Fellowship?
The i-SEA Fellowship combines practical content creation with questions that affect online audiences everywhere. Participants can improve their storytelling skills while learning how to approach information, artificial intelligence, and digital influence more responsibly.
The Fullyfunded program is particularly relevant for students who want to build a career in media, communications, technology, marketing, public policy, education, or social impact. Meeting creators from other countries can also provide a valuable regional perspective on how audiences consume and interpret online content.
Applicants should focus on showing who they are as creators, what they have already done, and how the fellowship will shape their next stage of development. A clear portfolio, thoughtful motivation statement, and completed institutional endorsement can make the application more credible.
With the August 30, 2026 deadline approaching, eligible students should prepare their materials immediately and submit a complete application before the closing date.
APPLY NOW FOR THE I-SEA FELLOWSHIP