Five local celebrities you may not know have degrees

Even actors need a degree to survive in Singapore.

Christopher Parwani

Published: 22 June 2016, 8:38 PM

Many successful entertainers like Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo Dicaprio and even local celebrities like Tabitha Nauser and Felicia Chin didn’t finish their education. Even singer Joel Tan (Gentle Bones) is considering dropping out of university to pursue his music.

Although many celebrities choose to focus on their careers at a young age, there are some who persevere to graduate with a degree.

Here are five local celebrities who got their degrees, juggling their careers in the entertainment industry with their studies.

1. Rui En

Her interview about being in school back in 2011.

Famous for her role as Huang Zhijie, a police woman in the highly watched Channel 8 drama C.L.I.F., not many know that the actress and mandopop singer Rui En graduated in 2004 with a bachelor in business from NTU (Nanyang Technological University) specialising in Banking and Finance. As she juggled her career and her studies simultaneously, her friends in school helped her out tremendously.

2. Ng Chin Han

CHIN HAN IN A SCENE OF THE DARK KNIGHT IN 2008. IMAGE CREDIT: SCREENSHOT FROM THE DARK KNIGHT

One of the Singaporeans who made it big in Hollywood, the 46-year-old has starred in blockbusters like The Dark Knight (2008), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and more recently, the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence. Chin Han’s love for acting started early in his life, and while studying in NUS (National University of Singapore), he was the president of the university theater group, Varsity Playhouse.

3. Sonia Chew

SONIA IS THE RADIO PRODUCER AND PRESENTER AT 987FM THE BRIGHT SIDE. PHOTO CREDIT: RADIO.TOGGLE.SG

Well known for being a DJ at 987, Sonia started her radio stint while pursing her diploma at Ngee Ann poly on the campus’ radio station, Radio Heatwave. She later pursued her degree in creative producing at Chapman University and won 987FM’s DJ search during her final year in 2012.

She isn’t the only 987 DJ host who got her degree.

4. Kimberly Wang

KIMBERLY SPEAKS ABOUT JUGGLING HER DJ LIFE AND STUDIES.

Host of 987’s show Happy Ending, Kimberly started her entertainment career as early as 9-years-old, but was in and out of showbiz to commit to her studies.

While pursuing her major in public relations at NTU’s well-known Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in 2011, she worked part time as a DJ at 987 after winning a DJ audition.

5. Tay Ping Hui

PING HUI HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN A STAR AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST ACTOR THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. PHOTO CREDIT: MEDIACORP.SG

Ping Hui has been a household name in the local entertainment industry since 1999. The star of several famous Channel 8 dramas like C.I.D. and Mars vs Venus has an impressive Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Economics and Political Science from NUS.

Even more interesting is the fact that before his acting career took off, he was the general manager of Subway Singapore.