If English is not your first language and you plan to study in Singapore, you may need to provide evidence of English proficiency. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo, and Cambridge English Advanced are among the tests that universities may accept. The exact tests, scores, and exemptions depend on the institution, program, and applicant’s previous education.
English is one of Singapore’s four official languages and is the main medium of instruction in its education system. The institutions below publish TOEFL requirements for at least some applicants or programs. The TOEFL iBT is available at authorized test centers and through the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, although each institution decides which formats it accepts.
Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports have used a 1–6 scale. During the transition period through January 2028, test takers also receive a comparable overall score on the former 0–120 scale. Applicants should therefore check whether their chosen institution lists the former scale, the new scale, or both.
Find out more about the acceptance of TOEFL scores in Singaporean universities!
TOEFL Scores Accepted at Singaporean Universities
To make your application process easier, this article summarizes the current TOEFL criteria published by several well-known institutions in Singapore. These are minimum application requirements rather than guaranteed admission scores, and some institutions set different requirements for individual qualifications, schools, or programs.
| INSTITUTION NAME | CURRENT TOEFL REQUIREMENT | IMPORTANT NOTES |
|---|
| National University of Singapore | Undergraduate: 92–93 when an English test is required. Graduate: varies by program; NUS Public Health graduate research requires 94 for tests taken before January 21, 2026, or 5.0 for tests taken on or after that date. | The graduate score is program-specific and should not be treated as a university-wide minimum. |
| Singapore Management University | Undergraduate non-law: 93 before January 21, 2026, or 5.0 from that date. Law: 100 before January 21, 2026, or 5.5 from that date. | These scores apply to applicants with international qualifications who are required to submit a standardized test. Graduate requirements are program-specific. |
| Nanyang Technological University | Undergraduate: commonly 90 overall with 25 in speaking on the former scale; current-scale requirements may be 4.5 or 5.0 depending on the qualification. Graduate: generally 85–100 depending on the school or program. | TOEFL is not required from every international applicant. Requirements depend on educational background and program. |
| Singapore University of Social Sciences | 85 for applicable undergraduate and graduate applicants. | Additional or higher requirements may apply to individual programs. |
| Republic Polytechnic | 78 for applicants using the Other Qualifications admission route. | Republic Polytechnic offers diploma-level study and does not have a graduate TOEFL requirement. |
| James Cook University Singapore | Program-specific. Examples include 74 for the Bachelor of Science majoring in Data Science and 86 for the MBA majoring in Finance. | Component minimums also apply: 18 for the Data Science degree and 21 for the MBA. |
| Curtin University Singapore | Course-specific. Curtin’s current equivalency table lists 67, 81, or 91 on the 0–120 scale and 4.0, 4.5, or 5.0 on the new scale, depending on the required English standard. | Applicants must check the selected course because there is no universal undergraduate or graduate minimum. |
1. National University of Singapore
Our first recommendation among the institutions in Singapore accepting TOEFL scores is the National University of Singapore. Building on experience in public health and epidemiology dating to 1948, the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health aims to influence public health programs and policies and foster healthier communities in Singapore and the region.
For undergraduate admission, NUS lists a TOEFL score of 92–93 for applicants whose qualifications require an additional English test.
The School of Public Health waives its TOEFL or IELTS requirement for applicants who have obtained, or are currently pursuing, a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a Singapore autonomous university or an English-medium institution in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
2. Singapore Management University
- Bachelor’s TOEFL Requirement
- TOEFL iBT score: 93 for non-law programs and 100 for Law before January 21, 2026; 5.0 and 5.5, respectively, from January 21, 2026
Singapore Management University is a specialist university comprising eight schools. Its official ranking announcement reports that SMU placed #122 among 1,526 institutions in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate professional, postgraduate research, certificate, and continuing-education programs.
For applicants with international qualifications who are required to submit a standardized test, the minimum TOEFL iBT score for non-law undergraduate programs is 93, including at least 22 in reading and writing, for tests taken before January 21, 2026. For tests taken from that date, the requirement is 5.0 overall, with at least 5.0 in reading and 4.5 in writing.
Applicants to the Law program need 100 overall, including at least 24 in reading and writing, on the former scale. On the new scale, they need 5.5 overall, including 5.5 in reading and 5.0 in writing. These undergraduate requirements should not be applied to SMU graduate programs, which establish their own admission criteria.
3. Nanyang Technological University
The Division of Materials Engineering at Nanyang Technological University established Singapore’s first materials engineering degree program in 1991. The School of Materials Science and Engineering provides science-driven, application-oriented education in advanced materials while cultivating research and innovation.
NTU accepts TOEFL as evidence of English proficiency for applicants whose qualifications or educational backgrounds require it. For many international undergraduate qualifications, the published minimum for tests taken before 2026 is 90 overall with 25 in speaking. For tests taken from January 2026, official qualification pages list an overall requirement of either 4.5 or 5.0, with corresponding speaking requirements, depending on the applicant’s qualification.
NTU does not have a universal graduate TOEFL minimum of 100. Its graduate coursework guide lists requirements ranging from 85 to 100 on the former scale, depending on the school or program. GRE requirements are also program-specific.
4. Singapore University of Social Sciences
Singapore University of Social Sciences promotes applied learning, social impact, and lifelong education. Through its Head, Heart, Habit educational philosophy, the university seeks to develop professionally competent, socially conscious, and adaptable lifelong learners.
SUSS generally requires a TOEFL iBT score of at least 85 from relevant undergraduate applicants with international qualifications and graduate applicants whose previous degree does not meet its English-medium exemption conditions. Test scores must generally have been obtained within the two years before admission or application.
Individual programs may impose additional criteria. For example, applicants to the Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics (TESOL) whose background requires proof of English proficiency must have a TOEFL iBT score above 85, with at least 22 in writing. The program is open to international students.
5. Republic Polytechnic
- TOEFL Requirement
- TOEFL iBT score: 78 for applicants under the Other Qualifications admission route
Established in 2002, Republic Polytechnic is Singapore’s youngest polytechnic. It offers more than 40 full-time courses across fields such as applied science, business, engineering, hospitality, information and communications technology, sports and health, and arts and design. Its programs lead primarily to polytechnic diplomas rather than bachelor’s or graduate degrees.
Applicants using Republic Polytechnic’s Other Qualifications route can demonstrate English proficiency with a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 78. The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition is also accepted.
Republic Polytechnic has contributed to higher education in Singapore by providing diploma, continuing-education, and professional-development pathways.
6. James Cook University Singapore
James Cook University gives eligible Singapore-based students an opportunity to study in Singapore and Australia through its Intercampus Exchange Program while remaining enrolled as Singapore-based students and paying fees in Singapore dollars. Participation is subject to approval and is not guaranteed or compulsory.
JCU Singapore also offers pathway and English-language programs for students who do not yet meet the requirements for direct admission. TOEFL criteria vary by course rather than simply by undergraduate or graduate level.
For example, the Bachelor of Science majoring in Data Science requires a TOEFL iBT score of 74, with no component below 18. The Master of Business Administration majoring in Finance requires 86, with no component below 21, for applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds who do not qualify through another accepted form of English-language evidence.
7. Curtin University Singapore
- TOEFL Requirement
- TOEFL iBT score: course-specific; current equivalents include 67, 81, or 91 on the 0–120 scale and 4.0, 4.5, or 5.0 on the new scale
Curtin University is ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2025. Students at Curtin Singapore follow Curtin University courses and must satisfy the English standard specified for their selected course.
Curtin’s current English-equivalency table lists TOEFL iBT scores of 67, 81, or 91 on the 0–120 scale for English standards corresponding to IELTS 6.0, 6.5, or 7.0. The listed new-scale equivalents are 4.0, 4.5, or 5.0. Some courses have higher component or overall requirements, so applicants should review the relevant course page.
These institutions in Singapore provide a useful overview of the English-language standards applicants may need to meet before beginning their studies. However, published scores are minimum application criteria and do not guarantee admission.
We hope that this article on the universities in Singapore accepting TOEFL scores was informative. Visit our Study in Singapore Guide and explore the Available Programs Page!
