Young Defence Scientists Programme 2026: STEM Pathways for IP Boys & Girls
01 Dec 2025, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)
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Q: What does Young Defence Scientists Programme 2026: STEM Pathways for IP Boys & Girls cover?
A: Comprehensive briefing on DSTA's Young Defence Scientists Programme (YDSP) 2026.
TL;DR
YDSP is a DSTA student programme that typically includes camps and exposure to defence-related STEM. It can be a strong portfolio experience if students later apply for internships or scholarships, but nothing is guaranteed—check the official call for eligibility and timelines.
Stay Connected
Status: DSTA's YDSP page and the latest public factsheet checked 2025-12-15; confirm the 2026 application window against the current call and your school's announcements.
Quick links: IP Physics hub, Scholarships hub, Scholarship & Bursary Matcher, NUS–MOE SRP playbook, Regeneron ISEF guide
1 Programme Overview
- Organiser: Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), with MINDEF support.
- Programme components: Refer to the official page for the current tracks/components and how they are described (e.g., camps, lab exposure, community events) (DSTA YDSP).
- Target cohort: Check the official call for the current eligibility and target student groups.
1.1 Why it matters
- Provides mentorship by defence engineers and exposure to cutting-edge labs.
- Can strengthen a student’s STEM portfolio if they later apply for related opportunities (internships/scholarships are separate processes with their own criteria) (MINDEF speech, 25 Apr 2025).
2 Application Timeline & Structure (2026)
| Stage | Period | Highlights | Action items |




