NUS / How to get in
How to Get Into NUS
NUS does not publish an official undergraduate acceptance rate. Reliable estimates put the international undergraduate admit rate at roughly 5-7%, against around 70,000 applications for about 7,000 freshman places. Computing, Business, and Engineering are materially more competitive than that average. NUS placed 8th in the world and 1st in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Here is the academic profile that keeps you in the running, what NUS weighs most, and where to put your energy.
Every college publishes how heavily it weighs each part of your application in its Common Data Set. Here is how NUS reads applicants, most important first.
- Course rigor
- Grades (GPA)
- Test scores
- Class rank
- The application essay
- Recommendation letters
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Geographic origin
NUS requires SAT or ACT scores.
Application window (AY2026/27, intl. qualifications) 3 December to 23 February · August intake One intake per year; studies begin August · Admissions assessment (if shortlisted) Interviews/tests by email invitation for select programmes · Outcomes released Progressively from April to July · Application fee S$20 for international applicants (non-refundable). Applying early (Early Action or Early Decision, where offered) can modestly improve your odds and signals commitment.
Your grades and course rigor are mostly set by now. The highest-leverage things left are your essays and how you frame your activities. NUS reads holistically, so a specific, well-told essay is where you separate yourself from other qualified applicants.
How to get into NUS: FAQ
Is NUS hard to get into?
NUS does not publish an official undergraduate acceptance rate. Reliable estimates put the international undergraduate admit rate at roughly 5-7%, against around 70,000 applications for about 7,000 freshman places. Computing, Business, and Engineering are materially more competitive than that average. NUS placed 8th in the world and 1st in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2025. At NUS, applicants clear a high academic bar first, then stand out through essays, activities, and character.
What does NUS look for in applicants?
NUS weighs course rigor, grades (gpa), and test scores most heavily, alongside a strong academic record. The parts you most control late in the process are your essays and how you present your activities.
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