How to Apply to Chemistry at Nanyang Technological University: The Four-Year BSc in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Whose Curriculum Meets American Chemical Society Guidelines and Offers Three Study Tracks, With Admission Routes and Requirements for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the chemistry-related undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, provided by the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) in the College of Science. NTU also lists engineering degrees such as Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering and combinations of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry with second majors; this guide covers Chemistry and Biological Chemistry only, and medicine and engineering degrees are outside its scope (see NTU’s website). Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on NTU’s official information, for Singapore citizens and PRs, international students, students from China and transfer students.

1. The programme and degree

• BSc in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry: NTU describes it as a single degree, full-time, four-year Bachelor of Science provided by CCEB. It builds a foundation in modern chemistry across organic, inorganic, analytical, biological and computational chemistry with hands-on laboratory training and research opportunities; students begin with organic and biological chemistry, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry and forensic science, then move to advanced topics such as organometallic chemistry, spectroscopy, green chemistry and drug design, and NTU says students have the chance to do a research project in every year of study.
• Accreditation: NTU states that the curriculum meets American Chemical Society (ACS) guidelines, so that graduates are qualified to be professional chemists or to enter graduate school in the chemical sciences. The school’s accreditation page lists only the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering degrees as accredited by the Institution of Engineers Singapore (a Washington Accord signatory); it gives no other accreditation for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry.
• Units and study tracks: the curriculum table (for students matriculating in 2024 or later) shows three tracks, FYP + PI (default), FYP + PA and PI, with 132/133 Academic Units (AU) in total: core courses 56/57 AU; prescribed electives (usually taken in Year 4) 22, 22 and 12 AU; the Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core common core 17 AU and foundational core 15, 10 and 15 AU; and Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDEs, which can be taken in any school) 22, 27 and 32 AU (FYP: Final Year Project; PI: Professional Internship; PA: Professional Attachment). A student can change track once, between Year 2 Semester 2 and Year 3 Semester 2. For honours, a CGPA of at least 4.50 and at least an A- in the FYP is required for Highest Distinction, and a CGPA of at least 4.00 with a pass in the FYP for Distinction (for AY2024 onwards).
• Second majors: NTU lists second majors in Business (International Trading), Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Future Foods and Sustainability; the Environmental Science second major will cease to be offered to undergraduate applicants from AY2027/28 admissions. A separate double-major engineering-science degree in Process Engineering and Synthetic Chemistry is also listed, which is outside this guide.
• Direct entry: you choose “Chemistry and Biological Chemistry” directly on the application form (up to 5 choices per application). The pages used for this guide do not describe a common first year followed by a later choice of major; for the year-by-year course list, see the full curriculum on NTU’s website.
• Internships and careers: NTU says the programme gives students modern laboratory techniques, mastery of modern scientific instruments, research experience and internship opportunities at local chemistry-related companies; graduates enter research, technical and managerial roles, and the employers named include pharmaceutical companies.

2. Prerequisites and subject choices

• A-Level: an H2 pass in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics.
• Polytechnic diploma: a relevant diploma, subject to passing an admission test administered by CCEB.
• IB Diploma: a pass in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics at Higher Level.
• NUS High School Diploma: a Major CAP of 2.0 in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics.
• Other qualifications (including international applicants): good grades in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics at senior high school level, equivalent to A-Level or the IB.
• Tests and interviews: apart from the CCEB admission test for polytechnic diploma holders, NTU states no separate written test for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, and its IGP table does not mark the programme with * (the mark for additional assessments).

3. Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents

• A-Level: NTU’s minimum A-Level requirement for the BSc in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry is an H2 pass in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics. NTU says the University Admission Score (UAS) uses 3 H2 content-based subjects and General Paper, and, for the 2025 sitting onwards, H1 Mother Tongue and/or a fourth subject may be added if it improves the score; H3 is not counted in the UAS, and applicants with H3 can be considered under Aptitude-based Admissions (ABA). Applications run from the day of A-Level results release to 19 March 2027, with the fee and documents due by 24 March; results come from the end of March; the first offer-acceptance window is listed as 4 January to 24 May 2027 and the second as 1 to 16 June.
• Polytechnic diploma: NTU says polytechnic diploma holders need a relevant diploma and must pass an admission test administered by the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB); the list of relevant diplomas is in NTU’s diploma match generator, which is not covered in this guide. The “Important dates” page gives a 2027 window of 1 to 21 February 2027, with results from mid-March; however, the polytechnic and NUS High School sections of the general admission requirements page are also marked “applications are now closed”, so check the current status on the website.
• IB Diploma: NTU states the IB minimum as a pass in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics at Higher Level. Applications run from 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027, and you must authorise the IBO to send results directly to NTU; NTU says IB applicant numbers are limited and it cannot give a meaningful grade profile. On when results come, the local table says “March to May 2027” while the international table says “end April to end July 2027”; rely on the website and your offer email.
• NUS High School Diploma: NTU states that NUS High School Diploma holders need a Major CAP of 2.0 in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics. The application window is 1 December 2026 to 20 January 2027.
• Mother tongue: citizens and PRs must meet the Ministry of Education mother-tongue policy; you may still apply without meeting it, but if admitted without an MOE exemption you must fulfil it before graduating.
• Application fee and choices: S$15 for citizens and PRs (S$25 for international students), non-refundable; one application can list up to 5 programme choices.
• Indicative Grade Profile (IGP): In NTU’s IGP table, the A-Level representative grade profile (3H2/1H1) for Chemistry & Biological Chemistry is BCC/C at the 10th percentile and AAA/A at the 90th (the table assumes a C for GP and PW, and the page does not say which year’s admissions it reflects); the polytechnic GPA at the 10th and 90th percentiles is 3.50 and 3.96; and the table lists 170 places taken up in AY2025-26. NTU says criteria vary by programme and year, and programmes marked * require additional assessments such as interviews, selection tests and/or portfolios.
• Tuition and grants: for AY2026/27, S$8,300 for citizens and S$11,600 for PRs (excluding GST); citizens receive the MOE tuition grant automatically and fill in a declaration form after admission; Chemistry and Biological Chemistry is not among the programmes listed separately in the fee table (those are Accountancy, Business, Medicine and the Renaissance Engineering Programme).

4. International students (including international curricula)

• General: one intake per year, with the first term typically starting in late July; international applicants are those who have completed, or are sitting, their national high school exams in the year of application. Admission is highly competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, decisions are based primarily on high school academic performance, and no provisional offers are made on predicted or pending results.
• Minimum subject requirements: The programme page says applicants with other qualifications (including international applicants) need good grades in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics at senior high school level, equivalent to Singapore-Cambridge A-Level or the IB; no specific minimum score is given.
• International A-Level: at least 4 A2 subjects in a single sitting (separate sittings are not accepted); applicants with only 3 subjects are considered case by case, but not for international students applying on a subsidised-fee basis (limited places). Applicants sitting the May/June 2027 A-Level exams are not considered in this exercise and should apply in the next one.
• IB Diploma: see above; results must be released to NTU directly by the IBO, by 19 March 2027 for the November 2026 and earlier sessions, and for the May 2027 session you may apply by 19 March 2027 and provide final results within three days of release (except Medicine and the Arts / Science (Education) programmes).
• Application windows (by qualification): US high school diploma (including AP), HKDSE, UK A-Level, French / Spanish / European Baccalaureate, India Standard 12, IB and PRC Gaokao are 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027; Canadian Ontario OSSD / British Columbia high school diplomas and equivalents, Australian state certificates, Indonesian Ijazah SMA, Malaysia UEC, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, and all other qualifications not listed, are 15 October 2026 to 20 January 2027. Country-specific score requirements are on NTU’s qualification pages, which are not all covered in this guide (for example the Canadian page); check the website. Documents must be uploaded within 3 days after the closing date.
• English: applicants with the PRC Gaokao, Taiwan GSAT, South Korea CSAT, HKDSE, Vietnam, Thailand or Indonesia qualifications must submit an approved English test, as must anyone whose qualification did not include English at both junior and senior high school or offered English only as a second language. Accepted evidence (any one): IELTS Academic overall 6.5 with Writing 6.5 and Speaking 6.5; TOEFL iBT total 90 (or 4.5 on the new scale) with Writing 25 (4.5) and Speaking 25 (4.5); PTE Academic overall 55 with Speaking 55 and Writing 59; Cambridge C1 Advanced overall 170 with Writing 170 and Speaking 170; SAT total 1250 with Reading and Writing 600; ACT with Writing (one sitting) composite 30, English 30, Writing 7; Aptitude Scholastic Test (AST) English 220. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, C1 Advanced and AST scores must be from the two years before the application deadline, SAT and ACT scores are valid for five years, and results must be submitted by the deadline. NTU says these scores are generally for Science, Engineering and Computing programmes and that some competitive, double-degree and double-major programmes need higher scores.
• When results come (NTU’s estimates): US high school diploma mid June to mid July 2027; HKDSE mid July; IB end April to end July; UK A-Level May to end June (candidates sitting the May/June 2027 exams are not considered in this exercise). The online appeal window is 17 to 30 May 2027 for local qualifications; for international qualifications the appeal period is listed as “TBA”.

5. Applicants from China (Gaokao)

• Which category: NTU’s Gaokao page says this category is for Gaokao candidates; students on the Gaokao curriculum who do not sit the Gaokao, or who take AP exams independently, also apply here. The window is 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027.
• Gaokao results: applicants with Gaokao results must reach at least 80% of the maximum Gaokao score and submit a CSSD Verification Report issued by CHSI. Current Gao 3 students awaiting results may apply with Gao 1 and Gao 2 transcripts and must submit official Gaokao results within 3 days of release; eligible applicants are invited to an interview in July and final decisions are based on interview performance. Applicants who cannot sit the Gaokao but have good high school graduation results are assessed case by case. The page says decisions are based primarily on high school academic performance, and Gao 3 students awaiting results cannot apply for Medicine or the Renaissance Engineering Programme.
• Subject requirements for this programme: The programme page says applicants with other qualifications need good grades in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics at senior high school level, equivalent to A-Level or the IB, and the Gaokao page adds that applicants must meet each programme’s minimum subject requirements for international qualifications. No specific Gaokao score for Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics is given; ask the admissions office.
• AST and AP (optional): strong results can strengthen an application: AST in at least 3 subjects including English, Mathematics and one more (applicants who use Economics as the third subject are considered only for non-Engineering and non-Science programmes); AP in at least 5 subjects with 4 or 5 in each. They must be submitted together with the Gaokao results (or Gao 1 and Gao 2 transcripts), not on their own.
• English: Gaokao applicants must submit an English test; scores are listed above.
• Olympiads: medallists in international science olympiads such as Biology (IBO), Chemistry (IChO), Physics, Mathematics and Informatics are considered more favourably for programmes related to their field, and an interview may be held.
• Interview and results: only shortlisted applicants are interviewed. NTU’s estimates: notification of whether you are invited to interview at the end of June 2027 and the interview outcome in mid-July 2027.
• Chinese school transcripts and school-leaving materials: the Gaokao page asks for Gaokao results and the CSSD report; for other transcript formats, see the application form and document checklist on the website.

6. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition (AY2026/27 table; for 2027 entry, rely on what NTU publishes for that year): in the row “All programmes (except those listed below)”: Singapore citizens S$8,300 and Permanent Residents S$11,600 (excluding GST, which MOE subsidises); on subsidised fees, ASEAN international students S$18,050 and all other international students S$21,400 (including 9% GST, borne by the student); for non-subsidised students (not receiving a tuition grant) the table gives “Lab Based” S$40,600 and “Non-Lab Based” S$36,350 (including GST). The table does not say whether Chemistry and Biological Chemistry counts as “lab based” or “non-lab based”; ask the admissions office. NTU says full-time undergraduate fees are fixed for the whole candidature by cohort, and miscellaneous fees are charged on top (amounts are on its fee table).
• MOE Tuition Grant: local and international full-time undergraduates admitted on a subsidised-fee basis are eligible for a tuition grant and GST subsidy covering the normal duration of the degree. Citizens receive it automatically; PRs and international students opt in on the application form, indicate before the July closing date whether they accept the offer with the grant, and register on MOE’s website after receiving a matriculation number, student pass and Singpass; two guarantors aged 21 to under 65 are required, and the Tuition Grant Agreement obliges you to work for a Singapore entity for 3 years after graduation. Those who do not apply or finish registration on time pay the full non-subsidised fee.
• Scholarships: The CCEB scholarships page lists scholarships you can apply for while applying for admission: the NTU President Award, the Renaissance Engineering Programme scholarship, the CN Yang Scholars Programme Scholarship (for outstanding freshmen in science and engineering), the NTU-USP Scholarship, the Nanyang Global Scholarship and the NTU Talent Scholarship, and it says other scholarships may need separate applications. The application process page says scholarship applications are open only to applicants opting for subsidised tuition fees and must be submitted before the application closing date; eligibility and amounts for each scholarship are on NTU’s scholarship pages.

7. Transfers and course exemptions

• Transfer from another university: NTU says students who have completed at least one term at another university, locally or overseas, can apply through the standard application process; if accepted, you are offered a first-year place. How earlier credits are recognised is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.
• Effect on the tuition grant: for students transferring from other universities the tuition grant depends on semesters already used (NTU’s example: 2 semesters at a local university, then an 8-semester programme at NTU, leaves 6 semesters of grant).
• Changing programme inside NTU: current NTU students apply to move to other undergraduate programmes through the Student Intranet; those moving to Arts (Education) or Science (Education), or seeking re-admission, go through the admissions process again.
• Exemptions on entry: The CCEB course exemption page says students with the right background may be exempted from CM1001 and CM1002 (Foundations of Chemistry I and II, 4 Academic Units (AU) each): A-Level H3 Chemistry with Distinction or Merit; NUS High School Diploma holders with a Chemistry CAP above 4.50 or IB holders with 7 in Chemistry (by passing an exemption test); and International Chemistry Olympiad medallists (by passing an exemption test). Exemptions apply only to first-year students, no later requests are accepted, and they do not apply to unrestricted or broadening electives; exempted courses carry an “EX” grade and are excluded from GPA, but the University still requires at least 69 AU of letter-graded courses and at least 3 academic years of study. Eligible students are emailed in July.

8. Application checklist

• Local students: A-Level applications until 19 March 2027 (H2 pass in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics); polytechnic diploma 1 to 21 February 2027 (CCEB admission test; check the “applications closed” label); application fee S$15.
• International students: US high school, HKDSE, UK A-Level, IB and others 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027, with Canadian, Australian and most Southeast Asian qualifications until 20 January 2027; application fee S$25; good grades in Chemistry and in Mathematics or Physics; an English test where the qualification requires it (for example IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90 / 4.5).
• China (Gaokao): 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027; at least 80% of the maximum Gaokao score plus a CHSI CSSD Verification Report; English test mandatory; Gao 3 students apply with Gao 1 and Gao 2 transcripts and submit results within 3 days of release, with interviews in July.
• Transfer students: completing at least one term elsewhere allows the standard application, with a first-year place offered; the tuition grant is reduced by semesters already used.

Sources: Nanyang Technological University, BSc in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry; CCEB undergraduate page; CCEB course exemption; Career prospects for chemists; CCEB scholarships; College of Science undergraduate admissions; Application process; Important dates; General admission requirements; PRC Gaokao page; Indicative Grade Profile; Transfer applications; Tuition fees and grants. Information is for September 2027 entry (where a page prints no year, check that it applies to 2027 entry). Check NTU for the latest details.