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National University of Singapore

National University of Singapore

Quick facts

City
Singapore
Country
Singapore
Type
Public
Founded
1905
Students
52,851
National ranking
#1
International ranking
#10
Tuition (local students)
SGD 8,300
Tuition (international)
SGD 36,650
Guide score
8.7/10

Official website: www.nus.edu.sg

Overview

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Asia's highest-ranked university and the region's only institution in the global top 10 of the QS World University Rankings 2027 (10th worldwide; first in Singapore). Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, it is a comprehensive research university with 16 colleges, faculties and schools. The university is known for academic rigour, a global outlook, and strong industry connections.

The main Kent Ridge campus sits in southwestern Singapore, with further sites at Bukit Timah and Outram. Official registrar tables for AY2025/26 count 31,086 undergraduates and 21,765 graduate students (52,851 in total). Singapore itself is a global city-state known for safety, cleanliness, a multicultural society, and its role as a financial and tech hub. The tropical climate, food culture, and location make NUS a practical gateway to Southeast Asia.

Academic programs

NUS offers programmes across its colleges and faculties, with particular strength in Computing, Engineering, Business (NUS Business School), Law, and Medicine. Interdisciplinary study runs through the College of Humanities and Sciences and through NUS College, the honours college that replaced the older University Scholars Programme as the flagship living-learning track. Many programmes offer double-degree and concurrent-degree options. Teaching is in English and uses a modular credit system. Grading is competitive; students should expect a demanding workload rather than a guaranteed curve.

Campus life

Campus life is organised around Halls of Residence, Residential Colleges, and NUS College. Student organisations (CCAs — co-curricular activities) cover academic societies, performing arts, sports, and community service. University Town (UTown) is the living-learning hub, with dining halls, a pool, a gym, and study spaces. Hawker centres near campus still make everyday meals cheap by Singapore standards (around SGD 3–6). Nightlife sits off campus in Clarke Quay, Holland Village, and Duxton Hill.

Exchange programs

The Student Exchange Programme (SEP), run by the Global Relations Office, is the largest NUS mobility scheme: more than 300 partner universities in over 40 countries, and GRO's partner directory cites more than 350 undergraduate coursework partners. In AY2023/24 more than 2,600 NUS students went out on SEP and more than 2,100 incoming students arrived. Partners include research universities in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. The NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme is a separate year-long entrepreneurship track in cities such as Silicon Valley, Israel, Beijing, and Stockholm. Exchange credits map into degree requirements, but places and module lists are faculty-specific.

Admissions

Undergraduate admission is competitive. NUS does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Singapore citizens and permanent residents apply through the NUS Applicant Portal in qualification-specific windows (for AY2027/28, international qualifications other than the IB run from mid-December 2026 to mid-February 2027). Most outcomes appear by July. Academic requirements vary by programme; Medicine and Law are especially selective. English-medium applicants from non-English systems typically need an approved English test.

For AY2026/27, a typical Singapore-citizen bachelor's in Computing, Humanities and Sciences, or Design and Engineering is SGD 8,300 a year after the MOE subsidy. International students who receive the Tuition Grant pay about SGD 21,400 for those same programmes (ASEAN rates are lower); without the grant, Humanities and Sciences is SGD 36,650 and Computing SGD 39,700. Accepting the grant commits international students to three years of work for a Singapore entity after graduation. Business, Law, Music, and Medicine cost more.

Student housing

NUS offers Halls of Residence, Residential Colleges, student residences (including Prince George's Park and UTown Residence), and NUS College housing. First-year and international students have priority, but a place is not automatic. Official AY2026/27 weekly hostel rates run roughly SGD 117–225 for typical hall and residential-college rooms (about SGD 500–970 a month across a 17–18 week semester), plus compulsory meal plans in halls, colleges, and NUS College. Air-con rooms add a prepaid utilities charge. Students who live off campus often rent in Clementi, Buona Vista, or Kent Ridge; shared rooms commonly cost more than on-campus halls. The Circle and Downtown MRT lines serve the campus.

Career services

The Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) provides career coaching, employer events, and placement support. Singapore's role as a financial and tech hub means banks (DBS, GIC, Temasek), technology firms (Google, Meta, ByteDance), and consulting firms recruit on campus. NUS Enterprise and the BLOCK71 incubator support student startups. Graduate employment outcomes are a consistent NUS strength in the QS tables (NUS was 9th globally for employment outcomes in the 2027 ranking).

Academic programs

Application deadlines

Exchange

Student Exchange Programme (SEP) with 300+ partners in 40+ countries (GRO also lists 350+ undergraduate exchange partners). Incoming students apply via GRO after nomination. NUS Overseas Colleges offers year-long entrepreneurship stays.

Next steps

Sources