🏅 QS World Rank #10
National University of Singapore (NUS) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Asia’s flagship university in the global top 10 — QS World Rankings 2027 #10
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s oldest and largest autonomous university. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (announced June 2026), NUS ranked 10th in the world, down from 8th but still the highest-ranked university in Asia. This guide covers NUS’s programmes, undergraduate admission for international applicants, the MOE Tuition Grant and its work bond, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan, and the questions prospective students ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
NUS Overview
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s oldest and largest autonomous university. It traces its roots to a medical school founded in 1905 and became NUS in 1980. Its main campus is at Kent Ridge, with other campuses and sites around Singapore. NUS offers programmes across arts and social sciences, business, computing, dentistry, design and engineering, law, medicine, music, public policy, science, and more.
Teaching is in English. International applicants apply through NUS’s own application system, and Singapore’s government tuition grant system, explained in the fees section, strongly affects what international students pay.
NUS Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
NUS is ranked 10th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. It slipped from 8th in the previous edition, but it remains the highest-ranked university in Asia and the only Asian university in the QS top 10.
QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education and ARWU use different methods and can order the same universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities and the QS World University Rankings 2027 press release (18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
NUS offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes, and it is known for:
- Engineering and computing — including one of Asia’s best-known computer science schools
- Medicine, dentistry, and life sciences
- Business and economics — through NUS Business School and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Law and public policy — through the Faculty of Law and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
- Science, design, and the arts
- Overseas exchange and entrepreneurship — NUS runs well-known exchange and overseas-college programmes
For the full list, see NUS’s official website.
Admission Requirements
NUS runs its own undergraduate application process. Details below were checked in October 2026; confirm them on the NUS admissions website before applying.
Undergraduate Admissions (International Qualifications)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| How to apply | Online through the NUS undergraduate admissions portal |
| Application window | For AY2027/28, the window for applicants with international qualifications runs from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027 |
| Application fee | S$20 for applicants with international qualifications |
| Results | Outcomes are announced by July |
| Academic level | Admission is competitive and based on your school results (for example A-levels, IB, or equivalent). NUS publishes entry guidance by qualification. |
| English language | Applicants who studied in a non-English-medium system usually need a recognised English test; scores are commonly reported around IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 92 (check NUS for the current level) |
| Other requirements | Some programmes ask for extra tests, portfolios, or interviews |
Graduate Admissions
Graduate programmes have their own application systems, deadlines, and requirements, set by each faculty or school. Check the page for your programme.
Official source: NUS Office of Admissions.
NUS Acceptance Rate
NUS does not publish one official acceptance rate. Admission is decided by programme, and competition is much higher for courses such as medicine, law, computing, and business than for others.
The figure of ’12–15%’ that appears on some websites is an unverified estimate and was not confirmed by NUS. The best guide is the published entry guidance for your qualification and programme.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme first, and check how NUS treats your qualification
- Note the 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027 window for AY2027/28 with an international qualification
- Book an English test if you need one
- Prepare school transcripts, certificates, and any extra documents your programme asks for
- Understand the MOE Tuition Grant and its three-year work bond before you accept
- Check scholarship deadlines, which can differ from the application deadline
- Budget for the S$20 application fee, tuition, and Singapore living costs
- Verify every date, fee, and requirement on the NUS admissions website before you apply
Fees & Costs
Singapore’s government subsidises tuition at public universities, and the amount you pay depends on your status and on whether you accept the Ministry of Education (MOE) Tuition Grant.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Non-ASEAN international student with MOE Tuition Grant, most programmes (2026/27) | About S$21,400 per year |
| Non-ASEAN international student without the grant (2026/27) | Roughly S$36,650 to S$39,700 per year depending on programme (secondary source; confirm with NUS) |
| Application fee | S$20 (international qualifications) |
What the tuition grant means: the offer letter shows the MOE Tuition Grant. If you accept it, you agree to work in a Singapore entity for three years after you graduate (the ‘work bond’). Read the terms carefully before you accept.
Living costs are additional and depend on housing and lifestyle.
Figures can change. Confirm on the NUS fees pages before budgeting.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
NUS offers several awards for international students:
- NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship: covers 100% of subsidised tuition; recipients must take the MOE Tuition Grant and its work bond
- Other scholarships: NUS lists further awards by programme and by country, and some are funded by outside organisations
- Government and external awards: check eligibility each year, because schemes change
- HEC Pakistan: check current Higher Education Commission funding programmes for study abroad
See also our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027. Scholarships are not guaranteed.
NUS for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants use the same process as other international applicants. NUS has no separate Pakistan track. Practical points:
- Qualifications: check NUS’s guidance for A-levels, IB, or other qualifications you hold
- English: prepare IELTS or TOEFL if required. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Funding: plan for tuition after the MOE grant, living costs, and apply for scholarships early
- Work bond: if you accept the MOE Tuition Grant, plan for three years of work in Singapore after graduation
- Visa: international students need a Singapore Student’s Pass, issued by the Singapore authorities. No outcome is guaranteed.
- Agents: you can apply directly, so a paid agent is not required
Campus & Student Life
- The Kent Ridge campus is the main campus, with other sites including Bukit Timah and Outram
- Residential colleges and halls offer on-campus living for many students (check eligibility)
- Singapore is safe, English is widely used, and the city is a major business and technology hub in Asia
- Student clubs, sports, and exchange programmes are a large part of life at NUS
Research & Career Opportunities
- NUS has a large research output in engineering, computing, medicine, and the sciences
- Singapore has major finance, technology, biomedical, and logistics sectors close to campus
- The work bond under the MOE Tuition Grant affects where some graduates work after study
- NUS does not guarantee employment, salary, or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Halimah Yacob — former President of Singapore, who graduated in law from the University of Singapore, a predecessor of NUS
- Leaders across Singapore’s public service, business, science, and the arts
Contact & Location
National University of Singapore
21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077
Official website: nus.edu.sg
Frequently Asked Questions
NUS is ranked 10th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, announced in June 2026. It slipped from 8th in the previous edition but is still Asia’s highest-ranked university and the only Asian university in the top 10.
For 2026/27, a non-ASEAN international student with the MOE Tuition Grant pays about S$21,400 per year for most programmes. Without the grant, reported fees are roughly S$36,650 to S$39,700. Confirm exact fees with NUS.
If you accept the MOE Tuition Grant shown in your offer letter, you agree to work in a Singapore entity for three years after graduation. Read the terms before accepting.
NUS does not publish an official acceptance rate. Competition varies by programme, and any single percentage you see online is an unverified estimate.
For AY2027/28, applicants with international qualifications can apply from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027. Outcomes are announced by July.
Yes. The application fee is S$20 for applicants with international qualifications.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process through the NUS admissions portal, with their qualifications assessed against the published guidance.
Yes. For example, the NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship covers 100% of subsidised tuition, but recipients must take the MOE Tuition Grant and its work bond. Awards are competitive and not guaranteed.
It depends on your qualification and programme. Scores are commonly reported at around IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 92, so check NUS for the current requirement.
Check the NUS admissions website, nus.edu.sg, and the page for your programme. Deadlines, fees, grants, and rules are set by NUS and the Singapore government and can change.
Compare NUS With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, NUS official admissions pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Some figures (fees without the grant, English scores) come from secondary sources and are marked as such. Fees, rankings, deadlines, grants, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with NUS before applying.