To learn how to get into NUS (the National University of Singapore) for the August 2027 intake, start with three things. Apply in the right window for your qualification. Meet the subject prerequisites for your course. Then stand out on grades, short answers and any test or interview. For AY2027/2028, most windows open on 16 December 2026; A-Level opens on 18 February 2027.
Key takeaways
- NUS has one undergraduate application window a year. For AY2027/2028, IB and most international qualifications apply from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027. Singapore-Cambridge A-Level applicants apply from 18 February to 19 March 2027.
- The application fee is S$20 for international students with international qualifications and S$10 for most other applicants, including GST.
- Indian CBSE and ISC students do not need the SAT, ACT or JEE. Indian state board and US high school students do need SAT/ACT with AP, or five APs.
- Maths is the key prerequisite for Engineering, Computing and Business. Medicine needs Chemistry plus Biology or Physics, and international applicants also need the UCAT (or SAT/ACT with Writing and APs).
- For the AY2026/2027 intake, Computing and Engineering cost S$21,400 a year for most international students with the MOE Tuition Grant, which comes with a 3-year work commitment in Singapore.
- You can list up to 8 single-degree choices, and you must answer short response questions and list up to four achievements.
How do you get into NUS?
Quick answer: Choose your courses and check their subject prerequisites. Apply online through the NUS Applicant Portal in your qualification's window. Pay the fee, upload every document, answer the short response questions and list your best achievements. Then attend any test or interview. NUS looks at grades first, but it also weighs interest, aptitude and preparation.
NUS calls this holistic review. Its Aptitude-Based Admissions page says interest, aptitude and prior preparation are used "besides academic grades".
When is the NUS application deadline for 2027?
NUS has published its AY2027/2028 important dates. Term starts on 2 August 2027. International windows open on 16 December 2026, not in October or November.
Key NUS dates for the August 2027 intake, from the NUS Office of Admissions.
| Qualification | Application period (AY2027/2028) | Outcome (most applicants) |
|---|---|---|
| NUS High School Diploma | 16 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027 | By 3rd week of May 2027 |
| Polytechnic Diploma (Singapore) | 16 Dec 2026 to 3 Feb 2027 | By 3rd week of May 2027 |
| IB Diploma | 16 Dec 2026 to 17 Feb 2027 | By 3rd week of May; May 2027 IB sitters by 3rd week of July |
| International qualifications (not IB) | 16 Dec 2026 to 17 Feb 2027 | By July 2027 |
| Singapore-Cambridge A-Level | 18 Feb 2027 (late afternoon) to 19 Mar 2027 | By 3rd week of May 2027 |
In short: applications open on 16 December 2026. The polytechnic window closes on 3 February 2027. IB and international windows close on 17 February 2027. The A-Level window closes on 19 March 2027. Tests and interviews run in March and April. Most outcomes come out between May and July 2027. Term starts on 2 August 2027.
If you sit AP, Indian Standard 12 (CBSE or ISC) or other listed exams in 2027, NUS says you must submit final results within 3 days of their release.
What are the NUS entry requirements by qualification?
NUS has no single cut-off. Here is a summary from the official pages for A-Level, IB, CBSE/ISC, Indian state boards, US high school and international A-Level.
NUS entry requirements at a glance, by qualification.
| Qualification | What NUS asks for | SAT/ACT/AP needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore A-Level (2025 cohort on) | Three H2 content subjects, GP, a Pass in Project Work, Mother Tongue requirement | No |
| Singapore polytechnic diploma | Diploma from a listed polytechnic or institution; some courses also need O-Level results | No |
| IB Diploma | IB Diploma with English as a subject; predicted grades for May 2027 sitters | No (except Medicine/Dentistry with predicted grades) |
| India CBSE / ISC | Good pass in five subjects including English | No. JEE not required |
| India state and other boards | Good passes in five subjects including English | Yes |
| US high school diploma | High school results plus standardised tests | Yes |
| International A-Level | Good passes in at least four A-Level subjects | Only if you finish after the closing date |
Standardised test rules. The NUS standardised test requirements (updated December 2025) accept three combinations:
- SAT plus at least three AP courses.
- ACT with Writing plus at least three AP courses.
- Five or more AP courses, with no SAT or ACT.
The minimums are SAT 600 in Reading and Writing and 650 in Math, or ACT Composite 29 with Writing 8. Each AP needs a score of 3. AP Calculus BC is compulsory for all programmes except Law. SAT and ACT sections must be taken in one sitting. Scores must reach NUS by the closing date.
English tests. For CBSE/ISC, state boards, US high school and international A-Level, NUS lists an English test as "not required". IB applicants must submit English test scores if at least three IB subjects were taught in a language other than English. Check your own qualification page, because rules differ.
Worked example: does this SAT profile meet the NUS minimum?
Priya is a US-curriculum student. Her best SAT in one sitting is 640 Reading and Writing and 700 Math. She has AP Calculus BC (4), AP Physics C (3) and AP Chemistry (3).
- SAT Reading and Writing: 640 is at least 600. Pass.
- SAT Math: 700 is at least 650. Pass.
- Number of APs with SAT: she has 3, and NUS needs at least 3. Pass.
- Each AP score is 3 or more, and Calculus BC is included. Pass.
She meets the minimum, but the minimum is not a competitive score. See our SAT vs ACT guide and AP Calculus AB vs BC guide.
What subjects do I need for NUS Engineering, Computing or Medicine?
Prerequisites come from the NUS programme prerequisites PDFs. NUS notes they can change every year.
| Programme | Singapore A-Level | International qualifications (foreigners) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | H2 pass in Mathematics or Further Mathematics | Year 12 or higher level pass in Mathematics |
| Common Computer Science programmes | H2 pass in Computing, Maths, Further Maths or Physics; or a good H1 Maths pass | Year 12 or higher level pass in Mathematics |
| Business Administration | H1 pass in Mathematics, or O-Level Additional Maths | Year 12 or higher level pass in Mathematics |
| Pharmacy | Very good H2 Chemistry and very good H2 Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths | Strong Year 12 Chemistry and Biology, Physics or Maths |
| Medicine | H2 pass in Chemistry and either Biology or Physics | Year 12 or higher pass in Chemistry and Biology or Physics |
| Law | At least a B in H1 General Paper | High proficiency in English |
Computer Engineering students without Physics take a bridging course. Our how to become an engineer guide explains the path after you get in.
What grades do you need for NUS?
For Singapore A-Level and polytechnic students, NUS publishes an Indicative Grade Profile (IGP). The latest IGP is for the AY2026/2027 exercise, and it shows the grades of students offered places in AY2025/2026. It shows three H2 grades and one H1 grade (for example, AAA/A).
| Programme (AY2025/2026 offers) | A-Level 10th percentile | A-Level 90th percentile | Poly GPA 10th-90th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Computer Science | AAA/A | AAA/A | 3.81-3.98 |
| Engineering | BBB/C | AAA/A | 3.57-3.94 |
| Business Administration | AAA/C | AAA/A | see IGP |
| Medicine, Law, Dentistry | AAA/A | AAA/A | see IGP |
From the 2025 A-Level results onward, the H1 grade is no longer counted in the University Admission Score by default. NUS suggests using the three H2 grades as your guide. Meeting a profile does not guarantee a place.
NUS also adds First Choice Bonus Points to your first-choice, non-interview single-degree course: up to 2.5 points for A-Level, 1 for IB, 0.2 for NUS High School and 0.04 for polytechnic, as its bonus points page explains.
NUS does not publish cut-offs for CBSE, ISC, IB or US applicants. Distrust any site that claims an exact percentage.
Need help building the maths for these profiles? Book a free demo class with a mentor who knows your syllabus.
Does NUS have entrance tests or interviews?
Most courses have no entrance test. NUS lists interviews or tests for Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). See the faculty interview and test dates.
- Medicine: NUS uses an in-person Focused Skills Assessment (FSA). The online Situational Judgement Test is discontinued from 2026. FSA dates for 2027 are 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13 April 2027. About 1,200 candidates are shortlisted, and 280 places are offered. NUS Medicine also needs a portfolio.
- Medicine for international qualifications: You also need the UCAT (UK or ANZ), or SAT/ACT with Writing plus AP exams, according to NUS Medicine. There is no BMAT. Read our UCAT 2027 guide.
- Law (2026 reference): a written test on 12 April 2026 and interviews on 24-25 April 2026. The 2027 dates are not yet announced.
Medicine and Dentistry must be your first or second choice. Law must be in your top three. Medicine and Dentistry only consider candidates who submit actual results by the closing date, except IB students using predicted grades with the extra tests.
How do you apply to NUS? Step by step
The NUS application, from choosing courses to accepting an offer.
- Check dates and prerequisites. Use the NUS Undergraduate Admissions page and your qualification page.
- Pick your courses. You can list up to 8 single-degree choices, plus up to 8 double degree, double major, minor or specialisation choices.
- Apply on the Applicant Portal. Singapore Citizens and PRs log in with Singpass. Foreigners log in with an email account.
- Answer the short response questions and list up to four achievements. Olympiads, internships and leadership fit here.
- Upload documents and pay the fee. Pay S$20 (international qualifications) or S$10 (most others) by card, AliPay or PayNow. Pay only once, because duplicate payments are not refunded.
- Send official scores. SAT and AP go via College Board code 3720. ACT goes to code 5286. IB students authorise the IB to release results (code 000690).
- Attend any test or interview, then track your outcome on the Applicant Portal.
How much does NUS cost?
NUS uses cohort-based fees, so your fee is set for your whole course when you start. Fees for the AY2027/2028 intake are not yet announced. The table below shows the official AY2026/2027 tuition fees for new students, as a labelled reference.
NUS yearly tuition for new students in AY2026/2027, in Singapore dollars.
| Programme (AY2026/2027 intake) | Singapore Citizen | International, with Tuition Grant (non-ASEAN) | International, with Tuition Grant (ASEAN) | No Tuition Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computing | S$8,300 | S$21,400 | S$18,050 | S$39,700 |
| Engineering | S$8,300 | S$21,400 | S$18,050 | S$39,700 |
| Humanities and Sciences | S$8,300 | S$21,400 | S$18,050 | S$36,650 |
| Business | S$9,700 | S$22,200 | S$21,150 | S$33,400 |
| Law | S$12,750 | S$30,450 | S$27,750 | S$44,450 |
| Pharmacy | S$9,200 | S$23,650 | S$20,100 | S$43,050 |
| Medicine | S$33,200 | S$87,800 | S$74,750 | S$190,150 |
| Dentistry | S$32,750 | S$84,550 | S$74,100 | S$190,150 |
PRs pay a middle tier (S$11,600 for Computing). International fees include 9% GST.
Worked example: four years of Computing tuition
Using AY2026/2027 figures for a non-ASEAN international student:
- With the Tuition Grant: S$21,400 x 4 = S$85,600.
- Without the Tuition Grant: S$39,700 x 4 = S$158,800.
- Difference: S$158,800 - S$85,600 = S$73,200.
This is tuition only, with no housing or living costs.
What is the MOE Tuition Grant service obligation?
The MOE Tuition Grant lowers your fees. In return, PRs and international students must sign the Tuition Grant Agreement and work in Singapore-based companies for 3 years after graduation, as the NUS Tuition Grant guidelines state. Medicine and Dentistry are different. Their scholarship pages describe a service bond with Singapore's Ministry of Health of 6 years for Medicine and 5 years for Dentistry. Students who do not take the grant cannot get NUS or MOE-funded aid or scholarships.
What scholarships does NUS offer international students?
International students need no separate scholarship form; NUS considers your admission application, as its scholarship dates page explains.
| Scholarship | Who can get it | Main benefits |
|---|---|---|
| NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship | Citizens of all countries except Singapore | Subsidised tuition covered, S$5,800 a year living, S$5,000 a year housing, S$1,750 computer |
| ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship | ASEAN citizens, not Singapore | Subsidised tuition covered, S$5,800 a year living, S$3,000 a year housing, S$1,750 computer |
| Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship | Citizens of Asian countries except Singapore | Subsidised tuition covered, S$6,000 a year living, housing allowance; 6-year bond |
All three need you to take the Tuition Grant. Singapore Citizens apply for NUS scholarships separately, from 1 February to 19 March 2027.
A Grade 9-12 plan for international students
This plan suits a student in India, the US or an IB school aiming for NUS Engineering or Computing.
- Grades 9-10: Build strong algebra. Join one maths or science activity. Choose senior Mathematics at the highest level you can manage. IB students should read our IB Maths AA vs AI guide. A-Level students should see our A-Level Maths guide.
- Grade 11: Keep school grades high. US and state board students should plan the SAT or ACT and AP Calculus BC. Try an Olympiad, project or internship for your achievements list.
- Summer before Grade 12: Draft answers to the short response pattern. Pick your 8 courses and check each prerequisite.
- Grade 12, November-December: Send official scores. Apply from 16 December 2026.
- By 17 February 2027: Submit everything. Then prepare for any test or interview.
- After board results: Upload final results within 3 days of release.
Indian students can apply alongside JEE, which NUS does not need. Our JEE Main 2027 guide covers that exam.
Common mistakes when applying to NUS
- Assuming the international window opens in October. For AY2027/2028 it opens on 16 December 2026.
- Missing a prerequisite, such as maths for Engineering or Chemistry for Medicine.
- Forgetting AP Calculus BC when you use the SAT/ACT route.
- Splitting SAT or ACT sections across sittings. NUS needs one sitting.
- Sending scores late. Scores must reach NUS by the closing date.
- Ranking Medicine or Law too low.
- Leaving the short response questions and achievements weak.
How 1-on-1 tutoring helps with getting into NUS
At Asymptode, one student works with one dedicated mentor in live online classes. No batches. Your mentor follows your own syllabus, whether CBSE, ISC, IB, A-Level or AP, and plans around your exam dates. For H2 Maths, IB Maths HL, AP Calculus BC or SAT Math, the mentor watches each step of your working and fixes the method. You get personalised homework with feedback, flexible times across time zones, recorded classes and short parent updates. For the short response questions, the mentor helps with logic, planning and a practice routine.
Ready to plan your NUS application? Book a free demo class or see fees.
Facts checked against official sources on 27 October 2026.
Related guides on Asymptode
- A-Level Maths guide
- IB Maths AA vs AI
- SAT vs ACT
- UCAT 2027 guide
- How to become an engineer
- JEE Main 2027 guide
FAQ
Do Indian students need JEE or SAT to get into NUS?
CBSE and ISC students need neither. NUS says JEE is not required, and SAT/ACT/AP are not required for CBSE and ISC. Indian state board students do need SAT or ACT with APs, or five APs.
What percentage do I need in CBSE to get into NUS?
NUS does not publish a CBSE cut-off. It asks for a good pass in five subjects including English, plus the course prerequisites, and reviews you holistically. Higher marks in maths and science help for STEM courses.
Can international students study Medicine at NUS?
Yes. Eligibility does not depend on nationality. You need Chemistry plus Biology or Physics, actual results by the closing date, UCAT (or SAT/ACT with Writing and APs), a portfolio and the in-person Focused Skills Assessment. International graduates serve a 6-year bond.
What is the NUS application fee?
S$20 for international students with international qualifications, and S$10 for most other applicants. Both include GST. You pay once per application, after you submit the form.
Is it harder to get into NUS than NTU?
NUS does not publish acceptance rates. Compare each university's published grade profile for your course instead of rankings.
Does NUS accept IB predicted grades?
Yes, for May 2027 IB candidates. Your school must endorse the predicted grades. Outcomes come by the third week of July 2027.
Sources
- NUS Office of Admissions: Important dates (AY2027/2028)
- NUS Office of Admissions: Undergraduate admissions and application fee
- NUS: Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level admission requirements
- NUS: Polytechnic Diploma admission requirements
- NUS: IB Diploma admission requirements
- NUS: Indian Standard 12 (CBSE and ISC)
- NUS: Indian Standard 12 (State and other boards)
- NUS: American High School Diploma
- NUS: International A-Level
- NUS: Standardised test requirements (PDF)
- NUS: Programme prerequisites
- NUS: International qualifications prerequisites (PDF)
- NUS: Indicative Grade Profile
- NUS: First Choice Bonus Points
- NUS: Aptitude-Based Admissions
- NUS: Faculty interview and test dates
- NUS Medicine: Admission requirements
- NUS Medicine: Admissions assessment (FSA)
- NUS Registrar: Undergraduate tuition fees AY2026/2027 (PDF)
- NUS Registrar: MOE Tuition Grant eligibility (PDF)
- NUS: Scholarship important dates and application
- NUS: ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
- NUS: Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship
- NUS: NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship