Singapore Students Balance Studies and Work

More tertiary students take on jobs to support families amid rising costs.

For many students in Singapore, juggling school and part-time work is becoming the norm. While some seek extra pocket money, others are helping to ease their families’ financial burdens. Social service agencies are reporting an increase in students working to make ends meet.

Rising Trend of Student Workers

Amillie Chan, a 21-year-old polytechnic graduate, spent three years working at Guzman y Gomez after class, balancing up to five hours on weekdays and 12 hours on weekends with her studies at Nanyang Polytechnic. According to Allkin Singapore, applications for their Allkin ElevatED! study grant have revealed a significant increase in post-secondary students aged 17 and above who need to work, jumping from five in 2024 to 17 in 2025.

Natalie Lim, deputy director at Allkin Singapore, stated that this increase “suggests a growing trend of students having to assume financial responsibilities while pursuing their education.”

In 2023, over 70% of Singaporean students at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and about 50% in polytechnics received government bursaries. These bursaries are for students from lower- to middle-income families, with eligibility capped at monthly household incomes of $4,400 or $10,000, depending on the specific bursary.

Personal Sacrifices and Motivations

For some, like Lucas Lim, a second-year business student at Temasek Polytechnic, working part-time is a deliberate choice. He works as a retail assistant at Fairprice to support his 63-year-old father, a bus captain and the family’s sole breadwinner. Lucas, 18, said of his father: “I’ve seen him working tirelessly for his entire life. I want to be able to carry some of the burden for him.”

Yap Jie Er, a civil engineering student at Singapore Polytechnic, initially worked at Takagi Ramen for extra spending money. However, after her father’s death from cancer, it became essential to support herself and contribute to her family’s needs. “I stopped taking an allowance from my mum. Since I was earning my own money, I wanted my mum to be able to give more allowance to my three younger siblings,” said Yap, 20.

Jennifer Lau, a third-year student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, works as a retail assistant at a Lego store once a week. She also visits her father in a nursing home, limiting her available work hours.

Challenges and Trade-offs

The demands of balancing work and academics can take a toll. Yap recalls working long shifts at Takagi Ramen, which led to exhaustion and a drop in her grades. “Sometimes, when I am sleeping, I would even have dreams about working (at my job). It definitely affected my concentration in class and there’s been an obvious drop in my grades,” she said. She eventually stopped working to focus on her final year of studies, aided by financial scholarships.

For Lucas Lim, working part-time means missing out on social activities and co-curricular involvement. He laments the lack of rest and the inability to participate in sports like dragon boat and archery due to weekend work commitments.

Jennifer Lau often foregoes personal luxuries to cover essential expenses and contribute to her father’s nursing home costs. Despite these sacrifices, she acknowledges the benefits of working, noting it has improved her confidence and public speaking skills.

Expert Perspectives and Available Support

Tan Ying Yin, a psychologist at Allkin Singapore, highlights that working at a young age can provide opportunities to develop essential life skills like time management and financial responsibility. Similarly, Lucas believes his work experience has instilled discipline and a new perspective that will benefit his future.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) offers financial aid schemes, including bursaries and loans, to support students from low- to middle-income families. Additionally, family service centers and other organizations provide financial assistance to students in need. According to a recent report by Singapore Children’s Society, low-income families are struggling with basic expenses, especially food, utilities and healthcare, with some left with as little as $200 a month after paying rent (Straits Times).

Despite available aid, some students continue to work due to household income needs, ineligibility for certain assistance programs, rising living costs, cultural values discouraging reliance on parents, and the limitations of financial aid in covering all essential expenses.

Allkin Singapore’s Lim highlights the challenges faced by students balancing work and study, including academic difficulties, financial worries, and the potential for social isolation. As more students navigate these dual responsibilities, the need for comprehensive support systems becomes increasingly critical.