Canonical HTML: https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-singapore
Markdown URL: https://www.studyu.org/en/md/blog-masters-in-singapore.md
Language: en
Meta title: Master's in Singapore: Programmes, Fees and Admission
Meta description: Master's degrees in Singapore for international students: NUS and NTU fees, degree, IELTS and GRE requirements, research scholarships and work after graduation.
Last modified: 2026-09-28

# Master's Degrees in Singapore for International Students: NUS and NTU Programmes, Fees, Entry Requirements and Work After Graduation

- [Home](https://www.studyu.org/en/)

- [Blog](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog)

A master's in Singapore comes in two forms that are almost opposites financially. A taught (coursework) master's lasts 1–1.5 years and, in our NUS and NTU examples, costs an international student $43,120–68,520 for the programme (for instance $51,460 for NTU's MSc in Artificial Intelligence for 2027/28), and the Ministry of Education (MOE) subsidy is available to international students on only some programmes. Research master's degrees and PhDs, by contrast, can be done at the university's expense: NUS and NTU scholarships cover tuition and pay international students $2,270–2,350 (S$2,900–3,000) a month. For a taught master's you need a good bachelor's degree in a relevant field, IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL and, for some programmes, the GRE or GMAT; applications for the August intake usually run from autumn to winter.

This guide explains how the programme types differ, what specific master's cost for 2026/27 and 2027/28, what NUS and NTU require, how to apply, where to find funding and what work options exist after graduation. Information was checked against the official pages of the universities, MOE, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 28 September 2026; USD conversions use the ECB reference rate of the same date (1 USD ≈ 1.2777 SGD). For a country overview see [studying in Singapore](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-singapur).

Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, at night, Singapore. Photo: Erwin Soo from Singapore. / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lee_Kong_Chian_School_of_Business,_Singapore_Management_University_-_20120922.jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0).

## Taught or research master's: which one fits {#section-1}

| Criterion | Taught master's (coursework) | Research master's and PhD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Length | usually one year full-time; about 1.5 years with a dissertation | 1–2 years for a master's; PhD scholarships run up to 4 years |
| Cost for international students | full fee for the programme, $43,000–69,000 in our examples | fees are high but a scholarship can cover them |
| MOE grant or subsidy | not for most programmes; exceptions at NUS and NTU | university scholarships with a monthly stipend |
| Obligations | none unless you receive a subsidy | graduate assistant hours for international scholars |
| Best for | moving quickly into the Singapore or Asian job market | research, R&D or an academic career |

For most international applicants the deciding factor is money. A taught master's needs a ready budget for a year of fees and living costs. The research track can be almost free, but selection rests on research potential: grades, research experience, publications and the support of a prospective supervisor.

## What taught master's programmes cost {#section-2}

| Programme | Fee for international students | Length and intake | Year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NUS MSc in Business Analytics | $68,520 (S$87,550) for the programme | August intake; 3–6 month capstone project | 2027/28 |
| NUS MSc in Accounting and Financial Analytics | $60,570 (S$77,390) | August intake | 2027/28 |
| NTU MSc Business Analytics | $58,860 (S$75,210) for the programme | July intake | 2027/28 |
| NTU MSc in Artificial Intelligence | $51,460 (S$65,748.80) | one year full-time; candidature 12–30 months | 2027/28 |
| NUS MSc in Computer Engineering | $46,650 (S$59,600) | August and January intakes | 2027/28 |
| NTU MSc in Mechanical Engineering | $43,120 (S$55,099.50) for the programme | one year full-time; about 1.5 years with a dissertation | 2026/27 |
| NTU S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies MSc (Asian Studies, International Relations and others) | $12,370 (S$15,800) a year with the MOE subsidy; full fee $26,750 (S$34,180) | full-time | 2026/27 |

All fees include 9% GST. The last row is an important exception: MOE subsidises some NTU master's programmes for all admitted students, international students included, and since 2020/21 without a service obligation. NUS has exceptions too: on the Public Health master's the subsidised international fee is $21,880 (S$27,950) a year against a full fee of $78,110 (S$99,800). NUS also reserves the right to attach a service obligation for international students on some subsidised programmes.

Living costs come on top. NUS estimates $4,700 (S$6,000) per academic year excluding housing, and $3,130–8,050 (S$4,000–10,290) for an on-campus hostel. For a full budget, see [the cost of studying in Singapore](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-singapore).

## Entry requirements {#section-3}

Every programme starts from a good bachelor's degree (a "good bachelor's degree" or "good honours degree" in university terms) in the same or a related field. The rest depends on the programme.

| Programme | Degree | English | GRE / GMAT | Work experience |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NTU MSc in Artificial Intelligence | a good honours degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related field with solid maths | TOEFL iBT 100 (or 5.0 on the new scale) or IELTS 6.5, or proof of English-medium instruction | optional | instead of honours: a bachelor's plus 2 years of relevant experience |
| NTU MSc Business Analytics | a good bachelor's in any discipline | TOEFL 100 or IELTS 6.5 if your degree was not taught in English | optional; only in-person tests taken from 1 January 2024 are accepted | not required |
| NTU MSc in Mechanical Engineering | a good degree in mechanical, industrial or related engineering | TOEFL iBT 85 or IELTS 6.0 | not stated | instead of a matching degree: an engineering degree plus 2 years of experience |
| NUS MSc in Business Analytics | a good degree, preferably in business, computing, economics, engineering, maths, science or statistics | per programme rules | highly recommended from 2025/26 | at least 2 years of relevant experience as an alternative to a good honours classification |
| NUS Master of Computing | a bachelor's with a full transcript | TOEFL or IELTS if your degree was not taught in English | GRE, GMAT or GATE | not stated |

Two practical points. First, GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years and TOEFL and IELTS for two (as counted by NUS School of Computing). Second, NTU's business school does not accept online versions of the GMAT, GRE, TOEFL or IELTS taken after 31 December 2023 — only in-person tests.

## Documents and how to apply {#section-4}

You apply online through each programme's portal; there is no central system. A typical set of documents:

- your bachelor's degree certificate and a full transcript certified by your university (seal or registrar's signature), with an official English translation;
- if the degree has not been awarded yet, a letter from your university with the expected graduation date, plus your latest transcript;
- English test and GRE/GMAT scores sent directly by the test body (each programme has its own recipient code);
- a CV summarising education, experience and achievements;
- a statement of purpose and references, where the programme asks for them;
- for the NUS Master of Computing, proof of funding: a bank statement, recent payslip or sponsor's letter showing funds for at least one year of tuition;
- a colour photograph and the application fee.

Application fees: S$50 (≈ $39) for the NTU MSc AI and MSc Mechanical Engineering, S$100 (≈ $78) for NTU's MSc Business Analytics and the NUS MSc in Business Analytics, S$109 (≈ $85) for the NUS Master of Computing. After an offer many programmes take a non-refundable deposit: for example S$21,800 (≈ $17,060) within 14 days for the NUS MSBA, and S$5,000 (≈ $3,910) for the NTU MSc AI or MSc Mechanical Engineering, offset against the first payment.

## Application windows: examples for 2026–2027 {#section-5}

| Programme | Intake | Application window |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NUS MSc in Business Analytics | August 2027 | until 31 January 2027 |
| NUS Master of Computing | August 2027 (one intake a year since 2025) | 1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027 |
| NTU MSc Business Analytics | July 2027 | from September 2026 in three rounds: by 30 November 2026, 31 January 2027 and 31 March 2027 |
| NTU MSc in Mechanical Engineering | January 2027 | 1 July – 31 August 2026, with the school scholarship form due in the same window; this window has closed, and the programme page announces the next intake's dates |

As a rule of thumb, applications for an August intake run from the autumn to the end of the preceding winter, and the English test and GRE/GMAT are best done before the window opens. On programmes with rounds, such as NTU's MSc Business Analytics, decisions are announced after each round, so applying early gets you an answer sooner and leaves time for back-up options.

## Funding: scholarships and subsidies {#section-6}

NUS and NTU research scholarships. The NUS Research Scholarship and the NTU Research Scholarship cover tuition and pay a monthly stipend. From January 2026 international scholars receive S$3,000 (≈ $2,350) a month on a PhD and S$2,900 (≈ $2,270) on a research master's, with an additional stipend of up to S$500 (≈ $390) a month after passing the PhD qualifying examination. NTU awards the scholarship for one year at a time, renewable on good progress, up to 2 years for a master's and 4 years for a PhD. International scholars take part in the Graduate Assistantship Programme, teaching tutorials or supervising labs: at NUS that means 416 hours over a PhD, 156 hours over a two-year research master's and 78 hours over a one-year one.

Without a scholarship a research programme is expensive: at NUS, for the 2026/27 intake, the full international fee in engineering, computing and science is $34,240 (S$43,750) a year.

School scholarships. NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, for example, offers scholarships worth 100% of tuition on the MSc in Mechanical Engineering, and partial 50% awards at the committee's discretion.

MOE subsidy on selected taught programmes. The NTU S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies master's are an example: international students pay $12,370 a year instead of $26,750.

On taught IT and AI programmes universities are explicit about the lack of support: for the MSc AI, NTU states that no scholarship, government service agreement or service obligation scheme is available. For a wider overview see [scholarships abroad in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-abroad-2026).

## Working during and after your studies {#section-7}

A full-time master's student at NUS, NTU or another institution on MOM's list may work without a work pass for up to 16 hours a week in term and without a limit during vacations; internships that count towards the programme are also allowed. The rule does not apply to private institutions.

There is no automatic right to work after graduation. A graduate of an institution on ICA's list can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass to look for work (fees S$45 and S$60, decision within six weeks), but cannot work on it without a work pass. The main work pass for professionals is the Employment Pass, applied for by the employer. The candidate needs a qualifying salary of at least S$5,600 (≈ $4,380) a month outside financial services and S$6,200 (≈ $4,850) in financial services; for new applications from 1 January 2027 the thresholds rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600. The minimum increases with age, and on top of the salary the application must score 40 points under COMPASS. For details on passes, see the [Singapore Student's Pass guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-singapore-students-pass).

## Private institutions: a master's from an overseas university {#section-8}

EduTrust-certified private institutions teach master's programmes of overseas universities — for example Australia's Curtin University at [Curtin Singapore](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-curtin-singapore). This can be shorter and easier to enter, but it has three limits: the degree is awarded by the overseas university, private institution students may not work during their studies, and they are not eligible for the graduate job-search pass. If your goal is a career in Singapore, that is a significant drawback.

## How to choose a programme: a short checklist {#section-9}

1. Define your goal. A job in Singapore points to a taught programme at NUS or NTU; research points to the funded research track.
2. Check that your degree matches. AI, computer engineering and mechanical engineering expect a degree in the field or relevant work experience.
3. Budget for the whole period. Programme fee, deposit, at least a year of living costs and fees.
4. Take the tests early. IELTS or TOEFL and, if needed, the GRE or GMAT, before the window opens.
5. Apply in the first weeks of the window. Especially where decisions are announced in rounds.
6. Compare three to five programmes. Requirements and fees differ even within one university.

## Common mistakes {#section-10}

- Looking for the MOE grant on a taught master's. Most programmes do not have it; the exceptions are visible in the NUS and NTU fee tables.
- Confusing research and taught funding. Monthly stipends come with research programmes, not one-year MSc degrees.
- Taking the GMAT or IELTS online. NTU's business school does not accept such results.
- Forgetting the deposit. A non-refundable payment after the offer can exceed $17,000.
- Choosing a private institution on price. Without work rights and a job-search pass, recouping the cost of study in Singapore is harder.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can I apply with a bachelor's degree from Russia or another CIS country?

Yes. NUS and NTU programmes accept degrees from overseas universities if they show good grades and a relevant profile. You need certified copies of the degree and transcript with an English translation.

### How long is a master's in Singapore?

A taught programme usually takes one year full-time, or about 1.5 years with a dissertation. A research master's takes one to two years.

### Can I study for a master's for free?

On research programmes, yes, if you win an NUS or NTU scholarship covering tuition and paying a monthly stipend. Full funding for taught programmes is rare, for example through a school scholarship.

### Is the GRE or GMAT compulsory?

It depends on the programme. The NUS Master of Computing requires the GRE, GMAT or GATE, the NUS MSBA strongly recommends a test, and NTU's MSc AI and MSc Business Analytics accept applications without one.

### Do I need work experience?

Not for most MSc programmes. Experience becomes an alternative when your degree is in a different field or lacks honours: for example, two years of work for NTU's MSc AI and MSc Mechanical Engineering.

### Can I stay and work in Singapore after my master's?

Yes, if an employer obtains an Employment Pass for you: you must meet the qualifying salary and score 40 COMPASS points. While job hunting, a graduate of an institution on ICA's list can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass.

## Sources {#section-12}

- [NTU MSc in Artificial Intelligence](https://www.ntu.edu.sg/education/graduate-programme/master-of-science-in-artificial-intelligence) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NTU MSc Business Analytics: requirements, deadlines, fee](https://www.ntu.edu.sg/business/admissions/graduate-studies/msc-business-analytics/admissions/tuition-fees-financing) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NTU MSc in Mechanical Engineering](https://www.ntu.edu.sg/education/graduate-programme/master-of-science-in-mechanical-engineering-2) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NTU: postgraduate fees 2026/27 and subsidised programmes](https://www.ntu.edu.sg/admissions/graduate/financialmatters/pgtuitionfees) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS MSc in Business Analytics](https://msba.nus.edu.sg/programme/) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS MSc in Accounting and Financial Analytics: fees](https://mscacc.nus.edu.sg/fees-finances/programme-fees/) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS MSc in Computer Engineering: fees](https://cde.nus.edu.sg/ece/graduate/msc-computer-engineering/tuition-fees/) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS Master of Computing: application and documents](https://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/programmes/pg/mcs/application/) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS: graduate coursework and research fees 2026/27 (PDF)](https://nus.edu.sg/registrar/docs/default-source/administrative-policies-procedures/gdtuitioncurrent.pdf) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS Research Scholarship terms and stipends (PDF)](https://nusgs.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/NUS-Research-Scholarship-Terms-Conditions.pdf), [NTU Research Scholarship](https://www.ntu.edu.sg/admissions/graduate/financialmatters/scholarships/rss) — checked 28 September 2026
- [NUS: living costs](https://nus.edu.sg/oam/financial-aid/living-costs) — checked 28 September 2026
- [MOM: work pass exemption for foreign students](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-pass-exemption-for-foreign-students) and [Employment Pass](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility) — checked 28 September 2026
- [ICA: Long-Term Visit Pass for graduates](https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/LTVP/apply/graduate-from-an-institute-of-higher-learning-seeking-employment-in-singapore) and [private institutions and EduTrust](https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/STP/apply/pei) — checked 28 September 2026
- USD conversions use ECB reference rates of 28 September 2026: EUR/USD 1.1378 and EUR/SGD 1.4538, i.e. 1 USD ≈ 1.2777 SGD.

Master's programme shortlisting, requirement checks and preparation of CVs, essays and applications are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission and scholarship decisions are made by the university, Student's Pass decisions by ICA, and work pass decisions by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Cost of Studying in Singapore in 2026/27: University Fees, the MOE Tuition Grant and Living Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-singapore)
- [Singapore Student's Pass: How to Apply, What It Costs and What It Allows](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-singapore-students-pass)
- [Studying in Singapore for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-singapur)
- [Scholarships abroad 2026: where international students study for free](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-abroad-2026)
- [Curtin Singapore](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-curtin-singapore)
- [Bachelor's Degrees in Singapore for International Students: Types, Length and Full Cost](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-singapore)

Updated: September 2026