Applying to NUS, NTU and SMU with the IB
For international students applying to Singapore's universities with the IB: application dates and predicted-grade rules at the three universities, NUS subject prerequisites by course, medicine, fees and the Tuition Grant, from the universities' and MOE's official information.
Updated regularlyLast updated 18 October 2026
This guide is updated whenever new official data comes out. Bookmark it and check back.
Five things to know first
Three applications, three calendars
NTU opens on 15 October, SMU in mid-November and NUS on 16 December. Deadlines range from mid-February to mid-March.
Predicted grades are treated differently
NUS and SMU accept school-endorsed predicted grades. NTU gives no offer before actual IB results, so May candidates hear after July's results.
At NUS, subject prerequisites come first
NUS does not publish IB cut-offs by course; it checks set prerequisites first (for example HL Maths AA for Engineering). Check them before choosing subjects in Grade 10.
Fees depend on the Tuition Grant
With a Tuition Grant, NUS Engineering falls from S$39,700 to S$21,400 a year, but graduates must then work in Singapore for three years.
The bar is higher for international students
MOE has said Singaporean students are admitted first and the admission criteria for international students are raised (parliamentary reply, 2020).
NUS, NTU and SMU at a glance
For IB applicants, 2027–28 entry. SMU's new dates are not out yet, so last year's are shown.
| Item | NUS | NTU | SMU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications (IB) | 16 Dec 2026 – 17 Feb 2027 | 15 Oct 2026 – 19 Mar 2027 | Not yet published (last year: 17 Nov – 19 Mar) |
| Predicted grades | Apply with school-endorsed predicted grades; outcome by the 3rd week of July | No offer before actual IB results; May candidates apply by March and send results within 3 days of release | Predicted grades attested by the school (self-declared not accepted) |
| Writing | Five compulsory short-response questions and up to four achievements | Optional section: ABA (short answers ≤200 words) for some applicants, otherwise 'Achievements' | Four short-response questions (Quick Takes) |
| References | No reference mentioned in the IB application guidance | 1–2 appraisals with the optional section | Up to two, optional but strongly encouraged |
| Interviews and tests | Only some programmes: Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Music; PPE (video); NUS College | Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed; Medicine has MMI | Shortlisted applicants are interviewed (all except Law); Law: written test, then interview |
NUS subject prerequisites for IB applicants
NUS does not publish IB cut-offs (it says the sample of IB applicants is too small for a grade profile). Instead, each course sets IB subject prerequisites that must be met first.
| Course | IB prerequisite | Extra selection |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | Pass in HL Maths AA, SL Maths AA or HL Maths AI | None |
| Business Analytics | Pass in HL Maths AA | None |
| Business AI Systems | Pass in HL Computer Science, or Good pass in SL Maths AA or HL Maths AI | None |
| Computer Science (CS, AI) | Pass in HL CS, HL Maths AA or HL Physics, or Good pass in SL Maths AA or HL Maths AI | None |
| Computer Engineering | Pass in HL Maths AA | Physics bridging course without HL Physics |
| Engineering | Pass in HL Maths AA | None |
| Data Science and Economics | Very good pass in HL Maths AA | None |
| Pharmacy | Very good pass in HL Chemistry and in one of HL Biology, Physics or Maths AA | None |
| Nursing | Passes in any two of HL Biology, Chemistry, CS, Maths AA, Physics | Interview |
| Medicine | Pass in HL Chemistry and HL Biology or Physics | Portfolio and Focused Skills Assessment; predicted-grade applicants also send UCAT, or SAT/ACT with Writing plus AP |
| Dentistry | Pass in HL Chemistry and HL Biology or Physics | Manual Dexterity Test, then MMI; predicted-grade applicants send SAT/ACT with Writing plus AP (UCAT not accepted) |
| Law | At least 5 in SL/HL English (A or B); alternatives include SAT reading and writing 700 with at least 4 in SL English | Written test, then interview |
| Architecture | Pass in SL Chemistry, SL Maths AA, SL Physics or HL Maths AI | Selection test and interview |
| Humanities and Sciences | No common prerequisite; some majors set subjects or bridging courses | None |
From NUS's prerequisites document (December 2025). NUS does not convert Pass, Good pass and Very good pass into IB points, and says prerequisites may change each year. Medicine and Dentistry must be ranked 1st or 2nd; Law, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Industrial Design and Nursing 1st to 3rd.
Compare with UK, Australian and US universities: IB Maths requirements by course
Medicine at NUS and NTU
The two medical schools differ on predicted grades. For students taking the IB in May, that difference is a year.
| Item | NUS Medicine | NTU Medicine (LKCMedicine) |
|---|---|---|
| IB subjects | Pass in HL Chemistry and HL Biology or Physics | Pass in HL Chemistry and HL Biology or Physics |
| Predicted grades | Accepted, with UCAT (UK or ANZ) or SAT/ACT with Writing plus AP by 17 February | Not accepted: apply with final results (May candidates apply after graduating) |
| Tests and selection | Portfolio and an in-person Focused Skills Assessment | UCAT (taken within 12 months), 300-word essay, 2 referees, MMI (8 interviews, around April) |
| Choice ranking | Must be 1st or 2nd choice | Priority to Singaporeans |
| Fees, international with TG (per year) | S$87,800 | S$91,250 |
| Service after graduating | 6 years for non-citizens (5 for citizens) | 6 years for non-Singaporeans |
The Tuition Grant decides the fee
Annual fees for students starting in 2026/27, in Singapore dollars. Korean students pay the 'all other international' (non-ASEAN) rate.
| University | Programme | Singapore citizen | International, with TG | International, without TG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUS | Engineering, Computing | 8,300 | 21,400 | 39,700 |
| NUS | Humanities and Sciences | 8,300 | 21,400 | 36,650 |
| NUS | Business | 9,700 | 22,200 | 33,400 |
| NUS | Law | 12,750 | 30,450 | 44,450 |
| NUS | Medicine | 33,200 | 87,800 | 190,150 |
| NTU | Engineering, Science, Humanities | 8,300 | 21,400 | 36,350 / 40,600* |
| NTU | Business, Accountancy | 9,500 | 21,800 | 45,600 |
| NTU | Medicine | 36,100 | 91,250 | – |
| SMU | Business, Economics, Computing | 11,550 | 26,200 | 47,700 |
| SMU | Law | 12,750 | 30,450 | 56,150 |
International fees include GST; citizen fees exclude it. * NTU charges S$40,600 for lab-based and S$36,350 for other programmes and does not list which are lab-based. NTU Medicine has no non-TG rate.
The Tuition Grant and the work bond
Three years of work in return
With a Tuition Grant, international students must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduating.
Most international students take it
MOE said in 2023 that 80% of international students at the autonomous universities receive tuition grants. Grants are limited and awarded on merit.
Breaking the bond costs money
Not completing the bond means paying liquidated damages to MOE.
Korean military service
If you must serve national service in your home country, you must apply to defer the bond (a banker's guarantee and at least 8 weeks' notice are required).
Different forms, different writing
NUS: five short answers and four achievements
IB applicants answer five compulsory short-response questions and list up to four achievements. NUS asks applicants not to use external aid such as AI or ghostwriting. References are not mentioned in the IB application guidance.
NTU: fill in the optional section
Applicants from some Singapore IB schools and Medicine applicants see an ABA section (short answers of up to 200 words each and 1–2 appraisals); other IB applicants show activities in an optional Achievements section with appraisals (2023 guidance).
SMU: four short answers and an interview
Applicants write four Quick Takes, and shortlisted applicants for every programme except Law are interviewed. References are optional but strongly encouraged.
Start in Grade 11
Choose competitions, projects and leadership that connect to the course, and record the results. Short answers are written in the online form, so draft them early.
From the summer of Grade 11 to the first term
- Summer before Grade 12Medicine at NUS with predicted grades: sit the UCAT (July–September), or plan SAT/ACT with Writing plus AP.
- 15 OctoberNTU applications open.
- Mid-NovemberSMU applications usually open (17 November last year).
- 16 December – 17 FebruaryNUS applications for IB applicants; medicine and dentistry test results due by 17 February.
- MarchNTU closes on 19 March; SMU closed on 19 March last year; SMU predicted grades from the school by 31 March.
- March–AprilInterviews and tests for the programmes that hold them.
- April–MayIB exams.
- JulyIB results on 6 July. NUS outcomes for May candidates by the 3rd week of July; NTU decides on actual results.
- AugustTerm starts.
Dates are for 2027–28 entry; SMU's are last year's. For other countries' dates, see the admissions roadmap.
Official sources
Show the sources
- NUS: important dates
- NUS: IB Diploma admission requirements
- NUS: IB Single Degree Programme prerequisites (December 2025)
- NUS: indicative grade profile
- NUS: faculty interview and test dates
- NUS: international qualifications application guide
- NUS: short-response questions and achievements (sample)
- NUS: English test scores
- NUS: tuition fees AY2026/27
- NUS Medicine: admissions FAQ
- NTU: important dates
- NTU: International Baccalaureate Diploma
- NTU: Aptitude-based Admissions (updated November 2025)
- NTU: application form guide for IB and international applicants
- NTU: tuition fees for offers accepted in 2026
- NTU LKCMedicine: MBBS entry requirements
- SMU: important dates
- SMU: International Baccalaureate Diploma
- SMU: Elevate SMU (Quick Takes, references)
- SMU: tuition fees and Tuition Grant
- MOE: Tuition Grant bond deferment for national service
- MOE: liquidated damages
- MOE: parliamentary reply on international students receiving tuition grants (2023)
- MOE: parliamentary reply on admission of foreign students (2020)
- MOH: medical and dental undergraduate agreement
Everything was checked on official NUS, NTU, SMU, MOE and MOH pages on 18 October 2026.
Plan Singapore alongside other countries
In the IB Pathway Diagnostic (90 minutes, S$500), we match IB subjects to target courses and plan the mix of countries, Singapore included.
This is an independent summary of official information from NUS, NTU, SMU, MOE and MOH by Math with Alex. It is not affiliated with any university or government agency. Dates, requirements and fees change every year, so check each university's official guidance before applying.
All guides