It can be a real headache to go through the thousands of short courses available on SkillsFuture. While the list seems endless, you’re not limited to just a few players in the upskill market. But fret not, we are here to give you a rundown of interesting and useful – courses to equip you with the needs of the current job market by fully utilising your SkillsFuture credits.
What is SkillsFuture?
You have heard and seen it everywhere, on the bus stop billboard, TV commercials and polo tee-clad people approaching you at the MRT stations. The entire nation is advocating for lifelong learning.
SkillsFuture is a government initiative – an enabler of lifelong learning. With a vision of ‘A nation of lifelong learners; a society that values skills mastery’ – Their goal is to keep Singaporeans ahead of the game; picking up skills to adapt to the ever-changing job market. It doesn’t come bare, however, learning credits or SkillsFuture credits are given out to Singaporeans to pay for these short courses.
How Much SkillsFuture credits are available?
In 2015, all Singaporeans aged 25 and above received an opening credit of $500. Over the years, as part of encouraging Singaporeans to upskill and reskill, there was an additional top-up of $500. If you haven’t heard of SkillsFuture, log in to the SkillsFuture portal and you should have $1000 worth of SkillsFuture credits. You’re one step away from a journey of learning!
What Short Courses Does Vertical Institute Offer?
There is an abundance of offline and online courses available, it does get overwhelming going through thousands of courses to see which ones are interesting. Especially with limited SkillsFuture credits, You would surely want to maximise your credit use.
So look no further, Vertical Institute offers a variety of short tech short courses which are highly relevant to the in-demand skills for tomorrow’s job market today. With online courses via Zoom, upskilling/reskilling couldn’t get any more convenient.
Data Analytics Course
According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2023, AI and big data training are one of the top three skills employers plan to focus on.
Beginner-friendly and no prior background or experience are required, students can expect to be equipped with relevant industry fundamentals of Excel, SQL and Tableau. Upon completion of the course, students will gain national accreditation, which will be a great resume booster.
Are you ready to embark on a data-driven career? We got you covered on how you can start taking data analytics courses.
Course fees: $950 after subsidies
Advanced Data Analytics Course
Though the prerequisites are prior knowledge or experience in data analytics, you should be equipped with the fundamentals in the previous course. Now you can go one step higher to broaden your knowledge of data.
This advanced bootcamp will assist you in coming full circle with Data Analytics with lessons in advanced operations and functions of Excel, SQL and effectively conduct advanced storytelling through visualisation in Tableau.
Course fees: $627 after subsidies
Digital Marketing Course
Digital marketing is an ongoing learning process. This beginner-friendly short course is a deep dive into the world of digital marketing and keeps learners up to date with the current industry trends.
Students will be guided in a comprehensive but short course which covers all aspects of digital marketing: social media, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Google Analytics, content marketing, email marketing, and more.
2023 is an exciting year to be embarking on a career as a Digital Marketer, learn more about this exciting career pathway wit.
Course fees: $627 after subsidies
UX Design Course
It’s one thing to have a digital presence, but including user-friendly and attractive features for a product is crucial in improving customer satisfaction and retention.
Get ready to be immersed in the world of UI/UX with all stages of the design process. From user research information architecture to prototyping and wireframing with Figma, the course will equip you with the basics of UX Design. Students will finish off with a capstone project – a portfolio upgrade for their careers.
Course fees: $627 after subsidies
Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Course
Decentralisation, crypto, NFTs – what could it mean and why is everyone talking about it nowadays?
This is Crypto 101. The Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Bootcamp will ensure you get familiar with the slang of the crypto bros and sis. Students can expect to have an in-depth understanding of Bitcoin, blockchains, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, decentralised finance and more.
The fintech industry is expected to make exponential growth in the coming years, so feel confident on the topic of blockchain with our guide.
Course fees: $627 after subsidies
Cybersecurity Course
Vertical Institute’s Cybersecurity Course in Singapore is the perfect way to learn everything you need to know about cybersecurity. In this bootcamp, you will learn about the different types of cyberattacks, how to prevent them, and how to respond to them. You will also learn about the latest cybersecurity technologies and how to use them to protect your systems and data.
The bootcamp is taught by experienced cybersecurity professionals who will share their knowledge and expertise with you. The bootcamp is also highly interactive, so you will have plenty of opportunities to learn by doing.
If you are serious about cybersecurity, then Vertical Institute’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp is the perfect course for you. Enroll today and start learning the skills you need to protect yourself and your organisation from cyber threats.
Will SkillsFuture Credits Expire?
Good news! Your initial $500 credits will continue to have no expiry unless it has been used. This means it’s yours to use anytime in the future or now – for any SkillsFuture courses available.
But keep in mind that The additional $500 top-up will expire on 31 December 2025. So make haste, and pick up any interesting course you can find!
What If I’m Out of SkillsFuture Credits?
SkillsFuture courses now come with additional discounts. Various subsidy schemes have been introduced aimed at individuals who plan to reskilling, to ensure SkillsFuture maintain their vision of a nation of lifetime learning. Best of all, the schemes come with no strings attached
Here are the two schemes available to offset the costs of the SkillsFuture courses:
IBF Standards Training Scheme (IBF-STS)
IBF Standards Training Scheme (IBF-STS) offers subsidies for training and assessment programmes accredited under the Skills Framework for Financial Services. It provides course fee subsidies for training and assessment programmes accredited under the Skills Framework for Financial Services.
Subsidy coverage: All courses above
Requirements: None
Union Training Assistance Program
The Union Training Assistance Program (UTAP) is a training benefit for NTUC members to cover their cost of training. This initiative was made to encourage more NTUC members to upskill or reskill themselves with relevant in-demand skills.
By quickly and simply becoming an NTUC member, you will be eligible for a subsidised training course with Vertical Institute.
Subsidy coverage: All courses above
Requirements: NTUC union member
Advance your Career with Training
The supply of SkillsFuture is aligned with the demand for skills, and the market is hungry for individuals well-versed in the field of IT and tech.
There are no better ways to fully utilise your SkillsFuture credits than by signing up for short courses with long-term rewards. In fact, these courses are more than just an upgrade to your resume. They will broaden your knowledge of the advancements in the latest trends in tech, which will prepare you for the job market.
Change is Constant
The world is moving ever so rapidly and the only way to keep up is by adapting. With the introduction of SkillsFuture, there are plenty of opportunities for upskilling or reskilling. Many course providers are coming into the game – there is no shortage of available IT and tech courses in Singapore. Stay ahead of the ever-changing job market, broaden your knowledge of the latest tech trends, and secure your future success.
About Vertical Institute
Vertical Institute prepares individuals for the jobs of tomorrow. We specialize in teaching in-demand skills, and building the next generation of changemakers and inventors through our world-class tech courses and certifications.
Singaporeans and PRs can receive up to 70% of IBF Funding off their course fees with Vertical Institute. The remaining fees can be claimable with SkillsFuture Credits or NTUC UTAP Funding.
