National University of Singapore

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About the National University of Singapore

NUS traces its roots to 3 July 1905, when the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School was founded.^[5] NUS itself says it began as a small medical school with only 23 students.^[1] The university took its present name in 1980 through a government-directed merger of the University of Singapore and Nanyang University.^[5]

Today NUS has three campuses (Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah and Outram), more than 45,000 students, 13,000 staff and 15 colleges, faculties and schools.^[1] Wikipedia lists 17 faculties and schools in its overview, so we use NUS’s own number.^[5] Three of the units are interdisciplinary colleges: the College of Humanities and Sciences, the College of Design and Engineering and NUS College. More than half of the undergraduates are enrolled in one of them.^[1]

How is the National University of Singapore ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, NUS is 10th in the world. It slipped two places but remains the top-ranked university in Asia.^[2][7] Two news reports of the release give the same position.^[8] NTU Singapore is 12th.^[7]

The 2026/27 undergraduate prospectus for international students still quotes the previous edition: 8th in the world and 1st in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It also cites 8th place for graduate employability in the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey 2026.^[4] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the National University of Singapore?

NUS offers more than 60 bachelor’s degrees and more than 130 double, concurrent and joint degrees.^[4] Single degrees in the international prospectus include:

• Business and computing: Business Administration (majors such as Accountancy, Finance, Marketing and Real Estate), Business Analytics, Business Artificial Intelligence Systems, Information Security and Common Computer Science programmes with majors in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science.^[4]
• Engineering and design: Computer Engineering and Engineering (majors such as Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Robotics & Machine Intelligence), plus Architecture, Industrial Design and Landscape Architecture.^[4]
• Health and sciences: Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science, Food Science & Technology and the Humanities and Sciences degrees.^[4]
• Law and music: Law at the Faculty of Law; Music is a separate application to the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.^[4]
• Cross-disciplinary: Data Science & Economics, Environmental Studies, Geospatial Intelligence, and Philosophy, Politics & Economics.^[4]

In 2025 NUS launched new AI-focused degrees, including business AI and robotics and machine intelligence.^[1] Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine and Nursing may add tests or interviews.^[4] Prerequisites differ by programme; check them before you apply.

How much does the National University of Singapore cost in 2026/27?

These are the yearly tuition fees for students admitted in AY2026/27, covering semesters 1 and 2.^[3] Fees are set per cohort, so each intake pays the same amount throughout its candidature.^[3] Amounts for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents exclude GST, which the Ministry of Education (MOE) subsidises. International amounts and all non-subsidised amounts include the 9% GST.^[3] “ASEAN” refers to students from ASEAN member states.^[3]

With or without the MOE Tuition Grant

The MOE Tuition Grant is awarded to international students competitively. If you accept it, you pay the subsidised fee and must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation. If you are not successful, or choose not to apply, you pay the non-subsidised fee and are not eligible for NUS and MOE-funded or administered financial aid and scholarships during your whole candidature.^[4]

Living costs and aid

NUS estimates that an international undergraduate spends about S$6,000 a year on living costs plus S$5,750 on accommodation (a 35-week study period), based on a “conservative estimate for a comfortable lifestyle”.^[4] As an example, the prospectus adds up S$18,050 tuition (Computing, ASEAN, with grant) and S$11,750 living costs including on-campus accommodation to S$29,800.^[4] International applicants are considered for scholarships such as the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship and the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship through the admission application. A Higher Education Student Loan can cover up to 45% of the subsidised tuition fee plus a living allowance of up to S$4,100 a year for eligible students.^[4] For rent and daily costs, see our Study in Singapore guide.

How do you apply to the National University of Singapore?

International applicants apply to NUS with its online application form.^[4]

1. Choose programmes. You can list up to eight choices on the application form.^[4]
2. Check the prerequisites for your qualification and programme in the prospectus.^[4]
3. Prepare the documents: copies of academic qualifications and additional results if applicable, a copy of your passport or birth certificate, medical reports if you have or had an illness or disability, and offence records if applicable.^[4]
4. Submit the online form (NUS suggests 20 to 30 minutes) and pay the S$20 application fee.^[4]
5. Follow the outcome in the Applicant Portal, which also announces extra tests and interviews.^[4]

Financial aid has a separate application, which you submit after applying for admission.^[4] Music applicants apply directly to the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.^[4] We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Start from the admission requirements page listed in the prospectus.

Which English test scores do you need?

English is the medium of instruction at NUS. Certain qualifications need an English test score in addition to the high school qualification.^[6] For most degrees, the page updated in September 2026 accepts:^[6]

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, 6.5 in reading and 6.5 in writing (IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake are not accepted).
• PTE Academic (including PTE Academic Online): 62 overall, in reading and in writing.
• C1 Advanced: 180.
• TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home Edition, iBT Paper Edition): 4.5 overall, in reading and in writing; TOEFL Essentials: 10. Only scores from a single test date count, and MyBest scores are excluded.

The older 2026/27 prospectus lists TOEFL as 92–93 for the internet-based test and 580 for the paper-based test, so the two documents differ; follow the September 2026 page and confirm with admissions.^[4] Law has a higher bar: the prospectus gives IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100 as examples of the required level.^[4] Scores are valid for two years.^[4] Depending on your qualification you may instead have to sit the Qualifying English Test (QET), which the prospectus points to at nus.edu/qet.^[4]

More about studying in Singapore

• Singapore: best universities
• Study in Singapore: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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