8 foodie skills to pick up with your SkillsFuture Credit (with course ideas!)

If you’ve clicked in, you probably haven’t used up your expiring SkillsFuture Credit — and you need ideas. 

In 2020, the government dropped a one-off S$500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up for every Singaporean aged 25 and above, adding that these would expire at the end of 2025. 

This is not to be confused with the $500 opening SkillsFuture Credit given in January 2016, or the SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) for those aged above 40 years old, both of which have no expiry date.

Many seem to have not used up their expiring S$500 top-up, and you might be in the same boat.

But here’s the catch: To use these expiring credits, you will need to ensure the courses start by December 31, and make sure your claims are submitted on the SkillsFuture portal by the above date, too. 

Since we were doing our own frantic research on courses, we thought we’d share some food-related skills you can pick up with your SkillsFuture Credit, and relevant courses that you can consider.

All of these still have slots open this month that you can register for, attend, and claim before the year ends — act fast and don’t let your credits go to waste!

Editor’s Note: While care has been taken to ensure the respective courses and their information are represented accurately, this may change after the time of publication. Do exercise care, and do your adequate research before registering with any course provider. 

1. Cooking and baking

So many of us spend our days shackled to our office desks, so why not unleash that SkillsFuture Credit on something gloriously hands-on and practical, such as cooking or baking? There’s a wide range of cuisines you can try your hand at!

Some of the classes we’ve found happening this December — before your credits expire — include classes from local cooking schools such as Asian Culinary Institute Singapore, Pots & Pans Culinary Studio, and Phoon Huat (RedMan). 

Here are the cooking and baking classes that we saw that still have spots for December, and start in December itself:

• Basic sushi preparation by ACI 
• Basic Cantonese cuisine by ACI 
• Hawker delights by Pots & Pans 
• Plant-based delights Pots & Pans
• Introduction to French pastry tarts by RedMan
• New-world bread-making with tangzhong by RedMan — Conducted only in Chinese, this course goes through the use of tangzhong, a type of baking paste, which helps make bread fluffy and soft 

2. TCM nutrition

Spend the year-end learning how to make better choices for your body, so you can step into 2026 with renewed strength. And what better way to do it than by enrolling for a course in TCM and nutrition? 

TCM and You is offering a Basic TCM medicated diet course, starting December 14, that will not only help you use up those expiring SkillsFuture credits, but will equip you with the knowledge to transform everyday eating into an informed, empowering practice. The best part is that this course is conducted by Zoom, so you can listen in from anywhere! (Yes, we know some of you are holidaying all December!)

It’s one of those courses that could potentially transform your long-term well-being, if you make good use of this information. 

What makes this class particularly exciting is its focus on personalisation: You’ll learn how to tailor your diet to your unique body constitution, creating a TCM nutrition plan that truly aligns with your needs.

3. Speciality coffee 

It seems like everyone has a home-based cafe recently. If you’re also harbouring a home cafe fantasy, and have dreams of the day that your kitchen hums like a miniature Melbourne laneway, you might want to take up a barista training course? 

While such courses are very popular, and tend to get booked out in advance, we found a Barista course by ICAS Training & Education College, which trains you in barista skills and coffee art. You can check out its latest course calendar here. 

By the end of its two-day course, you’ll have the confidence to talk about coffee, recommend brews, and grind and brew with the kind of precision that borders on smug. Time to register so you can whip up cappuccinos and lattes at upcoming home gatherings during the festive season to impress your loved ones. 

4. Food safety

Speaking of home-based food business, if you’re planning to bake some Christmas cookies, or have plans to churn out those Chinese New Year or Hari Raya goodies, you’ll want to consider getting certified in Food Safety. 

While home-based businesses do not require a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) licence to operate, it does require business owners to ensure that food prepared is safe and consumption. One of the ways you can do so is by enrolling in a food safety course, such as the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1. 

There are still plenty of courses that start in December — just check out the SkillsFuture course directory. The courses are offered in English and Chinese, and most only take a single day to complete, making it an easy first step towards launching your business, or just understanding more about food safety in general. 

5. Wine appreciation and tasting

Get into the festive spirit with a wine appreciation and oenology course by the Asian Culinary Institute Singapore, where you’ll learn to evaluate flavours and characteristics through the lens of vinification and viticulture — you’ll understand not just what you’re tasting when you’re having wine, but why it tastes that way.

Its December intake for this starts right on December 30, so you’ll be just in the nick of time to use those expiring credits! (Just remember to file your claims before December 31 hits!)

ACI’s curriculum covers still wines (red and white), sparkling wines, reading labels, choosing the right glassware, and the art of nosing and tasting. You’ll also master the five S’s of wine tasting — see, swirl, sniff, sip, and savour — and expand your repertoire with confidence and pleasure.

For those more serious about wine, and want to get their WSET (or Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certification, most popular providers such as Fine Wines and The Beverage Clique Academy have their December courses all booked out — but if you’re willing to take a chance, you can ask to be placed on their waiting lists.

6. Growing your own food

Not only does growing your own food give you fresher, more flavourful produce than anything off a supermarket shelf, doing so can also be deeply satisfying.

Not sure how to get started? Lucky for us, there are still a few urban farming courses available before the year ends.

Here’s a quick list if you’d like to learn about farming or cultivating your own food:

• Urban farming: Edible plants by SSA Academy — The one-day course has two dates still open for registration. 
• Sustainable cultivation of mushrooms by Ascendo Academy — This two-day course has two dates still open for registration. 

• 5-in-1 grow your own food course by Edible Garden City — There are still a small number of intakes still available for December. 

7. Artisansal gelato-making

If you’re all about the sweet treats, then you’ll want to make a beeline for culinary academy At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy’s five-day Gelato programme, conducted in partnership with Carpigiani Gelato University. 

Taught over 40 hours, the solid programme has one final slot available starting on December 18, where you’ll learn how to coax milk- and water-based recipes into proper gelato and sorbets, balance bases, and even manipulate portions and gelato cakes using soft-serve wizardry.

But it isn’t just about churning. You’ll also get educated on hygiene standards, scouting the right location, designing a gelato shop, and shaping a business plan. In short, you’ll find yourself just a whisk away from becoming a gelato entrepreneur.

There’s no major criteria for the course, just that you’re able to understand English, and be at least 16 years old — which you will be if you’ve received the SkillsFuture Credit. 

8. Food science 

Now if you’re going to be out of Singapore, but don’t want your expiring SkillsFuture Credit to go to waste, consider using them for online subscriptions and courses —  including platforms such as Coursera and edX.

And yes, we know how last-minute everything is for you, so we’re gonna help you out with this handy guide on how to use your SkillsFuture Credit for online subscriptions. (Some platforms have earlier registration dates in order for you to utilise your Credit, as they have processing times, so act early!) 

Not only does a subscription to these platforms give you a full year of access to an endless buffet of online courses run by renowned institutions, but there are also plenty that delve into food and science. 

Some interesting courses we found include:

• Food fermentation by Harvard University
• The science of gastronomy by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Gut check: Exploring your microbiome by the University of Colorado Boulder and University of California San Diego

Now that we’ve given you eight great ways to utilise those expiring SkillsFuture Credit, and with a good amount of time, too, you have no excuse not to use them now!

Besides, you get to pick up some really nifty skills that’ll make for great conversation starters or ice breakers at the many festive gatherings coming up.

In case you missed it: Check out our guides on experiences to use your SG Culture Pass on, and where you can use your CDC vouchers around Singapore.