How to Apply to Business at Singapore Management University: The Bachelor of Business Management and Bachelor of Accountancy, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (Gaokao), International-Curriculum, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Singapore Management University (SMU) has two main undergraduate business degrees: the Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) and the Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) at the School of Accountancy (SOA). Here is what you need to know, based on SMU’s admissions website, 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. The two degrees

• Duration: the fees page gives a normal duration of four years, with fees fixed for each entering cohort.
• Business Management: LKCSB holds AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditation. First majors include Communication Management, Finance (with tracks such as Finance Analytics, Real Estate, Wealth Management, International Trading, Banking and Sustainable Finance), Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources, Quantitative Finance and Strategic Management. SMU cites over 500 double major and double degree combinations.
• Accountancy: SOA says its programme is accredited by 10 professional and educational bodies; second majors include Accounting Data and Analytics and Financial Forensics.
• Size: programme places taken up in 2025 were 980 for Business Management and 268 for Accountancy.
• Grade profiles: SMU publishes 10th and 90th percentile profiles only for Singapore-Cambridge A-level and local polytechnic applicants. For local A-levels, Business Management ranges from ABB/C to AAA/A and Accountancy from BBB/C to AAA/A. No cut-offs are published for the Gaokao, Canadian diplomas or other international qualifications.

2. General requirements and timeline

• Education: at least 12 years of formal education with good passes in a recognised national or international examination.
• Standardised test: applicants with international and other qualifications must submit one of the SAT, ACT, IELTS Academic, TOEFL, C1 Advanced, PTE Academic or AST. IB Diploma holders are exempt. Minimum scores are in section 6.
• Interview: shortlisted applicants for all courses other than Law are interviewed.
• Predicted results: if final results are not out by the deadline, submit predicted scores attested by a teacher or counsellor; self-declared predictions are not accepted. Upload actual results within 3 working days of release.
• Dates: AY2027/28 dates are not yet published. For AY2026/27:
  • applications opened on 17 November 2025 and closed on 19 March 2026;
  • standardised test scores and teacher-attested predictions were due by 31 March;
  • interviews ran from March to May, decisions from May to July, and classes began in mid-August.

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

• Gaokao completed: apply with a good pass; SMU publishes no specific cut-off.
• Before the Gaokao: apply with Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results and an expected good pass by end June.
• Plus one standardised test: for example IELTS, TOEFL, or AST in at least 3 subjects including English and Mathematics, with at least 225 in AST English.

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

• UK A-levels (AQA, Cambridge, Edexcel, OCR and others): good passes in at least 3 A-levels in the same sitting are needed to apply, and SMU notes many applicants submit 4 or more. If results are pending, apply with school-issued predicted grades, including grade 11 and AS results (at least 3 AS subjects). A standardised test is also required.
• IB Diploma: a separate category with no standardised test requirement. May-session candidates must have predicted scores submitted by their school by 31 March. SMU publishes no IB score for business.
• AP: AP is not on SMU’s list of accepted qualifications and cannot be used on its own. Students on an American curriculum apply with a US high school diploma, transcript and a standardised test.

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.
• In grade 12: apply with grade 12 semester 1 and 2 results and expect at least 90% in every subject by end July.
• A standardised test is also required (SAT, ACT or an English test).

6. Minimum standardised test scores (non-law programmes)

All components must come from one sitting. Meeting the minimum makes an application competitive but does not guarantee an interview or admission.

• SAT: 1350 total with at least 650 in evidence-based reading and writing.
• ACT: 29 composite with at least 57 in English plus Reading.
• IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall, 7.0 reading and 6.5 writing.
• TOEFL iBT: from 21 January 2026, 5 overall, 5 reading and 4.5 writing; before that date, 93 overall with 22 in reading and writing.
• PTE Academic: 66 overall, 66 reading and 56 writing; C1 Advanced: 185 overall, 185 reading and 176 writing.
• AST: at least 3 subjects including English and Mathematics, with at least 225 in English.
• Validity: SAT and ACT 5 years; IELTS, TOEFL, C1, PTE and AST 2 years.

7. Transfer students

• Who can apply: anyone, of any nationality, who has studied for a term or more at a university.
• How: there is no separate transfer category. Apply under your high school qualification, meeting the requirements for high school graduates; SMU also considers university results.
• Credit: credit transfer is decided after an offer is made. Transfer students must complete at least 20 course units at SMU, normally over two years.
• Shortlisted transfer applicants are also interviewed.

8. Fees, Tuition Grant and scholarships

• Tuition: AY2027/28 fees are not yet published. For AY2026/27 entry, Business Management and Accountancy fees per year (SGD, including GST) are:
  • international students with a Tuition Grant: 25,150 for ASEAN students and 26,200 for other international students;
  • without a Tuition Grant: 47,700.
• Tuition Grant: international students apply in the online admission form. Grants are limited and merit-based, and recipients must work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation.
• Fees exclude annual miscellaneous fees, accommodation and living costs.
• Scholarships: SMU’s scholarship pages list awards for international students; names and amounts are not verified here.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Watch for the AY2027/28 application window (last year: mid-November to 19 March)
• Apply with Gaokao results, or Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results and an expected good pass by end June
• Submit one standardised test, such as IELTS 7.0 (7.0 reading, 6.5 writing) or AST in 3+ subjects
• A-level: at least 3 good passes plus a standardised test; IB: no standardised test
• Prepare for an interview if shortlisted

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

• At least 90% in every subject, plus one standardised test (such as SAT 1350 or ACT 29)
• Grade 12 students apply with latest results and school-attested predictions

Transfer students:

• Apply under your high school category with university transcripts; credit is assessed after an offer, and at least 20 course units must be taken at SMU

Sources: Singapore Management University, Lee Kong Chian School of Business; School of Accountancy; Majors and tracks; International and other qualifications; IB Diploma; Transfer applicants; Indicative grade profile and course places; Important dates; Tuition fees and grant; Scholarships. AY2027/28 dates and fees are not yet published; dates and fees shown are for AY2026/27. Check SMU for the latest details.