Primary and Secondary Selection: First, top 10 students will be nominated by affiliated universities and sent to YAO Cambodia with the application form and other supported documents. Then the ASC Cambodia interviews each of these nominees, scores written essay in the local language and make a shortlist. The ASC Cambodia prepares an English shortlist, including the final scores and rankings, and submits it to the HIC for the final agreement.

Final Selection: During December every year, the HGC holds a selection meeting to decide the Y-E-S Award recipients. The actual number of the recipients for a particular year may vary and could be fewer in total than the maximum number allotted for Cambodia.