Singapore Citizens/Singapore Permanent Residents with International Qualifications

Applicants are required to meet the Mother Tongue Language (MTL) requirement as set by the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE). The Mother Tongue Language (MTL) requirement can be met by having one of the following:

• Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level: Minimum of ‘D7’ grade for Higher MTL (IGCSE MTL First Language examination does not fulfil the requirement)
• Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level:
  
  • Minimum of ‘S’ grade for H1 MTL, H1 General Studies in Chinese or H2 MTL Language & Literature
  • Pass in MTL Syllabus B paper

• Pass MTL-in-lieu subject approved by MOE at the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level/ A-Level
• Exemption from MTL approved by MOE

Submission of the official MTL examination results slip/transcript/exemption approval is required for the University to review your fulfilment of the MTL requirement.

Applicants who have been away from Singapore’s school system for some years and not kept up with the study of their MTL or a language that can be offered as MTL subject-in-lieu may apply for MTL exemption.

The MTL exemption application will be facilitated by the University as part of the application, and results will be made known to applicants who receive admission offer from NUS. MOE does not accept direct applications for MTL exemption. The application for MTL exemption will not prejudice the evaluation of the application for a place in the university.

Applicants unable to fulfil the MTL requirement but satisfy all other admission requirements may apply for admission with no prejudice to their application. Successful applicants will be admitted on a provisional basis. They are required to fulfil the MTL requirement, by attaining the minimum grade listed above, during their course of undergraduate studies in order to graduate from NUS.