The National University of Singapore (NUS) accepts TOEFL iBT for English language proficiency. As Asia's top university, NUS operates entirely in English — and TOEFL requirements reflect both the institution's academic standards and the English-medium context of Singapore's education system.
Does NUS Accept TOEFL?
Yes. NUS accepts TOEFL iBT alongside IELTS Academic and PTE Academic.
Exemption: Students who completed primary and secondary education in English-medium schools (Singapore, UK, US, Australia, Canada, and others) are typically exempted from submitting an English language test.
NUS TOEFL Requirements — Undergraduate
| Faculty | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) | 85 | 100–115 |
| Faculty of Science | 85 | 100–115 |
| Faculty of Engineering | 85 | 100–115 |
| NUS Business School (undergraduate) | 85 | 100–115 |
| Faculty of Law (LLB) | 100 | 107–120 |
| Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music | 85 | 100–110 |
| Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (MBBS) | 100 | 107–120 |
Medicine and Law require the highest TOEFL minimums at NUS undergraduate — 100 iBT — reflecting clinical and legal communication demands.
NUS TOEFL Requirements — Graduate
NUS Business School
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (Full-Time) | 85 | 100–115 |
| MBA (Part-Time) | 85 | 100–115 |
| MSc Finance | 85 | 100–115 |
| MSc Business Analytics | 85 | 100–115 |
| MSc Management | 85 | 100–115 |
| PhD Business | 85 | 100–115 |
Faculty of Law (Graduate)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| LLM (General) | 100 | 107–120 |
| LLM (specialisations) | 100 | 107–120 |
| JD (Juris Doctor) | 100 | 107–120 |
| PhD Law | 100 | 107–120 |
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MPP (Master in Public Policy) | 100 | 107–120 |
| MPA (Master in Public Administration) | 100 | 107–120 |
| MPM (Master in Public Management) | 100 | 107–115 |
| PhD Public Policy | 100 | 107–120 |
The LKY School is Asia's leading public policy institution. The 100 iBT minimum reflects the communication-intensive demands of policy analysis, diplomacy, and governance programmes.
School of Computing (Graduate)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 85 | 100–115 |
| MSc Data Science | 85 | 100–115 |
| MSc Cybersecurity | 85 | 100–115 |
| PhD Computer Science | 85 | 100–115 |
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Graduate)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MA Humanities / Social Sciences | 85 | 100–110 |
| PhD Social Sciences | 85 | 100–115 |
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (Graduate)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MD (Graduate Entry) | 100 | 107–120 |
| MSc / PhD Biomedical Sciences | 85 | 100–110 |
| MPH | 85 | 100–110 |
Faculty of Engineering (Graduate)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| ME / MSc Engineering | 85 | 94–110 |
| PhD Engineering | 85 | 100–110 |
NUS TOEFL — Summary Table
| School / Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (most faculties) | 85 | 100–115 |
| Undergraduate Law / Medicine | 100 | 107–120 |
| NUS MBA | 85 | 100–115 |
| NUS Business (MSc) | 85 | 100–115 |
| NUS Law (LLM / JD) | 100 | 107–120 |
| LKY School (MPP / MPA) | 100 | 107–120 |
| School of Computing (MSc) | 85 | 100–115 |
| Engineering (MSc) | 85 | 94–110 |
| Medicine (Graduate MD) | 100 | 107–120 |
TOEFL vs. IELTS at NUS
NUS accepts both equally. TOEFL equivalents for NUS requirements:
| NUS Requirement | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum | 85 | 6.0 |
| Law / Medicine / LKY | 100 | 7.0 |
Score Validity at NUS
TOEFL scores are valid for two years. NUS requires scores valid at the time of application. Main intake: August. Graduate deadlines typically run January to April.
Common Mistakes NUS TOEFL Applicants Make
Applying to Law LLM or LKY School with 85. Both require 100 iBT. An 85 falls below the stated minimum.
Underestimating the LKY School competitive bar. The MPP and MPA attract experienced government officials and policy professionals globally. A 100 minimum understates the practical communication standard of admitted students.
Treating NUS's lower minimums as the target. The 85 minimum for Computing and Business reflects a domestically English-proficient student pool. International non-native speakers who score only 85 are at the floor of the competitive distribution.
Start TOEFL preparation with Gabble — AI-powered speaking and writing feedback with instant scores. Know exactly where you stand against your NUS target before you book your test.