Studying abroad for either work or higher education could be pretty daunting. However, such experiences can also be incredibly rewarding. Studying abroad opens up many avenues like opportunities to meet people from around the world, explore and experience a new culture and environment, as well as learn many new things.
However, studying abroad comes with its own set of challenges, from having to adapt to a new environment, culture, and language, to homesickness, lack of social contact, and more. Most importantly, financial difficulty is something the majority of students face. This results in most international students finding work to help keep up with their finances.
Hence, working abroad as an individual student is very common, in this article you will find the 5 best countries to find work in as a Singaporean student.
What Are the Challenges Faced by Students in Finding Work Abroad?
As mentioned above, studying abroad can indeed be a productive experience, however, international students are bound to face numerous challenges along their educational journey, financial difficulties being one of them. Financial difficulties result in many international students taking up part-time jobs. While this helps greatly with relieving their financial burden, working abroad is no easy task.
Students working abroad come across many challenges like language barriers, lack of social contacts, having to adapt to a new lifestyle, culture shock, homesickness, and more. It is however possible to overcome these challenges. For instance, it is advised that you research the country you will be moving to before you move so that you will be aware of its culture and lifestyle. As for language, while it would be ideal to move to a country where English is widely spoken, it is always wise to learn the language of your destination before you go.
Best Countries for Singaporean Students to Find Work
When it comes to finding work abroad as an international student, the most frequently asked question is if you are allowed to. While there are countries that allow international students to work, there are others that either don’t allow it or come with a set of restrictions.
For instance, some countries allow you to work with a work permit, and others have a maximum number of hours a student is allowed to work for. Some of these restrictions may also differ depending on your country of origin.
Below, we have 5 best countries for Singaporean students to find work.
1. USA
Our first recommendation for countries where Singaporean an find work is the USA. The USA offers Singaporeans a unique advantage when it comes to visas and work opportunities, this comes from the friendly relations between the governments of the two countries.
Singaporean nationals are allowed to obtain the H1B1 Visa. This visa allows its holder to live and work in the US, as well as bring their families along. This is great for students looking to settle down in the US after their studies.
The average monthly living cost for an individual in the US is between USD 2,500 to USD 3,500. This amount includes accommodation, transportation, food expenses, taxes, and other additional expenses. Your expenditure also varies depending on your lifestyle choices, as well as your location.
2. Canada
Canada is known to be a great destination to immigrate to, it is also a popular destination for studying abroad among Singaporeans. The country offers quality education, as well as good work opportunities and a great quality of life. Canada being an English speaking country is also a perk for Singaporeans.
Some of the popular jobs among international students in Canada include teaching, sales representative, marketing management, law, dentistry, IT support, surgeon, engineering, and more. The monthly cost of living in Canada for a single individual is around CAD 3,422.
In addition, depending on your skill level and reason for wanting to move, Singaporean citizens can also obtain Canadian PR without much hassle. This makes Canada an excellent choice for Singaporeans looking to study and live in the country.
3. UK
The UK is a popular destination among Singaporean students, with 1000s of Singaporean students enrolling in universities in the UK each year. It is also a preferred country to immigrate to for many Singaporeans. Hence there are plenty of immigration routes available like specialist work visas, visas for global talent, and general visas.
As Singapore was a colony of the UK, there are plenty of Singaporeans with ancestors in the UK, hence it is also possible to obtain a visa depending on your UK ancestry.
The estimated cost of living in the UK for a single student ranges between GBP 2,500 to GBP 3,000. As for job opportunities, while students can go for general work opportunities like engineering, law, or business management, they could also opt for jobs specialized for Singaporeans, like jobs based on Singaporean cuisine and culture, as well as jobs based on languages spoken in Singapore like Malay, Tamil, or Singaporean Mandarin.
4. Australia
Australia is another country that is very popular among students in Singapore, with many of them moving to Australia every year to reside, study or work. Australia also offers several visa opportunities for individuals with sufficient qualifications.
There are also plenty of highly paid job opportunities in Australia for individuals who wish to stay back, having completed their studies. These include, nursing, software engineering, civil engineering, architecture, social work, and more.
The approximate living cost for an individual in Australia is AUD 1700 each month, the amount may vary depending on where you live, and your lifestyle. Singaporean students looking to find work in this country can consider more affordable cities and pursue other ways to reduce their expenses.
5. Hong Kong
The majority of Singaporeans are of Chinese descent and speak Singaporean Mandarin. Hong Kong is therefore one of those places that can be like home for most Singaporeans, with only limited language and cultural barriers.
While Singapore does offer a safe and technologically advanced background, Hong Kong offers a greater infrastructure, a growing financial industry, and an open economy. Living cost in Singapore is also 13% greater than in Hong Kong.
However, foreigners who aren’t Chinese must possess an Employment visa to be allowed to work in Hong Kong. Even though non-local students are generally not allowed to work in Hong Kong, Internships and Part-time on-campus and summer jobs are allowed.
Studying abroad is indeed an experience of a lifetime. While the experience comes with its fair share of challenges, one of the issues faced by most students out there is financial difficulties. Hence, plenty of students look for jobs, which is no easy task as most countries have various restrictions imposed on working international students. However, depending on your nationality some countries may provide better opportunities than others. Singaporean students looking for work abroad can start by going through the list above.
We hope that this article on the best countries for Singaporean students to find work will help you make a choice for where to build your career. Make sure to also check out our Scholarships Page for different information on scholarships and universities across the globe!
