Defence Merit Scholarship (Non-Military): 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)03 Oct 2025, 19:50 Z
Reviewed by
Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)
Planning a revision session? Use our study places near me map to find libraries, community study rooms, and late-night spots.
Q: What does Defence Merit Scholarship (Non-Military): 2026 Profile cover?
A: Scholarship value, eligibility requirements, and bond expectations for MINDEF's Defence Merit Scholarship supporting civilian Defence Executive Officers across strategy, policy, and capability domains.
TL;DR\ MINDEF's Defence Merit Scholarship funds tuition, allowances, airfare, and a one-time summer exchange for up to six years of study, and channels you into a civilian Defence Executive Officer career. MINDEF lists the 2026 cycle as open (1 Sep 2025 – 30 Apr 2026); expect two interview boards and a four- to six-year bond depending on study location.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application Window Open (1 Sep 2025 – 30 Apr 2026; checked 2025-11-23)
- Official Listing: Defence Merit Scholarship — Ministry of Defence
- Who It Targets: Aspiring civilian leaders keen to serve as Defence Executive Officers in diplomacy, policy, capability development, cyber, communications, finance, or manpower portfolios
- Eligibility: Singapore Citizens or PRs prepared to take up citizenship, strong A-Level/IB/Poly Diploma (with Merit) or equivalent results, good CCA track record, and readiness to serve in MINDEF; mid-term applicants accepted up to the penultimate year
- Tenable Institutions: MINDEF highlights top universities in the US/UK (e.g., MIT, Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE; list not exhaustive). Professional courses like architecture/medicine/dentistry are excluded; law is allowed but DMS recipients will not be called to the Bar while serving
- Bond: Four years for local pathways; six years for overseas study. Study time does not count toward the bond. Male scholars can credit five or ten months of full-time NS toward the bond, subject to a minimum effective service of 3.5 years
Award Components and Attachments
- Full tuition fees and other approved academic charges
- Maintenance and other allowances (e.g., books, clothing, computer)
- Return airfare and a one-time sponsorship for summer exchange programmes
- Funding for up to six years of studies, inclusive of a Master's if applicable
- At least one internship during a vacation period (minimum eight weeks) with MINDEF teams such as Defence Relations, Finance, HR, National Education, or MINDEF systems; external internships considered on a case-by-case basis
Eligibility Highlights
- Academic strength:
