James Cook University Singapore (JCU Singapore) is the Singapore branch campus of James Cook University, a public research university in Australia. It was established in 2003 and has been at 149 Sims Drive since 2015.[1][2] Its courses follow the same curriculum as in Australia, and one aggregator states that the degree is issued by JCU Australia.[1][2]
We could not read JCU Singapore’s own fee and admissions pages, which block automated access, and the third-party fee figures we found differ widely, so this page gives no single tuition number.[2][3][4] Entry level for bachelor’s programmes is IELTS 6.0 in the sources we read.[2][3] Rankings belong to the parent university: QS lists James Cook University at =438 in 2027, according to one aggregator.[2]
Key facts
| Official name | James Cook University Singapore (JCU Singapore); established in 2003 as the James Cook Institute of Higher Learning[1] |
| Location | 149 Sims Drive, Singapore[1] |
| Type | Branch campus of James Cook University, a public research university in Australia[1] |
| Registration | Described by one aggregator as a private education institution governed by EduTrust; PEI registration number 200100786K (not confirmed on JCU’s own site)[2] |
| Opened | 2003; moved to Sims Drive in 2015[1] |
| Students | About 4,200 (2019, Wikipedia infobox); about 3,500 on the aggregator’s page, undated[1] |
| Degrees awarded by | Courses are delivered directly by the university and follow the Australian curriculum; the aggregator states the degree is issued by JCU Australia[2] |
| Study levels | Pre-university foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate (including MBA) and doctoral programmes[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 (parent university) | =438 for James Cook University, per an aggregator; not a Singapore-campus rank[2] |
| Intakes | Three a year: January, May and September (trimesters)[3] |
| English requirement, undergraduate | IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 74, PTE Academic 52[2] |
| Tuition | Not confirmed: sources differ (see fee section)[4] |
| Official website | jcu.edu.sg |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About James Cook University Singapore
JCU Singapore is a branch campus of James Cook University (JCU), a public research university in North Queensland, Australia, which opened as the University College of Townsville in 1961.[5] The Singapore campus was established in 2003 as the James Cook Institute of Higher Learning. In 2015 it moved to the site of the former Manjusri Secondary School, which Wikipedia says covers 2.4 hectares.[1] The aggregator unipage gives the address as 149 Sims Drive.[2]
On its status the sources do not fully agree. Wikipedia says the campus was granted university status in July 2016 after a review of the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement and may brand itself as Singapore’s branch campus of James Cook University.[1] The aggregator describes the campus as a private education institution registered in Singapore and governed by EduTrust, not an autonomous university.[2] JCU’s own pages, which would settle this, could not be read.
How is James Cook University ranked?
Rankings are published for the parent university, not for the Singapore campus. The aggregator quotes QS World University Rankings 2027 at =438 and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 in the 326 to 350 band, and states that both belong to the Australian parent.[2] Wikipedia gives the 2026 editions: QS tied 440th, Times Higher Education 351st to 400th, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2025 at 401st to 500th.[5]
We could not read QS’s own list, so the QS 2027 position is as reported by the aggregator. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at JCU Singapore?
Wikipedia lists undergraduate, postgraduate (including doctoral) and pathway programmes.[1] The aggregator’s fee table names these programmes:[2]
- Bachelor of Business, Commerce, Economics, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events
- Bachelor of Science (Data Science or Aquaculture)
- Master of Business Administration and Master of Information Technology
- Pre-University Foundation Program and Doctor of Philosophy
One agent listing shows the Bachelor of Commerce at the Singapore campus with a duration of 2 years.[3] A second shows 24 months full-time or 48 months part-time for a business course at the Singapore location.[4] The list may be incomplete; check JCU Singapore’s course list.
How much does JCU Singapore cost?
We could not read JCU Singapore’s official fee list. Three third-party pages give figures that cannot be compared, because they use different currencies, years and bases:
| Source | Figure | Basis stated |
|---|---|---|
| Agent listing, Bachelor of Commerce[3] | SGD 34,400 | “2026”, described as indicative; whether it is a total or yearly amount is not stated |
| Aggregator unipage, Bachelor of Business, Commerce, Economics or IT[2] | USD 53,783 | Whole course, from Trimester 1 2027, including 9 percent GST |
| Aggregator unipage, Master of Business Administration[2] | USD 32,746 | Whole course, from Trimester 1 2027, including 9 percent GST |
| Study portal, business course[4] | AUD 66,708 a year | Academic year not stated |
Because of these differences, take no figure from this table as the price. The aggregator itself says fees may change in later years and that the rate in your signed student contract applies; it also states that no Ministry of Education Tuition Grant applies.[2] Use the official fee list on jcu.edu.sg or ask JCU Singapore for a written quote. For rent and living costs, see our Singapore guide and the Study in Singapore guide.
How do you apply to JCU Singapore?
JCU Singapore has three intakes a year, in January, May and September.[3][2] We could not read JCU Singapore’s own admissions pages, so we cannot describe the application steps, the documents or the application fee with a source. Agent and study-portal listings lead to the programme pages for current requirements and the application link.[3] We give no deadlines because they change every year.
Which English level do you need?
For undergraduate programmes the aggregator lists IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 74 with no section below 18, and PTE Academic 52 with no component below 52. For the MBA it lists IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 86 and PTE Academic 58, and for the Pre-University Foundation IELTS 5.5 with no band below 5.0, TOEFL iBT 56 and PTE Academic 46.[2] The agent listing for the Bachelor of Commerce shows an IELTS entry score of 6, and the study portal shows IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 74 and PTE Academic 52.[3][4] The sources agree for undergraduate entry. Confirm the current level and any exemptions with JCU Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is James Cook University Singapore the same as JCU in Australia?
How much does JCU Singapore cost for international students?
What IELTS score do I need for JCU Singapore?
When can I start at JCU Singapore?
More about studying in Singapore
- Singapore: best universities
- Study in Singapore: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Singapore
- INSEAD Singapore Campus
- LASALLE College of the Arts
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Nanyang Technological University
- National University of Singapore
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Republic Polytechnic
- Singapore Institute of Technology
- Singapore Management University
- Singapore Polytechnic
- Singapore University of Social Sciences
- Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Temasek Polytechnic
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: James Cook University Singapore (secondary source for history and status; infobox student figure from 2019)
[2] Unipage: James Cook University (Singapore campus), fees and requirements (aggregator, not JCU; page states a fee table for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 and information as of 1 Oct 2026)
[3] IDP: Bachelor of Commerce, James Cook University Singapore (education agent listing; fee marked indicative; page without a date)
[4] Bachelorsportal: Business at James Cook University, Singapore (study portal listing; academic year of the fee not stated; page without a date)
[5] Wikipedia: James Cook University (secondary source for the parent university; rankings of the 2026 editions; the end of the article could not be read)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.