How to Apply to Psychology at the National University of Singapore: Apply to Humanities and Sciences, Declare Psychology After Entry, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (Gaokao), International-Curriculum, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the National University of Singapore (NUS), psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS). The degree is the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Psychology, a four-year programme. You apply to CHS’s “Humanities and Sciences” programme and declare psychology as your primary major after entry. Here is what you need to know for AY2027/28 entry, based on NUS’s official information, for students at high schools in China (Gaokao and international curricula), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Programme structure

• Common Curriculum: CHS’s Common Curriculum has 13 courses, one-third of the total, most of them best completed in the first two years. Students can take a single major or add a second major or minors (up to one second major and three minors).
• What psychology covers: NUS lists biological, cognitive, abnormal, developmental and social psychology and empirical methods. Students do laboratory and practical work and are encouraged to learn through empirical study rather than reading and classroom instruction alone.
• Second major and minor: students in other majors can also take psychology as a second major or minor.
• Declaring the major: students declare their primary major by the date set each academic year, and gateway courses are then pre-allocated. The grade threshold for entering the major that the department’s website shows covers only cohorts up to 2020 (B- or better in both PL1101E and PL2131); NUS does not state the rule for later cohorts clearly, so check with the department at psybox1@nus.edu.sg.
• Interview: NUS’s programme prerequisites for international qualifications list no selection test or interview for Humanities and Sciences and refer to the CHS website for subject background.

2. General requirements

• At least 12 years of general education completed (or to be completed) by July of the application year.
• You can list several programmes in order of preference.
• Outcomes are released from mid-May to the end of July; most international qualification applicants hear by July.
• Admitted students must bring original identity and high school documents for verification when term begins; NUS may expel students who do not.

3. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao completed: apply with Gaokao results; NUS asks for “a good pass in Gaokao” and publishes no cut-off score.
• Current Gao 3 students:
  • apply with Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results and an expected good pass in the Gaokao;
  • these applicants cannot apply for Dentistry, Law, Medicine or Nursing, which does not affect Humanities and Sciences;
  • submit Gaokao results via the Applicant Portal within three days of release; an internet print-out showing your full name is accepted provisionally.
• English: an English test score is required in the Gaokao category (see section 6).
• Optional: AST results in at least three subjects including English and Mathematics.
• Gao 3 students not sitting the Gaokao: apply under “Other High School Qualifications” with standardised test scores (SAT, ACT or AP) and latest high school results.
• Application window: 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027.

4. International curricula (A-Level, IB)

• International A-Level (AQA, Cambridge, Edexcel, OCR and others):
  • completed: good passes in at least four A-Level subjects; no standardised test or separate English test needed;
  • not yet completed: apply with AS results and expected good passes in four A-Levels by end July, and submit SAT, ACT with Writing or AP scores;
  • grades are accepted from up to two sittings and two boards within 12 months.
  The window is the same: 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027.
• IB Diploma: IB is its own applicant group, also applying from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027. English must be one of your IB subjects. Students sitting the May 2027 exams usually hear by the third week of July 2027.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Diplomas covered: the British Columbia Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma, Ontario OSSD, Alberta High School Diploma and Quebec CEGEP.
• Already graduated: at least 90% in each subject taken at the diploma examination; no standardised test needed.
• Still in Grade 12:
  • apply with your most recent results and an expected 90% in each subject by end July;
  • SAT, ACT with Writing or AP scores are required;
  • these applicants cannot apply for Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Law, Landscape Architecture, Medicine or Nursing, which does not affect psychology.
• English: not needed if English was one of your high school examination subjects; otherwise submit a score by the closing date.
• AP: AP scores can be submitted for consideration; if you sit AP in 2027, update scores within three days of release.
• Application window: 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027.

6. English requirements

When a test is needed, any one of the following is accepted, within its validity period up to the start of the academic year:

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall and in reading and writing, valid for two years; IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT (including Home and Paper Editions): 4.5 overall and in reading and writing on the new scale, valid for two years; tests taken before 21 January 2026 are assessed accordingly; single test date only, no MyBest scores.
• PTE Academic 62 overall and in reading and writing; C1 Advanced 180; TOEFL Essentials 10.

7. Transfer students

• International students who have studied at an overseas university apply under international qualifications and are reviewed holistically on high school and university results.
• No direct credit transfer to accelerate your studies. After enrolment, you can ask your college for credit transfer or course exemptions, subject to approval.
• The transfer application window (27 October to 10 November 2026 for Semester 2 of AY2026/27) is only for current students of Singapore’s autonomous universities and for Singapore citizens and permanent residents at overseas universities.

8. Tuition, the Tuition Grant and fees

• Tuition: AY2027/28 fees have not been published. For AY2026/27 entry, annual Humanities and Sciences tuition (S$, including GST):
  • international students with the MOE Tuition Grant: 18,050 for ASEAN students and 21,400 for other international students;
  • without the grant: 36,650.
  NUS uses cohort-based fees: you pay your intake year’s rates for the normal candidature.
• Tuition Grant terms: permanent residents and international students who receive the grant must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation.
• Application fee: S$20 (including GST) per application for international students with international qualifications, non-refundable.
• Scholarships: NUS offers undergraduate scholarships; see its scholarships pages for timing and eligibility. This guide has not checked specific amounts.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply in the Gaokao category from 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027, choosing Humanities and Sciences; current Gao 3 students use Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results
• IELTS 6.5 overall, reading and writing, or TOEFL 4.5 in each; optional AST in three or more subjects
• Submit Gaokao results within three days of release
• If not sitting the Gaokao, apply under Other High School Qualifications with SAT, ACT or AP

International-curriculum students:

• At least four A-Levels, or the IB Diploma; apply by 17 February
• If your A-Levels are not finished, submit SAT, ACT with Writing or AP

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply by 17 February 2027 with at least 90% in each subject
• Grade 12 students must submit SAT, ACT with Writing or AP

Transfer students:

• Apply under international qualifications with high school and university results; request course exemptions after enrolment

Sources: National University of Singapore, College of Humanities and Sciences programmes; CHS prospective students; Department of Psychology; Psychology single major requirements; Admission requirements for international qualifications; Gaokao requirements; Canadian High School Diploma; International A-Level; IB Diploma; Programme prerequisites for international qualifications (PDF); English language test scores (PDF); Important dates; Application overview; Undergraduate fees; AY2026/27 tuition fee schedule (PDF); Scholarships. Information is for AY2027/28 entry (fees are AY2026/27 rates). Check NUS for the latest details.