National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore (NUS), founded in 1905, is ranked among the top 10 universities globally in QS World Rankings 2026. As Singapore’s premier higher education institution, NUS is home to over 38,000 students from 100+ countries, making it a hub of cultural diversity and academic excellence.  

Known for its world-class research, innovative teaching methods, and industry collaborations, NUS continues to lead in fields such as engineering, computer science, business, law, and medicine. 

In 2025, NUS stands out not only for its academic excellence but also for its strong employability outcomes, with graduates reporting a median monthly salary of S$4,600(2.82 lakh) and an employment rate of 88.1%.  

Offering globally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate programs, along with competitive scholarships for international students, NUS remains a top destination for those aiming to study in Asia. With a vibrant campus, research facilities, and strong industry ties, NUS prepares students for success worldwide. 

Infrastructure

NUS boasts of a lively campus, boasting several facilities for the students. Arts and music lovers have the option to enjoy a variety of concerts and performances organized by the Conservatory of Music and Center for the Arts.

In addition, there are various retail units available for all student needs. The canteen, food courts, and restaurants also cater to different palates as they serve a variety of local and western cuisines.

The campus is dotted with eight interactive research clusters to conduct research and development. NUS offers research in multiple disciplines through the combined strength of its faculties, schools, and institutes. The research areas of the university are as follows.

1. Aging

2. Asian Studies

3. Biomedical Science

4. Translational Medicine

5. Finance

6. Risk Management

7. Integrative Sustainability Solutions

8. Maritime Studies

9. Materials Science

10. Smart Nation

The medium of instruction for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses in NUS is English.

Academics

The application window for NUS undergraduate admissions in AY 2025/26 varies by applicant profile: 

• International qualifications: 13 December 2024 – 26 February 2025 
• Singapore-Cambridge A-Level / Polytechnic Diploma holders: 18 December 2024 – 5 February 2025 
• International Baccalaureate (IB) candidates: 4 December 2024 – 5 February 2025 
  Admission offers are typically released by mid-May 2025, with IB applicants receiving results by mid-July 2025. 

The National University of Singapore’s admission process is a relatively simpler one. You can take the help of the following steps to get ahead in the process.

1. Use a browser like Chrome or Firefox to open the official website of NUS.

2. Click on the ‘Apply now’ link attached to the course you want to pursue.

3. Check the admission requirements and pre-requisites of the subjects.

4. Apply online via the link present on the website.

5. Submit the relevant documents electronically.

6. Pay the required application fee.

7. You can use the Applicant Portal to track your application to check if the university has responded.

Note that the university will retain in-progress saved application forms for only eight days before deleting the details. Ensure that you complete your form within the specified period.

NUS grants admission to students primarily based on academic merit. Moreover, some courses offer more competition than others, affecting the selection process. The National University of Singapore’s admission requirements is as follows.

1. For single courses

Course	Subject Prerequisites	Selection test/Interview
Architecture	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Chemistry or Mathematics or Physics or Physical Science.	Yes
Business Administration	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Business Administration (Accountancy)	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Business Analytics (Offered by School of Computing)	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Computer Engineering # (Jointly offered by Faculty of Engineering and School of Computing)	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry.	No
Computer Science courses	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Dentistry	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Chemistry and either Biology or Physics.	Yes
Engineering	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics	No
Food Science and Technology	Year 12 or higher-level pass in any two of the following: Biology or Chemistry or Computing or Physics or Physical Science or Mathematics/Further Mathematics.	No
Humanities and Sciences	Please refer the NUS official website for details.	No
Industrial Design	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Arts or Economics or Mathematics or Physics.	Yes
Information Security	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Information Systems	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Landscape Architecture	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Chemistry or Mathematics or Physics or Physical Science.	Yes
Law	A high level of proficiency in the English Language (e.g., General Paper B, IELTS 7 or TOEFL iBT 100 or SAT Critical Reading/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 700 or AP English Language Grade 4).	Yes
Medicine	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Chemistry and Biology or Physics.	Yes
Nursing	Year 12 or higher-level pass in any two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Physics, Physical Science, either Mathematics or Further Mathematics.	Yes
Pharmaceutical Science	Strong Year 12 pass or strong higher-level pass in Chemistry and Biology or Physics or Mathematics	No
Pharmacy	Strong Year 12 pass or strong higher-level pass in Chemistry and Biology or Physics or Mathematics	No
Real Estate	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Chemistry or Mathematics or Physics.	No

2. For Double degree programs

Double Concurrent Programs	Subject Prerequisites	Selection test/interview
Business Administration & Law	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics, and high proficiency in the English Language (e.g., General Paper B, IELTS 7 or TOEFL iBT 100 or SAT Critical Reading/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 700 or AP English Language Grade 4).	Yes
Computer Engineering & Business Administration	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry	No
Computer Engineering & Economics	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry	No
Economics & Law	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics, and a high proficiency in the English Language (e.g., General Paper B, IELTS 7 or TOEFL iBT 100 or SAT Critical Reading/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 700 or AP English Language Grade 4).	Yes
Engineering & Business Administration	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Engineering & Economics	Year 12 or higher-level pass in Mathematics.	No
Law & master’s in public policy	A high proficiency in the English Language (e.g., General Paper B, IELTS 7 or TOEFL iBT 100 or SAT Critical Reading/Evidence-Based Reading, and Writing score of 700 or AP English Language Grade 4).	Yes

Owing to its ranking, NUS attracts a diverse group of people from all around the world. However, the National University of Singapore’s acceptance rate is a mere 16%.

The National University of Singapore boasts 17 faculties and schools, with 4000+ modules each semester. The university offers various undergraduate and graduate courses revolving around the listed subjects.

1. Arts and Social Sciences

2. Dentistry

3. Business

4. Computing

5. Design and Engineering

6. Law

7. Music

8. Public Policy

9. Science

10. Medicine

Among all the courses offered, NUS is particularly renowned for its Civil and Structural Engineering, as well as Chemical Engineering. It ranks among the top five universities in the world for the mentioned subjects.

The curriculum for these courses is based on a modular system.

A Modular Credit (MC) is defined as a unit of effort expected by the student to manage their workload. It is expressed in terms of time.

To complete a bachelor’s degree, a student requires a minimum of 120 MCs, which would take around three years. On the other hand, a Bachelor’s degree with honors requires the student to complete 160 MCs, usually taking four years.

NUS boasts of a variety of courses that cater to many disciplines. Based on QS rankings, some of the top courses in the university are as follows.

1. Computer Science and Information Systems

2. Law

3. Architecture and Built Environment

4. Electrical and Electronic Engineering

5. Geography

6. Statistics and Operational Research

7. Politics and International Studies

8. Social Policy and Administration

If you enroll at the National University of Singapore, you will have to adhere to the following academic calendar:

First-semester

1. Orientation–First Monday of August

2. Instruction period –6 weeks

3. Recess– 1-week

4. Instructional period– 7 weeks

5. Reading– 1week

6. Examination – 2 weeks

7. Vacation – 5 weeks

Second Semester

1. Instructional Period – 6 weeks

2. Recess – 1 week

3. Instructional Period – 7 weeks

4. Reading – 1-week

5. Examination – 2 weeks

There are two consecutive mini-semesters every semester.

Extracurriculars and Diversity

The National University of Singapore houses over 38,000 students from 100 different countries. The diversity enables the student community to be enriched with different social and cultural perspectives.

The campus of NUS offers various clubs and centers that allow a student to engage in non-academic pursuits actively. Clubs cater to various interests like arts, health and wellness, culture, and even sports and adventure.

Moreover, you can be a part of multiple clubs to discover your interest. The vibrant student community assists whenever you require it.

Career and Professional

NUS has teamed up with various organizations to help facilitate research and contribute to society. The industries that have partnered with NUS are from various sectors.

Take a look at who they are:

1. Accenture LLP

2. Boston Consulting Group

3. Apple Inc.

4. Facebook, Inc.

5. Google LLC

6. Deloitte

7. Nestlé S.A.

8. P&G (Procter & Gamble)

9. Unilever Singapore Pte. Ltd.

10. Zalora Group

11. Allianz SE

12. AXA Insurance Pte. Ltd.

13. DSTA (Defence Science and Technology Agency)

14. Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd.

The National University of Singapore has launched the NUS student work scheme (NSWS) to encourage students to be self-reliant. The program allows students to gain working experience on campus.

Various departments post the jobs in the NSWS Central Resource Portal. A student can access the portal and apply for the work-study assignments that cater to their specific interests.

According to the Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey (JAUGES) , released in early 2025, fresh graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) continue to enjoy strong employability and competitive salaries.  

The overall employment rate stood at 88.1%, slightly lower than 90.5% in 2023, while around 4.1% of graduates were either pending the commencement of their jobs or had ventured into starting their own businesses.  

In terms of salaries, the median gross monthly income for NUS graduates in full-time permanent roles rose to S$4,600 in 2024, compared to S$4,400 in 2023, while the mean gross monthly income increased to S$5,101, up from S$4,875 the previous year. This reflects the consistent upward trend in graduate earnings despite a slightly softer employment rate. 

To prepare students for the job market, the University has an NUS-ISS Career Services Unit. The cell is responsible for supporting students and alumni seeking career course advisory and job placement support.

Following are the services that the career service unit provides:

1. Coaching advisory and job placements

2. Career fairs, workshops, and career events

There is a five-year NUCLEUS program that equips students with professional training, technical expertise, and industry experience.

The program exposes the individuals to technology projects and helps them accelerate their careers.

Through its multidisciplinary programs and inclusive atmosphere, the National University of Singapore has produced some notable alumni in all its years.

Let’s take a look at some of the esteemed alumni from the university:

1. Professor Koh: A Lawyer, Professor, and Diplomat, a key figure in altering Singapore’s foreign policy.

2. Professor Wang: Historian specializing in Chinese History

3. Seah Cheng San: Director of 3Fleur Pte Ltd, an investment holding company

4. Janet Ang: Systems of Engagements and Smarter Cities, Vice President, IBM Asia & Pacific

5. Jasmine Ser Xiang Wei: National shooter

6. Priscilla Shunmugam: Founder and Designer of Ong Shunmugam, a contemporary womenswear label

Financials

It is essential to plan out a budget before securing admission to your preferred university. The Singapore government offers a variety of subsidies on undergraduate courses. Owing to the same, the National University of Singapore’s fees are divided and listed as follows:

Items	Cost (Annual)
Accommodation (on-campus/off-campus)	SGD 2,800 to SGD 5,500 (INR 1,60,000 to INR 3,10,000)
Meals	SGD 2,600 (INR 1,50,000)
Students’ personal expenses	SGD 2,200 (INR 1,20,000)
Transportation	SGD 800 (INR 45,000)
Books/supplies	SGD 400 (INR 22,000)

For semester 1 and 2, the undergraduate fee structure for international students varies according to the course.

1. Business – SGP 20,650 (INR 11,60,000)

2. Computing – SGP 17,650 (INR 9,90,000)

3. Dentistry – SGP 66,650 (INR 37,35,000)

4. Design and Engineering – SGP 17,650 (INR 9,90,000)

5. Humanities and Science – SGP 17,650 (INR 9,90,000)

6. Law – SGP 27,150 (INR 15,20,000)

7. Medicine (Nursing) – SGP 19,150 (INR 10,70,000)

8. Medicine (except Nursing) – SGP 66,650 (INR 37,40,000)

9. Music – SGP 32,550 (INR 18,20,000)

10. Science (Pharmacy) – SGP 19,450 (INR 10,90,000)

All in all, the National University of Singapore provides an enriching learning atmosphere to students for them to expand their knowledge and explore international connections.

How does the National University of Singapore compare to other top universities in Asia?

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is widely regarded as one of Asia’s leading universities, known for its strong research output, global reputation, and diverse student community. While NUS excels in engineering, science, and business programs, other top Asian universities also offer competitive academics and unique campus experiences. Comparing rankings, research impact, and student satisfaction helps prospective students gauge which institution best fits their goals.

University	QS Asia Ranking 2025	Strengths
National University of Singapore	1	Research, Engineering, Business
Nanyang Technological University	2	Engineering, Technology, Innovation
University of Hong Kong	3	Law, Medicine, Business
Tsinghua University, China	4	Engineering, Technology, Research
University of Tokyo, Japan	5	Research, Science, Technology

Conclusion 

The National University of Singapore (NUS) continues to be one of the most prestigious universities in Asia and the world, offering students a perfect balance of academic excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.  

In 2025, the university’s competitive acceptance rate, high employability outcomes, and rising graduate salaries further reinforce its global reputation.  

For international students seeking quality education in Singapore, NUS provides not just a degree but a transformative experience that blends learning, innovation, and international networking. Choosing NUS means investing in a future shaped by excellence, innovation, and global recognition. 

Planning to study in Singapore but confused where to start from? Book a free 1:1 counselling session with our experts today!