MIT EWB

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

COMPETITION 2026

For Middle and High School Students

Priority Deadline
January 5, 2026
Register Now!
This competition is for you if
You're interested in STEM

About MIT Engineers Without Borders

Engineers Without Borders is a non-profit that partners with people from countries around the globe, and works with them to find solutions that will improve quality of life in their communities.

MIT Engineers Without Borders chapter is a student-run organization that is learning practices that will make our team lifelong change-makers. Our team is a diverse group of engineers, scientists, leaders, designers, humanitarians, and innovators that's working together to create a better world, one community at a time.

Learn More

Make an Impact at the MIT EWB Science and Engineering Competition!

Calling all aspiring young engineers! Step into the world of engineering innovation and tackle real-world challenges that test your problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.

This isn’t just a competition—it’s a chance to apply your knowledge to meaningful problems and showcase your creativity. Whether you're passionate about engineering or excited to explore new solutions for global issues, this competition is your opportunity to shine and gain hands-on experience.

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Why Join the MIT EWB Science and Engineering Competition?

Build your engineering profile

Gain valuable experience that helps you stand out in your internship and university applications

Gain real-world experience

Get hands-on exposure to real engineering challenges and see how concepts can be applied to create impactful solutions

Compete and Collaborate

Work alongside peers who are as driven and ambitious as you are

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How does the competition work?

Competition Structure and Details

Team size

2-5 students per team
(all team members must be from the same school)

Categories

Middle School Category

Grade 6 - 8 (Year 7 - 9)

High School Category

Grade 9 - 12 (Year 10 - 13)

What do teams need to do?

Preliminary: Test

Middle School Category: No deep knowledge of any particular subject required. The test will focus on general knowledge, real problems, and critical thinking.

High School Category: Requires basic biology, chemistry, physics, and math knowledge to solve problems. The test will focus on critical thinking and real world applications.

Final: Live Zoom Presentation

Finalist teams will have ten days to come up with solution(s) to an engineering problem and present their solution to a judging panel composed of professors and industry experts

Register Now!

Registration Deadlines and Fees

Priority Deadline
Deadline: January 5, 2026
Fees: US$30 per student
Regular Deadline
Deadline: February 5, 2026
Fees: US$40 per student
Late Deadline
Deadline: March 5, 2026
Fees: US$50 per student
Register Now!

Competition Timeline

Competition format

Preliminary round

Description: The preliminary round is open to all registered teams worldwide

Format:
  • Test (multiple choice and short questions)
  • Each team member will individually attempt the same set of test questions
  • Only the top two scores will be used to calculate the team’s total score

Date: March 7, 2026

Time Allowed: 1 hour

Time:
  • Asia Pacific: 12:00 noon Tokyo Time
  • Europe, Middle East, Africa: 9:00 am London Time
  • North America , South America: 11:00 am New York Time
Final Round: Top 8 teams

Description: The top 8 performing teams from the preliminary round in each of the Middle School and High School Categories will be invited to compete in the global final round

Format: Live Zoom presentation to a panel of judges composed of professors and industry experts

Date: March 28, 2026 (TBC)

Register Now!

Recognition

All participants will be awarded a certificate of participation. Participants will also receive their scores.
Preliminary Round
Country + Regional Awards
Champion
Second Place
Third Place
Honor
Merit
Individual Awards
Top participants will receive individual honors, even if their teams may not win any awards.
Team Awards
Teams will be awarded based on the sum of their two highest individual scores.
Final Round
Global Awards
Global Champion
Global Second Place
Global Third Place
Global Finalists
(Globally ranked 4-8)

Join the Challenge

This competition is more than a contest; it's a gateway to the world of engineering innovation.

Register now to begin your journey into the exciting field of engineering, where you’ll apply creative problem-solving and technical skills to real-world challenges.

Register Now!

Fee Waiver Policy

Fee waiver is available for individual low-income students. Please ask your school counselor or principal to send an email titled 'Fee Waiver Request' to waivers@algoed.co from their official school email with your email address and confirm you need a waiver.

All fee waivers must be requested before the regular deadline.
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