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NUS Singapore Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

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NUS Singapore Acceptance Rate
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One of the most prestigious universities in the world, the National University of Singapore is a national public collegiate and research university in Singapore. The university offers 60 Bachelor's degrees, 174 Master's degrees, Doctoral degrees, and Graduate diplomas, as well as 73 Double degrees, among many more options. NUS is one of the best study abroad universities for international students, as the university ranking has been consistent among the top 10 global universities for more than a decade now. 

Students around the globe apply to the university's admissions. However, only a fraction of candidates secure enrolment due to the competitive nature of the university. Some of the notable rankings of the university include #20 in Best Global Universities, #2 in Best Global Universities in Europe, and #8 in QS World University Rankings 2026. Moreover, NUS graduates have been ranked 9th in global employability, 

National University of Singapore Acceptance Rate 2025

For the class of 2028, the number of undergraduate student enrollments, as per the latest data, was over 31,000, while the number of graduate student enrollments was a little over 20,000.  

NUS acceptance rate stands at 5-10%, implying that the National University of Singapore is an extremely tough university to enter. A more detailed breakdown of the enrollment data for the academic session 2024-25 is given below: 

Particulars 

Headcount 

Undergraduate Enrollment 

31,476 

Graduate Enrollment 

20,092 

Acceptance Rate 

5-10% 

Also read about NUS Rankings

National University of Singapore Acceptance Rate for International Students

As per unofficial reports, the international student body makes up 26% of the total enrolled students, consisting of around 8,000 enrollees at NUS.  

The NUS Singapore acceptance rate of 5-10% implies that competition for local and international students alike is rather difficult, indicating that only a handful of students manage to secure admission at a top university like NSU. 

Some of the popular NUS Courses with the highest enrollments as per the university's latest annual report for 2024 are as follows:

UG Stats Enrollment Graduate Stats Enrollment
Design & Engineering 5,625 Design & Engineering 4,106
Science 5,181 Science 2,330
Computing 4,828 Business 1,595
Business 4,133 Arts & Social Sciences 1,222
Arts & Social Sciences 4,125 Computing 1,160

National University of Singapore Acceptance Rate Trends

The National University of Singapore is quite stringent with its admission process, as the NUS acceptance rate can go below 10%, meaning that out of 100 students who partake in the NUS admission process, merely one-tenth of the applicants or even fewer are likely to secure a seat at the university. Thus, it is of utmost importance that a student maintains an all-rounder profile.

The enrollment trends for the National University of Singapore over the years reveal that while the number of UG students enrolled each year has remained somewhat static, the number of graduates has been witnessing a surge from 12,000 in 2020 to 20,000 in 2024. The details for the same can be checked out from the table given below:

Academic session Total Undergraduates Total Graduates
2024/25 31,476 20,092
2023/24 31,827 18,129
2022/23 32,335 16,197
2021/22 32,673 14,529
2020/21 31,760 12,125

National University of Singapore Admission Requirements for International Students

In order to secure admission, all overseas applicants must fulfill certain NUS admission requirements. The specific requirements for Indian students are listed below:

  • Application fee of SGD 20 (INR 1,300)
  • Official academic transcripts (must have English as one of the subjects)
  • Passport
  • SAT/ACT scores (only mandatory for State and other Boards)
  • University academic transcripts (graduate school)
  • Medical report or doctor's memo (in case of any medical condition or disability)
  • Statement of criminal records or offence (in case of indicated criminal or disciplinary offence)
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of purpose (SOPs)
  • Letters of recommendation (LORs)

Also note that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) - Main / Advanced is not mandatory.

Also check NUS Cost

National University of Singapore Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores

In order to secure enrollment in the NUS, students must appear for one of the standardized tests (SAT/ACT) or other entrance exams like GMAT/GRE for postgraduate courses and secure the minimum scores as listed below:

Entrance Exams

Minimum Score Requirements

SAT

Evidence-based Reading & Writing section: 600

Mathematics: 650

ACT

Composite score: 29

Writing component: 8

GMAT

600 or higher

GPA

3.5 - 3.8 (Varies as per the course of choice)

Tips to Get Selected in the National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore is one of the most competitive universities to get into, and thus, students must submit exceptional academic grades as well as excel in co-curricular activities. Some other tips to follow to maximise one's chances of selection include:

  • Adhere to Deadlines: NUS mentions the deadlines for application submission, submission of Standard XII results, and other processes. One is to ensure that they are well-informed regarding the same to avoid any last-minute confusion.
  • Cross-check requirements: The university prescribes different requirements for Central vs State Board students. Moreover, there might be further variations depending on the school and course of preference. Ensure that the eligibility criteria are being met before applying, as different programs like Dentistry and Law have different requirements.
  • Maintain a good academic profile: While the university's admission process is holistic, there's a strict requirement mentioned for the passing scores to be good. Try to improve the academic record for the best results.
  • Compile all documents early on: All the aforementioned documents required from Indian students must be prepared/compiled beforehand, such as the passport, academic transcripts, medical reports, etc.

Also check NUS Placements

National University of Singapore Acceptance Rate VS Nanyang Technological University Acceptance Rate

The Nanyang Technological University acceptance rate stands at about 30-40%, which makes it a moderately competitive university to get into. In comparison with the acceptance rate NUS Singapore of 5 - 10%, Nanyang Tech can be considered less selective in its admission criteria.

Getting into the Nanyang Technological University is competitive, hence students must excel in academics in order to boost their chances. Apart from this, students who are outstanding in activities outside class also stand a good chance of securing admission.

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FAQs

Q:   Is National University of Singapore better than Indian Institutes of Technology?
A: 

National University of Singapore is in Singapore. IIT is in India. Both are known for their strong engineering and technology programs. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, NUS is rated #8, with various IITs ranging from #48 to 78. These are IIT-B (#149), IIT-M (#285), and IIT-D (#197). On the basis of world rankings, NUS has an advantage. 

Mentioned below is the comparison between NUS and top IITs in India on the basis of some key parameters that can help you choose:

Parameters

NUS

IIT

Acceptance Rate

5%

0.25 - 2%*

QS Rankings

#8

IIT Madras #285

IIT Delhi #197

IIT Bombay #149

Average Package

SGD 77,109 (INR 47 LPA)

INR 17 LPA to INR 21 LPA

*Conversion rate: 1 SGD=INR 61.88

Q:   How hard is it to get into NUS as an international student?
A: 

The acceptance rate for NUS is less than 10% meaning there securing admission at the university requires facing tough competition and students with excellent academic records can only get admitted there. With a typically low acceptance rate, NUS is a highly competitive institution. The university receives thousands of applications each year, especially from within Asia. However, due to a limited number of seats in every class, the acceptance rate drops to only 5% or approximately Although the acceptance depends on course to course availability and requirements. 

Q:   Does NUS accept international students?
A: 

Yes, it does accept international students. If you are a foreign applicant seeking admission to NUS. In that case, you should have completed or be finishing high school, that is, at least twelve years of general education by July of the application year. Applicants with Indian standard 12 Central, ISC, State, and other board qualifications should submit standard 12 exam results (or most recent high school results if they will only be completing high school after the application closing date) and a good pass in five subjects, including English. Applicants must provide original copies of their identification, high school results, secondary school results, and other material papers submitted in support of their application when they arrive in Singapore for enrolling at NUS.

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Ridhi

Study Abroad Expert

Currently an English major at DU, I create content for study abroad universities on Shiksha. Besides writing, I also enjoy art and music.
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