The i-SEA Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded regional programme for young content creators who want to strengthen their skills in ethical storytelling, information integrity, digital media and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

The programme will bring together 40 fellows from across Southeast Asia and other eligible countries for a month-long hybrid experience combining online masterclasses with an in-person workshop and hackathon in Singapore.

The fellowship is organised by the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-cube) at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, in partnership with the Temasek Foundation.

For selected participants, the cost is effectively $0. The in-person Singapore component includes return flights, six nights of accommodation, all meals, a daily stipend and an official certificate of completion.

i-SEA Fellowship 2026 at a Glance

Category	Details
Programme	i-SEA Fellowship 2026
Organiser	IN-cube at WKWSCI
Partner	Temasek Foundation
Format	Hybrid
Duration	One month
Fellows	40
Countries represented	9
Funding	100% funded
Online masterclasses	13–30 November 2026
Singapore week	7–12 December 2026
Return flights	Covered
Accommodation	6 nights covered
Meals	Covered
Daily stipend	Included
Certificate	Included
Application fee	None
Application dates	10 July–30 August 2026

What Is the i-SEA Fellowship?

The Influence for Impact in Southeast Asia Fellowship Programme, known as i-SEA, is a hybrid month-long programme designed to equip content creators with skills and tools for ethical and impactful digital storytelling.

The programme focuses heavily on the challenges that creators face in today’s digital environment.

Topics include:

Online harms
Misinformation
Media law and ethics
Artificial intelligence in storytelling
Fact-checking tools
Immersive journalism
Hackathon challenges

The fellowship is particularly relevant to young creators who want to build influence while also thinking seriously about accuracy, trust, ethics and the social impact of the content they produce.

Who Organises the i-SEA Fellowship?

The fellowship is an initiative of the:

Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet, or IN-cube

at the:

Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

The programme is run in partnership with:

Temasek Foundation.

IN-cube focuses on promoting information integrity in online spaces, particularly in an era shaped by misinformation and disinformation.

The centre aims to connect:

Academics
Policymakers
Industry professionals
The public

through relevant research and engagement.

Is the i-SEA Fellowship Fully Funded?

Yes.

The official fellowship page describes the programme as:

fully funded

and says selected fellows pay nothing to participate.

For the in-person Singapore week, the fellowship covers:

Return flights
Six-night accommodation
All meals
Daily stipend
Certificate of completion

The online masterclasses are also free to attend.

What Costs Are Covered?

The source is unusually clear about what selected fellows receive.

Return Flights

The fellowship covers return flights for the in-person programme in Singapore.

Accommodation

Selected fellows receive:

six nights of accommodation.

Meals

All meals during the Singapore programme are covered.

Daily Stipend

Fellows also receive a:

daily stipend.

The exact stipend amount is not specified in the supplied source.

Certificate

Participants who complete the programme receive an official certificate.

Does the Fellowship Charge an Application Fee?

No.

Applications are completely free.

The fellowship states that:

i-SEA
IN-cube
NTU

will never ask candidates to pay:

Registration fees
Processing fees
Deposits
Interview fees

Applicants should therefore treat any request for payment claiming to represent the programme as suspicious.

How Many Fellows Will Be Selected?

The 2026 cohort will include:

40 fellows.

The source also highlights participation from:

9 countries.

This makes the programme relatively selective, although the source does not provide the total number of applications or an acceptance rate.

How Long Is the Fellowship?

The programme lasts:

one month.

It is divided into three major phases:

Online masterclasses
Industry visits
Hackathon

Phase 1 — Online Masterclasses

The first component consists of:

three weeks of online masterclasses.

These sessions cover topics such as:

Misinformation
Media ethics
AI literacy
Fact-checking

The masterclasses are led by experts from:

Journalism
Technology
Academia

For 2026, the online sessions will run from:

13 November to 30 November 2026.

Phase 2 — Industry Visits

The fellowship also gives participants behind-the-scenes exposure to major media and technology organisations in Singapore.

The source mentions visits to:

TikTok Transparency Centre
SPH Media newsroom
MediaCorp broadcast studios

These visits give fellows direct insight into how large organisations deal with information integrity and digital media challenges.

Phase 3 — Hackathon

Participants work in cross-cultural teams to develop solutions to real challenges involving information integrity.

The hackathon is supported by:

industry experts

who mentor fellows during the process.

This gives participants an opportunity to apply what they learned in the masterclasses to practical problems.

Singapore Fellowship Week

The in-person component takes place in:

Singapore

from:

7 December to 12 December 2026.

This week includes:

Workshops
Hackathon activities
Site visits
Networking
Cross-cultural collaboration

What Will Fellows Learn?

The programme focuses on the rapidly changing relationship between digital content, trust and technology.

Misinformation

Creators learn about misinformation and how false or misleading content spreads online.

Online Harms

The fellowship also explores digital harms and the broader impact of irresponsible content.

Media Law and Ethics

Fellows learn about ethical responsibilities and legal issues connected to online publishing.

Artificial Intelligence in Storytelling

AI is becoming increasingly important in content creation.

Participants explore responsible use of AI in storytelling.

Fact-Checking

The programme includes training on:

fact-checking tools.

This can help creators improve accuracy and credibility.

Immersive Journalism

Immersive journalism is also included among the programme topics.

Information Integrity

A central theme throughout the fellowship is:

information integrity.

This means thinking critically about whether online content is:

Accurate
Responsible
Trustworthy
Ethical

Why the Fellowship Matters for Content Creators

Content creators now influence how millions of people understand:

News
Politics
Culture
Technology
Social issues
Products
Trends

That influence also creates responsibility.

The i-SEA Fellowship aims to help creators understand how to build strong audiences while maintaining ethical standards.

Regional Network

Fellows join a network of student creators from across the region.

The programme encourages participants to:

Build professional relationships
Collaborate on projects
Exchange ideas
Support one another
Promote information integrity

Learn From Industry Leaders

Participants attend sessions led by:

Academics
Journalists
Policy experts

Topics include:

Digital media ethics
AI in storytelling
Online harms

Creator Mentorship

Another major benefit is mentorship.

Fellows can learn directly from:

Established key opinion leaders
Successful influencers

The programme aims to provide practical insight into building an ethical and effective online presence.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility is fairly specific.

Applicants must satisfy both:

Basic requirements
Creator requirements

Age Requirement

Age depends on location.

Applicants in Singapore must be:

16 to 25 years old.

Applicants from other eligible countries must be:

18 to 25 years old.

Nationality or Residency Requirement

Applicants must be a:

citizen or resident of Southeast Asia, China or India.

This means the programme is not presented as open to applicants worldwide.

Education Requirement

Applicants must currently be enrolled in:

Junior college
Polytechnic
University
Another post-secondary institution

This makes the fellowship specifically student-focused.

Institutional Nomination Requirement

Applicants must be:

nominated by their institution.

This is an important eligibility condition.

Candidates should therefore engage with their:

University
College
Polytechnic
Post-secondary institution

before applying.

Social Media Following Requirement

Applicants need at least:

1,000 followers

on any platform.

This could include platforms such as:

TikTok
Instagram
YouTube
Other platforms

Posting Activity Requirement

Applicants should have a:

regular monthly posting history.

The fellowship is therefore intended for people who are already active creators rather than individuals who have never published content.

Availability Requirement

Applicants must be available for the:

full programme.

Candidates should make sure they can attend both:

Online sessions
In-person Singapore week

before applying.

Which Platforms Count?

The source specifically mentions:

TikTok
Instagram
YouTube
Other platforms

This means applicants are not restricted to one social media platform.

Do You Need to Be a Professional Influencer?

No such requirement is stated.

However, applicants need:

At least 1,000 followers
Regular monthly posting
Current post-secondary enrolment
Institutional nomination

This suggests the programme is designed for student creators with an established online presence.

Is the Fellowship for International Students?

Yes, within the eligible regional group.

Eligible candidates can be citizens or residents of:

Southeast Asia
China
India

and must meet the other requirements.

Is the Fellowship Open to African Applicants?

The supplied eligibility information does not list African countries as eligible unless an applicant qualifies through residence or citizenship in one of the stated eligible regions.

The programme should therefore not be described as a global fellowship.

Application Timeline

The 2026 programme follows four main milestones.

Applications Open

Applications run from:

10 July to 30 August 2026.

Fellows Announced

Selected fellows are expected to be announced in:

October 2026.

Online Masterclasses

The online programme runs:

13–30 November 2026.

Singapore Hackathon Week

The in-person programme runs:

7–12 December 2026.

Is the 2026 Fellowship Still Open?

The supplied source states:

Applications for the 2026 fellowship are now open.

However, the listed application window is:

10 July to 30 August 2026.

Applicants should therefore check the live application portal immediately before submitting in case the page has not yet been updated after the deadline.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the official online application portal.

A sensible process would be:

Step 1 — Confirm Eligibility

Check:

Age
Citizenship or residence
Student status
Institutional nomination
Follower count
Posting activity
Availability

Step 2 — Obtain Institutional Nomination

Because nomination is required, contact your institution early.

Step 3 — Prepare Evidence of Your Creator Activity

Applicants should be ready to show:

Social media profile
Follower numbers
Consistent posting history
Examples of content

Step 4 — Complete the Online Form

Submit the application through the programme’s official portal.

Step 5 — Do Not Pay Any Fees

The application is free.

What Makes a Strong Application?

The source does not provide a detailed scoring rubric, but the programme’s goals suggest that strong candidates should be able to demonstrate:

Active content creation
Commitment to ethical storytelling
Interest in information integrity
Willingness to learn about AI and digital media ethics
Ability to collaborate
Commitment to completing the full programme

How Competitive Is the Fellowship?

Only:

40 fellows

will join the 2026 programme.

The source does not provide the number of applicants, so it is not possible to calculate an acceptance rate.

However, the combination of:

Regional eligibility
Institutional nomination
Minimum follower threshold
Student status
Limited cohort size

suggests applicants should prepare carefully.

Does the Fellowship Provide a Certificate?

Yes.

Every fellow who completes the programme receives an:

official i-SEA Fellowship certificate.

The certificate is signed by the centre’s director and presented during the closing ceremony in Singapore.

Is the Certificate Free?

Yes.

The certificate forms part of the fully funded programme.

Does the Fellowship Cover Visa Costs?

The supplied source specifically confirms return flights, accommodation, meals and a daily stipend, but it does not separately state that visa costs are covered.

Applicants should therefore check with the organisers regarding immigration arrangements if relevant.

Does the Fellowship Cover Travel?

Yes.

Return flights are explicitly covered for the Singapore component.

Does It Cover Accommodation?

Yes.

The programme covers:

six nights.

Are Meals Included?

Yes.

The source states that:

all meals

are covered.

Is There a Stipend?

Yes.

Selected fellows receive a:

daily stipend.

The exact amount is not stated.

Why the Singapore Experience Matters

The in-person week gives fellows access to organisations operating at the centre of media, technology and information.

Industry visits include organisations such as:

TikTok
MediaCorp
SPH Media

This can help participants understand how professional organisations address issues such as:

Misinformation
Platform safety
News production
Digital ethics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the i-SEA Fellowship 2026?

It is a month-long hybrid fellowship for young content creators focused on ethical storytelling, information integrity and digital media.

Is the i-SEA Fellowship fully funded?

Yes.

The source states that selected fellows pay nothing and that the in-person Singapore week includes return flights, six nights of accommodation, all meals, a daily stipend and a certificate.

How many fellows will be selected?

40 fellows.

Where does the in-person programme take place?

Singapore.

When is the Singapore programme?

7–12 December 2026.

When are the online masterclasses?

13–30 November 2026.

Who can apply?

Eligible students who meet the age, nationality or residency, education, nomination and creator requirements.

What is the age limit?

16–25 for Singapore-based applicants and 18–25 for applicants from other eligible countries.

Which countries are eligible?

Applicants must be citizens or residents of Southeast Asia, China or India.

Do applicants need to be students?

Yes.

Applicants must currently be enrolled in a junior college, polytechnic, university or another post-secondary institution.

Do applicants need a nomination?

Yes.

Applicants must be nominated by their institution.

How many followers are required?

At least 1,000 followers on any platform.

Is TikTok required?

No.

The programme also accepts creators using Instagram, YouTube or other platforms.

Is the application free?

Yes.

Applicants should not pay any registration, processing, deposit or interview fee.

Does the programme provide flights?

Yes.

Return flights are covered.

Does the fellowship provide accommodation?

Yes.

Six nights are covered during the Singapore component.

Are meals covered?

Yes.

Is there a stipend?

Yes.

A daily stipend is included, although the source does not state the amount.

Does the fellowship provide a certificate?

Yes.

Participants who complete the programme receive an official certificate.

Why the i-SEA Fellowship Is Worth Considering

The i-SEA Fellowship combines several benefits that are rarely available together in a creator-focused programme.

Selected fellows receive:

Fully funded travel to Singapore
Accommodation
Meals
Daily stipend
Online masterclasses
Industry visits
Mentorship
Hackathon experience
Regional networking
Certificate of completion

The programme also addresses highly relevant issues such as:

Artificial intelligence
Misinformation
Digital ethics
Fact-checking
Responsible storytelling

For young creators who want to build influence without compromising accuracy and integrity, this combination can be especially valuable.

Final Thoughts

The i-SEA Fellowship 2026 offers a fully funded opportunity for young student content creators to develop skills in ethical storytelling, information integrity, AI literacy and responsible digital media.

The programme brings together 40 fellows for a one-month hybrid experience featuring online masterclasses and a fully funded in-person week in Singapore.

For the Singapore component, selected fellows receive return flights, six nights of accommodation, all meals, a daily stipend and an official certificate of completion.

Applicants must meet strict eligibility requirements, including student status, institutional nomination, an established posting history and at least 1,000 followers on a social platform.

The official timeline lists applications from 10 July to 30 August 2026, online masterclasses from 13 to 30 November 2026, and the Singapore programme from 7 to 12 December 2026.

Because the source also says applications are currently open despite the listed August 30 closing date, candidates should check the live application portal immediately for the latest status.

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