SPS Admissions 2026

SPS admissions for 2026 are open from 14 June to 22 July 2026 !

Welcome and thank you for your interest in joining SPS. Each year, we admit a small cohort of students. This limited intake is to foster a close-knit community where everyone can get to know one another, enriching the learning experience. At SPS, community truly matters.

We are looking for curious, motivated students who love science and are excited to explore new ideas and grow together. In SPS enthusiasm matters more than perfect grades.

Who Can Apply: NUS College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) students starting in AY2026/2027, or CHS Students who started in AY2025/2026 and has completed SP2271, SP2273, and SP2274.

What You Need to Do
1. Read all the information on this page.
2. Submit an application (both Form A and Form B).
3. Wait for your interview date.
4. Prepare for and attend the interview.
5. Wait for your results.
6. Let us know if you accept the offer if you are offered a place.

Important Dates:
– Application Period: 15 June — 22 July 2026
– Interview Period: 29 June — 24 July 2026

SPS uses a rolling admissions process, and offers are made progressively until all spots are filled. Applying early improves your chances.

We would like to draw your attention to the following important points:

    1. Academic Requirements: All Year 1 SPS courses have a pre-requisite of any two passes in the following A level subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics/Further Mathematics. SPS students who do not have these pre-requisites or equivalent would need to clear their respective bridging modules, leading to some variations from the SPS Workflow.
      (Note: If your primary major department grants you a waiver for your major’s bridging course, a waiver may be offered for SP2274; otherwise, you must complete the bridging course).
    2. Course Registration: If you do not hear from us before the University’s course registration exercise, please register for your courses as though you have not been accepted into SPS. Once accepted, you should bid for SP2274 via the regular course registration exercise unless it has been pre-allocated to you.
    3. Mandatory First-Semester Course: SP2274: If accepted into SPS, you must take SP2274 in your very first semester. Please plan your academic schedule around this.
 
  1. If you are not preallocated SP2274: If you are not pre-allocated these courses after having been accepted into SPS, please email SCI CourseReg Enquiry (scicr@nus.edu.sg) using your NUS email (exxxxxxx@u.nus.edu).
    They will help you to drop your pre-allocated CHS courses for the SPS equivalents and other course-related matters.
  2. Double counting: The SPS courses SP2271, SP2273, and SP2274 may be used to fulfil the CHS Writing Pillar, Digital Literacy Pillar, and Scientific Inquiry I Pillar, respectively.
  3. If you are a NUSC student: SP2273 and SP2274 can be used to triple-count and fulfil the requirements of two NUSC modules (as well as your SPS and CHS requirements). However, please note that this mapping only works if you successfully complete the entire SPS programme. Any remaining unmapped SPS courses will count towards your Unrestricted Electives (UE). For the Writing Pillar, NUSC and Residential College (RC) students must still take the writing course within their respective college/programme separately to fulfil graduation requirements. Taking SP2271 does not exempt you from your college’s writing requirement.
  • Please fill in both Application Form A and Application Form B to complete your application to SPS.
    • Form A is the main application form.
    • Form B is for uploading the following supporting documents:
      • Passport photograph (JPG/PNG)
      • Grades certificate for your degree of highest qualifications (PDF), NRIC/FIN removed or censored (you may do so via Microsoft Edge on windows or Preview on MacOS)
  • If you can only attend interviews on certain day(s), do please submit your application at least 2 days prior to your last day of availability to give us time to organise the interview session.

Each applicant is required to attend a 1-hour interview, either in person or online via Zoom. Interviews will be conducted between 29 June and 24 July 2026.

Interview Scheduling

A member of our scheduling team will contact you by email or by phone to arrange your interview. Once confirmed, interview details will be sent via email; please check your spam folder if you do not receive it by the end of the day.
Interviews will be held during working hours (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM). If you need to reschedule after receiving your interview slot, please email us at applications@sps.nus.edu.sg.

 

Interview Etiquette 

  1. Please arrive at the interview venue/ Zoom waiting room (for online interviews) at least 5 minutes before the scheduled interview is stipulated to begin.
  2. Dress appropriately. Smart casual is recommended (there is no need for a suit and tie).
  3. For online interviews, do find a quiet spot where you are unlikely to be interrupted and with stable internet connection.

 

Interview Format

– The interview will be conducted in small groups of 3–4 applicants.
– It will involve a discussion of one (or more!) of the popular science articles listed below.
– The specific article for your interview will not be revealed in advance, so please read all of them beforehand.
– The interview will assess your understanding of the article, along with your critical thinking and scientific reasoning.
– You may bring notes (written or digital) to the interview. 
– Please note the use of large language models (e.g. ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude) are not allowed during the interviews.

Articles to prepare:

  1. ‘Fullertubes’ Join the Family of Carbon Crystals
  2. Genes Have Harnessed Physics to Help Grow Living Things
  3. ‘Mind-blowing’: Iron-rich immune cells help homing pigeons navigate
  4. Chemistry Nobel Prize Honors Technique for Building Molecules

Results of the interview: All applicants will receive their results via the email address provided in the application form.