By Zekeria Madadi | September 24, 2026 | 3 Comments

Study in Singapore Without IELTS

International students may be able to study in Singapore without IELTS, but there is no single IELTS-waiver rule that applies to every university or programme.

Some Singapore universities do not require IELTS for certain international qualifications. Others may waive IELTS when your previous education was taught in English. Some institutions also accept alternatives such as TOEFL, PTE Academic, SAT, ACT, C1 Advanced, or other recognised evidence of English proficiency.

Therefore, students should not assume that “without IELTS” means “without proof of English.” The exact requirement depends on your qualification and the programme you choose.

Quick Overview

Detail	Information
Study destination	Singapore
International students	Accepted by major universities
Can you study without IELTS?	Yes, in some cases
IELTS waiver	Depends on university/programme
English-medium education	May qualify for an exemption in some programmes
IELTS alternatives	May include TOEFL, PTE, SAT, ACT, C1 Advanced and others
Main study levels	Undergraduate and postgraduate
Student visa/pass	Student’s Pass for most full-time international students
Application method	Directly through the university
Deadline	Different for each university/programme

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Can You Study in Singapore Without IELTS?

Yes. There are several situations where an international student may be able to apply without an IELTS score.

For example, NUS lists no separate English requirement for some international undergraduate qualifications. For applicants presenting “Other High School Qualifications,” NUS currently states that the English requirement is not required, although applicants in this category must submit an accepted standardised test.

At NTU, the situation depends more directly on your educational background. For applicants under its “Other International Qualifications” category, an English test is required when English was not the medium of high-school study or was taken as a second/additional language. However, IELTS is only one of several accepted options.

At postgraduate level, some programmes at NTU, SMU and SUSS allow applicants whose previous degree was taught in English to avoid IELTS/TOEFL, although an official Medium of Instruction certificate may be required.

This creates several possible routes to study in Singapore without IELTS.

1. National University of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore has different admission requirements depending on the international qualification presented by the applicant.

For example, NUS states that applicants presenting International A-Levels do not have a separate English-language requirement.

More importantly for students whose school qualification does not appear as a separate category, NUS currently places them under “Other High School Qualifications.” For this category, applicants who have completed high school need a High School Graduation Certificate and transcript.

The current NUS requirements show:

English requirement: Not required
Standardised test: Required
High-school graduation certificate and transcript: Required

The accepted standardised-test route should therefore be checked carefully before applying.

This distinction is important: NUS may not require IELTS under this admission category, but that does not mean an applicant can apply without all additional testing.

NUS also states that applicants with foreign qualifications should generally have completed, or be completing, at least 12 years of general education by July of the application year and must satisfy programme prerequisites.

What this means for applicants

If your qualification is accepted by NUS under a category that does not require a separate English test, you may be able to apply without IELTS.

However, check the exact page for your school qualification before applying because NUS requirements differ by qualification.

2. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

NTU also provides a possible route for applicants who do not have IELTS.

For undergraduate applicants, NTU states that English-language test results are compulsory for specified qualifications and for students who did not study English in junior and senior high school or studied it only as a second language.

For applicants under “Other International Qualifications,” NTU states that if English was not the medium of high-school study, an accepted English/proficiency qualification is required. IELTS is one option, but NTU also lists alternatives including TOEFL, SAT, PTE Academic, ACT with Writing and C1 Advanced.

This means that a student who does not have IELTS may still have another route, depending on the qualification presented.

NTU postgraduate IELTS waiver

The IELTS-free route can be clearer for some postgraduate programmes.

For NTU’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, TOEFL/IELTS may be waived when the applicant’s tertiary education was conducted in English for at least three years. The applicant must provide a certification letter confirming the medium of instruction.

NTU’s School of Humanities similarly states that applicants with a bachelor’s degree involving at least three years of study where English was the medium of instruction do not need IELTS or TOEFL, although documentary evidence is required.

Applicants should still check the specific school or graduate programme because NTU requirements can vary by programme.

3. Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

SUTD does not simply require IELTS from every international applicant.

For applicants presenting qualifications where English is not the medium of instruction, SUTD requires one of several accepted tests. These currently include:

IELTS
TOEFL
SAT
PTE Academic
ACT
C1 Advanced

Therefore, IELTS itself is not compulsory if another accepted option satisfies the university’s requirement.

SUTD specifically explains that submission of one of these tests is compulsory for applicants whose qualification was not taught in English.

Can English-medium students apply without IELTS?

The university frames the testing requirement around qualifications where English is not the medium of instruction. Applicants should therefore check the admission page corresponding to their exact school qualification rather than assuming a general exemption.

4. Singapore Management University (SMU)

Some postgraduate programmes at Singapore Management University explicitly provide an IELTS/TOEFL waiver based on previous English-medium education.

For example, SMU’s Master of Science in Management lists TOEFL/IELTS as a prerequisite but states that it is waived if English was the medium of instruction for the applicant’s undergraduate studies.

The same principle appears in the current Master of Science in Applied Finance admission information: TOEFL/IELTS is required when the medium of instruction for undergraduate studies was not English.

This can make SMU particularly relevant for graduate applicants who completed their bachelor’s degree fully in English.

However, the exemption should not be assumed across every SMU master’s programme. Applicants must check the individual programme requirements.

5. Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

SUSS also considers the language of previous education when deciding whether graduate applicants need an English-language test.

For English-taught graduate programmes, SUSS requires its English Language Proficiency Requirement when an applicant’s undergraduate degree was not awarded by an English-medium university or when the language of instruction was not English.

SUSS also explains an important exception: an applicant whose undergraduate degree was conducted in English but awarded by a university not generally classified as English-medium may provide an official university letter confirming English as the language of instruction to seek a waiver.

For applicants who do need to meet the English requirement, SUSS currently accepts several qualifications, including IELTS Academic, TOEFL, PTE Academic, C1 Advanced and MUET.

Singapore Universities and IELTS-Free Routes

University	Possible without IELTS?	Possible route
NUS	Yes, for certain qualifications	Some international qualification categories do not require a separate English test
NTU	Yes, depending on background/programme	English-medium education or another accepted test
SUTD	IELTS itself can be avoided	Other accepted tests; requirement depends on medium of instruction
SMU	Yes, for some graduate programmes	English-medium undergraduate degree
SUSS	Yes, in qualifying graduate cases	English-medium degree / official certification

The word “possible” is important. These are not universal IELTS waivers covering every programme and every international applicant.

What Is a Medium of Instruction Certificate?

A Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate is an official document from your previous school or university confirming the language used to teach your programme.

For example, the letter may confirm that:

The language of instruction for the applicant’s bachelor’s degree was English.

This can be useful when applying to programmes that allow an English-medium degree to replace IELTS or TOEFL.

NTU specifically requires documentary evidence for relevant IELTS/TOEFL exemptions, while SUSS allows certain applicants to provide an official university letter to seek an English-language requirement waiver.

Your MOI certificate should normally come directly from the relevant university or educational institution rather than being written by the applicant.

IELTS-Free Does Not Mean English-Free

This is one of the most important points for international applicants.

A university may not require IELTS but may still ask for another form of evidence, such as:

TOEFL
PTE Academic
SAT
ACT
C1 Advanced
MUET
an English-medium education certificate
another qualification accepted by that university

For example, SUTD requires one of several accepted tests when English was not the medium of instruction, while NTU also lists several alternatives for applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency.

Always read “IELTS not required” separately from “no English proficiency evidence required.”

Undergraduate Study in Singapore Without IELTS

Undergraduate applicants should first identify which international qualification category applies to them.

This matters because Singapore universities often set admission requirements by qualification rather than simply by nationality.

At NUS, for example, International A-Level applicants currently have no separate English requirement. Applicants with “Other High School Qualifications” also have no separate English requirement listed, although standardised testing is required.

At NTU and SUTD, the language in which you completed school can affect whether additional English evidence is necessary.

Therefore, undergraduate applicants should check four things:

Whether their high-school qualification is recognised.
Whether their qualification has a separate English requirement.
Whether a standardised test is required.
Whether their intended programme has additional subject requirements.

Master’s and PhD Study in Singapore Without IELTS

Applicants for master’s and research degrees may have more opportunities to use an English-medium bachelor’s degree as evidence of language ability.

For example, NTU has graduate programmes where applicants can receive a TOEFL/IELTS waiver when their tertiary education was conducted in English for the required period and they provide official certification.

SMU’s MSc in Management explicitly waives TOEFL/IELTS when English was the medium of instruction during undergraduate studies.

SUSS also provides a route for applicants with English-medium undergraduate education to seek exemption from its English-language proficiency requirement using appropriate official documentation.

However, graduate requirements are often programme-specific. A waiver offered by one department should never be assumed to apply to another programme at the same university.

Documents You May Need

Documents vary considerably by university and study level, but international applicants should generally prepare the documents requested by their chosen programme.

These may include:

Passport
Academic transcripts
Graduation certificate or diploma
High-school certificate for undergraduate admission
Bachelor’s degree for master’s admission
Master’s degree where required for doctoral admission
English-language evidence when applicable
Medium of Instruction certificate when using an English-medium exemption
Standardised-test results when required
CV or résumé for programmes that request one
Statement of purpose or personal statement when required
Recommendation letters when required
Programme-specific supporting documents

Do not submit an MOI letter as a substitute for IELTS unless the relevant university or programme actually accepts that route.

How to Apply to Study in Singapore Without IELTS

Start by choosing a university and programme rather than searching only for “no IELTS universities.”

Next, open the official admission requirements for your exact qualification and programme. Check whether IELTS is compulsory, optional, replaceable by another test, or waivable because of previous English-medium education.

If an MOI certificate is accepted, request an official letter from your previous university confirming that your programme was taught in English.

Then prepare the remaining academic and programme-specific documents and submit your application through the university’s official admission portal.

Do not send an application based only on a third-party statement that a university is “IELTS-free.” The final admission rules come from the university.

Do You Need IELTS for a Singapore Student Visa?

IELTS should not be confused with Singapore’s immigration requirements.

Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) states that foreigners accepted into approved full-time study generally need a Student’s Pass, unless they fall under an applicable exemption based on another valid immigration pass.

For students entering an Institute of Higher Learning, ICA lists institutions such as NUS, NTU, SMU, SIT, SUSS and SUTD among Singapore’s local universities.

ICA’s published Student’s Pass information focuses on admission to an eligible full-time course and the required immigration documents. IELTS is therefore primarily an university admission issue, not a universal Student’s Pass requirement stated by ICA.

This distinction is useful: first satisfy the university’s academic and language requirements; after admission, follow the Student’s Pass process.

Singapore Student’s Pass for International Students

After receiving admission to an eligible full-time programme, international students who require a Student’s Pass apply through Singapore’s ICA.

For Institutes of Higher Learning, ICA currently says applications should generally be submitted online at least two months and not more than three months before the course begins.

ICA currently charges a S$45 non-refundable processing fee for this Student’s Pass application category. If the application succeeds, additional issuance and, where applicable, Multiple Journey Visa fees apply.

Students should follow the latest instructions in their admission and Student’s Pass documents because immigration requirements can change.

Can Students From Non-English-Speaking Countries Apply Without IELTS?

Potentially, yes.

Nationality alone does not determine whether IELTS can be waived. Universities may instead look at factors such as:

your previous qualification;
the language in which you studied;
your programme;
the institution that awarded your qualification; and
whether you can provide acceptable alternative evidence.

For graduate applicants in particular, an English-medium bachelor’s degree can be important because several programmes at NTU, SMU and SUSS explicitly connect their English-test requirements or waivers to the medium of previous university study.

What If Your Previous Education Was Not in English?

You should not rely on an MOI waiver if your programme was not actually taught in English.

Instead, check the alternatives accepted by the university.

For example, SUTD accepts several options besides IELTS for applicants who need to provide English/proficiency evidence, including TOEFL, SAT, PTE Academic, ACT and C1 Advanced.

NTU likewise lists multiple alternatives for relevant undergraduate applicants.

This can still allow you to apply without IELTS, but you may need another recognised examination.

Important Difference: No IELTS vs No English Test

There are three different situations applicants should understand.

IELTS not required: You do not need IELTS, but another test may be required.

English-test waiver: The university accepts another form of evidence, such as previous English-medium education.

No separate English requirement: For a particular qualification, the university may not request a separate English-language test as part of its standard admission requirements.

These situations should not be treated as the same thing.