14.5 Side Hustles Ideas For Students To Earn Money In Singapore

In Singapore, side hustles have become increasingly common. Even among students.

But are we really surprised?

The cost of living is exponentially increasing, and finding a decently-paying job with no work experience is getting harder.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “how to earn a side income in Singapore?” you came to the right place.

In this article, we list the 14.5 best side hustle ideas for you to earn money in Singapore, with some even helping you accumulate invaluable work experience.

You can even earn money online from the comforts of your home doing some of these jobs.

How to earn money as a student in Singapore?

1) Start your own e-commerce business

One way to earn money from doing what you love is to start an e-commerce store based on your favourite hobbies. Tap into your existing skill sets and favourite pastimes to earn money on the side.

For example, if you're a passionate fan of Formula 1 who designs for fun, you could consider designing and selling f1 enamel pins for fellow fans to wear at races.

With many e-commerce platforms out there with low to zero listing costs, you don’t need too much capital to set up a store and reach customers. Such platforms include local marketplace Carousell where it’s free to list your products. There’s also Instagram, that’s also free if you sell via DMs, to widen your brand’s reach.

Starting your own e-commerce store will not only help you monetise your hobbies but also give you hands-on experience in marketing, sales, and customer service. These valuable skills developed while running an e-commerce store could be a valuable addition to your portfolio as a student as well.

2) Become a freelance content writer

Becoming a freelance content writer for hire is a side hustle with one of the lowest barriers to entry. This makes it a great way to earn money online and from home in Singapore.

In terms of logistics, all you really need is just good internet access and a working computer. 

With more and more businesses seeking to create an online presence, writing SEO-optimised content is becoming an increasingly valuable skill.

Some of the great places to start getting freelance gigs are freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and specialised sites like SEO Content Hero.

As with every freelance profession, you’ll have to start very small and charge a lot less for your work. You’ll need to use your pricing advantage to work with more people and collect positive reviews. Only then can you slowly build up your client base.

This is something students in Singapore can easily start as writing reports is a large part of their curriculum

3) Become a freelance copywriter

Wait, didn’t we just talk about freelance content writing? What’s the difference between content writing and copywriting?

While very similar and overlapped, the two terms mean different things in the writing world.

Content writing generally refers to writing longer-form content like blog posts and white papers.

Meanwhile, copywriting refers to jobs like ad copywriting, social media captions writing, and email copywriting. In essence, shorter form content.

As with becoming a freelance content writer, starting small on freelance platforms is always necessary beforeand working your way up from there.

4) Sell your photos to stock photo sites

If you love taking photos, then selling your photos to stock photo sites is definitely something you should consider.

But if you’re inexperienced, you can always look online for inspiration. Just Google “best photography Instagram accounts” and find the ones that truly speak to you.

Then grab your camera (or phone) and start practising.

Unsplash is a great platform for you to sell your photos to.

Some of the larger stock image sites to sell your photos include Unsplash and Pexels.

Given how Singaporean students are in touch with mobile devices with cameras these days, they have a lot of opportunity to hone their craft and turn a random hobby into a proper side hustle.

4) Provide translation services

If you Googled “how much can I make from translation services”, you may be in for a surprise.

Unsplash is a great platform for you to sell your photos to.

Based on the search results, you can earn a pretty decent side income doing so.

If you don’t wish to teach a language you already speak, pick one up!

The advantage of being in Singapore is getting exposure to many languages from locals and foreigners. Having grown up listening to and speaking several different languages, picking up a new one shouldn’t be too difficult as compared to a monolingual person. 

Perhaps you could provide Thai translation services for expats in Singapore. Or maybe you can pick up Spanish and translate content for readers of one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

6) Provide tuition classes

In 2021 alone, Singaporeans spent a whopping $1.4 billion on tuition.

This presents a large opportunity for you to make some side income.

EdTech platforms like snapask let you list yourself as an online tutor.

To start off, you can start via EdTech platforms such as snapask. 

These sites allow you to list your tuition services and how much you are charging. As with freelance writing, it’s best to start small and collect reviews before you can charge a higher rate.

7) Test websites and apps

For tech products and websites to do well, they absolutely need to prioritise user experience and become more customer-centric.

This means that they will need a steady source of people to help them test their software and website.

Is the user interface of the product intuitive? Are the buttons to complete a task on the software obvious enough for the user to find? Can the site visitor find the correct service page?

These are some questions that many companies are willing to pay money for to get answered. 

To get started, you can try out online platforms like UserTesting. This is perhaps one of the easiest side hustle ideas to try given how busy Singaporean students are. You don’t even need to invest time to learn a new skill!

8) Sell your belongings on marketplace sites

Marketplace platforms like Carousell can be a surprisingly great place to earn some side cash online.

All you need to do is to create an account, list your items, and add product descriptions and tags to the listings.

Quick tip. Carousell is no Google. But it is still a search engine in its own right.

You can still apply content SEO practices to help make your listings easier to be found by searchers on the platform. 

Some of these include having a descriptive product title and description, as well as using tags to explicitly mention the various product categories your listing may fall into.

9) Take part in paid focus groups

While we’re on the topic of providing consumer insights to companies, another way you can do so is to sign up for focus group discussions.

These happen through group interviews that are carried out by an organisation to find out more about the UI/UX aspects of their new product or product feature.

For example, a business may conduct focus group interviews to identify features consumers desire for product marketing purposes.

Some places where you can find opportunities to sign up include the Focus Group Singapore Facebook group and the Surveys & Focus Groups Telegram channel.

10) Become a freelance web designer

Okay, this is a side hustle with a little bit higher level of complexity. But, you won't regret it!

Starter brands and businesses constantly seek to gain an advantage over their competitors. Web design is surely one of the basic things they're looking to have. It's a great skill to have at this digitalized world that is quite profitable.

Being a Singapore freelance web designer surely has its own place! The learning curve may be steep but it's well worth your time.

You can get a piece of the pie by joining Facebook groups and a marketplace such as Carousell. Remember, pitching gets easier with a solid portfolio. Be sure to craft out some sites to show off your expertise!

11) Pet sitting or dog walking

If you're in bustling Singapore and adore pets, here's a fun tidbit: many pet parents are on the lookout for some helping hands. Why not step in as a pet sitter or dog walker? It's not just about earning some extra cash; it's also about enjoying some furry cuddles and wagging tails.

You don't need a fancy certificate to get started, but if you've got that special touch with animals, you're golden! If you're wondering where to begin, chat with your neighbors or check out cool platforms like Pawshake or PetBacker. They're like matchmakers, but for pets and caregivers!

The best part? This gig is super flexible, perfect for juggling with those student schedules. Plus, hanging out with pets? Instant mood booster! So, if you're looking for a side hustle that's both fun and rewarding, this might just be your calling. 🐾🐶🐱

12) Virtual assistance

In the digital age, Virtual Assistance stands out as a versatile side hustle, especially in tech-forward Singapore. A Virtual Assistant (VA) operates remotely, juggling tasks from managing emails to overseeing social media accounts, essentially acting as an online personal assistant.

While there's no strict educational background required, a VA should be tech-savvy, well-versed with tools like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, and possess strong organizational skills. Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and LinkedIn are treasure troves for budding VAs, with numerous opportunities up for grabs.

For Singaporean students, this role is a game-changer. Being a VA offer the flexibility to work around class schedules and earn money online. With the city-state's robust digital infrastructure and the global shift towards remote work, the demand for VAs is skyrocketing. It's a prime chance to earn while gaining invaluable professional experience.

13) Academic Report and Assignment Writing

In the realm of academia, Academic Report and Assignment Writing stands out as a valuable side hustle, particularly for those with a knack for scholarly writing. This role centers around aiding fellow students by crafting, refining, or reviewing their academic pieces, ensuring they align with institutional standards and academic best practices.

To excel in this job, a robust academic foundation in the relevant subjects is crucial. Beyond just writing, it's about mastering citation styles, understanding intricate assignment requirements, and consistently delivering top-tier content. Platforms like Freelancer, Upwork, and university bulletin boards often feature opportunities for academic writers, and word of mouth can also open doors in this domain.

For Singaporean students, this venture offers a dual benefit. It's a chance to monetize their academic prowess while simultaneously reinforcing their subject knowledge. Given Singapore's competitive educational landscape, there's a growing demand for such services, presenting a golden opportunity for those equipped to meet the challenge.

14) Becoming a Grab driver

Becoming a Grab Driver stands as a trendy side hustle. Grab, a premier ride-hailing service in Southeast Asia, provides a platform for individuals to earn by ferrying passengers around, offering the perk of self-set working hours. The role primarily involves navigating the city's streets, ensuring passengers have a smooth journey, and maintaining a vehicle that aligns with Grab's quality standards.

To hop on this opportunity, you'll need a valid driving license and a vehicle that meets Grab's criteria. Some additional steps might include a background check and a brief training session, all of which can be initiated via Grab's official website or app.

For Singaporean students, this gig is a gem. The flexibility it offers is perfect for weaving around academic commitments. And given Singapore's urban density and the ever-present demand for rides, there's a steady potential for income, making it a lucrative and practical choice for students eager to earn on the go.

14.5) Get an internship

Wait, what even is a 0.5 side hustle idea?

Side hustles are activities considered to be, well, on the side. This typically means that those who take up side hustles have other full-time commitments like a full-time job or school.

For an internship to be considered to be a “side hustle”, it needs to be a part-time commitment. For instance, perhaps you are only taking two modules at university and have sufficient time to take on a part-time internship.

My overseas internship with SAP Brasil was nothing short of amazing!

The benefits of both overseas and local internships cannot be understated and simply there’s no denying that internships are important. 

Not only can you earn a side income on the job, but the professional knowledge and skills you gain can help you justify charging more for other skills you may decide to do freelancing for.

Try out some of these different ways to earn money in Singapore!

We hope this list has been helpful in providing you with some side hustle ideas you can start out with.

As we’ve mentioned a few times, several of these side hustles require you to start small in order to accumulate experience and positive reviews.

These days, you can monetise practically any skill as long as there is a demand for it.

With time, patience, and practice, you can even turn your side hustles into full-time careers.