DSTA Merit Scholarship: 2026 Profile

Q: What does DSTA Merit Scholarship: 2026 Profile cover?
A: Sponsorship coverage, eligibility criteria, and bond terms for DSTA's Merit Scholarship supporting locally-based engineering and digital undergraduates.

TL;DR\ The DSTA Merit Scholarship funds your local tech degree, pays allowances, sponsors exchanges, and guarantees internships. Expect a one-year bond for every sponsored academic year and plan to rotate across the Defence Technology Community.

Scholarship Snapshot

• Status: Applications open until 31 December 2025 (last verified 2025-10-03)
• Official Listing: DSTA Merit Scholarship
• Who It Targets: Polytechnic, JC/IP, and undergraduate students pursuing engineering, computing, or digital degrees in Singapore
• Eligibility: Singapore Citizens with strong academic records, active CCA/leadership portfolios, and genuine passion for defence technology missions
• Tenable Institutions: Local universities approved by DSTA (e.g., NTU, NUS, SUTD, SIT, SMU) offering relevant engineering or computing majors
• Bond: One year of service with the Defence Technology Community per sponsored year, typically fulfilled at DSTA, DSO, or CSIT

Award Components

• Tuition and compulsory fees for the remainder of the degree at a local university
• Annual allowance plus support for course materials and essential equipment
• Sponsorship for overseas exchange programmes endorsed by DSTA
• Structured internship and mentorship pipeline through the Defence Technology Community

Eligibility Highlights

• Academic strength: Distinction-level performance in pre-university exams or current university modules aligned to engineering or tech disciplines.
• Course alignment: Majoring in areas such as Computer Science, Information Security, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Data Science, or similar.
• Leadership & conduct: Evidence of teamwork, community contribution, or leadership roles in CCAs, projects, or service initiatives.
• Citizenship: Only Singapore Citizens may be considered; applicants should be prepared to commit to public service work.

Application Roadmap

1. Gather transcripts, CCA records, portfolio highlights, and recommendation letters before starting the application.