How to Apply to Computer Science at the National University of Singapore: The Four-Year Bachelor of Computing (Honours) in Computer Science With Common Admission With AI, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese (Gaokao), International-Curriculum, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the National University of Singapore (NUS), undergraduate computer science is taught by the School of Computing, and the degree is the Bachelor of Computing (Honours) in Computer Science. 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. What the degree covers

• Four years, at least 160 units: 40 units of Common Curriculum, 40 units of Unrestricted Electives and 80 units of Programme Requirements; honours depends on meeting the classification requirements.
• Foundation courses: discrete structures, programming methodology, data structures and algorithms, computer organisation, software engineering, operating systems, introduction to AI and machine learning, and algorithm design and analysis, plus calculus, linear algebra and probability and statistics for computing.
• Ten focus areas: Algorithms and Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Graphics and Games, Computer Security, Database Systems, Multimedia Information Retrieval, Networking and Distributed Systems, Parallel Computing, Programming Languages and Software Engineering; you complete at least one.
• Industry experience: 6 to 12 units of internship, either one six-month or two three-month placements; students with a GPA of 4.00 or higher may replace it with a dissertation, which is required for Honours (Highest Distinction).
• Mathematics: students without A-level or H2 Mathematics (or equivalent) must take the bridging course MA1301 as an unrestricted elective.
• Other options:
  • double degrees: Computer Science with Business Administration or Accountancy (subject to GPA after the first year), or with another NUS faculty;
  • concurrent degrees, such as Computer Science with a Master’s in Management from NUS Business School;
  • direct-entry second majors (Mathematics, Statistics) and minors (Interactive Media Development, Entrepreneurship, Management, Mathematics, Statistics);
  • the Turing Programme for students aiming at research careers: selection is based on courses such as CS2309 and CS3230, and a GPA of 4.00 must be kept every semester.

2. Common admission with Artificial Intelligence

• Since AY2025/26, the Bachelor of Computing in Computer Science and in Artificial Intelligence share a common admission pool. The “Computer Science” common admission option can be selected only once, and your preferred major does not affect your chance of admission.
• Students stay undeclared for four semesters with access to both programmes’ courses, and declare AI or CS at the end of the fourth semester; those who do not choose are placed in Computer Science.

3. General requirements and selection

• At least 12 years of general education completed (or to be completed) by July of the application year.
• Subject prerequisites: the School of Computing FAQ says a strong foundation in Mathematics is important and Mathematics is a key prerequisite for Computer Science; applicants without it may still apply but will be closely reviewed. For the exact prerequisite for each international qualification, see the programme prerequisites page on the NUS Office of Admissions website; this guide has not verified it.
• No programming background needed: programming is taught from the first year.
• Grade profiles: the School points applicants to the indicative grade profiles on the Office of Admissions website, which vary each year; no Computer Science cut-off for international qualifications is published.
• Holistic assessment: all applicants list up to four achievements or activities and answer short questions. The School may use tests or individual or group interviews; medals in the National Informatics Olympiad or Singapore Mathematical Olympiad are recognised, and relevant internships or projects help when you show what you learnt and achieved.
• You can list several programmes in order of preference.

4. 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.
• English: an English test score is required in the Gaokao category (see section 7).
• 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.

5. 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; the School of Computing lists 16 December 2026 to 17 February 2027. English must be one of the IB subjects.
• AP: AP is not a separate category; AP scores can be submitted as standardised tests under Other High School Qualifications.

6. 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: Computer Science weighs Mathematics heavily, so grade 12 Mathematics should be strong.
• 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.

7. 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.

8. Transfer and changing programme

• 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.
• The termly transfer window is only for students at Singapore’s autonomous universities, and for Singapore citizens and permanent residents studying overseas.
• After entry: switching between Computing degrees is assessed individually, using your admission score (first year) or university results (later years) and your reasons. If you miss a double degree offer, you can accept a single degree and apply to the School of Computing after your first year.

9. Fees, Tuition Grant and scholarships

• Tuition: the School of Computing pages do not list fees and refer applicants to the NUS Registrar’s undergraduate fee schedule; this guide has not verified the Computing amounts, so check the schedule (linked below).
• Tuition Grant condition: international recipients of the MOE Tuition Grant 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 scholarships with no fixed cut-off. The School of Computing Scholarship is only for Singapore citizens and permanent residents; international students should see the Office of Admissions scholarship pages.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply in the Gaokao category between 16 December 2026 and 17 February 2027 and choose the “Computer Science” common admission; Senior 3 students use Senior Middle 2 Semester 2 results
• Strong Mathematics; 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; list informatics or maths olympiads and coding projects as achievements
• A-level: at least 4 subjects, with SAT, ACT (with writing) or AP if incomplete; IB: apply by 17 February

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

• Apply by 17 February 2027; at least 90% in every subject, with strong 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 and assesses exemptions after entry

Sources: National University of Singapore, NUS Computing: Computer Science; Computer Science degree requirements; Turing Programme; NUS Computing admissions; Computer Science admissions; NUS Computing admissions FAQ; NUS Computing scholarships; Admission requirements for international qualifications; Gaokao requirements; Canadian High School Diploma; International A-Level; IB Diploma; Programme prerequisites; Indicative grade profile; English language test scores (PDF); Important dates; Undergraduate tuition fees (PDF). Information is for AY2027/28 entry. Check NUS for the latest details.