student credit card singapore

6 Best Options for Student Credit Card Singapore 2023

Being a student in Singapore isn’t cheap – particularly for those who don’t have a regular pay check coming in. Student credit cards can give students a much-needed financial boost. They act as a safety net whenever you need extra cash and also boast a ton of great benefits you might not see with other credit and debit cards.

Unlike regular credit cards in Singapore, most student credit cards will have low annual fees, no minimum income requirement, and a low credit limit. More often than not, a student credit card will also offer cashback, rebates or reward points on online shopping and other types of transactions – enabling you to take advantage of useful discounts on everyday spending.

But which banks offer the best student credit cards? And how do you determine which student credit card is right for you? In this article, Instant Loan reveals everything you need to know about student credit cards in Singapore.

6 Best Student Credit Cards

Close-up images of multiple credit card

 The best student credit cards in Singapore should offer low annual fees, a realistic credit limit and attractive cash rebates or reward points earning potential for regular credit cards users. 

Let’s compare some of the best credit cards in Singapore that students – and sometimes also salaried employees – can apply for in Singapore right now:

 

Student Credit Card Type

 

Top Benefits and Rewards

 

Annual Fee Credit Limit Eligibility Requirements Eligible Schools Minimum Income Requirement
DBS Live Fresh Student Card

 

Cardholders earn rebates of up to 5% when spending with their favourite brands

 

Additional 5% cashback available on eligible “green” spending

 

$192.60

 

Five-year fee waiver available

 

$500 Must be 18 to 27 years old

 

Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

 

 

Eligible schools are limited to NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SUSS, SIT, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic

 

N/A
Maybank eVibes Card

 

1% cashback on all spending with no minimum spend requirement $5 quarterly fee only

 

Two-year quarterly fee waiver available

 

$500 Must be 18 to 30 years old

 

Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

Eligible schools are limited to NUS, NTU, SUSS, SMU, NP, SP, NYP, TP, RP, NAFA, LASALLE, NIE, SUTD, SIT and NSF

 

N/A
CIMB Student Credit Card – CIMB AWSM Card Every CIMB credit card holder can get unlimited 1% cashback on dining entertainment online shopping

 

Access CIMB deals and discounts across retail, lifestyle and dining, too

 

N/A $500 Must be 18 to 29 years old

 

Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

 

All schools (or NSF) deemed eligible N/A for student credit card applicants

 

$18,000 minimum income per annum for low income working adults

Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Student Credit Card

 

Earn a flat 0.25% maximum cashback rate on all spending $32.10

 

One-year annual fee waiver available

 

$500 Must be 18 to 32 years old to apply

 

Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

 

Eligible schools include NTU, NUS, SMU, SIM, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Asia Campus, SP, NP, TP, NYP, RP, INSEAD, LASALLE-SIA and NAFA

 

N/A for student credit card applicants

 

$18,000 minimum income per annum for low income working adults

Citibank Clear Card

 

Earn Citi reward points at a rate of 1x reward point for every $1 spend

 

Get dining, fashion, lifestyle and travel exclusives with associated retailers

 

$29.96

 

One-year annual fee waiver available

 

N/A Must be at least 18 years old to apply Must be a student of NTU, NUS, SMU, SIM, SUTD, SIT, SUSS, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, DigiPen, ESSEC, GIST-TUM Asia, INSEAD, Tisch, UNLV, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, LASALLE-SIA, NAFA, EDHEC Risk Institute and Sorbonne-Assas International Law School or S P Jain

 

N/A
BOC Student Credit Card Qoo10 Platinum Mastercard

 

Earn rebates via Qmoney with a minimum spending requirement of $200

 

Get 10% rebates on public transport, 3% on Grab taxis, dining and online spending (limited to Qmoney account)

 

$32.10

 

One-year waiver of annual fees available

 

$500 Must be over 18 years old N/A N/A for student credit card applicants

 

$18,000 minimum income per annum for working adults

 

 

 

Student Credit Cards in Closer Detail

Let’s dive a little deeper into the pros and cons of each of these popular credit card options for students:

DBS Live Fresh Student Card – Best for Dining Out

The DBS Live Fresh Student Credit Card frequently tops lists of the best student credit cards in Singapore. With a five-year annual fee waiver, rebate potential of up to 5% and additional cashback on “green” purchases, it’s easy to see why. DBS Live Fresh Card holders can also potentially get a Carbon Zero Bike worth $1,500 as part of the bank’s latest sign up bonus. 

That said, the limited eligible school requirements mean not all students will be able to apply for this amazing card.

Maybank eVibes Card – Best for Broad Cash Rebates

This flagship Maybank student credit card is excellent for students who want to earn quick-and-easy cashback on all kinds of spend. Sure, the 1% cashback rate isn’t massively competitive, but you do get a two-year waiver of quarterly service fees, very loose eligibility requirements and an awesome sign up bonus – which right now comes in the form of $50 cashback when you spend $150 in two months.

CIMB AWSM Card – Best for Special Deals and Discounts

Payment for goods by credit card via smartphone.

CIMB offers one of the most accessible student cards in our comparison, with the bank’s popular AWSM Card available to all students and NSFs, as well as any working adults who are able to hit that $18,000 minimum income requirement. Cashback potential is broad and competitive in terms of spending categories, and you can access CIMB deals of all kinds, too. 

That said, other cards out there seem to be offering a lot more than 1% rebates – particularly across categories such as dining out.

Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card – Best for Easy Cashback

A Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Card will get you nice-and-easy cashback across all kinds of purchases, but your rebates will be coming in at a measly 0.25%. 

That said, this bank has an amazing reputation, both working adults and students can quickly and easily apply, and the complete lack of spending category restrictions makes earning cashback with this card incredibly straightforward. A great choice for no-nonsense rewards.

Citibank Clear Card – Best for Racking Up Rewards Points

Many moons ago the Citibank Clear Card had a top-tier reputation on account of the 10% rebates cardholders used to get at Starbucks. This card has undergone something of revamp more recently, and customers are now limited to earning Citi ThankYou Points at a rate of 1 Point per $1 spend instead. 

If rewards points are your thing, the Citibank Clear Card is the perfect choice for you, but cashback-oriented cardholders might not be so well-suited. It’s also worth noting that the loose eligibility criteria for this card makes it super-accessible.

BOC Qoo10 Platinum Mastercard – Best for Qmoney Earnings

BOC’s Platinum Mastercard looks amazing at first glance, offering generous rebates of up to 10% on predefined spending categories so long as you hit a $200 minimum spend each calendar month. 

That said, all cashback earned with your Platinum Mastercard winds up locked in a Qmoney Qoo10 account – which definitely won’t suit everyone. If you’re a Qmoney regular, however, this card has some superb earning potential and a great annual fee waiver.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Best Student Credit Cards

Let’s take a brief look at some of the top most commonly asked questions about student credit cards in Singapore:

Which Student Credit Card Singapore is Best?

This will always be dependent on what exactly you are looking to get out of your student credit card. The DBS Live Fresh Student Card is perfect for students who spend big on top brands, but the Standard Chartered Manhattan Card might be a better fit for cardholders who just want to earn no-frills cashback on all purchases.

That said, both the Maybank eVibes Card and the CIMB AWSM Card offer significantly better cashback rates to eligible students who spend frequently in the right categories. 

Can I Get a Student Credit Card?

Pretty much anyone can get a student card in Singapore, so long as they are able to meet the relevant eligibility criteria. Some of the best credit cards are sadly only available to existing students of certain eligible schools, while other student credit products may require you to be under a certain age limit and/or meet a minimum income threshold before you can apply.

One of Instant Loan’s top financial tips is to compare the market to determine which cards out there will best meet your needs.

Which Student Credit Cards are Best for Students?

If you want to rack up reward points to redeem for regional promotions and benefits, the Citi Clear Card is the way to go, but students who enjoy dining entertainment online shopping might benefit more from a CIMB AWSM Card. This is particularly true if earning actual cashback rather than points is important to you.

The Live Fresh Student Card from DBS and the Platinum Mastercard from BOC are also fantastic options for students who love shopping with brands, taxi companies and online.

Can an International Student Get a Credit Card in Singapore?

Different student credit and debit cards in Singapore will always have different eligibility criteria. You should check the terms and conditions of any desired credit card with your preferred bank before applying.

The majority of credit cards in our comparison are currently only available to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, but this is a city-state built on the financial sector, meaning there will always be other options available to you. 

Can I Get a Fresh Student Card if I Lose My Old One?

Most major banks and student credit card providers make it real easy for you to request a new credit card if you lose or misplace your existing one. This can usually be requested via your bank accounts website or app – and you can typically expect to wait an average of five to seven days for your new card to arrive in the mail.

Should Students Apply for Credit Cards?

We all have our own very different financial circumstances and spending habits, and whether or not to apply for a student credit card will always be a highly personal decision.

If you want to earn rebates, rewards points or cashback on purchases while having a financial safety net to fall back on whenever student life gets a little too expensive, a student credit card is probably well-suited to you. However, if you just need to borrow some money to put toward one or more specific purchases or debts, personal loans, home loans and other financial products might be a better fit.

What Credit Limit Will I Get with Student Credit Cards?

It’s no secret that, unlike regular credit cards, student credit and debit cards tend to have a relatively low credit limit. Most student cards on the market right now have their standard credit limit set at $500 – and some even offer temporary annual fee waivers and other great benefits to draw in new customers.

What Other Financial Tips Should Students Be Aware Of?

There are tons of ways students can save money and be more finance-conscious, particularly when starting a new semester. For example, Instant Loan would recommend borrowing books from your library instead of buying them, using campus WiFi instead of your own mobile data and double-checking your eligibility for bursaries. You can also consider credit cards and loans should you need a financial boost.

Final Word – Which Are the Best Student Credit Cards in Singapore?

 With so many amazing credit card options for students on the market right now, it can be difficult to decide which one is the best for you. When all is said and done, the best student card for one student will vary rarely be an ideal fit for the next – as the perks and benefits on offer with each card can differ considerably. To pin down your perfect student credit product, don’t forget to:

  • Compare the market to see which credit cards offer the most appropriate perks for someone with your spending habits
  • Double-check the bank accounts eligibility criteria, minimum income terms, credit limit and minimum spend to ensure you are happy with them before you apply
  • Make sure your university or place of study is included in the bank or credit card provider’s list of eligible schools

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