Quick Read
- NUS requires PTE Academic 62 overall, 62 in reading.
- NTU accepts PTE 55 overall with speaking at 55.
- Singapore Institute of Technology does not list PTE Academic.
- CBSE and ISC English-medium students often skip PTE entirely.
- SMU asks PTE 66 overall, and 76 for Law.
- PTE Academic costs about Rs.18,900 in India today.
What Are the PTE Accepted Universities in Singapore?
Nine institutions in Singapore publish a PTE Academic requirement on their own admissions pages. Four of Singapore’s six autonomous universities accept PTE, one does not list it, and one accepts it without publishing a minimum score at all. Every figure in the table below comes from the institution’s own site, not from a third-party listing.
| Institution | Type | Published PTE Academic requirement | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| National University of Singapore (NUS) | Autonomous public | 62 overall, 62 in reading and writing | Undergraduate international qualifications |
| Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Autonomous public | 55 overall, 55 speaking | Undergraduate international qualifications |
| Singapore Management University (SMU) | Autonomous public | 66 overall, 66 reading, 56 writing. Law: 76 overall, 76 reading, 66 writing | Undergraduate international qualifications |
| Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) | Autonomous public | Accepted, no prescribed minimum | Undergraduate international qualifications |
| Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) | Autonomous public | 58 | Graduate and part-time undergraduate |
| Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) | Autonomous public | Not listed among accepted tests | — |
| James Cook University Singapore | Australian campus | 46 to 58 by program band | Foundation through postgraduate |
| Curtin Singapore | Australian campus | 42 to 65 by program band | Diploma through postgraduate |
| SIM Global Education | Private institution | 42, including PTE Academic Online | Diploma entry |
| LASALLE College of the Arts | Private arts institution | 65 | Postgraduate |
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Two things in this table do not appear anywhere else on page one of Google. SIT publishes a fixed list of English tests it will accept and PTE is not on it. SUTD accepts PTE but sets no number.
Counselor insight: Students copy an aggregator's score table into their shortlist spreadsheet and discover at application stage that the number was wrong. Open each university's own admissions page, screenshot it with the date visible, and keep that screenshot in your application folder. If a counsellor quotes you a score, ask which page it came from.
PTE Score Requirements at Singapore’s Public Universities
Singapore's public universities set the highest bars, and they differ from each other by more than ten points.
NUS accepts both PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online at 62 overall, with 62 required in the reading and writing components. The component floor matters as much as the overall. NUS also lists PTE Academic as one of the tests Indian Standard 12 applicants are expected to present.
NTU sets the most accessible bar of the four. Its international qualifications page specifies PTE Academic at a minimum overall 55 with speaking at 55, and only scores from the two years leading up to the application deadline are considered.
SMU is the strictest and the most commonly misreported. Its undergraduate admissions page requires PTE Academic at a minimum overall 66, with at least 66 for reading and 56 for writing for non-law programs, and 76 overall with 76 for reading and 66 for writing for Law. SMU also makes a standardised test compulsory for international qualifications: you must submit one of SAT, ACT, IELTS Academic, TOEFL, C1 Advanced, PTE Academic or AST. There is no medium-of-instruction escape route at SMU.
SUTD is the outlier. It confirms that PTE Academic is one of the accepted English proficiency tests for applicants whose qualifications were not taught in English, but states that there is no prescribed minimum score because applications are reviewed comprehensively on academic and non-academic achievement. Pearson's own Singapore guide still lists SUTD at 62. SUTD's page does not support that number.
SUSS requires a PTE Academic score of 58, obtained within the last two years at point of application.
SIT publishes a table of acceptable English language tests listing IELTS Academic at 6.5 and TOEFL internet-based at 90, alongside AST English, O Level English and Cambridge C1 or C2. PTE Academic does not appear on it. If SIT is on your shortlist, PTE alone will not satisfy its English requirement.
Counselor insight: At SMU the reading sub-score fails more applicants than the overall does. A student sitting at 66 overall with reading at 62 does not meet the requirement, and the system will not flag it kindly. Check your weakest component against the published floor before you decide whether to retake.
PTE Accepted Universities in Singapore Among Private and Foreign Campus Institutions
If your PTE sits between 42 and 55, the public universities are out of reach but Singapore is not.
James Cook University Singapore runs a band system. Its Bachelor of Information Technology and most standard undergraduate degrees require PTE Academic 52 with no component below 52. Higher-band programs such as Early Childhood Education require PTE Academic 58 with no component below 54. The Pre-University Foundation Program sits at PTE Academic 46 with no component below 42, and entry into its English Language Preparatory Program begins at PTE Academic 42 with no component less than 36. JCU Singapore charges a non-refundable application fee of SGD 260, which is Rs.19,534.
Curtin Singapore updated its English prerequisites in September 2026. For Curtin University degree programs, PTE Academic taken from August 2026 needs 50 overall with reading 50, listening 50, speaking 54 and writing 51 at the base band, rising to 58 and then 65 for higher-requirement courses. For Curtin College diploma programs the entry point is 42 with no score below 36 at Stage 1.
SIM Global Education sets the lowest published bar among the institutions on this list. Its diploma entry accepts a PTE-A or PTE-A Online score of at least 42 out of 100, and it specifies that the score must be less than two years old at the point of enrolment. SIM is one of the few Singapore institutions that explicitly names the online version of the test.
LASALLE College of the Arts requires a minimum of PTE Academic 65 for postgraduate applicants from countries where English is not the first language.
Counselor insight: A student who misses the public university band by six or seven points usually has a legitimate route through a foreign campus institution, and the degree is awarded by the parent university in Australia. Before you pay a deposit, check the institution's EduTrust status and confirm exactly which university's name will appear on your certificate. That single question separates a real pathway from an expensive detour.
Which PTE Accepted University in Singapore Fits Your Profile?
If you are a CBSE Class 12 student scoring around 92% and targeting NUS or NTU for August 2027: your English medium already satisfies NTU. Book PTE only if NUS or SMU is on your list. Target 66 with reading at 66 or higher, because that single score clears NUS, NTU and SMU together. Sit the test between November 2026 and January 2027.
If you are a final-year BTech student at a State university graduating in May 2027 and planning a master's with PTE 58: you clear SUSS outright and most JCU Singapore and Curtin postgraduate bands. You do not clear NUS or SMU. Decide now whether a retake for eight more points is worth six more weeks, or whether an applied postgraduate programme is the better use of that time.
If you are a Class 12 student at 68% with PTE 48: the public universities are not realistic this cycle. Curtin College diploma entry and SIM Global Education diploma entry both sit below your score, and both articulate into a full degree. JCU's foundation route opens at 46. Treat the diploma as the first year of the degree, not as a consolation.
If your PTE is 42 to 45: SIM Global Education diploma entry and Curtin College Stage 1 are your realistic starting points, and JCU's English Language Preparatory Program exists for exactly this band.
Documents You Need for PTE Accepted Universities in Singapore
| Document | India-specific detail |
|---|---|
| Passport | Must be valid through your full course duration. Renew before applying if under two years remain |
| Class 10 marksheet | CBSE, ICSE and State Board originals, with a certified translation if not in English |
| Class 12 marksheet or predicted results | Indian boards often release after Singapore closing dates. Predicted grades must be attested by your school, not self-declared |
| PTE Academic score report | Upload the PDF and separately request electronic delivery to the institution through your myPTE account |
| Medium of instruction letter | On school or college letterhead, signed and dated by the principal |
| Financial documents | Bank statements and loan sanction letters, typically for the last three to six months |
| Application fee receipt | SMU charges SGD 15 (Rs.1,127). JCU Singapore charges SGD 260 (Rs.19,534) |
Counselor insight: Indian board results routinely arrive after Singapore deadlines. SMU's own process expects applicants sitting exams between January and May to upload actual results within three working days of release, and to submit teacher-attested predicted scores in the meantime. Talk to your school in December about who signs predicted grades, not in March.
PTE and Application Timeline for AY2027-28
Singapore's autonomous universities have not yet published AY2027-28 dates. The AY2026-27 cycle is the working precedent: SMU opened applications on 17 November 2025 and closed on 19 March 2026, with standardised test scores accepted until 31 March 2026. Expect a comparable window.
| Period | What to do |
|---|---|
| Jun to Aug 2026 | Shortlist institutions. Check each one's published PTE requirement directly |
| Sep to Oct 2026 | Take a scored practice test. Identify your weakest component against the published floors |
| Nov 2026 to Jan 2027 | Sit PTE Academic. This keeps the score comfortably inside the two-year window |
| Nov 2026 to Mar 2027 | Submit applications as portals open. Do not wait for board results |
| Feb to Mar 2027 | Obtain predicted Class 12 grades from your school, attested |
| Mar to May 2027 | Interviews and writing tests where required |
| May to Jul 2027 | Class 12 results release. Upload actual results within the stated window |
| Jun to Jul 2027 | Offers released. Accept and begin the Student's Pass application |
| Jul to Aug 2027 | Student's Pass formalities, medical examination, travel |
Counselor insight: Book PTE in the November to January window, not in Class 11. A score sat too early can expire before a March 2027 deadline, and I have seen students lose an offer to a date rather than a number.
What PTE and a Singapore Application Actually Cost Indian Students
The PTE Academic fee in India is currently reported at Rs.18,900 including 18% GST, following a price revision in March 2026. Pearson does not publish a static India fee page and the amount shown at checkout on the official portal is the final figure, so treat that as authoritative rather than any third-party quote.
Application fees are modest at public universities and substantial at private ones. SMU charges a non-refundable SGD 15, which is Rs.1,127. JCU Singapore charges SGD 260, which is Rs.19,534, more than the exam itself.
Exchange rate used: Rs.75.13 per Singapore Dollar. Verify the current rate before finalising your budget.
Counselor insight: The exam fee is the smallest line item in this entire process, smaller than a single month's rent in Singapore. Choosing PTE because it is a few thousand rupees cheaper than IELTS is fine. Choosing it without checking whether your target institution accepts it is how students end up paying for both.
What to Do When Your PTE Score or Singapore Application Goes Wrong
Your overall clears but a component does not. This is the most common failure at NUS and SMU. A retake is the only fix, since institutions do not combine components across sittings. SMU states outright that all sections must be taken in one sitting.
Your score expires before the deadline. There is no extension mechanism. Retake, and book at least six weeks before the closing date so the result reaches the institution in time.
Your shortlisted institution does not accept PTE. SIT is the live example. Either take IELTS Academic at 6.5 or TOEFL iBT at 90 to meet its published table, or replace SIT on your shortlist.
Your board results are delayed past the closing date. Submit with attested predicted grades and upload actual results as soon as they release. Do not hold the application back waiting.
The institution says it has not received your score. Uploading the PDF and sending the official score report are two separate actions. Log into your myPTE account and send the report to the institution directly.
You scored well below target. Diagnose before you rebook. Most Indian test takers lose points in speaking fluency and in the write-from-dictation task rather than in reading, and four focused weeks on those tasks moves a score more than another full retake cycle does.
Counselor insight: Students assume the PDF upload completes the requirement and then wonder why their file shows as incomplete in April. Send the official report the same day you submit the application, and take a screenshot of the confirmation.
3 Takeaways on PTE Accepted Universities in Singapore
Choosing PTE does not close Singapore to you, but it does require you to check three things rather than one.
- Verify your target institution's PTE requirement on its own admissions page, not on a comparison site. The scores circulating for SMU and SUTD on page one of Google do not match what those universities publish.
- Confirm whether you need the test at all. If you studied in English at a CBSE, ICSE or State Board school, NTU and Curtin Singapore may not require a score, and NTU says plainly that taking one will not help your case.
- Book PTE between November 2026 and January 2027 for an AY2027-28 intake, and target 66 overall with strong reading if you want a single score that clears the widest set of PTE accepted universities in Singapore.
Verified by: LeapScholar's Singapore counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through Singapore university applications and Student's Pass processing.
Have questions about PTE accepted universities in Singapore? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTE Accepted Universities in Singapore
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Is PTE accepted in Singapore?
Yes. PTE Academic is accepted by NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD and SUSS among the public universities, and by James Cook University Singapore, Curtin Singapore, SIM Global Education and LASALLE among private and foreign campus institutions. Singapore Institute of Technology does not list PTE Academic among its accepted English tests, so check each institution's own admissions page before booking.
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Can my Indian school certificate replace a PTE score at any Singapore university?
Yes, at Curtin Singapore. It accepts the Indian School Certificate or All India Senior School Certificate with 60% in the English subject as proof of proficiency, valid within five years of application, with no test required.
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My PTE is 48. Which PTE accepted universities in Singapore can I apply to?
At 48 you clear Curtin College diploma entry, SIM Global Education diploma entry and James Cook University Singapore's foundation program, all of which articulate into full degrees. You do not clear NTU at 55 or NUS at 62. Consider whether a diploma pathway or a targeted retake better fits your timeline.
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How long is a PTE score valid for a Singapore application?
Two years at NTU, SMU, SUTD and SUSS. SIM Global Education requires the score to be under two years old at the point of enrolment rather than application, which is a slightly tighter window. For a March 2027 deadline, a test sat before March 2025 will not be accepted.
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Do CBSE and ISC students need PTE at all?
Often not. NTU requires an English test only where English was not the medium of instruction. Curtin Singapore accepts 60% in the English subject on an ISC or All India Senior School Certificate as proof of English proficiency. SMU is the notable exception and requires one standardised test from all international qualification applicants.
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What PTE score does NTU require?
NTU requires PTE Academic at a minimum overall score of 55 with speaking at 55, and only considers scores from the two years leading up to the application deadline. NTU also states that if English was your medium of instruction, taking an English proficiency test will not improve your admission chances.
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Is PTE required for a Singapore Student's Pass?
No. Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority does not set an English test requirement for the Student's Pass. Your PTE score is part of your university application, not your visa application. Once a university issues an offer, the Student's Pass process assesses your admission, finances and medical clearance instead.
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Can I study in Singapore without IELTS using PTE?
For most institutions, yes. PTE Academic substitutes for IELTS at NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SUSS, JCU Singapore, Curtin Singapore, SIM Global Education and LASALLE. The exception is Singapore Institute of Technology, whose published table lists IELTS Academic 6.5 and TOEFL iBT 90 but not PTE.
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What is the minimum PTE score for Singapore universities?
It ranges from 42 to 76 depending on the institution and program. SIM Global Education accepts 42 for diploma entry, NTU requires 55, SUSS 58, NUS 62, and SMU 66 for most programs and 76 for Law. There is no single national minimum, and component floors often matter as much as the overall score.
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Does NUS accept PTE Academic?
Yes. NUS accepts both PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online at 62 overall, with 62 required in the reading and writing components separately. A score of 62 overall with reading at 58 does not meet the requirement. Scores must be obtained within two years of the application deadline.
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