Did you know tuition fees at the University of Pennsylvania, US, cost about US$65,670 (S$83,865) per year?
And according to the QS World University Rankings 2026, UPenn ranks three spots below Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and seven spots below the National University of Singapore (NUS), where tuition fees cost just $8,300 a year for locals.
This is why I say that generally, Singaporeans are a privileged bunch when it comes to tertiary education.
Year after year, universities like NUS and NTU emerge as top universities in Asia and the world.
Both NUS and NTU rank higher than universities in China, Japan, and Hong Kong when it came to the top 10 programs according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.
However, if you’re taking charge of your Singapore university education, an important part of the discussion is how to finance your degree.
What are the options? What can you (or your parents) afford? How will you fund your studies?
Here’s a quick look at estimated course fees and funding options for Singaporeans.
1. Summary of Singapore university school fees 2026/2027
Here are the subsidised Singapore university fees at a glance (based on 2026/2027 intake fees).
For digestibility’s sake, these are approximations based on courses excluding specialised ones such as medicine, law, and dentistry, which tend to be more expensive.
| Singapore university | Estimated course fee for 2026 intake | ||
| Per annum fee | Total for a three-year course | Total for a four-year course | |
| NUS | $8,300 to $9,700 | $24,900 to $29,100 | $33,200 to $38,800 |
| NTU | $8,300 to $9,500 | $24,900 to $28,500 | $33,200 to $38,000 |
| SMU | $11,550 | $34,650 | $46,200 |
| SUTD | $13,500 | SUTD courses are generally four years | $54,000 |
| SUSS | $7,550 to $8,460 (Estimated; fees are charged per module, not per annum) | – | $30,200 to $33,840 |
| SIT | $7,860 to $9,360 (Fees are paid per trimester) | $23,580 to $28,080 | $31,440 to $37,440 |
| Lasalle | $9,830 | $29,490 | – |
| NAFA University of the Arts | $8,650 to $10,270 | $25,950 to $30,810 | – |
The prices in the table above are for Singapore Citizens-Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) and international students can expect to pay more. In particular, international students are generally looking at more than twice the fees Singaporeans pay.
Given a choice, most of us would prefer to enrol in one of these local universities.
Apart from the fact that their degrees are more recognised (at least in the Singapore workforce), the course fees are also subsidised by the Ministry of Education Tuition Grant.
The MOE Tuition Grant is automatically awarded to all Singaporean citizens, but note that you can’t use it again if you’ve already enjoyed it for a prior degree course.
For Singaporeans, the grant cuts about 50 per cent to 80 per cent off the standard course fee.
Non-Singaporeans (PRs and foreigners) can also apply for the MOE Tuition Grant. But once it’s granted, you’ll have to work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduation.
The subsidy for PRs is smaller, and the subsidy for foreigners is the smallest.
2. NUS school fees 2026/2027 intake
National University of Singapore probably needs no introduction. It’s Singapore’s flagship uni and widely regarded as the best one to get into for most degrees.
As a local uni, NUS tuition fees for undergrad courses are some of the cheapest.
The tuition fees mostly range from $8,300 to $9,700 per year, so expect to pay roughly $24,900 to $29,100 for a three-year course or $33,200 to $38,800 for a four-year one.
The prices below are for Singapore Citizens only. Singapore PRs pay about 40 per cent more at NUS.
| NUS degree programme / faculty / college | Annual fee for Singapore Citizens after MOE Tuition Grant | ||
| Per annum | Total for three years | Total for four years | |
| Business | $9,700 | $29,100 | $38,800 |
| Computing | $8,300 | $24,900 | $33,200 |
| Design and Engineering | $8,300 | $24,900 | $33,200 |
| Humanities and Sciences | $8,300 | $24,900 | $33,200 |
| Law | $12,750 | $38,250 | $51,000 |
| Nursing | $9,050 | $27,150 | $36,200 |
| Medicine | $33,200 | $96,600 | $132,800 |
Most NUS degrees take four years to complete. However, you may be able to complete it in three or 3.5 years if you plan your timetables wisely.
Some people with related diplomas from poly also get a fast track at uni and get exempted from completing certain courses.
For dentistry and medicine, NUS course fees are now $32,750 and $32,200 respectively per year.
The degree would cost from $131,000 (dentistry, four years) to $160,000 (medicine, five years).
NUS students pay fixed fees based on their cohort throughout their course, so for instance, if you enrolled in 2026, you pay the same annual tuition fee every year for the duration of your course (2026, 2027, 2028, and so on).
3. NTU school fees 2026/2027 intake
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is the second major local university in Singapore. It may not have the 100+ year history that NUS does, but NTU is the best young university in the world (i.e. under 50 years old).
Certain colleges within NTU have stellar reputation.
For instance, the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) is the place to be if you’re interested in studying communications and mass media. NTU Business School is also famous as one of the top Business schools in the world.
NTU tuition fees for undergrad courses are similar to that of NUS.
They mostly cost $8,300 to $9,500 per year, which works out to about $24,900 to $28,500 for a three-year course:
| NTU degree programme / faculty / college | Annual fee for Singapore Citizens after MOE Tuition Grant | ||
| Per annum | Total for three years | Total for four years | |
| All Programmes (except for those listed below) | $8,300 | $24,900 | $33,200 |
| Accountancy, Business, Accountancy & Business, Business & Computing, Business & Computer Engineering | $9,500 | $28,500 | $38,000 |
| Medicine | $36,100 | $108,300 | $144,400 |
| Renaissance Engineering Programme | $13,500 | $40,500 | $54,000 |
NTU has a Renaissance Engineering Programme, which is steeper at $13,500 per year, i.e. $60,750 for 4.5-year course.
As for medicine, the 5-year NTU medicine course costs $36,100 per year, making it a grand total of $180,500.
Again, these rates are for citizens. Singapore PRs pay about 40 per cent more at NTU. As with NUS, NTU students pay fixed fees throughout their course of studies based on their cohort, and will not be subject to fee increases.
4. SMU school fees 2026/2027 intake
Singapore Management University (SMU) is known for grooming outspoken graduates that end up in management roles.
Classes are arranged in small-sized seminars rather than large lecture halls, and you’ll be encouraged to speak up to participate in class.
One of SMU’s key selling points is that its campus is located right in the city centre.
But some may feel that there’s no “campus” feel to the university, since there isn’t any semblance of hostel life or university town.
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