How to Apply to Business at the National University of Singapore: The Four-Year BBA With Common Admission and Nine Majors, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (Gaokao), International-Curriculum, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the National University of Singapore (NUS), undergraduate business is taught by NUS Business School, and the degree is the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Here is what you need to know for AY2027/28 entry, based on NUS’s official information, for students at high schools in China (including A-level and IB students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Programme structure

• Four-year direct honours: under the current curriculum, students are enrolled directly into the BBA honours programme and need 160 Units to graduate.
• Common Admission: students do not choose a major on entry. They take the Common Curriculum first and declare a major before the end of the fourth semester.
• Nine majors: Applied Business Analytics, Business Economics, Finance, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Human Capital Management, Marketing, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Accountancy and Real Estate.
• Common Curriculum: General Education courses, Business Environment courses, a Field Service Project, and the Work Experience and Global Experience Milestones. The six business function courses cover accounting, marketing, organisational behaviour, programming for business analytics and AI, operations and technology management, and finance.
• Double degrees: BBA students can combine with Business Analytics, Communications and New Media, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Information Systems or Law, either in the main application or after the first year. The FAQ notes that an NUS double degree takes 5 years.
• Accountancy: the FAQ states that the NUS accountancy degree is accredited under the Accountants Act.

2. General requirements

• At least 12 years of general education completed (or to be completed) by July of the application year.
• Subject requirement: the programme prerequisites for international qualifications list a pass in Year 12 or higher-level Mathematics for Business Administration, with no selection test or interview.
• Aptitude-Based Admissions: all applicants list up to four achievements or activities; exceptional candidates may be considered on this basis and may be asked for an additional assessment or interview. Scholarship, double-degree and transfer applicants may also be interviewed.
• You can list several programmes in order of preference.
• After admission, the Qualifying English Test (QET) decides whether you need academic English support; it does not affect admission.

3. Students at high schools in China: applying with the Gaokao

• Gaokao completed: apply with a “good pass”; NUS publishes no specific cut-off.
• In Senior 3: apply with Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results and an expected good pass; submit Gaokao results within 3 days of release.
• Mathematics: you need to meet the Year 12 or higher-level Mathematics requirement.
• English: an English test score is required in the Gaokao category (see section 6).
• Optional: AST results in at least 3 subjects, including English and Mathematics.
• Not taking the Gaokao: apply under Other High School Qualifications with SAT, ACT or AP scores and your latest high school results.
• Application window: 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027.

4. International curricula in China: A-level, IB and AP

• International A-level (AQA, Cambridge, Edexcel, OCR and others):
  • Completed: good passes in at least 4 A-levels; no standardised test or separate English score needed.
  • Not yet completed: apply with AS results and expected good passes in 4 A-levels by end July, plus SAT, ACT (with writing) or AP scores.
  • Results may come from at most two sittings and two boards, within 12 months.
• IB Diploma: a separate category with the same 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027 window; English must be one of the IB subjects. NUS Business School requires a pass in HL or SL Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, or HL Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation for May 2021 sessions onwards. Business Management helps but is not a prerequisite.
• AP: AP is not a separate category; AP scores can be submitted as standardised tests under Other High School Qualifications.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• Accepted diplomas: the BC Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma, Ontario OSSD, Alberta High School Diploma and Quebec CEGEP.
• Graduated: at least 90% in every subject in the diploma examinations; no standardised test needed.
• In grade 12: apply with your latest results, expect at least 90% in every subject by end July, and submit SAT, ACT (with writing) or AP scores.
• Mathematics: you need a pass in grade 12 Mathematics.
• English: not needed if English is one of your examined subjects; otherwise submit a score before the deadline.
• Application window: 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027.

6. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, reading and writing; valid for 2 years; IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: 4.5 overall, reading and writing (new scale); valid for 2 years; tests before 21 January 2026 are assessed on the old scale; MyBest is not accepted.
• PTE Academic: 62 overall, reading and writing; C1 Advanced: 180.

7. Transfer students

• International students with overseas university study apply under their high school qualification category; NUS considers both high school and university results.
• No direct credit transfer: after admission, you can apply to the faculty for credit transfer or exemptions, subject to approval.
• NUS Business School notes that transfer applicants (from within or outside NUS) may be interviewed.
• The termly transfer window is only for students at Singapore’s autonomous universities, and for Singapore citizens and permanent residents studying overseas.

8. Fees, Tuition Grant and application fee

• Tuition: AY2027/28 fees are not yet published. For AY2026/27 entry, Business fees per year (SGD, including GST) are:
  • international students with an MOE Tuition Grant: 21,150 for ASEAN students and 22,200 for other international students;
  • without a Tuition Grant: 33,400.
• Tuition Grant condition: international recipients must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation.
• Application fee: SGD 20 (including GST) for international qualification applicants, non-refundable.
• Scholarships: NUS offers university-level and Business School scholarships; see the scholarship pages for dates and conditions (amounts not verified here).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply in the Gaokao category for Business Administration between 16 December 2026 and 17 February 2027; Senior 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 3+ subjects
• Submit Gaokao results within 3 days of release
• A-level: at least 4 subjects; IB: MAA or HL MAI; if A-levels are incomplete, add SAT, ACT (with writing) or AP

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

• Apply by 17 February 2027; at least 90% in every subject, including grade 12 Mathematics
• Grade 12 applicants must submit SAT, ACT (with writing) or AP

Transfer students:

• Apply under your high school qualification category; NUS considers university results, may interview you, and assesses exemptions after entry

Sources: National University of Singapore, NUS BBA programme; BBA entry requirements; BBA enquiries and FAQs; BBA curriculum from AY2026/27; 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; 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.