PSC Scholarship (Engineering) - Defence & Security (Non-Military): 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)20 Oct 2025, 09:40 Z
TL;DR
The PSC Scholarship (Engineering) - Defence & Security sponsors top STEM students for local or overseas study before grooming them into civilian technologists supporting MINDEF and the wider security ecosystem through postings, research attachments, and leadership tracks.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Open Until 15 Mar 2026 (submit ahead of PSC Gateway's March deadline)
- Where to Check: Follow https://www.psc.gov.sg/scholarships/engineering-scholarships for official briefs and FAQs
- Who It Targets: Singaporean STEM students or polytechnic diploma holders intending to contribute to defence technology, cyber defence, or systems engineering in the Public Service
- Fields of Study: Systems engineering, computer science, AI, materials science, data analytics, or related disciplines approved by MINDEF and PSC
- Bond: Four-year bond for local universities; six-year bond for approved overseas programmes
Award Components
- Full tuition fees, compulsory charges, and living allowances for studies at approved local or overseas universities
- Funded preparatory courses (e.g., language immersion, bridging modules) before departure for overseas scholars
- Vacation attachments with DSTA, DSO National Laboratories, or MINDEF policy-technology teams to build domain expertise early
- Sponsorship of research projects or final-year capstones aligned to defence innovation priorities
- Post-graduation development via structured rotations, mentorship, and leadership programmes across the defence and security technology community
Eligibility Highlights
- Singapore citizens with stellar results in H2 Mathematics and relevant sciences/engineering subjects or equivalent polytechnic GPA
- Demonstrated passion for defence innovation through competitions, research, or technology CCA involvement
- Strong leadership and teamwork credentials from co-curricular achievements or national service (if applicable)
- Satisfactory medical fitness and security clearance for work on defence technology projects
- Readiness to embrace lifelong upskilling in emerging tech domains and to serve in critical, sometimes classified, projects
Application Roadmap
- Explore fit: Attend PSC engineering scholarship talks and defence tech career fairs to understand expectations and specialisations.
- Compile portfolio: Prepare academic transcripts, project summaries, hackathon or research credentials, and leadership testimonials.
- Apply via PSC Gateway: Indicate engineering disciplines of interest and submit supporting documents by mid-March.
- Undergo selection: Complete psychometric tests, technical interviews, and agency dialogues with MINDEF/DSTA leaders.
- Plan development: Upon award, engage your career mentor to map attachments, overseas exchange plans, and post-graduation rotations.
Preparation Playbook
- Build a portfolio that demonstrates systems thinking—highlight design projects, cyber competitions, or research posters.
- Stay current with Singapore's defence technology roadmap, including digital defence, autonomous systems, and next-generation sensors.
- Practise articulating complex technical ideas clearly, especially how your skills can translate into national security outcomes.
- Seek internship or research opportunities with defence-linked organisations (e.g., DSTA, DSO, cyber agencies) before applying.
- Maintain fitness and resilience; while the role is civilian, the environment demands tenacity and readiness for rapid deployment cycles.
