SkillsFuture Courses for Parents

Submitted by KiasuEditor

Want to use your SkillsFuture credits, but not sure what courses are available, or how to choose a course wisely?

Many parents in our community, including the KiasuParents team, have tapped into their SkillsFuture funds and signed up for different courses. We’re excited to share what we’ve learned with you, so read on!

How much SkillsFuture credit do I have?

Here’s a summary of the SkillsFuture credits that have been handed out to Singaporeans since 2016, when the initiative was launched:

Type	Eligibility	Credit Amount	Course Eligibility	Expiry
Base Tier: Opening SkillsFuture Credit	Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above	S$500	Can be used for all courses on the SkillsFuture portal	Does not expire
Base Tier: One-off SkillsFuture Credit Top-up in 2020	Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above as of 2020	S$500	Can be used for all courses on the SkillsFuture portal	Expires 31 Dec 2025
Additional SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career Support) in 2020	Singapore Citizens aged 40 to 60 as of 2020	S$500	Can be used for SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes	Does not expire; credit balance will be merged with SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career), see below.
Mid-Career Tier: SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career)	Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above	S$4,000	Can be used for selected courses on the SkillsFuture portal	Does not expire

In 2020, a S$500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up was given to all Singaporeans aged 25 and above. An Additional SkillsFuture Credit of S$500 was also provided to individuals aged 40 to 60, for mid-career support.

At the time, it was said that those between 40 and 60 could use the Additional SkillsFuture Credit for SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes, also known as SCTP. If you are interested in courses that don’t fall under the SCTP category, you should do your own checks to see if you are able to utilise these credits. This could include checking with the course provider, or with SkillsFuture’s helpline. If these “additional” credits are not utilised by the end of 2025, they will be merged with the SkillsFuture mid-career credit, which we’ll talk about below.

Do note that if you are below 40 years of age, your one-off SkillsFuture credit top-up (given in 2020) will expire at the end of 2025.

How do I check my SkillsFuture credits? How do I know how much is left?

To check your SkillsFuture balance, go to myskillsfuture.gov.sg and use your SingPass to log in. Once logged in, you should see a “SkillsFuture Credit” link under your name, on the top right. Click on the link, and you will be taken to a page where you can view your credit balance.

What are the best SkillsFuture courses to sign up for?

If you are looking at upskilling for work, the most popular SkillsFuture courses have been in these areas:

Information and communications
Sales and marketing
Food and beverage

For the SkillsFuture mid-career credit of S$4,000, this will not expire and eligible courses include:

Institute of Higher Learning full qualifications, and shorter modules that stack to a full qualification
MOE-subsidised full qualifications from the University of the Arts Singapore and Arts Institutions
SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes (SCTP), which are train-and-place programmes in sectors with more hiring opportunities
Courses aligned to training requirements in Progressive Wage Model sectors
Workplace Literacy and Numeracy courses

As there is plenty of information to process, we know it can be confusing. If you are interested in a course, always check with the course provider about:

Government subsidies that you’re eligible for
Whether SkillsFuture credits can be used to offset fees

To avoid unpleasant surprises, we advise that you do your sums beforehand and get the course provider’s verification, or ask them to give you a fee estimate.

What are all the possible courses that I can take with my SkillsFuture credits?

There are SkillsFuture courses across a wide range of fields, so you can pick up skills for work or explore areas of personal interest.

Here are the key areas where SkillsFuture courses are offered:

Business, Finance & Management

Industry Specialisations

Healthcare & Social Services

Arts & Media

Hospitality & Services

Miscellaneous

Can I use my SkillsFuture credits for online learning platforms like Udemy?

Yes, you can use your SkillsFuture credit to sign up for online course subscriptions, but only for approved providers. These subscriptions may include courses from Udemy, Coursera, and edX.

Are these subscriptions worthwhile? You will have to research what is being offered.

For example, you can use your SkillsFuture credit to subscribe to the ReallyLesson platform, which has a tie-up with Coursera. According to the ReallyLesson website, this gives you access to Coursera content, including 12,000+ courses and 150+ globally recognised certificates. However, you will not be able to access Coursera's full degree programmes and Master Track certificates, and there will be some course exclusions.

What’s the difference between general SkillsFuture courses and the Skillsfuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP)?

General SkillsFuture courses can be taken for career advancement, or simply for personal interest. Unless you are pursuing a certification such as a Specialist Diploma, general interest courses tend to be shorter in duration — some last just a few hours, while others may run for weeks.

The SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) is designed specifically for mid-career individuals who are looking to move into new roles or switch industries. SCTP courses are longer and more structured, typically running between three and 12 months. They focus on skills that are in industry demand and are paired with career advisory, interview preparation, and even job placement support.

What factors should parents consider, before choosing a SkillsFuture course for upskilling or career advancement?

Returning to “school” can feel intimidating, even for adults. Parents in particular should note the following:

If working (whether full- or part-time), consider how much time and energy you will have for school. If you’re looking at specialist or graduate diplomas, such classes typically take place in the evenings, from 6.30PM to 9.30PM, or on weekends. Some courses are fully online, while others are hybrid or face-to-face.
If you are a stay-home parent looking for “train-and-place” programmes, these may be 9AM-to-5PM training programmes for three months or more. The learning may be fully online, but you should still think about how the course schedule fits into your caregiving routine.
There will typically be graded assessments, such as essays, tests, and group projects. Do factor in preparation time — family support is extremely important, as well as a conducive space for work. If your home isn’t suited for work, look at co-working spaces or quieter cafes.
There will be stress involved, especially if you are learning something new. For instance, if you haven’t taken a maths class in decades, you may find a statistics class challenging. Our advice is to seek help from your lecturers, as well as look for additional support on YouTube and online learning platforms. It can be helpful to hear the same topic explained by different teachers, and the better explanations tend to be in longer videos (45 minutes or more). You can also use AI to clarify concepts, but be sure to fact check.
Your ability to manage human relationships will be crucial. Even in adult learning, group projects can lead to tension, or you may feel frustrated at lecturers if their support feels inadequate. At home, friction can arise from expectations about responsibilities such as preparing meals and keeping track of school-related needs. It’s impossible to anticipate every obstacle, but what’s important is that you can manage your own emotions, in order to calmly deal with others.
Ideally, choose courses based on personal interest, but temper your expectations about job placements. It’s healthier to view each course that you take as a stepping stone towards a new path, as opposed to guaranteed employment. Placement success rates will vary by cohorts; anecdotally, we know from our community that those over 50 years old will likely experience job hunting challenges, especially for tech-related roles. Depending on job availability, offered placements may not be in an area related to the training course that you took. However, these may still be rare opportunities to work in MNCs or emerging smaller firms, so it’s good to keep an open mind.
Ageism exists, and in our KiasuParents community, we have heard about needing to remove all dates from resumes, trimming work experience to about 10 years, and a low response rate for applications (less than 10% callbacks). Job hunting can drag on for months, and this will usually take a toll on your morale, especially if your financial contribution to the family is needed. It’s important to have your support networks in place.
We do hear of success stories — don’t be too swayed by these. Ultimately, your ability to thrive depends on your own skill set, personality, and drive. Be flexible about what it means to “succeed”: there are also individuals who return to their previous industries to take on different opportunities with newfound perspective and knowledge.
Taking a longer course will take a toll on your family and social life. Before you commit, think about whether this sacrifice is worthwhile. If you have started on a course, look for low-effort ways to build closeness with your family during this time. This can be as simple as choosing a TV show to watch together after meals, on days when you don't have class.
If your children are facing milestone exams, you may feel guilty for pursuing your own interests. In reality, your children may gain newfound respect as they see you right there in the "trenches" with them. If you can afford it, outsource their learning to responsible tutors (if needed), and focus on your own studies.

What are the best mid-career switch programmes in Singapore to consider?

These are some mid-career training programmes that members in our KiasuParents community have explored:

You can also browse the Career Conversion Programmes (CCP) portal, to see programmes across different industries. Note that some programmes may be discontinued. However, you can always enquire directly with the organisers.

Want to chat with other parents about SkillsFuture, upskilling, or career switching? Start a conversation on the KiasuParents forum!

Fri 19/12/2025