Industry guides
Real Estate Internships in Singapore
Singapore's property market supports a robust real estate internship ecosystem spanning CBRE, JLL, CapitaLand, URA, and HDB. This guide covers valuation, property management, and research roles paying SGD 800–1,800/month.
Real Estate Internships in Singapore
Singapore's real estate sector is one of the most sophisticated in Asia. From URA planning policies to REIT asset management and cross-border capital flows, the sector offers diverse internship opportunities beyond what most students imagine. Whether your interest is in investment, development, property management, or planning policy, Singapore has relevant employers.
Real Estate Sub-Sectors
| Sub-Sector | Key Players | What Interns Do |
|---|---|---|
| Investment / Capital Markets | CBRE, JLL, Knight Frank, Savills | Pitch books, comparables, site reports |
| Valuation | Knight Frank, Colliers, Savills, Edmund Tie | Property valuations, DCF models |
| Property Management | CapitaLand, City Developments, Frasers | Building operations, tenant relations |
| Development | CapitaLand, UOL, Keppel Land, GuocoLand | Feasibility studies, project tracking |
| REIT Management | CapitaLand REIT, Mapletree, Keppel REIT | NAV analysis, investor relations |
| Research | CBRE Research, JLL Research, Knight Frank | Market reports, data analysis |
| Urban Planning | URA, HDB, JTC | Policy analysis, masterplan work |
| Facilities Management | SATS, Sodexo, Cushman & Wakefield | Building services, FM contracts |
Top Employers
Global Property Services Firms
| Company | Roles | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| CBRE Singapore | Capital markets, valuation, research, PM | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) | Investment, valuation, research | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| Knight Frank Singapore | Valuation, capital markets, research | SGD 1,100–1,600 |
| Savills Singapore | Valuation, investment | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
| Colliers International | Valuation, investment, research | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
Singapore REITs and Developers
| Company | Roles | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| CapitaLand Investment | Asset management, IR, development | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| Mapletree Investments | REIT analysis, asset management | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| Keppel Capital | Real assets, infrastructure | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| City Developments (CDL) | Development, property management | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
| Frasers Property | Development, asset management | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
| GuocoLand | Development, commercial | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
Government / Statutory Boards
| Company | Roles | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) | Planning, research, development control | SGD 1,000–1,600 |
| Housing Development Board (HDB) | Town planning, estate management | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
| JTC Corporation | Industrial estates, development | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
| Building & Construction Authority (BCA) | Regulatory, sustainability | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
Salary Benchmarks
| Employer Type | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| REIT managers (CapitaLand, Mapletree) | SGD 1,200–1,800 |
| Global property services (CBRE, JLL) | SGD 1,100–1,800 |
| Government / URA / HDB | SGD 1,000–1,600 |
| Developers (CDL, GuocoLand) | SGD 1,000–1,500 |
| Small agencies / valuers | SGD 800–1,200 |
Skills Required
| Skill | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Excel (DCF, property cash flow models) | High — valuation and capital markets |
| Argus Enterprise (property modelling software) | High for CBRE/JLL valuation roles |
| PowerPoint | High — pitch books and research reports |
| Market research | High — all roles require data synthesis |
| Real estate finance basics (cap rates, NOI, yield) | High — for investment roles |
| Statutory planning knowledge (URA masterplan) | High for URA/HDB/JTC roles |
CEA Licence — What Interns Need to Know
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) regulates Singapore's property agents. As an intern, you do not need a CEA licence — you are not transacting property. However:
- Roles at property agencies (ERA, PropNex, OrangeTee) may involve client-facing work; confirm what the internship actually covers
- Valuation and research roles at CBRE, JLL, Knight Frank do not require a CEA licence
If you plan to work as a property agent after graduation, the CEA exam (salesperson level) is the first step.
Application Tips
- Real Estate Society (NUS/NTU/SMU): Most Singapore real estate employers recruit heavily through these campus clubs; join and attend their industry trips and networking evenings
- CBRE and JLL run structured intern programmes with cohort-based starts; apply through their websites in October for January intake and March for July intake
- URA internships are competitive and popular with architecture and planning students; apply 3–4 months in advance
- REITs are underrated as internship destinations — the asset management work is analytically sophisticated and the teams are small enough that interns get real exposure
- Industry reports: Read JLL's quarterly Singapore market reports and CBRE's SEA capital markets report before your interview; knowledge of current market conditions impresses interviewers significantly
Tags
real estate internship SingaporeCBRE internshipJLL internshipCapitaLand internshipURA internship