otherSingapore · Bachelor’sResearched 14d ago

Computer Science

National University of Singapore

PortPath researches criteria from public sources and can be incomplete or out of date. Always verify against the program’s official announcement before relying on it. PortPath never predicts admission chances.

Overview

NUS undergraduate admission for the Bachelor of Computing in Computer Science is centrally managed by the Office of Admissions using a holistic, aptitude-based process rather than a pure US/UK/EU/TCAS model. For Computer Science, academics are the strongest signal because applicants must meet mathematics-related subject prerequisites and the programme's indicative grade profile is extremely high, while all applicants also submit short written responses and up to four achievements for holistic review. Standardized and English tests matter for many international qualification routes, but are qualification-dependent rather than universally decisive.

Admission criteria

PortfolioMedium

NUS Computer Science does not require a formal portfolio upload for standard admission. However, all applicants must list up to four achievements, and NUS explicitly says holistic review considers interest, aptitude and prior preparation. Official examples include creating a new software or app, contributing to open-source software, related internships, Olympiad medals, leadership and entrepreneurship, so project-based technical work can strengthen the application even though it is not a standalone portfolio requirement.

Statement of PurposeMedium

NUS does not ask for a long standalone statement of purpose for this programme, but all applicants are required to answer short response questions as part of the holistic assessment. These responses are used together with achievements to assess interest, aptitude and preparation for the programme, so written motivation matters, though less than academic performance.

Academics & GPAHigh

Academics are a decisive factor for NUS Computer Science. NUS states admission is holistic but still requires applicants to provide grades, and Computer Science has a mathematics prerequisite for international qualification routes. The indicative grade profile for the Common Computer Science Programmes is AAA/A at both the 10th and 90th percentile for A-Level admits in AY2025/2026, showing very strong transcript performance is typically needed.

Test scoresMedium

Test scores are used depending on the applicant's qualification route. For many international applicants, NUS requires or may require standardized tests and/or English tests. The official prospectus states applicants without actual results must submit standardized test scores for admission consideration; published minimums include SAT 600 Reading & Writing and 650 Mathematics, ACT composite 29 with Writing 8, and English benchmarks such as IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in reading and writing or TOEFL iBT 92-93. These scores clearly matter for worldwide applicants, but they are not the primary driver for every qualification type.

Application components

Achievements / project-based accomplishmentsShort response questionsTranscript / grades / GPAStandardized test reportEnglish test report

How to stand out

→Show concrete computing-related achievements in the achievements section, such as apps built, open-source contributions, hackathons, Olympiads, internships or research.

→Use the short responses to explain clearly why Computer Science at NUS fits your preparation and interests; keep examples specific and technical where possible.

→Prioritize excellent mathematics and overall school results, because NUS Computer Science has a math prerequisite and an extremely strong indicative grade profile.

→If your qualification route requires tests, aim to exceed the published minimums rather than merely meeting them, especially in mathematics and English reading/writing.

→For international applicants without final school results, prepare SAT/ACT/AP or other required standardized tests early so your application is complete by deadline.

Source confidence

89%Well sourced

Sources

NUS Office of Admissions - Admissions

www.nus.edu.sg/oam/admissions/admissions

Official undergraduate admissions page; states admission is assessed using a holistic approach.

NUS Office of Admissions - Aptitude-Based Admissions

nus.edu.sg/oam/admissions/aptitude-based-admissions

Official ABA page; says all applicants list up to four achievements and answer short response questions, with examples including software/app creation and open-source contributions.

NUS Office of Admissions - International Qualifications Application Guide

nus.edu.sg/oam/docs/default-source/application-guide/international-qualifications-application-guide.pdf

Official guide; says applicants with strong interest or aptitude may be considered under ABA and are required to answer five short response questions and list up to four achievements.