JCU Singapore Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

Fully owned by the James Cook University, Australia, the Singapore campus of James Cook University was established in 2003 in a bid to internationalise its activities. The Singapore campus offers university-level study programmes across areas such as Business, IT, Science, Accounting, Commerce, Psychology, and more. Awarded the EduTrust Star, the university also has the highest level of quality assurance among its counterparts in Singapore, enabling it to combine Higher Degree Research (Masters of Philosophy & Doctor of Philosophy) and pre-university level courses. This arrangement helps students unable to meet university entrance standards secure admission and acquire degrees. All JCU degrees are globally recognised and students from over 45 countries flock to Singapore to study here. The student/faculty ratio is 36:1 with an employment rate of 55.3% of graduating students.

Courses Offered

What all courses are available to international students?

James Cook University, Singapore, offers various courses and degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It runs four courses under its pathway programmes, 27 undergraduate majors, 20 postgraduate majors, 6 doctoral research degrees, and 2 joint degrees for domestic and international students. Some popular majors offered at JCU, Singapore include Psychology, IT, Hospitality & Tourism, Finance, Business, Cybersecurity, Games Design and Marketing, among others. 

Eligibility & Documents Required

What are the eligibility requirements?

JCU Singapore has a program and country-specific requirements. General requirements include:

• Undergraduate Admissions: For a bachelor’s/undergraduate course, applicants must have completed at least 12 years of education or equivalent. They must also meet the English language proficiency requirement equivalent to IELTS 6.0 (no component should be lower than 6.0) unless specified otherwise.
• Graduate Admissions: Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree equivalent to an Australian undergraduate bachelor award. English language proficiency score equivalent to IELTS 6.5 (no component should be lower than 6.0) unless specified, is required.

 

Eligibility for Indian Students for UG Admissions

Indian students need to provide their Class 12 or Standard XII Board Examination results issued by a recognised education board such as ISC, CBSE, GCSE, or AISSCE, with an average score of 75% and a TOEFL iBT score of 94 or an equivalent score in the following exams:

English Tests Accepted	Minimum UG Score Requirement
IELTS	6.0 (No component lower than 6.0)
Pearson (PTE Academic)	52 (No component lower than 52)

The details may vary depending on the course in which an applicant has enrolled. It is advisable to check the course-wise English proficiency requirements on the university website for the courses you wish to pursue.

What all documents are needed for application?

Copies of the highest academic certificate and transcripts need to be sent to the university directly. Notarised and translated copies are required if documents are not in English. Other documents required during the application process are:

• Copy of passport
• Completed authorization form for agent submitting on behalf of the applicant, if applicable
• Recent passport photographs
• English proficiency test proof
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Resume
• Financial documents

Application & Tuition Fees

Is there any application fees?

International students are required to pay a registration fee of SGD 321. An additional fee is charged under the Fee Protection Scheme (FPS), 0.52% of the registration fee alongside a late enrolment fee (after the stipulated date but before commencement). The late enrolment fee (after commencement) is SGD 53.50. Candidates are also required to pay SGD 250 as an application fee, with an additional FPS being charged at 0.52% of the sum of all fees charged per year, subject to a minimal fee of SGD 10.70.

What is the fee structure of courses offered by the university?

The tuition fee at James Cook University, Singapore, usually varies as per course and programme. It is based on a credit points system, thus, the annual tuition fee for each course may vary. An estimated figure for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for a year is given below:

 

 

The tuition fees might be different for each programme, and it also changes for every year or term. Therefore, the students must visit the official website for accurate details on tuition fees and other expenses.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Is there any scholarship or financial aid available for international students?

The university provides two different merit scholarships to students with excellent academic records. These scholarships are applicable to both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and are offered to students based on different academic and non-academic criteria.

 

Merit Scholarships: The university offers three merit-based scholarships in the form of a rebate of 100%, 50%, and 25% for one academic year (which is equivalent to the tuition fee for a total of 8 subjects) based on various eligibility criteria. It is only available to students of the Singapore campus and can be availed by both undergraduate and postgraduate students. However, students of the following programmes are excluded from applying for this scholarship:

• Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
• Graduate Diploma of Psychology
• Master of Psychology (Clinical)
• Master of Philosophy

 

HDR Scholarships: JCU offers a range of competitive scholarships for both domestic and international students. When applying, applicants will be considered for all the scholarships they are eligible for based on academic ranking and performance, starting from the one with the highest value. These scholarships only provide rebates on the tuition fee and do not include the Student Services and Amenities Fee, relocation costs, and health insurance unless mentioned specifically.

Admission Process

When do the admissions start?

JCU offers several study periods and intakes. Applicants are encouraged to check available intakes in the Singapore campus for their preferred course (as shown below). If required, applicants can contact the university’s Admissions Office at admissions-singapore@jcu.edu.au for the application deadlines.

Study Period (SP)	Yearly Intake	Programme
Study Period 94	January	ELPP only
Study Period 95	May	ELPP only
Study Period 96	September	ELPP only
Study Period 91 & 51	March	All programmes
Study Period 92 & 52	July	All programmes
Study Period 93 & 53	November	All programs
Study Period 54	January	Executive MBA only
Study Period 55	April	Executive MBA only
Study Period 56	July	Executive MBA only
Study Period 57	September	Executive MBA only
Study Period 58	March	Master/Doctor from Psychology only
Study Period 59	July	Master/Doctor from Psychology only

 

Academic intakes at JCU usually open during March, July, and November, with additional ELPP intake during January, May, and September. In general, the tentative deadlines for each intake are:

Intakes	Study Periods (SP)	Application Deadlines
January	SP94	Mid-December
February	SP58	Late October
March	SP51, SP91	Mid-February
May	SP95	Mid to Late April
July	SP52, SP92	Mid-June
September	SP96	Mid-August
November	SP53, SP93	Early to Mid-October

JCU reserves the right to make changes to this schedule without prior notice. Check the university website for the current academic year schedule.

What is the application process?

The application process for undergraduate and postgraduate courses is pretty similar. Apart from offline application submissions, students also have the option to apply for these courses online: secure.jcu.edu.au/eStudent/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/eStudent/Default.aspx. You can follow these simple steps:

• Go to the Courses page on the JCU Singapore website. From the list of subjects/areas of study given on the website, go to the webpage of the course you want to pursue.
• In the next step, go to the preferred course page on the university’s website and fill out your personal details - name, address, phone number, disability details, citizenship, etc.
• You will need to agree to the application details and the declaration to proceed.
• Once the above steps are completed, the login ID and password will be sent to the registered email address.

To apply for the course and confirm your application to the course of your choice, you need to follow a few more steps.

Step 1: Upon successful registration, you need to choose your preferred intake.

 

 

Step 2: Provide your residential address in Singapore with other supporting documentation, such as your photograph.

 

 

Step 3: Provide documents indicating your English proficiency level and academic background.

 

 

Step 4: Apply for credit exemption while attaching subject synopsis wherever applicable.

 

 

Step 5: Provide emergency contact details.

 

 

Step 6: Provide agent or referral’s information with the Declaration by Agent and Student form.

 

 

Step 7: Fill in the Applicant Submission Declaration.

 

 

Submit your application after carefully reviewing it.

When will I hear from the university after I submit my application?

Applications are reviewed in detail by the university before confirming an applicant’s candidature. While no specific timelines are given regarding the application review timeline, you can track its status by logging in to the eStudent portal with the login credentials provided during registration. Alternatively, you can download the JCU Singapore app on iOS App Store and Android Play Store too. 

Student Diversity & Preferred Profile

What are the chances to get into this university?

If you meet the eligibility requirements and submit all documents within the deadline, your chances of getting selected are high.

How many Indian/international students are studying at the university?

The university does not disclose the exact number of international students but it has a diverse student body with students from more than 45 countries.

Part Time Work While Studying

Can I work while studying here?

Yes, James Cook University Singapore offers students (both local and international) many internship and full-time employment opportunities to fine-tune their skill set as per the industry. For this, they have signed several MOUs with companies offering internships during the final semester to local and international students. As an international student, the eligibility criteria to apply for internships with JCU hiring partners is:

1. Students must appear for an interview.
2. Students must be in Singapore.
3. Students must be in their final semester with only 1 subject remaining.
4. Students must have a Training Work Permit (Visa type) applied for and sponsored by the company and approved by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
5. Students must have passed and completed at least 23 subjects.
6. Students must be available for a minimum of 3 months.
7. In case of unsuccessful placement, students must enrol in a multidisciplinary project.

 

Visa Rules

Currently, international students can avail themselves of two types of work passes to find work and internships while studying in Singapore. They are:

• Training Employment Pass: Foreign students with training attachment as part of their course of study or earning around SGD 3000/month are eligible for this pass. They must be additionally sponsored by a Singapore-based company during this period. The validity of this pass is up to 3 months, and it is non-renewable.
• Training Work Permit: Singaporean companies hiring international students for part-time internships or jobs must apply for the Training Work Permit on their behalf. They need to pay a basic-tier, higher-skilled monthly foreign worker the wages applicable in their sector. 

Campuses & Accommodation

How many colleges and campuses does the university have?

Kames Cook University is located in Cairns, Singapore and Townsville, with study centres in Mackay, Mount Isa, Thursday Island, Atherton and Malanda. The Singapore campus is located at 149 Sims Drive in Singapore between the Kallang and Aljunied MRT stations. Spread across an area of up to 5 acres, it has the capacity to house more than 5,000 students at once. 

Is on-campus housing available?

James Cook University does not own any accommodation facilities. However, JCU collaborates with accommodation providers and other entities associated with house-hunting to help students find comfortable accommodation plus basic facilities during their stay in Singapore. Students can rent apartments, condos, serviced apartments, and other living spaces based on a co-living model.  The average expenses per month an international student will incur while studying at JCU Singapore are listed below:

Facilities	Cost/Month (in SGD)
Accommodation	550-2,000
Meals	450-600 (an average of 15-20 per meal for 3 meals a day)
Public transportation	100-150
Telecom	30-50
Personal Expenses	100-400
Train fare (Daily Average)	0.92-2.17 per trip
Taxi fare (Daily Average)	3.20 to 3.90 per trip
Bus fare (Daily Average)	0.92 - 2.17 per trip

The rates may change depending on various factors. This is an estimated budget that an international student may need to arrange to live in Singapore. It is advisable to check the expenses applicable with the relevant authorities before confirming. 

University Contact Information

Whom should I contact in case of any doubts?

Students can get in touch with the university representatives via the following means -

Address: James Cook University (Sims Drive Campus), 149 Sims Drive, Singapore - 387380

Telephone:  +65-6709-3888

E-mail: admissions-singapore@jcu.edu.au

Website: www.jcu.edu.sg/