You're probably not from Singapore. Even if you are, I guess you're not exposed to the terms we use here. Are you from one of those private universities? Here, a person is only a 'scholar' if he/she gets a university scholarship. Usually under a certain ministry. Those are the more prestigious ones, the highest order being the President's Scholarship followed by the PSC and SAFOS. Its more than just getting a free education. If you are bestowed a scholarship, you gain access to a fast-track path within the ministries. You are groomed from the beginning to helm various departments and eventually the ministry itself. No one cares about the free education, they just want that path. Some ministries do SPONSOR a post-graduate education like a masters and such. BUT, that does not mean that said recipient has achieved the same level as the previously mentioned SCHOLAR. Scholars, referring to those that receive scholarships from their undergrad studies, gets the first dibs for everything.