Working While Studying in Singapore

Singapore is a popular study-abroad destination. It has branches of over 16 prestigious international university chapters, it is also home to many top public and private universities. Studying in Singapore is an option for international students because of the country's leading educational standards, research opportunities, and extremely high standard of living. But it has the reputation of being one of the costliest cities in the world and international students constantly look for ways to cut their costs or find ways to meet part of their expenses by working while studying in Singapore.
Can I work and study in Singapore? Yes, the good news is that it is possible to work while studying in Singapore. With a Singapore student visa, part-time work can be done by international students to support their education expenses and gain work experience. Read the article to learn about the working hours and opportunities for part-time jobs in Singapore for international students.
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Eligibility to Work While Studying in Singapore

Many candidates have doubts like "Can students work in Singapore?". Yes, students are allowed to work part-time for 16 hours per week while their course is on and full-time during their vacations. There are certain pre-conditions if students want to work and study in Singapore. These include:

• They must be registered as full-time students in an approved college/university.

• They must have a valid Student Pass issued by the ICA.

However, students studying in an institution that is not on the list of approved institutions or have come to Singapore as an exchange student are not eligible to work either part-time or full-time.

If you wish to work for more than 16 hours in a part-time job during your studies, then you must apply for a special work permit.

Advantages of Working in Singapore During Your Studies

• You can meet part of the cost of studying in the country and contribute to the expenses.

• With the work experience you will gain during your studies, you will have a better chance of being employed after you gain your degree.

• You will find it easy to adapt to the workplace because you are used to the pressure of a work environment

• You will get to learn valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving, time management, and teamwork.

• It will allow you to interact with the local people.

Work Opportunities While Studying in Singapore

As we mentioned earlier, international students can work in part-time jobs during their course and full-time during their vacations. These part-time jobs in Singapore for international students will include internships related to the course and freelance work.

Some of the options for students to work and study in Singapore include working as data-entry operators, working in restaurants as an assistant to the chef, or as a waiter/ waitress. International students with knowledge of various languages can even work as freelance translators.

You can even work at your university as a library assistant. You can even opt for freelance or work-from-home jobs as a graphic designer, programmer, or digital artist for working while studying in Singapore.

Can I work while studying in Singapore?

Yes, Singapore is one of the most preferred work destinations among students who want to do part-time jobs while studying in Singapore. The average monthly income in Singapore ranges between USD 1,000 and USD 2,500 per month. The amount of earnings is dependent on the type of job and work hours. The Singapore government is prioritising the hiring of locals and permanent residents. However, international students can also work while studying in Singapore depending on their degree, field of study, work experience, and language skills.

Internship Opportunities

International students working while studying abroad in Singapore can make use of internship opportunities in significant industrial sectors in Singapore such as travel and tourism, banking and finance, and supply chain and logistics.

You can even apply for summer internship programmes offered by specific universities to study and work in Singapore. Make use of the opportunity if your university offers an internship programme. These are some of the options for study and work in Singapore for foreigners.

Payment for Jobs While Studying in Singapore

The payment for student jobs depends upon the nature of your work. You can also count the additional benefits you will get by working such as free food if you work in restaurants or discount coupons on groceries if you work at a local supermarket.

Work Opportunities After Studies

As for work opportunities after studying in Singapore, you have better chances of getting a job if your study program includes an internship. These internship programmes are usually of two to three months duration. If the employer is impressed with your skills during an internship, they may offer you a full-time job once you finish your graduation. In such a case, you can continue to stay in Singapore after your studies with the relevant employment pass.

The part-time jobs you can do while studying in Singapore will help you get an income but this alone is not enough to meet your living expenses. However, it is an opportunity to gain professional experience. A part-time job can also help you get a job in Singapore after your graduation.

Post-study work visa in Singapore

Once the student has completed their studies in Singapore and wants to stay and work for a long time. Then, they have to apply for a post-study work visa in Singapore. There are different types of work visas available for international students. To know the details, check the following:

Long-Term Visit Pass: International students who have completed their educational degree from the Institutes of Higher Learning in Singapore are eligible for the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). Students need to submit a non-refundable fee of SGD 30 and once the LTVP is approved by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), an additional fee will be charged. Fees can be submitted through one of the following:

• Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card

• American Express (AMEX) credit card

• Internet Direct Debit (Citibank, DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank Internet accounts in Singapore) or,

• PayNow

The approval process for the long-term visit pass can be done within six weeks. The LTVP is valid for two years from the date of approval. International applicants can renew their pass at least 4 months before the expiration date of the pass. After February 27, 2023, a digital Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) will be issued in place of a physical LTVP card, which can be checked directly through the Singpass app or downloaded from the MyICA or FileSG website in PDF or OA format.

There are other passes also available for employment purposes that need to be registered with the Ministry of Manpower:

Employment Pass: international candidates can only access the Employment Pass if they have been offered a job with a fixed salary of more than SGD 5,000, whereas, for the financial service sector, the salary should be SGD 5,500.

Moreover, the application for a pass is only made by either an employer or an appointed employment agent on behalf of the candidate. The validity of the first pass is up to two years and for a renewed pass, it will be for up to 3 years. From January 1, 2025, the Employment Pass qualifying salary for new applications will be revised to $5,600 and for the financial services sector, it will be at least USD 6,200.

S Pass: The S Pass is offered to skilled workers, Associate Professionals and Technicians (APTs). The candidate or employee needs to earn a minimum of SGD 3,150 to be considered for S Pass and for financial services, it should be a minimum of SGD 3,650.

Only the employer or appointed employment agent can apply for the pass on behalf of the applicant. The validity of the S pass is two years and the same can be renewed later. From 1 Sep 2025, and for renewals from 1 Sep 2026, the minimum salary should be SGD 3,300 and SGD 3,800 for the financial service sector.

EntrePass: Eligible international graduates who wish to start or operate a business in Singapore that reflects innovation can apply for this pass. The candidates can apply directly for this pass and there is no minimum salary requirement to avail of the Entrepass. The validity of the first-time pass is up to one year, and for a renewed pass, it will be for up to 2 years.

EntrePass is for international entrepreneurs who want to start and operate their business in Singapore that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies

Also read:

• Top universities in Singapore
• Study in Singapore