Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge 2026 in the United Kingdom | Fully Funded — Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

A fully funded trip to Oxford, a shot at a summer school scholarship, and no age requirement beyond being a working high school student or teacher. The Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge asks teenagers and educators to build genuine technology-driven solutions to the climate crisis, then flies the finalists in to present them.

Run by Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, the competition drew more than 1,600 entries from 75 countries last year.

About the Scholarship

The challenge runs two parallel tracks. Student teams of three to five, aged 15 to 18, develop a technology-based solution addressing one of five climate themes: air pollution, extreme weather, food security, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. Teachers apply individually with a set of lesson plans built around climate change awareness and classroom-ready solutions. Both tracks are judged separately but share the same finals stage at Saïd Business School in October 2026.

Because the challenge accepts entries from any country and does not require an existing relationship with Oxford, it functions as a genuinely open door into the university’s ecosystem for younger applicants. Teams weighing this alongside other funded opportunities for students exploring research or innovation might also look at the Rising Explorer Grant Program, which funds independent field science projects at a similar age range, or the GEM Fellowship Program for those planning ahead toward funded STEM graduate study. Teachers interested in Oxford’s broader executive programming might also note the Harvard Academy Scholars Program, though that fellowship targets postdoctoral researchers rather than working teachers.

Scholarship Benefits

• Winning student team receives a full scholarship to the Future Climate Innovators Summer School 2027 in Oxford, all expenses covered
• Winning teacher attends an Oxford Executive Education Programme with all expenses covered
• Finalist student teams and teachers receive a fully funded trip to Oxford, including travel and accommodation
• Participants present their work at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
• Approved participants receive a certificate of participation from Oxford Saïd
• International exposure and recognition from a leading global business school
• The chance to connect with students, teachers, academics, and climate experts worldwide

Eligibility Criteria

**Student Teams**

• Ages 15 to 18
• Teams of 3 to 5 students; individual applications not accepted
• Open to students from any country, including mixed teams across schools or countries
• Must submit a climate technology solution tied to one of the five competition themes
• Requires a PowerPoint presentation saved as PDF and a video presentation up to three minutes
• Each student needs a signed parental or guardian consent form

**Teachers**

• Must be a current high school teacher
• Open to teachers from all countries
• Applications must come from an individual teacher, not a team
• Must submit lesson plans focused on climate change awareness aligned with curriculum objectives

Fields of Study Covered

• Environmental science and climate technology
• Engineering and applied technology solutions
• Agricultural and food security innovation
• Conservation and biodiversity monitoring
• Water resource management
• Education and curriculum design, for the teacher track

Required Documents

• PowerPoint presentation, up to 10 pages, saved as PDF (student teams)
• Video presentation, maximum three minutes (student teams)
• Signed parental or guardian consent forms for each student
• Lesson plans saved as PDF (teacher track)

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Visit the official application portal and choose whether to apply as a student team or teacher.
2. Select one of the five climate challenge themes to build your solution or lesson plans around.
3. Prepare your PowerPoint presentation and three-minute video (student teams) or your lesson plan series (teachers).
4. Collect signed consent forms from all team members if applying as a student team.
5. Upload all required documents through the online portal.
6. Review everything carefully, then submit before the 17 August 2026 deadline.
7. Watch for finalist announcements in September 2026, ahead of the October finals at Oxford.

Selection Process

Judges evaluate student submissions on problem identification, research quality, innovation, feasibility, potential impact, presentation quality, teamwork, ethical considerations, and long-term sustainability. Teacher submissions are judged on educational impact, curriculum alignment, innovation, clarity, student engagement potential, and practicality. Because the same panel reviews thousands of entries, submissions that address a theme with genuine specificity and evidence tend to stand out over broad, unfocused proposals.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Pick one climate theme and go deep rather than trying to touch on several at once
• Use the video presentation to show genuine team dynamics and passion, not just a scripted pitch
• Ground your solution in real data or a specific local problem your team has researched
• Teachers should tie lesson plans explicitly to measurable student engagement and existing curriculum standards
• Submit well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues with file uploads

Frequently Asked Questions

Can students from different schools or countries form one team?

Yes. Teams can include members from a single school, multiple schools, one country, or several different countries.

Is there a cost to enter?

No entry fee is mentioned; the competition is presented as a fully funded opportunity for finalists and winners.

What happens if my team is not selected as a finalist?

All students with approved submissions still receive a certificate of participation from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, regardless of finalist status.

Can a teacher apply as part of a team?

No. Teacher applications must come from an individual, while student applications require a team of three to five.

When are finalists announced and where are the finals held?

Finalists are announced in September 2026, and the global finals take place at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, in October 2026.

What does the winning student team actually receive?

A full scholarship to the Future Climate Innovators Summer School 2027 in Oxford, with all participation-related expenses covered.

Does the competition favor students with prior technology or coding experience?

Not necessarily. Judges weigh problem identification, research, and feasibility as heavily as technical polish, so a well-researched, clearly explained idea can compete with more technically advanced entries.