KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Singapore's Smart Nation initiative and the Payment Services Act mark its ambition to lead in digital innovation.
- The demand for blockchain talent is growing in Singapore, prompting local training providers to offer quality education.
- A range of blockchain courses are available for everyone from fresh graduates to C-suite executives.
- SkillsFuture credits can offset fees for eligible blockchain courses.
- Top Singapore universities and polytechnics offer blockchain courses, aligning with global university rankings.
- Courses cover a broad spectrum, including blockchain security, smart contracts, and fintech fundamentals.
- The Institute of Blockchain and The Block School offer specialized programs and workshops.
- Tribe Academy and General Assembly focus on empowering developers and offering workshops in blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
- SkillsFuture hosts a vast selection of over 190 blockchain-related courses for diverse needs.
- Starting your blockchain education journey in Singapore opens doors to opportunities in the growing crypto job market.
2019 was a big year when Singapore launched the “Smart Nation” initiative and introduced the Payment Services Act, which outlined the nation’s goal to be a leading economy in digital innovation and also officially recognizing crypto companies as operating businesses.
With the Government of Singapore embracing the potential of blockchain technology with open arms, large amounts of capital has flown (Gemini, Binance, Litecoin Foundation, etc.) into the city-state to develop the industry. With such a commitment, Singapore now needs to have the human capital to match the nascent blockchain industry.
This led to the proliferation of many local training service providers offering world-class, quality blockchain education! So, it doesn’t matter if you’re a fresh graduate, a copywriter, software developer, or a c-suite executive, there is something for everyone on this island!
The search for the best blockchain education be like...
To help you not spend precious waking hours finding the courses, our goal in this article will be to help you in searching for the best blockchain education programs in Singapore!
As Singaporeans, you would have received a present from the Government in the mail informing you that you have SkillsFuture credits that you can use to offset course fees. As part of this article, we’ll be highlighting courses that are eligible for SkillsFuture.
The Best Universities Offering the Best Blockchain Courses in Singapore
According to the QS World University Rankings, the top 2 universities in Singapore are both ranked top 15 in the world! The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University take the 11th and 13th place, respectively according to the rankings, sandwiching Princeton in the 12th position.
1. National University of Singapore
Apart from being one of the world’s top universities, NUS has a lively blockchain/Fintech community that houses a dedicated blockchain think tank (Crystal Centre) which was created from the lab that birth popular cryptocurrency projects such as Zilliqa and Kyber Network.
Courses recommended:
- Enterprise Blockchain & DLT for Executives - This course will help you understand the fundamentals of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) and how it can apply to organisations. The course also covers real-life use cases, illustrates the major enterprise Blockchain & DLT platforms, and includes a hands-on session on cryptocurrency to better understand how the underlying technology works. This is a good choice if you're looking for a cryptocurrency course in Singapore.
Duration: 1 day. Cost: S$103 - 272 (Citizens) S$910 (Other Nationalities)
- MSc in Digital Fintech - This degree programme focuses on the technical side of Fintech and will help candidates acquire a firm foundation in computing and finance. There are specific modules on basic blockchain programming, blockchain innovations, and the fundamentals of blockchain tech.
Duration: 1.5 years. Cost: S$58,000
2. Nanyang Technological University
NTU has seen many blockchain hackathons and blockchain-based student clubs springing up in the past couple of years. There is also a Fintech research centre launched in 2019 engaging in research of blockchain solutions and technology.
Courses recommended:
- Enterprise Blockchain - This course introduces the key points about Blockchain that you need to know - the blockchain definition, the basis behind blockchain and the problem it is trying to solve, how it can benefit the world, the reason for so much attention and controversy.
Duration: 1 day. Cost: S$642
- Payments, Digital Currencies, and Cashless Economies - This course explains the role of digital currencies in the market, how blockchain enables digital currencies to work, and the applications of digital currencies.
Duration: 1 day. Cost: S$642
- MSc in Fintech - This degree programme places a strong emphasis on the in-depth mastery of disruptive technologies in finance services such as financial automation, applications of financial cryptography (blockchain tech), and blockchain systems.
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time. Cost: S$35,000 (Citizens) S$55,500 (Other Nationalities)
3. Singapore Management University
SMU is the 3rd autonomous university in Singapore after NUS and SMU. The university is internationally recognised for its world-class research and broad-based teaching. If you're looking for a Blockchain Workshop in Singapore, SMU has a few options.
- Certified Blockchain Developer - This course is for software developers who are looking to develop in-depth technical knowledge of Bitcoin and Ethereum by learning how to develop a blockchain environment, smart contracts or decentralised applications. At the end of it, you get a Blockchain Certification.
Duration: 5 days. Cost: S$605 to S$1605 (Citizens) S$5350 (Other Nationalities)
- Advanced Certificate in Blockchain for Business - This 6 module programme is designed to empower participants with the understanding, frameworks and tools to leverage blockchain technology. You finish the programme by understanding the fundamentals, implementation and also the governance of blockchain systems.
Duration: 6 modules, 2 days per module. Cost: S$1452 - S$12480
4. Singapore University of Social Sciences
SUSS’s Fintech and Blockchain Group has been active in holding blockchain forums and events both online and offline with many collaborators. They have most recently partnered with Blockchain Association Singapore, Electric Coin Co., and Least Authority to hold a zoom event titled Zero-Knowledge Privacy in Regulated Financial Transactions.
Courses recommended:
- Blockchain Security and Privacy - This course focuses on information security and cryptography techniques underlying Fintech and blockchain technology. The course analyses different security concepts and examines how cryptographic techniques are used to realise different security obobjectives,uch as data integrity authentication.
Duration: 6 months. Cost: S$1100
- Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts - This course summarizes the origins of blockchain technology and its evolution. Learn how blockchain and smart contracts may enable efficiencies in multiple markets and how it can be a disruptive force in those industries. Technical aspects of Ethereum and smart contracts will also be covered.
Duration: 6 months. Cost: S$1378
5. Singapore Polytechnic
SP is the first and oldest polytechnic in Singapore, focusing largely on technology-related courses such as engineering and computer systems. They have many partnerships and close ties to the industries, which allows them to provide industry-specific programmes.
Courses recommended
- SGUS Blockchain Talent Programme - Developed in partnership with Blockchain Association Singapore to help trainees with coding backgrounds to become blockchain developers, analysts, consultants in the industry.
Duration: 1 year, full-time. Cost: $1000 (Citizens), $34,026 (Other Nationalities)
- Fintech Fundamentals Programme - Developed in partnership with Token Economy Association to provide a comprehensive understanding of various key Fintech concepts, and technologies in the Fintech and Blockchain sectors.
Duration: 12 sessions. Cost: S$388 - 1027 (Citizens), $3424 (Other Nationalities)
6. Ngee Ann Polytechnic
NP is the second oldest polytechnic in Singapore, but the first higher education institute in Singapore to fully embrace blockchain technology by announcing in 2017 that diplomas will be issued on the blockchain.
Courses recommended:
- Fintech Foundation programme - The programme aims to increase awareness and appreciation of Fintech and its impact across various sectors. You will also be introduced to the foundational concepts of Fintech such as design thinking and blockchain.
Duration: 3 days. Cost: S$121 - 321 (Citizens) S$1070 (Other Nationalities)
- Specialist Diploma in Fintech - The programme aims to help you acquire knowledge and skills to apply to Fintech business models, analytics, etc. It also Introduces you to blockchain concepts, and you will have hands-on experience in developing your own blockchain prototype and also Smart Contracts.
Duration: 1 year. Cost: S$388 - 580 (Citizens) S$3872 (Other Nationalities)
7. Institute of Blockchain
The Institute of Blockchain is one of the first movers for blockchain training in Singapore. They have developed a curriculum for the Certified Blockchain Consultant and prides itself as the Certificate Owner and Certificate Awarding Body.
Certified Blockchain Consultant - This Blockchain Certification has 4 tracks (executive, standards, technical, elective) which covers the basics of Fintech, blockchain, compliance, smart contract applications, governance, etc. After 2 months of training and assessment, you will be certified as a blockchain consultant. This is probably the best course if you want to start offering Blockchain Consultancy in Singapore.
Duration: 2 months. Cost: S$600
8. The Block School
The Block School is a home-grown blockchain training company which offers customized blockchain corporate training, education, and consultancy services. They have also partnered with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and a couple of other partners (Everything about Bitcoin, Sparrow, etc.) to provide short introductory courses.
Courses offered:
- The Crypto Starter Pack - This course aims to introduce you to the basics of blockchain technology and also on-board you into the cryptocurrency space. It explores the blockchain and cryptocurrency scene in Singapore and also facilitates you in creating a Bitcoin wallet and the usage of an exchange.
Duration: 2 days, 4 hours per day. Cost: S$168
- Blockchain for Cross-Border Payments - This course will help you find real utility of blockchain technology, specifically in facilitating  payments through case studies.
Duration: 1 day. Cost: S$650.
- Introduction to NFTs - This is an introductory course to NFTs, the history, why they’re becoming popular, and what are the trends that have followed. The course will also help you get acquainted with minting your own NFTs and how to purchase them.
Duration: 2 days, 4 hours per day. Cost: S$168
9. Tribe Academy
Tribe Academy was founded on the premise to bridge the talent gap in the tech industry. It seeks to empower developers by honing their technical skills and also facilitate the job search process for candidates who walk through their doors.
- Blockchain (IBM Hyperledger and IBM Blockchain Certification) - Learn the fundamentals of IBM Hyperledger Fabric from blockchain experts and get certified by IBM upon the completion of the course. You will also learn how to design and develop a permissionless blockchain using the IBM blockchain platform.
Duration: 6 months, part-time. Cost: Not listed.
10. General Assembly
GA has been offering training in tech, data, design, business and more recently, blockchain. They are one of the leaders in education, winning multiple awards for their cucurriculum, and are also present almost worldwide.
Courses recommended:
- Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies Workshop - In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of digital currency transactions such as Bitcoin, smart contracts on Ethereum, and the different applications of blockchain technology. It also covers the different industries that it has the potential to disrupt and the organisations that are currently experimenting with the technology.
Note: The classes in the Singapore campus will not be available until further notice, as classes are currently conducted online.
Duration: 3 hours. Cost: USD$99
Bonus: SkillsFuture Courses
If these courses that we listed here are not what you’re looking for, you can head up to the SkillsFuture website to search for a whopping 190 blockchain-related courses! There’s something for everyone there, and you can filter the searches according to fees, course start dates, and training providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is blockchain used in Singapore?
Absolutely, Singapore is a frontrunner in blockchain adoption. The government's "Smart Nation" initiative actively promotes blockchain development and use across various industries, from finance and trade to supply chain management.
Q2. What are the prerequisites for the Blockchain course?
There aren't any specific prerequisites for the Blockchain course. However, a foundational understanding of computer science concepts would be helpful.
Q3. Who should learn Blockchain?
Anyone interested in decentralized technologies, digital security, and the future of finance would benefit from learning about Blockchain. It's a rapidly growing field with vast potential applications.
Wrapping Up
To sum it up, Singapore's commitment to blockchain technology and education is evident through its wide array of courses available across prestigious universities, polytechnics, and specialized institutes.
As the nation embraces its Smart Nation initiative, these educational offerings are important in developing the skilled workforce needed to sustain and grow the blockchain industry. There are many choices to choose from, but always remember that the key thing is always to start.
Ready to leverage your newfound blockchain expertise and join the forefront of innovation? Head over to CryptoJobsList to explore exciting opportunities in Web3. With a range of blockchain jobs available, you can put your skills to work on groundbreaking projects that are shaping the future of the Internet. We hope you enjoyed this article and that you will be able to find your dream job!
