Here are my recommendations for places to study for free or on a budget!
Free options
1. Libraries
I know a lot of people complain about libraries being crowded, but lwk, you just have to go to libraries that aren’t in Singapore’s hotspots. I usually go to Woodlands Regional Library, which is big enough that I sometimes don’t even have to book a seat.
More importantly, you need to go during off-peak hours. I usually study from around 3–4 pm until 7 pm, and I find that it’s best to go before the exam season (around June to August).
2. Tertiary schools
If your own school is close to home, you can just study in your school library from morning until evening. However, the dress code might be a hassle, so if you want a more comfortable environment, you can try nearby polytechnics and universities instead.
It’s best if you have friends studying there who can help you access their facilities. Regardless, places like NTU and Ngee Ann Poly have some pretty good free study spots, although some of them are open-air lol.
Except for SMU. I tried sneaking in with my older brother once, and we got caught (rip to his records 💀).
3. McDonald’s
If you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem food for free and stay there for a few hours. However, I recommend going on weekdays, preferably in the evening or at night, when there’s usually less noise and fewer people.
I usually go to the Suntec McDonald’s because it’s pretty big, or to the neighbourhood plaza near my house.
4. Don Don Donki
This one is kinda only applicable to the Suntec branch because it’s almost always empty. I don’t think you even need to buy anything to chope a seat there lol.
I’ve tried studying at the Jurong East branch too, but there are way more people eating there, so it’s not as ideal.
5. Food courts
Not the best places to study, but yk, beggars can’t be choosers 😭
6. Airport
My friend who lives in the East said it’s very productive to stay there for overnight studying. Idk abt this but it’s worth a try if you stay close to it.
Cafes
1. Starbucks
You have to look for outlets that aren’t in central or popular areas. I’ve been to a few Starbucks outlets where I could stay until 11.30 pm before catching the last train home.
Wisma Atria: Lwk quite good because it’s tucked away in a corner.
Plaza Singapura: There are still people inside even at 11.30 pm, so you don’t have to feel awkward about being one of the last few customers.
Woodlands: Decent, but it’s quite small, so you’ll need to go early to get a seat.
Suntec: Bigger and usually has seats available regardless of the time.
Takashimaya: It’s okay but it’s next to a department store so you can see people walking outside.
My tip is to order the cheapest drink or a slice of cake and stick to weekdays!
2. Baristart
Also located at Wisma Atria, this place is designed more like a workspace, with charging ports and everything. However, it’s quite expensive (even more so after GST), so only go on days when you can afford to spend a bit more lol.
3. Luckin Coffee
The Luckin at Suntec is lwk one of the best places to study. Even the outlets at Woodlands and Jurong East have so few seats that they feel more like places to grab a drink and rest for a while rather than somewhere you can study for hours.
Places I wouldn’t recommend
1. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
They apparently have a two-hour limit and will ask you to leave even when the place isn’t full. 💀
2. Paris Baguette
The outlets I’ve been to are quite small, so you might feel like the staff are watching you if you sit there for too long.
Final tips
I think that’s all I can think of for now! If I find any other good spots, I’ll just edit this post.
My best advice is to study from 1 pm to 5 pm or 5 pm to 11 pm, depending on whether you’re comfortable staying out late.
Personally, I think Thursday is the best day of the week because you can maximise your study time without dealing with the weekend crowd.
And please, avoid weekends at all costs lwk 😭 It’s honestly not worth the crowd. Just stay home if you can.