NUS 2027 Entry: International Qualifications Apply December 16 to February 17, Grade 12 Students Can Apply with Grade 11 Results, IELTS 6.5

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Office of Admissions has published its undergraduate application dates for AY2027/28: applicants with international qualifications (except the IB Diploma), including those applying with China's gaokao, apply from December 16, 2026 to February 17, 2027. Some websites say NUS opens on October 15; that is Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) date.

Key dates

• December 16, 2026 to February 17, 2027: Apply online, uploading documents and paying the fee within the window.
• Within 3 days of 2027 gaokao results: Update and submit your results via the Applicant Portal.
• By July 2027: Most applicants receive outcomes; results are released progressively from mid-May to end-July.

Applying with the gaokao

• Already have gaokao results: Apply with them; all programmes are open to you.
• Current Grade 12 students sitting the gaokao after the deadline: Apply with Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results and then need a good gaokao result; these applicants are not eligible for Dentistry, Law, Medicine or Nursing.
• Applicants with at least three AST subjects (including English and Mathematics) may submit their scores.
• Grade 12 students not sitting the gaokao apply under "Other High School Qualifications" with standardized test scores (AP, ACT with Writing or SAT) and their latest high school results.
• Applicants must complete at least 12 years of general education by July of the application year and meet programme prerequisites.
• NUS's gaokao page still shows last cycle's dates; check the 2027 details when applications open.

English requirements (updated September 2026)

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall and in Reading and Writing; One Skill Retake not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT (including Home and Paper Editions): 4.5 overall and in Reading and Writing; single test date only, no MyBest; tests taken before January 21, 2026 are assessed accordingly.
• PTE Academic: 62 overall and in Reading and Writing; C1 Advanced: 180; TOEFL Essentials: 10.
• Scores are valid for 2 years, counted up to the start of the academic year.

Interviews and tests

Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Music, Nursing and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) require an interview or test.

MOE Tuition Grant

• International students can apply for the Singapore Ministry of Education Tuition Grant and then pay subsidised fees.
• In return they must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation; those who decline pay non-subsidised fees throughout their studies.
• Medicine and Dentistry carry a separate Ministry of Health service bond: 6 years for international medical students and 5 years for dental students.

Advice for students and families

• Grade 12 students should submit by February 17 with Grade 11 results and must upload gaokao scores within 3 days of release.
• Medicine, Law, Dentistry and Nursing are only open to applicants who already have gaokao results, so plan ahead.
• Admitted students must bring original identity documents and high school results for verification when the term begins; failing to do so can lead to expulsion.

Sources: National University of Singapore, Important dates; Gaokao requirements; English test scores; Admissions assessment; Fees and Tuition Grant. Check the official sources for the latest policy.

Frequently asked questions

When can I apply to NUS for 2027 entry with international qualifications or the Gaokao?

Applicants with international qualifications (except the IB Diploma), including Gaokao applicants, apply from December 16, 2026 to February 17, 2027. Gaokao results must be updated and submitted through the Applicant Portal within 3 days of release. Most applicants receive results before July 2027, with decisions released from mid-May to the end of July. Reports that NUS opens on October 15 confuse it with NTU.

Can Grade 12 students apply before the Gaokao?

Yes. Students who sit the Gaokao after the deadline can apply with their second-semester Year 2 results, but must then achieve good Gaokao results. These applicants cannot apply for Dentistry, Law, Medicine or Nursing, which require existing Gaokao results.

What English scores does NUS require?

IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, Reading and Writing, with One Skill Retake not accepted; TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall, Reading and Writing, from a single sitting (MyBest scores are not accepted), with tests taken before January 21, 2026 converted separately; PTE Academic 62; Cambridge C1 Advanced 180; TOEFL Essentials 10. Scores are valid for 2 years, counted to the start of the program.

What is the NUS Tuition Grant and what does it cost in service?

International students can apply for the Singapore Ministry of Education Tuition Grant and pay subsidized tuition, but must work for an entity in Singapore for three years after graduation. Without the grant they pay unsubsidized tuition for the whole program. Medicine and Dentistry carry a separate Ministry of Health service obligation: 6 years for medicine and 5 years for dentistry.