Get Admitted to Your Dream University – Singapore University of Technology and Design

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is a renowned university in Singapore, known for its innovative and interdisciplinary undergraduate programs. SUTD was established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2009 and is Singapore‘s fourth autonomous university. SUTD’s main campus, which opened in 2015, is located near the Changi Business Park. The university was founded with a mission to advance knowledge and nurture technically grounded leaders and innovators to serve societal needs, with a focus on Design, through an integrated multi-disciplinary curriculum and multi-disciplinary research. SUTD’s core values are Leadership, Integrity, Passion, Collaboration, and Creativity.

Programs Offered:

Graduate programs offered at SUTD are clubbed under the following areas:

• Architecture and Sustainable Design
• Computer Science and Design
• Design and Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering Product Development
• Engineering Systems and Design
• Special Programs
  • SUTD-Duke-NUS Special Track (for medicine)
  • SUTD Honors and Research Program (for engineering)
  • SUTD Technology Entrepreneurship Program (for technology)

International students targeting SUTD need to have an excellent academic profile as a prerequisite to apply to most of the programs offered here. Apart from academic preparedness, the admissions committee also considers the applicants’ qualities, passion, and aspirations. For the former, students with strong competency in Mathematics and the Sciences (specifically Physics or Chemistry) are generally preferred. For the latter, participation in co-curricular activities, accomplishments, teacher recommendations, and responses to personal insight questions are taken into consideration. All shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview to know the candidates beyond their online application.

Let us look at the key admission requirements.

Academic Requirements:

SUTD accepts a range of qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate, GCE A-levels, and national and state Boards. Students applying with predicted scores will be required to take the SUTD University Entrance Examination (UEE). The test is conducted online and is based on the GCE ‘A’ Level syllabus. It consists of:

• 4 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and 2 open-ended questions in Mathematics; and
• 4 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and 2 open-ended questions in Physics.

The duration of the test is 1 hour.

For students from IB Boards, good grades in at least three Higher Level and one Standard Level subjects as well as Theory of Knowledge (TOK) are required. While it is recommended for students to take Mathematics and a Science subject, i.e., Physics or Chemistry, at Higher Level, results in Mathematics and the Science subjects taken at Standard Level, as well as in IBDP Year 4, O-level or equivalent are also considered. Students may also be encouraged to take bridging modules before the start of the term.

SUTD does not have a minimum IB score requirement as it practices a comprehensive review of applications where it considers all academic and personal attributes to assess if the candidates are able to cope with the rigor of the program and if they will fit in well in SUTD. 

English Language Requirements:

International students whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the language by taking one of the following tests: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or SAT. There is no prescribed minimum score for any of these tests as SUTD reviews applications comprehensively based on both academic and non-academic achievements.

Portfolio and Interview:

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work and attend an interview. The personal portfolio should demonstrate the candidates’ relevant attributes and showcase accomplishments in their interest areas, such as (though not exhaustive): completing external courses or writing a research paper in their area of interest (e.g. programming/computer science), participating and winning external competitions (e.g. hackathons, IT bug bounty hunt, etc.), personal achievements (coding their own app to solve a problem, starting their own business venture, etc.) or even how they succeeded against all odds in the face of adversity.

Shortlisted candidates must appear for an online interview where their candidature can be assessed on SUTD-specific metrics.

SUTD Early Admissions and Scholarship Application (SEASA):

The SEASA is a special initiative for schools to nominate keen and passionate students in their final year of studies to apply to SUTD in advance and get an early offer of admission and scholarship ahead of their peers. Application is by invitation and nomination from the school.

Candidates applying through SEASA stand to gain in the following ways:

• Early offer:

Apply and secure an admissions offer and scholarship before everyone else.

• Guaranteed interview:

All SEASA nominees submitted by schools are interviews by the admissions committee.

• Firm offer:

Outstanding students may receive a firm offer, which secures their place at SUTD regardless of their actual results. If actual results exceed expectations, the offer may be reviewed.

• First dibs on donor scholarships:

Priority consideration for SUTD and donor-sponsored scholarships.

Key dates for SEASA are as follows:

• Registering interest: October to November
• Engage/Interview: December to January
• Offer: January to February
• Accept: March

Sessions and Deadlines:

SUTD has two admission cycles each year, and the deadlines are as follows:

Tuition Fees:

The tuition fees for international students at SUTD vary depending on the program of study. For the academic year 2022-2023, the annual tuition fees for international students were as follows:

• Architecture and Sustainable Design: S$48,650.
• Engineering Product Development: S$45,200.
• Engineering Systems and Design: S$45,200.
• Information Systems Technology and Design: S$45,200.

Scholarships:

SUTD offers various scholarships to international students to help them fund their studies. Such students should demonstrate academic excellence, leadership qualities, special talents, good moral character, and strong community spirit. These scholarships are merit-based, and the selection is highly competitive. The scholarships available for international students are as follows:

• SUTD Global Excellence Scholarship: This scholarship covers full tuition fees and provides a living allowance of S$6,000 per year.
• SUTD President’s Scholarship: This scholarship covers full tuition fees and provides a living allowance of S$6,000 per year.
• SUTD ASEAN Scholarship: This scholarship covers 75% of tuition fees and provides a living allowance of S$6,000 per year.
• SUTD Scholarship: This scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition fees.

How to Apply:

Students should apply directly to SUTD using their application portal. Students are required to submit details under the following heads:

• Personal Details
• Contact Information
• Academic Qualification
• Supplementary Results (Optional)
• Personal Insight Questions (Answer 2 out of 4 essay questions)
• Recommendation/Testimonial (Optional)
• Outstanding/Relevant Achievements (Optional)

In summary, SUTD offers a unique undergraduate education that prepares students to tackle real-world problems with an interdisciplinary approach. With world-class faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, strong industry partnerships, and global exposure, SUTD provides an excellent learning experience for students who want to make a difference in the world.