How Singapore Education Works | IP Students Applying to NUS and NTU: Aptitude-Based Admissions, Interviews and Portfolios

Quick answer: An Integrated Programme (IP) student applying to a Singapore university is assessed on the final qualification and the university’s current course requirements. NUS and NTU also consider broader qualities through their holistic or aptitude-based admissions processes. This does not mean grades stop mattering or that an impressive CCA title guarantees admission. Applicants should show genuine evidence of interest, preparation, contribution and achievement relevant to the course.

NUS states that all applicants are required to list up to four achievements, co-curricular or non-academic activities and answer short-response questions as part of its holistic assessment. NTU’s aptitude-based route asks eligible applicants to describe achievements, submit short responses and provide one or two online appraisals; shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview. Exact instructions differ by qualification, programme and application year.

At a glance

Your actual A-Level, IB or NUS High qualification remains central.
NUS uses holistic assessment and requires up to four achievements plus short responses.
NTU has an aptitude-based application route for applicants with outstanding talents or achievements.
Some courses require interviews, tests, portfolios or additional evidence.
Use specific, verifiable examples; do not inflate roles, hours or outcomes.

1. IP is the pathway; the final credential is the admissions qualification

“IP student” describes a school route, not a university entrance qualification by itself. A student may finish an IP pathway with Singapore-Cambridge A-Levels, the IB Diploma or the NUS High School Diploma. NUS and NTU assess each applicant through the relevant qualification route, together with programme-specific prerequisites.

Before writing an application, identify the precise final credential, subject levels and examination session. A-Level candidates should use their actual H1/H2 subjects and results; IB candidates should list the Diploma and HL/SL subjects; NUS High students should provide the required diploma record. Never convert an internal school grade into an invented national score.

Start with NUS undergraduate admissions and NTU undergraduate admissions. Their qualification-specific application portals and dates are not necessarily identical.

2. Academic merit still matters

Holistic admission is not an alternative to academic readiness. NUS says applicants are generally expected to have good academic records and must satisfy programme prerequisites. NTU also states that aptitude applicants need a minimum level of academic competence. A strong portfolio cannot automatically overcome a missing mandatory subject or a result below a programme’s stated conditions.

Use a two-part check: first, confirm that the qualification and subject combination meet the course’s minimum requirements; second, consider what other evidence shows the applicant’s interest and readiness. If a course specifies H2 Chemistry, IB HL Chemistry or another precise level, follow that wording rather than assuming an unrelated achievement can replace it.

See NUS programme prerequisites and the course’s own admissions page.

3. What NUS means by holistic assessment

NUS explains that, besides grades, it considers factors such as an applicant’s interest, aptitude and prior preparation for the chosen degree. The university asks applicants to list up to four achievements, CCA or non-academic activities, and answer short-response questions. Examples on its guidance include academic Olympiad medals, arts or sports representation, volunteering, relevant internships, leadership outside school and creating software or an app used by others.

The examples are illustrative, not a checklist that every applicant must complete. A student applying for Computing need not manufacture a medical volunteering activity; a student applying for Music need not win a Mathematics competition. The evidence should make sense in relation to the course and the applicant’s actual experience.

Read NUS’s Aptitude-Based Admissions and holistic assessment guidance. The university may request additional information, a test or an interview for a particular faculty or programme.

4. What NTU’s aptitude-based route asks for

NTU describes aptitude-based admissions as a pathway for applicants with outstanding talent or achievements beyond ordinary school CCA participation. Applicants provide details of achievements, short responses of no more than 200 words each in the application and at least one, with a maximum of two, online appraisals. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an interview and asked for supporting documents.

This route does not mean every student needs a separate portfolio, nor does it guarantee a different academic threshold for all programmes. Check the exact course’s requirements and the current application form. Some applicants may be assessed through the standard route with broader evidence considered; others may meet the specific description of the aptitude pathway.

See NTU’s aptitude-based application guidance.

5. Choose achievements that show depth, not a long activity list

Admissions readers need to understand what the student did, how long they contributed, what responsibility they held and what changed as a result. A short description of a sustained project may communicate more than ten activities with no explanation. State the student’s role precisely: participant, organiser, team lead, designer, mentor or founder are different responsibilities.

For example, “helped with a community food collection” is a start. A stronger description explains the real contribution, such as coordinating collection schedules, checking inventory and working with an established community partner. Use numbers only when the student can verify them. Do not claim that a small school activity served hundreds of beneficiaries if no record supports the figure.

Where an achievement was collaborative, distinguish the team’s result from the applicant’s individual contribution. Honesty makes a portfolio credible.

6. Build a course-related portfolio without pretending every hobby is career preparation

Some programmes value visual work, performances, writing, design, entrepreneurial activity, code or research. A portfolio may be requested by a particular course, but it is not a universal NUS or NTU requirement. The school or faculty will specify the acceptable format, number of items, file size, authorship declaration and submission date.

Select work that demonstrates process as well as outcome. Include the problem, the student’s role, iterations, feedback and what was learned. A polished final image without context may not show whether the applicant understands the work. Never submit another person’s project, purchased work or an AI-generated artefact as an original creation.

For programmes requiring auditions, interviews or tests, follow the separate instructions. A portfolio does not substitute for a mandatory audition or subject prerequisite.

7. Interviews and tests: prepare to explain, not perform a memorised script

NUS lists several programmes for which interviews or tests are required, including Architecture, Dentistry, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Law, Medicine, Music and Nursing. NTU programmes may also have programme-specific selection steps. A student should check the exact course page because the requirements can differ between faculties and application cycles.

Prepare by understanding the course, reflecting on genuine experiences and practising clear answers to open questions. Be ready to explain an achievement, respond to a challenge and recognise what the student does not yet know. Memorised speeches can sound impressive but often fail when an interviewer asks a follow-up question.

For professional programmes, understand the responsibilities and ethical demands of the field. Do not pretend to have expertise or experience that the student does not possess.

8. How an IP student can explain research and projects

IP students may have inquiry projects, independent studies, science investigations or interdisciplinary work. Describe the question, the method, the student’s contribution, the evidence and the limitations. An admissions reader should be able to distinguish a supervised classroom assignment from a genuinely independent research project.

Do not label a short class presentation as “published research” or claim a project changed policy without evidence. Explain what was learned and what the student would investigate next. This kind of reflection shows intellectual maturity without exaggeration.

Our IP research and independent study guide provides a framework for describing inquiry honestly.

9. The role of teachers and referees

When a university requests an appraisal, reference or school report, the recommender should be someone who can verify the student’s work. Provide the deadline and relevant context early, but do not write a reference for a teacher to sign or ask them to make claims they cannot substantiate.

A useful referee can describe how the student approached difficult work, acted on feedback, contributed to a team or developed an area of strength. The student should give the referee enough time and information to respond accurately.

Check whether the university requires an online form, a school-submitted appraisal or a separate recommendation letter. These are not always interchangeable.

10. Application windows are qualification-specific

NUS and NTU publish separate application routes and dates for A-Level, IB, NUS High and international qualifications. For example, NTU’s 2027/28 admissions page lists an IB application window of 15 October 2026 to 19 March 2027 and an A-Level window beginning on the A-Level result release day and ending on 19 March 2027. NUS also lists different windows by qualification.

These examples are tied to the published 2027/28 cycle, not permanent annual dates. A student must check the live application page for their exact qualification and examination session. The school’s internal deadlines for predicted grades and transcripts can be earlier than the university’s closing date.

See NTU admissions and application windows and NUS important dates.

11. A practical application checklist

Confirm the final qualification, subject levels and course prerequisites.
Check the correct university application portal and deadline.
Select up to four or the requested number of genuine achievements where asked.
Prepare concise, evidence-based descriptions of the student’s role and learning.
Arrange school reports and appraisals early.
Prepare for any required interview, test, audition or portfolio.
Submit only accurate information and monitor the official applicant portal.

Keep copies of the application and supporting documents. If the student receives a request for clarification, respond through the official channel by the stated deadline.

12. The conclusion: let evidence tell the student’s story

IP students have many opportunities to develop academic depth, leadership, creativity and service. University applications work best when the student selects a few relevant experiences and explains them honestly. Grades and prerequisites establish academic readiness; broader evidence helps a university understand the person and their fit for a course.

Do not chase titles or invent a dramatic personal story. Show what the student actually explored, contributed, learned and can explain. That is the foundation of a credible application to NUS, NTU or another university.

Frequently asked questions

Does IP give automatic admission to NUS or NTU?

No. Applicants must meet the final qualification and programme requirements and be selected.

Does NUS consider CCA and non-academic achievements?

Yes. Its holistic assessment asks applicants to list up to four achievements or activities and answer short-response questions.

Does NTU have aptitude-based admissions?

Yes. Its route asks for achievements, short responses and one or two online appraisals; shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.

Can a portfolio replace A-Level or IB prerequisites?

No. Mandatory academic and subject requirements still apply.

Does every course require an interview?

No. Check the specific programme; some courses have interviews, tests or other selection steps.

Should students list every activity?

No. Select relevant, verifiable activities and explain the contribution.

Can students use AI to write their application?

Follow the university’s rules. The application must accurately represent the student’s own experiences and thinking.

Are NUS and NTU application deadlines the same?

No. They publish different qualification-specific windows.

Official references and update note

Reviewed 11 November 2026 against linked official guidance. This independent guide is not an admission decision or guarantee of entry, scholarship, interview or visa. Requirements and deadlines vary by university, programme, qualification and intake; verify the current official instructions before applying.