How to Apply
Registration is a single online form. You do not need a fully formed project idea to apply — most applicants arrive with a rough question and refine it during orientation and the first weeks with their mentor.
Step 1 · Check that you are eligible
Age
12 to 18 on 1 September 2026. Junior Division is 12–15; Senior Division is 16–18.
School
Any middle or high school, including home-schooled students. You do not need your school to endorse the application; we recommend telling them, but it is not required.
Region
You choose one of four regional hubs at registration: Singapore, Hong Kong, London, or New York. Most applicants pick the hub nearest where they study.
Step 2 · Decide on solo or team
You may enter alone or in a team of up to four. Teams may be cross-school. If you do not have a team and want one, indicate this in the form; the orientation programme includes a matchmaking session for solo applicants who would like to form a team.
Step 3 · Submit the registration form
The form takes most applicants 30–45 minutes. You will be asked for:
- Basic contact details for each team member, plus a parent or guardian for any applicant under 16.
- The track you intend to enter (you may change this once, free of charge, before the proposal checkpoint).
- A 200-word description of the problem you want to work on, or — if you don't have a specific problem yet — what you find interesting and why.
- A short note on what you have already built, written, or made, if anything. This is not used to screen for prior achievement; it helps the mentor-matching team pair you well.
Step 4 · Pay the registration fee
Standard fee
USD 90 per individual entrant. Team fee: USD 150 flat per team of two to four members. The fee covers mentor matching, access to all checkpoints and feedback, the orientation programme, and a place at the regional showcase.
Fee waivers
Full and partial waivers are available. Tick the relevant box on the form; a short supporting note from a teacher, counsellor, or community leader is sufficient. No applicant is turned away for inability to pay the fee. Travel grants for the Global Final are handled separately.
Step 5 · Wait for confirmation
You will receive a confirmation email within five working days, followed by an invitation to the orientation programme. Orientation rolls on a continuous basis — earlier registration means earlier access to your mentor and a longer working period before the proposal checkpoint.
What we look for at registration
We do not score applications. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria and submits a complete form is accepted. The 200-word description is read by the mentor-matching team — not as a test, but to understand what to pair you with. Honesty helps more than polish.
If you change your mind
You may withdraw at any time before the proposal checkpoint and receive a full refund. After the proposal checkpoint, the registration fee is non-refundable but the spot can be transferred to a teammate or a future season.