For families relocating to Singapore, understanding how local university in Singapore admissions work — beyond just grades — is essential to helping your child succeed.
Singapore is home to a diverse range of higher education institutions. There are seven main local universities: National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and University of the Arts Singapore (UAS). These local universities are publicly funded by the government and are known for their highly competitive admissions, strong emphasis on research, and rigorous academic standards.
In 2023, these publicly funded universities admitted approximately 18,500 students in total, including both local and international students. NUS and NTU accounted for the majority of this intake, enrolling over 7,400 and 6,400 freshmen, respectively¹. As Singapore’s two largest and most sought-after universities, NUS and NTU attract far more applicants than available places, making admissions highly selective for all students.
Amid this competitive landscape, the universities also welcome international students to foster a diverse and global learning environment. A Ministry of Education (MOE) parliamentary reply in 2024 states that the proportion of international students enrolled as undergraduates at local universities has remained around 10%, which helps ensure that international students contribute to a vibrant and balanced campus community.² This is further supported by data published by SMU, which shows that international students make up approximately 10% of the total undergraduate intake.³ Admission for international students remains highly competitive, requiring strong academic credentials as well as English proficiency, and, in some cases, additional assessments such as interviews or portfolios.
What Universities Really Look Out For
Local universities in Singapore assess not only a student’s overall academic performance, but also how closely their subject choices and results align with the requirements of their intended degree. The following examples illustrate how this alignment is evaluated in practice.
For Engineering at NTU, most Bachelor of Engineering programmes — such as Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, among others — require applicants to have passed H2 Mathematics and at least one H2 Science subject (e.g., Physics, Chemistry or Biology) at GCE A‑Level. Similarly, applicants undertaking the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma must meet the programme’s minimum subject requirements by passing Higher Level (HL) Mathematics and at least one HL Science subject (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or Computer Science).⁴ These subject prerequisites ensure that students possess the quantitative, analytical, and scientific foundations essential for rigorous engineering study.
For NUS Dentistry, A-Level applicants must achieve at least a B grade in H2 Chemistry and in either H2 Biology or H2 Physics, while IB Diploma applicants must pass HL Chemistry and either HL Biology or HL Physics, with a score of 5 or above in each subject. Shortlisted candidates are subsequently required to complete the Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) followed by Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) to assess practical skills and suitability for the programme.⁵ This means that, beyond achieving strong overall scores, universities place significant emphasis on a student’s strengths in relevant subjects, completion of prerequisite subjects, and practical skills when evaluating suitability for a particular course.
In addition, these local universities adopt holistic admissions approaches that go beyond academic results, considering applicants’ interests, strengths, personal qualities, and achievements. As part of this process, applicants may be required to submit short written responses, personal statements, details of co-curricular activities and other outstanding accomplishments. These components help universities assess an applicant’s aptitude, motivation, and overall fit for their chosen programme, as well as identify those who stand out among other applicants. In the sections below, we provide an insider look into how this is applied at the three top universities in Singapore.
National University of Singapore – NUS
When applying to NUS, the university asks applicants to reflect on personal experiences through a range of short-response questions. For example, one question asks: “Describe an instance when you did not succeed in accomplishing something on your first attempt but succeeded on subsequent attempts. How and what did you learn from your initial failure, and what changes did you make to your approach to eventually succeed?”⁶ Universities are interested in understanding how students navigate obstacles, adapt their strategies, and ultimately demonstrate perseverance. Another example question includes “Share something that is meaningful to you and explain how it has impacted you in a concrete way.”⁶ Thoughtful, specific examples that highlight personal development and alignment with the values of the chosen programme can significantly strengthen an application.
NUS takes into account applicants’ performance in aptitude and selection tests. For example, applicants to NUS Architecture are required to complete a design task, which may involve creating a 3D model using arts and crafts materials. They will then present their work and engage in a discussion with the school’s panel about their model. In addition, students may be provided with artefacts — such as an architectural sketch, 3D artefact or a painting — and are expected to analyse and discuss their observations with the panel.⁷
Based on the indicative grade profiles published by NUS, programmes such as Law, Medicine, Computer Science, and other Computing majors require near perfect scores for students undertaking the Singapore-Cambridge ‘A’ Levels, and for IB Diploma applicants, similarly high achievement is expected, typically with a mixture of 6s and 7s in each subject, reflecting the intense level of competition for admission.⁸ As a result, even students with top academic results are not guaranteed an offer, which highlights the importance of strong short-response answers and other holistic factors, such as non-academic achievements, particularly when differences in academic profiles among candidates are minimal.
Nanyang Technological University – NTU
NTU’s Aptitude-Based Admissions (ABA) is a holistic admission route that considers applicants’ passions, strengths and achievements beyond just academic grades. Under ABA, applicants are encouraged to showcase their achievements, from leadership roles and community involvement to notable awards or talents, supported by a short essay and at least one external appraisal. As part of the selection process, applicants may also be asked to provide supporting documents or participate in additional assessments, such as aptitude tests, written exercises, or asynchronous video interviews, with shortlisted candidates invited for a face-to-face evaluation.⁹
In 2023, 57% of NTU’s 6,400 freshmen were offered places through ABA¹⁰, highlighting how the university now uses this broader criteria for a significant portion of its admissions.
To contextualise this, applicants to NTU’s Nanyang Business School (NBS) are required to write an essay on a current affairs topic—such as COVID-19 and its broader societal and economic impact—followed by a paired interview where they articulate their views and respond to their interview partner’s perspectives. Through this process, NBS assesses candidates’ ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and engage thoughtfully in classroom discussions.¹¹
For applicants to NTU’s College of Engineering, the ABA process includes a short video submission. Applicants are asked an average of 4 to 5 questions and are required to record and submit their responses online. For example, a question such as, “If you were to build a house, what key considerations would you take into account?” is not domain-specific but covers broader engineering concepts across various programmes. This allows applicants to share their perspectives on different engineering disciplines. Each response is limited to 2 to 3 minutes, so applicants are expected to be concise, structured, and situational in their answers, supporting their opinions with clear elaboration and examples. The school looks for applicants who can demonstrate analytical thinking, practical reasoning, and effective communication in their responses.¹²
Singapore Management University – SMU
Admission to SMU remains highly competitive due to the limited number of places available relative to strong applicant demand. In the 2025 undergraduate admissions intake, SMU offered only a few thousand places across its 9 programmes—for example, approximately 980 places in Business Management, 268 in Accountancy, 182 in Law, and 406 in Information Systems, according to the university’s indicative grade profile data. As of September 2025, SMU welcomed around 2,500 new freshmen, bringing the total undergraduate population to 10,294 students13, which illustrates that its intake remains relatively small compared to NUS and NTU.
Unlike NUS and NTU, SMU does not have a separate ABA application; all applications are assessed holistically. To differentiate applicants within a large pool of academically qualified candidates, shortlisted applicants are required to complete an interview and/or written test as part of the admissions process.14
As one of the most popular programmes at SMU, Economics attracts a highly competitive pool of applicants. Insights into the interview process suggest that candidates are typically assessed on their motivation for choosing the course, alongside technical and current affairs–related questions. Applicants may be asked to apply economic concepts to real-world issues, such as the impact of COVID-19.15 Through these discussions, interviewers evaluate candidates’ ability to articulate informed views on contemporary issues, as well as attributes not fully reflected in academic results, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills, and genuine interest in the chosen field of study.
Insights from a NUS College Programme Admission Reader
We spoke with one of our university counsellors, who also serves as an admissions reader for NUS College (NUSC), the honours college of the NUS. NUSC, established in 2022 from the foundations of Yale-NUS and the University Scholars Programme, is a small interdisciplinary liberal arts college within NUS that complements students’ main degree programmes. Joining NUS College offers students a unique advantage, the chance to cultivate critical thinking and reflective skills through small, interdisciplinary classes, while engaging with a selective community that fosters academic growth, leadership development, and pathways to scholarships or postgraduate opportunities. In 2025, NUS College received about 10,000 applications for just 400 places¹⁶, translating to roughly 25 applicants competing for each seat, highlighting the exceptional level of competition for places.
Interested applicants will have already been shortlisted for their preferred undergraduate programme. Shortlisted candidates then undergo a second round of evaluation, during which admissions officers conduct a more in-depth review of the applicants’ academic records, personal statements, achievements, and relevant experiences. Applicants who successfully pass this second round of assessment are invited to the final stage of the selection process, which consists of an interview.
Our university counsellor emphasised the crucial role of the personal statement in the admissions process. Applicants who advance to the later stages consistently demonstrate authenticity and a compelling narrative, reflecting on their experiences in a meaningful way and connecting these insights to their personal growth. While strong academic results remain important, admissions now take a holistic approach, considering internships, projects, portfolios, and other hands-on experiences that demonstrate skill, initiative, and practical application of knowledge. The personal statement allows students to showcase their individual voice, while interviews further assess critical thinking, communication skills, and alignment with the programme’s values.
SMTP Consult’s Experience
SMTP Consult is a family office concierge service firm that caters to our client’s needs as they immigrate to Singapore. Our goal is to help our clients with their relocation needs as they settle in Singapore and provide bespoke services based on their specific requirements.
SMTP Consult has assisted numerous clients in developing comprehensive education plans for their children, facilitating successful enrolment in prestigious international schools in Singapore. Our team of education consultants and tutors plays a vital role in guiding students towards achieving their educational aspirations by offering personalized academic planning, school admissions guidance, subject-specific tutoring, and test preparation support. Additionally, SMTP Consult specializes in curating summer programs for our clients. Our dedicated team collaborates closely with clients and private institutions, ensuring that the unique needs and objectives of each family are effectively addressed and met.
Should you require any assistance or advice, please feel free to contact us to schedule a consultation.
³ https://www.smu.edu.sg/about/facts
⁴ https://www.ntu.edu.sg/engineering/programmes/undergraduate/minimum-subject-requirements
⁵ https://www.dentistry.nus.edu.sg/ug/prospective-students
⁷，¹¹，¹²，¹⁵
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ugQ84aSZyKTR4dWhNC88_liu1Aj3ifU/view
⁸ https://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/admissions/indicative-grade-profile
⁹ https://www.ntu.edu.sg/admissions/undergraduate/admission-guide/Aptitude-based-Admissions
¹³ https://www.smu.edu.sg/about/facts
¹⁴ https://admissions.smu.edu.sg/admissions-requirements/international-and-other-qualifications