Undergraduate English requirement at NUS (international applicants)
These scores come from NUS's English Language Test Scores document (marked updated September 2026). Only some high school qualifications need a test score on top of the school result. Test scores must fall within the validity period leading up to the start of the academic year.
NUS does not accept the IELTS Indicator or One Skill Retake. TOEFL scores must come from a single test date; MyBest scores are not accepted. For TOEFL taken before 21 January 2026, NUS says only that those applicants will be assessed accordingly; an old-scale (0–120) minimum is not stated by NUS in this document. Duolingo is not listed.
| Test | Minimum | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 in Overall, Reading and Writing | 2 years |
| PTE Academic / PTE Academic Online | 62 in Overall, Reading and Writing | 2 years |
| TOEFL iBT, Special Home Edition or Paper Edition | 4.5 in Overall, Reading and Writing | 2 years |
| TOEFL Essentials | 10 | 2 years |
| C1 Advanced | 180 | 2 years |
| MUET | 200 (2020 exam and before) · 240 (2021 onwards) | 5 years |
| Duolingo English Test | Not listed by NUS | — |
Graduate (master's and PhD) English requirement
NUS has no single graduate minimum; each faculty sets its own. The College of Design and Engineering coursework page waives the test if your degree was taught entirely in English in an English-speaking country. It rejects MyBest scores and One Skill Retake, but accepts IELTS for UKVI (Academic).
The FASS research admission page asks for a test only if both your native tongue and your university's teaching language are not English. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted there; IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake are not. Neither page mentions PTE or Duolingo.
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For undergraduate entry, the binding detail is the component rule: IELTS 6.5 overall is not enough if Reading or Writing is 6.0. Plan for 6.5 in all three of those scores, and take the full test rather than One Skill Retake.
For graduate entry, find your exact programme page first. FASS notes that some departments set higher scores than its faculty minimum.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your NUS programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
Does NUS accept PTE?+
Yes for undergraduates: PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online with 62 in Overall, Reading and Writing. The graduate pages checked (CDE coursework and FASS research) mention only TOEFL and IELTS.
Does NUS accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not listed in NUS's undergraduate English test document or on the graduate pages checked.
Does NUS accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
No. The undergraduate document excludes One Skill Retake and the IELTS Indicator, and the CDE and FASS graduate pages exclude it too.
What IELTS do I need for a master's at NUS?+
It depends on the faculty. CDE asks for 6.0 for most coursework master's and 6.5 for its architecture and planning group; FASS research degrees ask for 7.0.
Is the TOEFL Home Edition accepted at NUS?+
For undergraduates, NUS lists the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition. FASS research programmes accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
Keep reading
Related
- NTU Singapore IELTS requirement
- IELTS for Singapore
- PTE for Singapore
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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