The Global Climate Tech Challenge is run by Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. It invites high-school students and teachers from any country to propose technology-based solutions to a real climate problem. Student teams pitch an original climate-tech idea; teachers submit classroom lesson plans that bring climate solutions into the curriculum. Entries are judged remotely, a shortlist of finalists is announced in September 2026, and the finals are held in person at the University of Oxford in October 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Finalist student teams and finalist teachers receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford to present at the global finals.
- The winning student team receives a full scholarship to the Future Climate Innovators summer school at Oxford in 2027.
- The winning teacher receives a fully funded place on an Oxford Saïd Executive Education programme in 2027.
- Every participant whose submission is approved receives a certificate of participation from Saïd Business School.
- There is no entry fee.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants from any country.
- Student track: teams of 3–5 students aged 15–18 (individual student entries are not accepted). A team may mix students from one or several schools and countries.
- Teacher track: individual high-school teachers only (team entries are not accepted).
- Entries address one of five themes: air pollution, extreme weather, food security, biodiversity, or water scarcity.
Can you apply?
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Application process
- 1Choose your track (student team or individual teacher) and one of the five climate themes.
- 2Student teams prepare a presentation of up to ten slides (submitted as a PDF) plus a video of up to three minutes, and collect a parent- or guardian-signed consent form for each student.
- 3Teachers prepare a set of lesson plans for their school curriculum (submitted as a PDF).
- 4Submit through the official application portal before the deadline.
- 5Finalists are announced in September 2026 and invited to the Oxford finals in October 2026.
Program timeline
Application deadline (11:59 PM GMT)
17 August 2026
Finalists announced
September 2026
Global finals at the University of Oxford
October 2026
Winners attend the summer school (students) or Executive Education programme (teachers)
2027