Looking to pitch your climate solution, win cash prizes for art and essays, or compete in a global debate at NYU? Below is a breakdown of four major international challenges open to global applicants, complete with eligibility guidelines, direct links, and submission deadlines.
1. Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge
Who It Is For: High School Students (Ages 15–18) & Secondary School Teachers Worldwide
Run by the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, this international challenge invites youth and educators to pitch tech-driven solutions to key climate issues like air pollution, extreme weather, food security, biodiversity, and water scarcity.
- Target Audience: Teams of 3 to 5 students (aged 15–18) along with high school teachers.
- Location & Travel: Fully funded. Finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford, UK for the finals. The winning team earns a full scholarship to an Oxford summer program.
- Application Fee: Free to enter.
- Deadline: August 17, 2026 (11:59 PM GMT).
- Official Portal: Oxford Saïd Business School
2. Dawn Project Climate and Health Challenge
Who It Is For: Open to All Ages Worldwide (Students, Artists, Writers, Musicians)
A global creative competition exploring the direct relationship between climate change and human health under the theme “Our Climate, Our Health, Our Responsibility”.
- Target Audience: Open to all age groups globally.
- Eligible Formats: Essays, poetry, visual art, graphic design, or original songs.
- Prizes: Cash prizes across all creative categories.
- Application Fee: Free to enter.
- Deadline: August 31, 2026.
- Official Portal: The Dawn Project
3. The Earth Partner Prize
Who It Is For: Young Creatives & Innovators Aged 14–30 Worldwide
Organized in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Re:wild, this global open call seeks creative responses to the ongoing ecological crisis.
- Target Audience: Youth creatives aged 14 to 30 from any country.
- Eligible Media: Photography, film, performance, spoken word, music, dance, fashion, and digital applications.
- Prizes: $30,000 Total Prize Pool ($10,000 Grand Prize, $5,000 Runners-up, and $2,000 Finalist awards).
- Application Fee: Free to enter.
- Deadline: October 7, 2026 (23:59 CEST).
- Official Portal: Earth Partner Prize
4. International Public Policy Forum (IPPF)
Who It Is For: High School Debate & Policy Teams Worldwide
Hosted by the Brewer Foundation in partnership with New York University (NYU), the IPPF is an international high school debate competition focusing on written policy advocacy and oral debate.
- Target Audience: High school student teams (3 to 6 members per team).
- The Format: Teams write a 3,000-word qualifying essay for or against a public policy motion. The top 64 teams enter a bracketed debate round, leading to the “Elite 8.”
- Location & Travel: The top 8 finalist teams win an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to compete live at the NYU School of Law for a $10,000 grand prize.
- Application Fee: Free with early-bird registration.
- Deadline: October 13, 2026 (Qualifying Essay Deadline).
- Official Portal: IPPF Debate Competition
📌 Enjoyed this breakdown? Subscribe to Potenue for daily alerts on hidden global fellowships, zero-fee competitions, and fully funded academic opportunities!