Worried about your budget?
Monitoring and lowering your expenses is key to managing your budget. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best student credit cards in Singapore so you can find one that fits your needs.
We know it can be tough to get your first credit card – but don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. These cards have great features and benefits, so you can start building your credit history today.
Check out our list of the best student credit cards below!
Student Credit Cards
| Benefits and Rewards
| Annual Fee | Credit Limit | Eligibility Requirements | Eligible Schools |
DBS Live Fresh Student Card
| 5% rebate on your favourite brands
5% cashback on green spending on selected eco-eateries, retailers and transport services
Sustainable and made from 85.5% recycled plastic
| $192.60 Five-year fee waiver $100 late fee
| $500 | 21 to 27 years old
Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
| Eligible schools are limited to NUS, NTU, SMU, SIM, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), Temasek Polytechnic (TP), Singapore Polytechnic (SP) or Republic Polytechnic (RP)
|
Maybank eVibes Card
| 1% cashback on every purchase, without a minimum limit
7% off accommodation bookings with Agoda
Golden Village discounts | $5 quarterly fee only The fee is waived if you charge to your card at least every three months | $500 | 18 to 30 years old Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident Must have an income below $30,000/year | Eligible schools are LASALLE, NAFA, NIE, NP, NTU, NUS, NYP, RP, SIT, SMU, SP, SUSS, SUTD & TP
|
CIMB Student Credit Card – CIMB AWSM Card | Unlimited 1% cashback on restaurants, entertainment, online shopping
Various CIMB deals and discounts
| N/A | $500 | 18 to 29 years old
Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
| All schools (or NSF) deemed eligible |
Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Student Credit Card
| Flat 0.25% cashback on every purchase | $32.10
One-year annual fee waiver
| $500 | 18 to 32 years old
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
|
Citibank Clear Card
| Welcome gift of $20 Cash Back
Earn 1X Reward for every $1 spent Exclusive dining deals at over 1,000 eateries in Singapore Online fashion, lifestyle and travel exclusives at your favourite online brands | $29.96
One-year annual fee waiver available
| N/A | At least 18 years old | 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
|
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 | At least 18 years old | N/A |
1. DBS Live Fresh Student Card
The DBS Live Fresh is one of the best student credit cards for dining out. One reason is that you get 5% on your favourite brands, which DBS lists as McDonald’s, McDelivery, Starbucks, and Golden Village.
Then there are the eco-eateries you can indulge in.
Just Dabao and The Summerhouse are two examples to try. Some music, movies & TV series streaming services have 5% rebates, too, as well as retailers and transport services like SG Bike.
You get 0.3% cash back for everything else, which isn’t a lot considering the cap is $15.
That said, the annual fee is high enough at $192.60. Luckily, you get a five-year fee waiver to enjoy your university years.
Here’s the unique selling point that justifies this fee:
The card is made 85.5% from recycled plastic, and, as you can see, the bank supports farm-to-table dining, sustainable shopping, and carbon-lite travelling.
On the downside, DBS Live Fresh is one of the student credit cards with strict eligibility conditions.
You can only apply if you’re 21 to 27 years old and a citizen or PR. Unfortunately, international students can’t apply for the Live Fresh. Besides, not all universities are eligible, just the ones we listed in the table above.
2. Maybank eVibes Card
Maybank eVibes is one of the best student credit cards for cashback because you get 1% back on every purchase without a minimum limit. If you like travelling cheap, you’re in luck; eVibes will also help you with 7% off accommodation bookings on Agoda.
Like going to the movies?
The Golden Village discount package includes several price reductions for movie tickets and snacks.
Even the annual fee is kept at a minimum. You only have to pay $5/quarter unless you charge an expense to your credit card every three months.
Compared to the DBS Live Fresh, that’s a significant advantage.
While both cards have a $500 maximum credit limit and ask you to be a citizen or permanent resident in Singapore, eVibes has another unique selling point:
It has a larger age interval between 18 and 30 years old.
However, keep in mind that not all schools are eligible and that your annual income has to be below $30,00/year to qualify.
3. CIMB Student Credit Card – CIMB AWSM Card
The CIMB AWSM is one of the best student cards if you’re interested in broad coverage and discounts. For example, this card offers 1% cashback on restaurants, entertainment and online shopping, just like Maybank eVibes.
However, that’s double the amount DBS Live Fresh offers, capped at $15-$20 depending on the purchase.
By comparison, CIMB boasts unlimited cashback, plus constant deals and discounts across retailers. The latest promotions include:
- 15% off + 5% Zalora cashback
- 30% off Annual PRO at Piktochart
- 1-for-1 Chicken/Pasta at the Grumpy Bear
- 15% off all regular-priced items at BeautyFresh
- And many more
The age-related eligibility conditions are pretty sweet, too, because anyone aged 18 to 29 can apply. Besides, all schools or NSF are deemed eligible.
On the downside, you must be a Singapore citizen or PR and have a minimum income of $18,000/year. The maximum charge limit is also pretty low at just $500.
4. Standard Chartered Manhattan 500 Student Credit Card
Manhattan 500 is one of those student credit cards that fit people looking for straightforward, no-frills rewards. As such, you only earn a 0.25% cashback rate, but you will get it with no strings attached.
That means you have no hidden conditions regarding the type of purchase, maximum cap or minimum charge limit.
The annual fee is convenient, too, especially compared to DBS Live Fresh. Besides, you can always take advantage of the one-year waiver.
Here’s another unique selling point compared to the student credit cards above:
There’s a larger age interval up to 32 years old. However, you still have to be a Singapore citizen or PR and earn at least $18,000/year to qualify.
Not all schools are eligible either, which is a step down from CIMB AWSM. Still, the pool of universities is wide enough.
Besides, Standard Chartered is a reputable bank in Singapore. Creating a relationship with them from your university years will prove to your advantage if you need a loan from them once adulting becomes serious.
5. Citibank Clear Card
The Citibank Clear card has an innovative reward system based on points. Therefore, you can earn one reward point for each $1 you spend. These points ultimately add up to significant discounts.
Other than that, Clear is one of the best student credit cards for deals and discounts across retailers. You get exclusive dining deals at over 1,000 eateries in Singapore, plus fashion, lifestyle, and travel exclusives.
Current promotions include:
- Grab: Up to $10 off if you spend at least $50
- Pet Lovers Centre: 3% off with min $15 spend on regular-priced items
- Klook: 10% off with a minimum spend of $50, capped at $20 off
The annual fee is another point in this card’s favour because you only have to fork out $29.96/year. Of course, you remember that other student cards above have better and worse offers: Maybank eVibes is cheaper, but DBS’s card is more expensive.
Better yet, the only age-related condition is that you’re at least 18 years old. Even the university-related requirement is lax enough, with plenty of schools partnering with Citibank, and there’s no minimum income needed.
6. BOC Student Credit Card Qoo10 Platinum Mastercard
If you’re interested in Qmoney rebates, Qoo10 is one of the best student credit cards to enjoy. The discounts regard:
- Transportation using buses, MRT, Grab, and taxi
- Fast food
- Online purchases
- Entertainment
- Abroad purchases
Next, use the Qmoney earned by charging your Qoo10 credit card to offset your Qoo10 purchases.
Besides, this credit card has a $32.10 annual fee with a first-year waiver. The principal applicant must be at least 21 years old, but the supplementary applicants can be at least 18 years old.
Here’s another advantage:
You don’t need any minimum required income if you’re a student.
Wrap Up
Student credit cards in Singapore offer numerous perks. That’s why it’s essential to do your research first and choose the right one according to your needs.
Here’s the problem:
Even if you play by the book, sometimes it can be challenging to manage your finances. Emergencies, cash advances for a home/car or student loans pile up quickly.
In these situations, you can rely on Urgent Loan Moneylenders Singapore.
Our platform can help with affordable quotes from urgent loan money lenders across the island. That way, you can get the cash you need seamlessly and at low installments.
Get your quote here.