A bachelor's degree in Singapore comes in two main forms. The first is a degree from one of the six autonomous (publicly funded) universities: usually four years, entry only after 12 years of schooling, and the option to nearly halve tuition with the MOE Tuition Grant in exchange for three years of work in Singapore. The second is a British or Australian degree taught at an EduTrust-certified private institution: often three years, entry via a foundation programme or A-levels, no grant and no right to work part-time. Four years at NUS cost an international student $66,990 (SGD 85,600) with the grant and $114,730 (SGD 146,600) without it; the three-year University of London programme at SIM costs $23,910–36,120 (SGD 30,545–46,155) in total, excluding housing.
This guide explains how each degree is structured, what it really costs, what the grant commits you to, and how to choose if you finished an 11-year school system. Fees are for the 2026/27 intake, the latest published; conversions use the ECB rate of 28 September 2026.
University, private institution or polytechnic: how they differ
| Autonomous university | EduTrust private institution | Arts institution or polytechnic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, SUSS | SIM, Curtin Singapore | LASALLE, NAFA; five polytechnics |
| Who awards | the university itself | an overseas partner, e.g. University of London | for international students — the institution's own diplomas |
| Typical length | 4 years (3 for some programmes, 5 for medicine) | often 3 years | varies by programme |
| Entry after 11 years of school | a 12th year: A-levels, IB, AP/SAT | foundation, A-levels or equivalent | set by the institution |
| MOE Tuition Grant | yes, competitive, 3-year bond | no | yes, for diploma courses, with a bond |
| Part-time work while studying | up to 16 hours a week | no | yes (institutions on MOM's list) |
| One-year job-search pass | yes | no | yes |
The last two rows often decide the choice. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) lets students work without a work pass only at institutions on its list, and ICA grants the one-year job-search pass only to graduates of institutions on its list. Private institutions such as SIM or Curtin appear on neither. For institution types, see universities in Singapore; for the country overview, see our Singapore study guide.
How an autonomous-university degree is built
Singapore degrees run on modules and credits rather than a fixed yearly timetable.
NUS. A standard degree is 160 units over a normal 8 semesters (4 years); 120-unit programmes take 6 semesters. Double degrees take 9–10 semesters and medicine 10. Students must take at least 18 units a semester, except in the final semester and during internships or final-year projects. NUS offers 60 bachelor's degrees, 54 second majors and 73 double-degree programmes.
NTU. The normal duration is three or four years depending on the programme. The academic year starts in late July.
SMU. All programmes are four years. A 10-week internship and 80 hours of community service are graduation requirements, and every student is guaranteed a second major.
Common ground. English is the language of instruction at all six. NUS, NTU and SMU fix fees for an intake over the normal duration, so your starting rate holds to graduation. Beyond the normal duration different rules apply — at NUS, for instance, a Special Term taken after the normal candidature is charged at the full non-subsidised rate, pro-rated by units.
What the whole degree costs
Annual fees mean little until multiplied by the length of study. The table shows tuition for non-ASEAN international students, 2026/27 intake, including 9% GST.
| University and programme | Per year with grant | Per year without | 4 years with grant | 4 years without |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUS, Humanities and Sciences | $16,750 (SGD 21,400) | $28,680 (SGD 36,650) | $66,990 (SGD 85,600) | $114,730 (SGD 146,600) |
| NUS, Computing / Engineering | $16,750 (SGD 21,400) | $31,070 (SGD 39,700) | $66,990 (SGD 85,600) | $124,280 (SGD 158,800) |
| NTU, non-lab programmes | $16,750 (SGD 21,400) | $28,450 (SGD 36,350) | $66,990 (SGD 85,600) | $113,800 (SGD 145,400) |
| NTU, lab-based programmes | $16,750 (SGD 21,400) | $31,780 (SGD 40,600) | $66,990 (SGD 85,600) | $127,100 (SGD 162,400) |
| SMU, all except law | $20,510 (SGD 26,200) | $37,330 (SGD 47,700) | $82,020 (SGD 104,800) | $149,330 (SGD 190,800) |
| SUTD | $24,730 (SGD 31,600) | $48,580 (SGD 62,076) | — | — |
We do not total SUTD because programme length should be checked on its site. Medicine is its own category: at NUS it costs $68,720 (SGD 87,800) a year with the grant and $148,820 (SGD 190,150) without.
A private-institution comparison. SIM's University of London BSc (Honours) in Economics and Finance runs for 3 years; SIM estimates the whole programme at SGD 30,545–46,155 ($23,910–36,120) including GST, for international students depending on entry route (the lower figure applies with four modules exempted), excluding materials, the application fee and preparatory or bridging courses.
Living costs. NUS estimates meals, transport, books and personal spending at SGD 6,000 ($4,700) per academic year excluding vacations, plus SGD 4,000–10,290 ($3,130–8,050) for a hostel. SMU says SGD 2,000 ($1,570) a month is enough for an average international student; NTU quotes SGD 1,130–1,960 ($880–1,530) a month including campus housing. Over four years, NUS's estimate adds SGD 40,000–65,160 ($31,310–51,000). See the cost of studying in Singapore.
The MOE Tuition Grant: what it changes
The Tuition Grant is a Ministry of Education subsidy: you pay the subsidised rate and the state covers the rest. For an international student it is a contract.
Where it applies. Full-time undergraduate and diploma courses at the six autonomous universities and five polytechnics, and diploma courses at LASALLE and NAFA. Private-institution courses and part-time formats are excluded, as is anyone who has already received Singapore government funding for a qualification at the same or higher level.
How it is awarded. Competitively and on merit. You opt in on the admission form and the offer arrives with your place. After arrival, the Student's Pass and Singpass registration, you apply on MOE's portal and sign the agreement with two sureties — any nationality, aged 21 to under 65, living in Singapore or abroad; MOE recommends family members.
The obligation. Three years of full-time work with a Singapore entity on a work pass after graduation, starting immediately; the first job must be reported within three months. Overseas work counts only with MOE's prior approval within a Singapore company's overseas structure.
If you quit or leave. You and both sureties pay liquidated damages: the full grant, the GST subsidy and 10% a year compounded at the end of each academic year. Switching programmes avoids damages if the new place is grant-eligible and you take the grant; the remaining entitlement is reduced by semesters already funded, so the last semesters of the new programme may be at the full rate.
The obligation in money. The four-year gap between full and subsidised fees indicates what you would repay, plus interest:
| Programme | 4-year gap |
|---|---|
| NUS, humanities and sciences (H&S) | SGD 61,000 ($47,740) |
| NTU, non-lab | SGD 59,800 ($46,800) |
| NTU, lab-based | SGD 76,800 ($60,110) |
| SMU, except law | SGD 86,000 ($67,310) |
MOE's LD Estimator gives the exact figure from your student bill.
Deferral. Postgraduate study straight after the degree needs MOE approval at least 8 weeks before it starts; national service at home is deferred before enlistment. Becoming a Singapore citizen releases you from the bond.
Grant or no grant?
| Your plan | Sensible choice |
|---|---|
| Work in Singapore after graduating | take the grant: the bond matches the plan and saves tens of thousands of dollars |
| Master's straight after, then work in Singapore | take the grant and arrange a deferment |
| Go home or to a third country | pay the full fee, or budget to repay the grant with interest |
| Undecided | model both: a buy-out during studies is possible, but remaining semesters are then charged in full |
The universities' flagship awards for international students — NUS International Undergraduate Scholarship, NTU's Nanyang Global Scholarship, SMU's Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme — require the grant, so their holders also serve three years; NUS's Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship carries a six-year bond. See the NUS, NTU and SMU profiles.
Private institutions: a three-year British degree
Private Education Institutions (PEIs) are registered with SWDA. Only EduTrust-certified PEIs may enrol international students on a Student's Pass; others can teach only students who already hold another long-term pass.
Using SIM's University of London BSc in Economics and Finance as an example:
- Length: 3 years, August or September intake; applications for 2027 close on 1 February 2027.
- Entry: A-levels or equivalent; for international applicants SIM lists the University of London International Foundation Certificate as an equivalent. English: for example IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each part.
- Format: three-hour class blocks on weekdays, occasionally evenings and weekends. Student's Pass holders need at least 90% attendance. SIM gives an average teacher-student ratio of 1:79.
- Degree awarded by the University of London, programme developed by the London School of Economics.
The upside: entry without a 12th school year via a foundation, three years instead of four, and a British degree. The downside: no grant, no part-time work and no job-search pass. Moving from a PEI to an autonomous university is a fresh application, not a guaranteed transfer. See the SIM, Curtin Singapore and LSBF Singapore profiles.
Getting in after an 11-year school system
All autonomous universities work to 12 years of schooling, so applicants from Russia or Kazakhstan need an intermediate step:
| University | What to add to the school certificate |
|---|---|
| NUS | 12 years of education; IB, 4 A-level subjects, or SAT/ACT with AP (only Law accepts applicants without AP Calculus BC) |
| NTU | 3+ AP exams scored 4–5, or 3 A-level subjects; the Kazakh NIS Grade 12 Certificate qualifies directly with A grades |
| SMU | only qualifications on SMU's list (IB, A-levels, US diploma) plus SAT, ACT or an English test |
| SIM (University of London) | A-levels or the International Foundation Certificate |
Timing matters:
- Grades 8–9. Moving to an IB or A-level school opens all three major universities.
- Grades 10–11. A-levels as a private candidate or an AP set; results must be ready by the application stage.
- After graduating. A year of A-levels or a foundation, or a first year at a home university — NUS assesses such applicants on school and university results together, but whether it counts that year as the 12th should be confirmed in writing.
Step-by-step timelines for 2027/28 are in our guide to applying to Singapore universities; for test choice, see SAT or ACT.
Work during and after the degree
At an autonomous university. Student's Pass holders may work up to 16 hours a week in term and without limit in vacations, with no work pass; credit-bearing internships are outside the cap. Graduates can apply for a one-year Long-Term Visit Pass to job-hunt (SGD 45 to apply, SGD 60 on issue, processing up to 6 weeks).
At a private institution. PEIs are not on MOM's list, so part-time work is not allowed, and their graduates are not eligible for the job-search pass.
Graduate jobs. An Employment Pass requires at least SGD 5,600 ($4,380) a month — SGD 6,000 ($4,700) for applications from 1 January 2027, rising with age — plus 40 points under COMPASS. In the 2025 joint graduate employment survey, nine in ten NTU graduates found work within six months, with a median of SGD 4,550 ($3,560) a month in full-time permanent roles; no separate figures exist for international graduates.
Which degree fits your goal
| Goal | Route | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Top university and a career in Singapore | NUS, NTU or SMU with the grant | a 12th school year and three years of work after graduation |
| Engineering, data, sciences | NUS or NTU | AP Calculus BC or A-level Maths |
| Business, finance or law downtown | SMU | IELTS 7.0+ and a qualification on SMU's list |
| British degree without a 12th school year | private institution holding EduTrust | foundation or A-levels; no part-time work or job-search pass |
| Degree with no ties to Singapore | autonomous university without the grant | ability to pay the full fee |
Common mistakes
- Comparing annual fees instead of the degree total. Four years at SMU without the grant cost almost $35,000 more than Humanities and Sciences at NUS.
- Treating the grant as a gift. It is a contract with two sureties and 10% annual interest if you walk away.
- Confusing SIM and SIT. Singapore Institute of Management is a private institution; Singapore Institute of Technology is an autonomous university.
- Not checking EduTrust. Without it, an institution cannot enrol you on a Student's Pass.
- Planning part-time work at a PEI. It is not allowed.
- Counting on a transfer from a PEI to NUS or NTU. It is a new application with no guarantee.
FAQ
Usually four years at autonomous universities: 160 units over 8 semesters at NUS, four years for every SMU programme. Some programmes take three years, double degrees 4.5–5 years and medicine 5. Many British programmes at private institutions take three years.
At an autonomous university only with an intermediate step — A-levels, the IB, AP with SAT or ACT, or possibly a year at a home university for NUS. Private institutions accept students through foundation programmes.
At NUS and NTU about $16,750 (SGD 21,400) a year with the MOE grant and $28,450–31,780 (SGD 36,350–40,600) without; at SMU $20,510 and $37,330 respectively. SIM's three-year University of London programme costs $23,910–36,120 (SGD 30,545–46,155) in total.
You and two sureties repay the full grant, the GST subsidy and 10% compound interest a year. The bond can be postponed only with MOE approval, for example for a master's.
At autonomous universities, polytechnics and other institutions on MOM's list — up to 16 hours a week in term and unlimited in vacations. Not at private institutions.
The degree is awarded by the overseas partner, such as the University of London. But the rights tied to autonomous universities — grant, part-time work, job-search pass — do not extend to PEI students.
Under a service agreement we compare routes for your profile and budget, plan the intermediate year and exams, and prepare applications, grant paperwork and the Student's Pass file. Universities, MOE and ICA make the decisions.
Sources
- MOE Tuition Grant: Overview, Application process, Sureties, Types of employment, Pass matters, Liquidated damages, TG Freshmen Briefing Q&As
- NUS Registrar: Tuition Fees AY2026/2027, Continuation and Graduation Requirements, Living Costs, International Qualifications for Foreigners, About NUS
- NTU: Tuition fees 2026, Tuition Grants, International Qualifications, Other International Qualifications, Class of 2025 employment
- SMU: Tuition fees and Tuition Grant, International and other qualifications, Living in Singapore, Internship Programme, Community Service Programme
- SUTD: Tuition fees AY2026
- SIM: BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance, University of London
- ICA: Approved Private Education Institutions, Student's Pass (IHL), LTVP for graduates, List of Institutes of Higher Learning
- MOM: Work pass exemption for foreign students, Employment Pass eligibility
USD figures use the ECB reference rate of 28 September 2026 (SGD 1 = $0.7826), rounded to the nearest $10.
If you want to compare which kind of Singapore bachelor's fits your profile and budget, send us a request.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Applying to Singapore Universities from an 11-Year School System: AP, A-Levels, Deadlines and Documents
- Cost of Studying in Singapore in 2026/27: University Fees, the MOE Tuition Grant and Living Costs
- Universities in Singapore for International Students: Autonomous Universities, Private Institutions and Overseas Campuses
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore): Admission and Fees
- SAT or ACT: Which Test to Take for US Admission in 2026–27
- Studying in Singapore for international applicants
