As a city-state in maritime Southeast Asia, Singapore is one of the most unique places for higher education. With its diversity, highly connected economy, and strong university sector, the country offers an appealing study environment for students from many backgrounds.
Singapore is also an important place for legal education in Asia, with public universities and private providers offering programs that range from qualifying law degrees to specialist postgraduate and professional pathways. For a better understanding of legal education options in Singapore, here are the top law schools and institutions to consider.
Top Law Schools in Singapore
1. National University of Singapore
Based in Singapore, the National University of Singapore is the country’s flagship university and the oldest tertiary institution in Singapore. NUS began in 1905 as a medical school with 23 students and now reports 15 colleges, faculties, and schools in its Academic Year 2024/25 figures. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across a wide range of fields and aims to educate students who can contribute to society.
One of the most established schools at the National University of Singapore is its Faculty of Law. NUS Law traces its roots to the Department of Law established in the then University of Malaya in 1956, with the first law students admitted in 1957 and Faculty status attained in 1959. It is referred to by the school as Asia’s Global Law School, and its curriculum emphasizes comparative, international, and multidisciplinary perspectives.
The institution offers a four-year LL.B. program, a concurrent degree program in Law and Public Policy, and double degree programs in Business Administration and Law, and Economics and Law. NUS Law also states that the majority of LL.B. students complete the program in four years, while students who already have a first degree in another discipline may complete the LL.B. in three years.
Its graduate programs include a graduate research degree, the Ph.D., and coursework programs such as the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, graduate diplomas, and graduate coursework certificates under the NUS Law Academy.
2. Singapore Management University
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: LL.B., B.Sc. (Computing & Law), J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., Doctor of Law and Commercial Governance
Singapore Management University is a publicly funded private university and one of Singapore’s autonomous universities. Established in 2000, SMU says its undergraduate education model was shaped by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. SMU is now home to more than 13,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate professional, and postgraduate research programs, and comprises two colleges and six schools.
Officially established in 2007, the Yong Pung How School of Law is one of SMU’s schools. Its admissions process is selective; for the 2025 intake, SMU’s admissions table listed 182 course places for the Bachelor of Laws and 30 for the Bachelor of Science (Computing & Law). During their studies, students are encouraged to build intellectual curiosity, creativity, and practical legal skills for work in Singapore and beyond.
The institution offers a Bachelor of Laws, an SMU LL.B.-Melbourne LL.M. dual degree, and a Bachelor of Science (Computing & Law) at the undergraduate level. At the postgraduate level, it offers a Juris Doctor, Dual LL.M. in Commercial Law (Singapore and London), Master of Laws, Ph.D. in Law, Commerce and Technology, and Doctor of Law and Commercial Governance.
3. Singapore University of Social Sciences
Singapore University of Social Sciences is one of Singapore’s autonomous universities. It currently lists six schools and one college, including the School of Law. The university focuses on applied, lifelong, and socially oriented education.
In line with the core values of the university, the School of Law implements a practice-oriented law curriculum in Singapore and focuses on educating legal professionals in the fields of criminal and family law. The school’s approach to learning combines theoretical knowledge with application. Throughout their studies, students are given the chance to fine-tune their debate, argumentation, and critical thinking skills.
The institution offers a Bachelor of Laws and a Juris Doctor as its qualifying law degrees. The LL.B. is meant for students with A-Level or diploma qualifications and takes about 4.5 years. The J.D. is meant for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and takes about four years. Both programs are designed around criminal and family law, with legal knowledge, allied knowledge, professional courses, legal clerkship, and a pro bono requirement.
Also available through SUSS School of Law are stackable taxation programs at the graduate certificate, graduate diploma, and master’s levels.
4. BAC College Singapore
- Study Program
- Degree/s Offered: Diploma, advanced diploma, certificate, LL.B., postgraduate certificate
Formerly known as ITC School of Laws, BAC College Singapore is a private education institution and a University of London Recognised Teaching Centre. It has been associated with private legal education in Singapore for more than 20 years and now offers law, pre-university, and articulation-to-degree pathways.
BAC College Singapore offers law-related study options at several levels, including diploma, advanced diploma, University of London Certificate of Higher Education in Common Law, University of London LL.B. (Hons), and postgraduate certificate pathways. The Diploma in Law is designed as a foundation for further legal study and is stated by BAC to be equivalent to Year 1 of a degree program and to Level 4 of UK degree qualifications.
The college offers a Diploma in Law, an Advanced Diploma in Law, a Certificate of Higher Education in Common Law awarded by the University of London, and an LL.B. (Hons) from the University of London.
It further offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Law (E-Learning). Students complete four subjects, and successful completion may allow credit transfer into Veritas master’s programs, subject to terms and conditions.
5. Assas International School
Assas International is the international campus network of Paris-Panthéon-Assas University. The network lists campus pages for the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Paris, and Singapore, with programs that vary by location. Its Singapore campus is focused on postgraduate and executive legal education.
The Assas International Singapore campus is located at INSEAD Asia. It offers a full-time LL.M. in International Business Law in Singapore and an LL.M. in International Construction Contracts. The LL.M. in International Business Law is a nine-month program in Singapore from October to June, with flexible evening classes and face-to-face and/or online study options. For Paris Bar School candidates, a special pathway can be completed in six months.
The LL.M. in International Construction Contracts is also offered from the Singapore campus at INSEAD Asia. Current program information lists 161 hours of instruction, a three-days-per-month delivery mode, and face-to-face and online study. In addition to these LL.M. programs, the Singapore campus lists executive programs and a summer school.
If you are an aspiring legal professional, Singapore offers a vibrant and stimulating environment that can help you connect with legal communities in Asia and beyond.
We hope that this article on the Best Law Universities in Singapore was helpful. Make sure to check out our Guide to Study in Singapore and more Available Open Courses for International Students!
