Career·East & Southeast Asia· 8 min read

Part-Time and Working-Adult Degrees in Singapore

Earning a degree while working in Singapore — flexible, modular and evening options at SUSS and private institutions, plus the visa and study-mode facts.

Last updated 12 July 2026

Key facts

What it is: Earning a degree part-time while working
Main providers: SUSS and private education institutions (PEIs)
Formats: Flexible, modular or evening; over several years
Admission: May consider work experience — set per programme
Student's Pass: Generally full-time only — part-time usually doesn't qualify
Verify: Programme details with the provider; pass rules on ICA/MOM

Studying for a degree while working

Singapore has a strong ecosystem for adult learners who want to earn a degree without stopping work. Options include flexible, modular and evening programmes where you take classes part-time and accumulate credits over several years, fitting study around a job.

These programmes are offered mainly by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and by private education institutions (PEIs) delivering partner-university degrees. Read each provider's part-time programme pages to see the pace, schedule and total duration.

Where to find part-time and modular degrees

SUSS is well known for flexible, modular degrees aimed at working adults, alongside its full-time track. Several PEIs also run part-time and evening degrees awarded by overseas partner universities, and some autonomous universities offer selected part-time or continuing-education programmes.

Because format and recognition vary, confirm the awarding university, schedule and whether the programme suits your goals on official sources. For PEIs, also check registration and EduTrust status.

Who is eligible

Part-time and working-adult programmes often welcome mature applicants and may consider relevant work experience alongside formal qualifications, sometimes through aptitude-based admission. Entry routes differ from the standard school-leaver track.

Each programme sets its own eligibility, so check whether your qualifications, experience and any English-proficiency requirements (such as IELTS or TOEFL) meet the criteria on the provider's official site.

Visa and study-mode facts for international students

Study mode matters for international students. Singapore's Student's Pass, issued by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), is generally for full-time study, so part-time or modular study usually does not qualify for a Student's Pass on its own.

In practice, international students studying part-time are often already in Singapore on another pass — for example a work pass administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — and study around their employment. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify the current pass and study-mode rules on the official ICA and MOM sites before making plans.

How this differs from the part-time work-rules guide

This guide is about earning a degree part-time while working, whereas our separate guide on part-time work rules explains how many hours a full-time international student may work during their studies. They cover different situations, so use whichever fits yours.

Whatever your route, confirm the programme details with the provider and the visa and pass rules on the official ICA and MOM sites, since both change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do a degree part-time while working in Singapore?

Yes. SUSS and several private institutions offer flexible, modular or evening degrees built for working adults, taken over several years around a job. Confirm the schedule and awarding university on the provider's official site.

Can an international student get a Student's Pass for a part-time degree?

Generally no. The Student's Pass is for full-time study, so part-time or modular study usually doesn't qualify on its own. Part-time students are often already on another pass — verify current rules on the official ICA and MOM sites.

Which institutions offer working-adult degrees?

SUSS is well known for flexible modular degrees, and various PEIs run part-time evening degrees awarded by overseas partners. Some autonomous universities offer selected part-time programmes. Confirm details on official sources.

Do part-time degrees accept work experience for admission?

Many do — mature-applicant and aptitude-based routes may consider relevant experience alongside qualifications. Eligibility is set per programme, so check the criteria on the provider's official site.

Is this the same as the part-time work-rules guide?

No. This guide covers earning a degree part-time, while the work-rules guide covers how many hours a full-time student may work. Use whichever matches your situation and verify on official sources.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Singapore University of Social Sciences — official homepage; ICA Singapore — Student's Pass; Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore — passes and permits; SWDA (Skills and Workforce Development Agency) — Private Education Resources (choosing & checking a PEI).

Last verified: 12 July 2026.