Admission Requirements

Admission to Singapore university is based on the score obtained by the applicants in two categories:

1. Language Proficiency Test
2. Academic requirement

These two categories involve certain standard entrance tests, which are used as a tool for admitting the candidates from across the world, thereby maintaining a common ground for admission.

Language Proficiency Requirement

Language Proficiency in Singapore universities is subject to testing the knowledge of English language. IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are the exams which are mandatory for fulfilling the criteria.

IELTS

IELTS is the globally accepted English proficiency exam for enrolling in undergraduate and graduate programmes. For this, you need to have an average score of minimum 6 – 6.5 if you want a good university.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Though TOEFL is a test whose score is mainly accepted in North America, many Singapore Universities too use it as a benchmark for testing your language proficiency. The minimum score required for this internet-based test is 100 or more with a validity of 2 years.

PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic

In lieu of IELTS and TOEFL language proficiency exams an applicant can also give PTE Academic exam. This is a computer-based test used for studying in a foreign university with an average score of 68, required for admission.

PTE is accepted by the following 10 universities in Singapore:

1. National University of Singapore
2. Nanyang Technological University
3. PSB Academy
4. INSEAD
5. East Asia Institute of Management
6. Dimensions International College
7. Leadership and Management Institute
8. Curtin University
9. London School of Business and Finance, Singapore
10. Heartpower Tesol and Teacher Training Centre

Undergraduate

SAT (Scholarship Aptitude Test)

It is a standardized exam given by a high school applicant wanting to take admission in an undergraduate program. It tests the reading, writing and Mathematics finesse of them. Three areas are judged in SAT exam:

1. Reading, Writing and Mathematics
2. SAT subject tests
3. SAT Essay (optional)

ACT (American College Testing)

ACT too is an academic entrance exam, required for taking admission in the undergraduate program. ACT tests the below-stated subject areas:

1. English, Reading and Mathematics
2. Science
3. ACT Essay (Optional)

You can select either giving SAT or ACT as your undergraduate Entrance Test based on the requirement of the university where you want to study.

Postgraduation

GRE

It is a standardized test given to take admission in post- graduate courses with its availability in 2 formats – paper-based and computer-based. The score will be valid for 5 years with the minimum average score being 320 for verbal and quantitative aptitude sections and 3.5 in analytical section.

GMAT

This 4-sections, computer-based test is the most preferred entrance test for admission in MBA schools. It requires for an applicant to have secured an average of 650 marks.

Entrance Examination

For admission to Singapore university, in addition to above exams, there are quite a few universities which take their own entrance tests. For instance, NUS conducts University Entrance Examination (UEE) for selecting candidates under its UG courses. First, the candidate will be shortlisted based on the minimum qualification and then those shortlisted applicants will have to sit for UEE. Likewise, many other universities have their own admission entrance exams over the basic requirement for selection.

Pathway Programs

Foundation Programs – What is this course?

These are the pre-university programs that have been created by the universities to provide an entry point to those university aspirants who want to study a certain program but are short of certain qualifications required for studying in that particular course. In other words, it bridges the gap or you can say, it is a pathway to fill the deviation between the required qualification for that course and your existing qualification.

Under this foundation course, a variety of core subjects will be taught to build their general understanding and knowledge, along with elective courses to specialize in the field of the course which will be undertaken by the student.

Duration of the programme – Between 8 to 12 months, different for different universities

Without IELTS? Take English Language Proficiency Programme

A few universities also offer English pathway courses for those students whose English qualification is not upto the mark, as required, but want to study in Singapore university. For instance, James Cook University requires you to have a 5.5 score in IELTS. If you don’t have that, then you will have to do JCU Singapore English Language Preparatory Program (ELPP) level 2.