Explore universities in East & Southeast Asia: profiles, rankings where available, the entrance tests they accept, and how to apply — each linked to its official source.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a comprehensive public research university in Singapore, with institutional origins tracing back to a medical school founded in 1905. It offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programmes across disciplines such as engineering, computing, medicine, business, law and the sciences, with English as the medium of instruction. Its main campus is at Kent Ridge in Singapore.
SAT / ACTA-Levels / IB Diploma (or equivalent national qualification)TOEFL / IELTS (English proficiency)
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a public research university in Hong Kong and the territory's oldest higher-education institution, established in 1911. English is the main medium of instruction, and it offers programmes across faculties including medicine, dentistry, law, business and economics, engineering, architecture, arts and the sciences. HKU enrolls students at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels and accepts applications from international students, who should verify current entry requirements, fees and deadlines on the official website.
International qualifications — A-Levels / IB Diploma / SAT or ACT (or recognised national school-leaving results)IELTS / TOEFL (English-language proficiency)
Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) is a public research university based in Singapore, with its main campus in the western part of the island. It offers programmes across engineering, business, science, humanities, art, design and media, and medicine, and teaches primarily in English. International students apply directly to the university, which considers a range of school-leaving qualifications alongside English-proficiency evidence.
Peking University is a comprehensive public research university in Beijing, China, established in 1898. It offers programs spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business, and medicine, with a range of degree programs and courses taught in English for international students. International applicants apply through the university's International Students Division and are assessed on academic records together with Chinese (HSK) or English (TOEFL/IELTS) language proficiency, depending on each program's language of instruction.
Application review of academic transcripts and documentsHSK (Chinese-language proficiency, for Chinese-taught programs)TOEFL / IELTS (English-language proficiency, for English-taught programs)
Tsinghua University is a public research university located in Beijing, China, established in 1911. It offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs across fields such as engineering, computer science, architecture, natural sciences, economics and management, with a number of degree programs taught in English for international students. International applicants apply directly through the university's own online application system; prospective students should verify current programs, eligibility and deadlines on the official admissions website.
High-school qualification + university's own entrance test / interview (via the Tsinghua Online Application System)Language proficiency: IELTS / TOEFL for English-taught programs, or HSK for Chinese-taught programsVerify current requirements on the official admissions website
The University of Tokyo is a national research university located in Tokyo, Japan, established in 1877 as the nation's first modern university. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across fields such as engineering, science, medicine, law, economics and the humanities. Instruction is primarily in Japanese, with a selection of English-medium programs available to international students; applicants should verify current courses, fees and requirements on the official website.
English-medium undergraduate (e.g. PEAK / Global Science Course): SAT / ACT or equivalent + English proficiency (TOEFL / IELTS)Japanese-taught undergraduate: EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) + the university's own entrance examinationGraduate programs: academic transcripts + English proficiency (TOEFL / IELTS); some fields may require GRE — check each graduate school
Seoul National University is a national research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1946. It offers undergraduate, master's, doctoral and professional programs across fields including engineering, the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, business and medicine. Most courses are taught in Korean with a selection of English-taught courses, and international applicants must demonstrate Korean (TOPIK) or English (TOEFL/IELTS) proficiency; verify current requirements on the official website before applying.
TOPIK (Korean) or TOEFL iBT / IELTS (English) language proficiencyHigh school diploma + academic transcripts (undergraduate); prior degree for graduate entryStatement of purpose + letters of recommendation
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), established in 1991, is a research university in Hong Kong organised into Schools of Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science, and Medicine, alongside an Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies. English is the medium of instruction, and it offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes to students from Hong Kong and internationally. Admission requirements and fees vary by programme — verify current details on the official HKUST website before applying.
International qualifications — e.g. GCE A-Levels / IB Diploma / SAT with AP / other recognised national examsEnglish proficiency — TOEFL or IELTSPostgraduate entry — GRE / GMAT where required, plus English proficiency
National Taiwan University (NTU) is a public research university in Taipei, established in 1928. It is one of Taiwan's most comprehensive universities, with colleges spanning liberal arts, science, medicine, engineering, law, management, public health, bioresources and agriculture, and electrical engineering and computer science, offered at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. NTU admits international students through direct application and provides a range of English-taught degree programs alongside its Chinese-taught curriculum.
Direct international application (academic transcripts + supporting documents)English proficiency: TOEFL / IELTS (for English-taught programs)Chinese proficiency: TOCFL (for Chinese-taught programs)
Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya) is a public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is the country's oldest university. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across fields such as medicine, engineering, law, business and the sciences, and enrolls both Malaysian and international students. Admission requirements, tuition fees and application deadlines vary by programme and should be verified on the official university website.
Recognized pre-university qualification (A-Levels / STPM / IB / UEC / recognized foundation or matriculation)English proficiency test (IELTS / TOEFL / MUET)Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution (for postgraduate entry)
Kyoto University is a national research university in Kyoto, Japan, founded in 1897 as the country's second imperial university. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes across the humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences, with selected English-taught pathways such as the Kyoto iUP that do not require prior Japanese proficiency. International applicants should confirm current eligibility, deadlines, tuition, and entrance requirements on the official university website before applying.
EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) / SAT / standardized tests, per programmeTOEFL / IELTS (English proficiency)Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) for Japanese-taught programmes
KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is a national research university in Daejeon, South Korea, founded in 1971 as the country's first research-focused institution for science and engineering. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across fields such as electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical and aerospace engineering, the natural sciences, and technology management, with many courses taught in English. International students apply directly through KAIST's online application system and are assessed on academic records, English proficiency and, for undergraduate entry, standardized test results.
English proficiency: TOEFL / IELTS (or TEPS / TOEIC)Undergraduate: SAT / ACT / AP / IB standardized test scores (submitted where available/required)Graduate: application with academic transcripts and recommendation letters (English proficiency required)
Osaka University (officially The University of Osaka) is a national research university in Osaka, Japan, established in 1931. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs across fields such as medicine, engineering, science, and the humanities, with campuses in Suita, Toyonaka, and Minoh. The university admits international students through both Japanese-taught pathways and a selection of English-taught degree programs.
EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)SAT / IB Diploma / GCE A-Levels (for English-taught degree programs)TOEFL / IELTS (English proficiency)
Chulalongkorn University is a public research university in Bangkok, Thailand, and the country's oldest institution of higher education, established in 1917. It offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs across faculties spanning engineering, medicine, science, arts, law and business, including a range of international (English-taught) programs open to overseas students. Admission requirements, English-proficiency thresholds and tuition for international applicants are set by each individual program and should be verified on the official university website.
English proficiency: IELTS / TOEFLSAT (required by many international undergraduate programs)High school transcripts / diploma (undergraduate); bachelor's degree + transcripts (graduate)
The University of the Philippines is the country's national university, a public research university system whose flagship campus is in Diliman, Quezon City. Established in 1908, it offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across fields such as the sciences, engineering, medicine, law, business, and the arts. International applicants may seek admission through the UPCAT entrance test or by presenting recognized international qualifications, with instruction delivered primarily in English.
UPCAT (UP College Admission Test)International qualifications route: SAT / GCE O & A-Levels / IB DiplomaTOEFL or equivalent English proficiency (non-native English speakers)
Singapore Management University (SMU), established in 2000, is a publicly funded university in central Singapore known for its interactive, seminar-style teaching and its focus on business, economics, law, computing and the social sciences. It is organised into several specialist schools and colleges and describes itself as a research-intensive institution addressing Asian issues of global relevance. Programmes are taught in English, and international applicants apply directly through the university's admissions portals.
High-school qualification (Singapore-Cambridge A-Levels / IB Diploma / SAT / recognised national qualifications)English proficiency (TOEFL / IELTS) where required
Planning your application to East & Southeast Asia?
See the full East & Southeast Asia overview — application platform, intakes, costs and visa facts — or ask GSB AI for tailored guidance.