Unlike other popular study destinations like the U.S or the U.K, universities in Singapore do not follow one particular rule regarding admission tests requirements for international students. Some universities do not require any, whereas some would require you to appear for the English proficiency tests and/or other standardized tests like the SAT or the ACT.
The test requirements for some of the main universities and colleges in Singapore have been mentioned below.
National University of Singapore (NUS)
It is not mandatory for Indian students to appear for the English proficiency tests (IELTS or TOEFL) or for SAT or SAT Subject Tests to apply to the NUS. If you wish, you can solely apply to NUS on the basis of your Class 12th marks and other exceptional talents and achievements such as winning an Olympiad, a high JEE (Main) score, playing a sport at the National level etc. However, keep in mind that you can choose to submit your SAT, SAT Subject Tests and IELTS/TOEFL scores (if they are considerably high) to improve the credibility of your application.
To know more, visit the following website: http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/international/admissionreq/indian.html.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
NTU does not mandatorily require Indian students to appear for and submit their IELTS/TOEFL, SAT and SAT Subject Test scores. However, if you have studied in a Non – English medium school, you would be required to submit IELTS/TOEFL and/or SAT/SAT Subject Test scores; you will generally very high scores in these tests to be considered for admission. You can apply to NTU using your Class 12th marks (minimum 90%) and other documents if you’ve studied in an English medium school.
To know more, visit the following website: http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/UndergraduateIntnlAdmissions/Pages/IndiaStandard12_Criteria.aspx.
Singapore Management University (SMU)
To apply to SMU, all international applicants are mandatorily required to appear for the SAT or the ACT (with writing). You will generally need a minimum score of 1900 in your SAT to even be considered for admission. Only the students who have studied in a non – English medium school will be required to appear for the IELTS or the TOEFL. The minimum score required in IELTS is an ‘Overall band of 6.5’. The minimum score required in TOEFL (Paper Based) is 550, TOEFL (Computer Based) is 213 and TOEFL (Internet Based) is 79 – 80.
To know more, visit the following website: http://admissions.smu.edu.sg/apply/admissions-requirements/international-qualifications.
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
To apply to the SUTD, all International students (including Indian students), will have to appear for the IELTS or the TOEFL and submit their scores unless they have completed their education from the IB Board or have completed their Cambridge A levels.
You can apply for admission to the SUTD for the May intake with your final Class 12th results and other documents. The last date of application is around the end of March or start of April. However, if you do not have your final Class 12th results by March – April, you can apply with your last semester’s grades, predicted scores and your scores in the following SAT Subject Tests: Mathematics Level 2 and Physics.
To know more, visit the following website: http://ugadmissions.sutd.edu.sg/apply/admission_to_SUTD/.
Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
Indian students can apply to SIT using their final Class 12th board results, personal statements, record of co – curricular activities etc. However, you can also choose to upload your SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, IELTS or TOEFL scoresto improve the strength of your application (if the scores are high enough).
Do keep in mind that there are different requirements for different programs at SIT. For some programs it might be mandatory to submit SAT/ACT scores, for some it might be mandatory to submit your IELTS/TOEFL scores and so on.
To know more, visit the following website: http://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/admission-requirements/admission-requirements-others-2.
Yale NUS College
To apply to the Yale NUS College, it is mandatory for all international students to have appeared for the SAT and 2 SAT Subject Tests. Or else, they should have appeared for the ACT (with writing).
It is not mandatory for all international students to appear for the IELTS or TOEFL. However, it is mandatory for students who have not received a minimum of 2 years of higher secondary education in an English medium school. However, you can choose to submit your IETLS or TOEFL scores (even if not required) to increase the strength of your application, provided your scores are high enough.
To know more, visit the following website: http://admissions.yale-nus.edu.sg/apply/.
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
To apply to NAFA, you will not need to have appeared for the SAT, SAT Subject Tests or the ACT. However, it is mandatory for all international students to appear for either the IELTS or TOEFL to apply to NAFA. The minimum scores you need to secure in the IELTS/TOEFL vary from program to program. Applicants who do not have IELTS or TOEFL scores will need to appear for the NAFA English Placement Test.
You can apply to the NAFA programs using your Class 10th and/or Class 12th results (CBSE or ICSE). Applicants who have not received their final scores by the time of application can apply using their preliminary or predicted scores.
To know more, visit the following website: http://www.nafa.edu.sg/StudyWithUs/EntryRequirements/InternationalApplicants.html.
LASALLE College of the Arts
To apply to LASALLE, you will not need to submit your SAT, SAT Subject Tests or ACT scores.Neither will you need your IELTS or TOEFL scores (provided you’ve studied from an English medium school). You can apply to LASALLE using your Class 12th board results. There will be additional requirements that will differ from program to program.
To know more, visit the following website: http://www.lasalle.edu.sg/admissions/bahons-admissions/entry-requirements/.
Foreign Universities in Singapore
Different foreign universities in Singapore have different academic requirements that vary from program to program. Some require tests like the SAT or the ACT whereas some don’t. Similarly, English proficiency tests like the IELTS or the TOEFL are required by some, but not all.
Visit the websites of these universities to know more about their testing requirements. Links of some of the Foreign Universities are given below.
James Cook University, Singapore: http://www.jcu.edu.sg/
Essec Business School: http://www.essec.edu
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University: http://www.erau.edu/
University of Nevada Las Vegas Singapore: http://www.unlv.edu.sg/
Curtin University Singapore: http://www.curtin.edu.sg/
University of Adelaide, Ngee Ann:
http://naa.edu.sg/
Temple University Singapore: http://www.temple.sg/
