I read the official pages below on 1 November 2026. Admissions rules change by intake, so check each page for the year you apply. This page lists no exam fees and no exam dates.
What this page covers, and what it leaves out
Two universities are covered here: the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). I read the relevant sections of both pages. I could not read the Singapore Management University (SMU) admissions page on 1 November 2026, so I have not used anything from it. Please find and read SMU's own international qualifications admissions page directly on its website.
NUS and NTU have their own pages here: NUS English requirement, NTU undergraduate scores and NTU and NIE postgraduate scores.
The two pages side by side
| SIT | SUTD | |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS score stated | IELTS (Academic) 6.5 | None stated |
| Other tests listed | TOEFL iBT 90, Cambridge O Level English (EL1119) grade C6, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | TOEFL, SAT, PTE Academic, ACT, C1 Advanced |
| Who is asked to test | Language of instruction in high school was not English, or the qualification is one the guide's Table 1 pairs with an English test | English was not the medium of instruction |
| Score age | Not stated in the guide | Only scores from the two years before applying |
SIT
SIT's undergraduate guide for international qualifications is marked as updated on 9 December 2025. It says applicants whose language of instruction in high school was not English should submit an acceptable English test score. Its table of acceptable scores gives IELTS (Academic) 6.5.
The guide does not say whether 6.5 means the overall band or each skill, and it states no validity period. I would not guess at either: confirm both on the programme page and with SIT before you book a test.
- Programme rules can be higher. The guide says some programmes have their own English requirement and that applicants must meet whichever is higher.
- A second route exists. Applicants who do not meet the requirement may be invited to take an English test run by SIT. The guide does not say how often this happens or on what basis.
- Qualifications that need a test. The guide's table pairs an English test with Gao Kao, the Vietnamese High School Graduation Examination, the Indonesian SMA exam, STPM and UEC. A-Level and some other qualifications need one only in the cases the table describes.
SUTD
SUTD's international qualifications page says an English proficiency test is compulsory for applicants whose qualification was not taught in English. It lists IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, PTE Academic, ACT and C1 Advanced as accepted.
The page states that only scores obtained in the two years leading up to the application will be considered. Its list of qualifications that must submit a test, which includes the Indonesian Ijazah SMA, Gao Kao, UEC, STPM and the Vietnam National High School Graduation Examination, is marked as not limited to those named. I found no minimum IELTS band on this page, so a number you see elsewhere is not from here.
One Skill Retake and IELTS Online
Neither page, as I read them, says anything about IELTS One Skill Retake or IELTS Online. That is not the same as accepting or refusing them. If you are thinking of a retake, ask the admissions office in writing first, and read our page on One Skill Retake for how the retake works on the provider side.
A short checklist before you book a test
- Check whether your school qualification is on the university's list.
- Read the programme page for a higher or skill-specific score.
- Count back two years from the application date for the test date.
- Choose IELTS Academic, as SIT names. For the difference, see Academic and General Training.
- Register with a test provider such as IDP or the British Council (use the Singapore IELTS page on the British Council website), and check their pages for places and format.
This is general information from the universities' own pages, not personal admissions advice. Your programme and intake decide the rule that applies to you.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Band Booster IELTS is private tutoring, not a test centre, and it cannot register you for the exam or tell you what a university will accept. Mike holds the Cambridge CELTA (July 2017), is based in Hanoi, and has 12+ years of teaching English and IELTS in Vietnam, Turkey and Iran. His own IELTS result is 8.5 in Speaking. Each lesson is one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English. He marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors and runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format. No band is promised. You can see the calendar and book, or read more about Mike.
