REGISTRATION FEE
What is the registration fee for YAI's youth AI hackathon?
The registration fee for YAI Singapore · Season 26/27 is S$68 per student (Singapore dollars). It is a flat, one-time fee with no hidden costs: no kits to buy, no paid tools required, and no cap on places. About 15 fee-waiver places are available for students who need financial support.
What does the S$68 fee cover?
S$68 per student covers the full season from registration to Demo Weekend. There is no other entry fee.
- Challenge and resource pack: Your team's full challenge for its track and division, a starter card and the resource pack, unlocking on your team page once your place is confirmed.
- Screening and judging: At least two reviewers score every valid submission online using five published criteria. 3–5 finalist teams per track in each division present live at Demo Weekend.
- Certificates for every student: Every valid submission receives a certificate, finalist or not.
- Demo Weekend entry and student lunch: For those who attend in Singapore on Sat 16 – Sun 17 Jan 2027.
Not included: devices, travel (including flights, visas and accommodation for teams from outside Singapore), and lunch for accompanying adults.
Are there any additional costs?
No. You will not need to buy kits or paid tools. Free tools can score full marks.
A laptop, tablet or phone, paper, cardboard and free tools are enough. On-screen and simulated projects are judged the same as physical ones. Judges don't score lines of code, device price, or the number of tools used.
If a student withdraws, the fee is not refunded. If YAI Singapore · Season 26/27 is cancelled, you receive a full refund. If it is postponed, you can keep your place or take a full refund. Refunds are limited to the fee paid and are processed within 14 days of receiving what is needed. Full details are on the Refunds page.
Is financial support available?
About 15 places are free for students who need financial support.
Say yes to "apply for a fee waiver" when confirming your place, then email support@ycess.com with your team name and proof of financial help from your school, local council or government, or a short note from a teacher. No bank statements are required. Two staff members review each request privately; judges and partners are never told. Your registration stays open while the review is underway, and your team's challenge unlocks once every confirmation is in — without waiting for the result. Fee-waiver places are open to every division, including University.
How and when do you pay?
Pay within 3 days of registering. From a Singapore bank: PayNow. From outside Singapore: card via Stripe.
The team representative pays for the whole team. The payment button appears on screen as soon as you register and on your team page. Near the end of the registration window, the payment deadline is Sat 2 Jan 2027, 23:59 SGT, if that is earlier than 3 days from your registration. Your exact deadline is on your team page.
From a Singapore bank account, pay by PayNow: scan the QR code with your bank app. From outside Singapore, pay by card on the Stripe payment page — most international debit and credit cards work. If the page shows the price in another currency, tap to switch to PayNow, which avoids the conversion fee Stripe adds (your bank may still charge its own fee). If your card is declined, check that it allows overseas online payments.
If payment is not made in time, the registration lapses and nothing is charged. You are welcome to register again any time before Sat 2 Jan 2027, 23:59 SGT; there is no cap on places.
Who pays and can a school cover fees?
Fees are usually paid by each team's representative. A school that would like to cover fees for its teams should email support@ycess.com before registering. YAI is an out-of-school programme organised by Youth and Children Education Society (Singapore); families register and pay for their own teams, and schools can simply share the information if they wish.
In a team with members under 21, an under-18 member, their parent or a teacher can register and pay. In a team of all adults, any member can be the representative.
Register your team
Registration is open from Mon 19 Oct 2026 to Sat 2 Jan 2027, 23:59 SGT. Teams of 1–4 students, any nationality, in three divisions: Primary (ages 7–12), Secondary (ages 13–17), and University (ages 18–24). The fee is S$68 per student, and there is no cap on places.
Have more questions? See the FAQ page for answers about divisions, refunds, judging, and more.