International Student Competition 2026: Eligibility, Categories, Deadline and How to Apply
The International Student Competition 2026 (ISC 2026) is an international academic competition organized by Universitas Bangka Belitung (UBB), Indonesia, for university students from around the world.
The competition gives students an opportunity to present their ideas, research, business concepts, technology projects, and creative work on an international platform. The 2026 edition focuses on the theme “Youth-Led Resilience: Turning Crisis into Creative, Inclusive Innovation.”
Students can participate in four competition categories: Tool Design, Business Plan, Scientific Research, and Essay.
The competition is open to students from different countries, and participants can compete individually or as part of a team. Registration is currently listed as free on the official ISC 2026 website.
The application and submission deadline is 2 October 2026. The preliminary judging will take place from 5 to 16 October, finalists will be announced on 21 October, and the Grand Final is scheduled for 29 October 2026.
International Student Competition 2026
Host University
Universitas Bangka Belitung (UBB), Indonesia
Competition Name
International Student Competition 2026 (ISC 2026)
Theme
Youth-Led Resilience: Turning Crisis into Creative, Inclusive Innovation
Competition Categories
Tool Design
Business Plan
Scientific Research
Essay
Eligibility
Active undergraduate and postgraduate students can participate, subject to the specific requirements of their selected category.
Participation
Individual participation is available.
Team participation is available.
Team size depends on the competition category.
International students can participate.
English is the official competition language.
Registration Fee
Free
Registration Deadline
2 October 2026
Submission Deadline
2 October 2026
Finalists Announcement
21 October 2026
Grand Final
29 October 2026
What Is the International Student Competition 2026?
The International Student Competition 2026 is an academic and innovation competition designed to bring students from different countries together.
The competition focuses on innovation, research, entrepreneurship, technology, and creative thinking.
According to Universitas Bangka Belitung, the competition aims to encourage international collaboration and help students develop solutions to global challenges while building international networks.
The 2026 theme is:
“Youth-Led Resilience: Turning Crisis into Creative, Inclusive Innovation.”
The theme encourages students to transform challenges and crises into practical ideas that are creative, inclusive, and sustainable.
Who Can Participate in ISC 2026?
The competition is open to active students from around the world.
The official ISC website states that both undergraduate and postgraduate students can participate. However, the exact academic level can differ between categories, so applicants should check the guidebook for their selected competition.
International students are specifically welcome to participate.
You can participate:
Individually
With a team
With an optional supervising lecturer, where applicable
The official competition uses English as its language.
International Student Competition 2026 Categories
ISC 2026 has four main categories.
1. Tool Design Competition
The Tool Design category is designed for students developing technology-based tools and innovative solutions.
This category can be suitable for students working on:
Software applications
Digital tools
Technology solutions
AI projects
Engineering solutions
Robotics
Digital innovation
Technology products
The competition's judges include experts in technology, engineering, AI, robotics, digital innovation, and product development.
If you are a computing or engineering student with an application or technology project, this category may be particularly relevant.
2. Business Plan Competition
The Business Plan Competition challenges students to develop innovative and sustainable business ideas addressing real-world problems.
The official competition identifies areas including:
Youth-led crisis solutions
Creative and sustainable innovation
Inclusive entrepreneurship
Digital resilience and transformation
Community resilience and collaboration
The competition is open to active D3, D4, undergraduate, and master's students from Indonesia and other countries.
Participants can compete individually or in teams of up to three members from the same institution. Registration is free.
The business plan should demonstrate factors such as innovation, feasibility, market potential, financial sustainability, scalability, collaboration, inclusivity, and measurable impact.
The business plan evaluation consists of a desk evaluation followed by an online presentation for selected finalists.
3. Scientific Research Competition
The Scientific Research Paper Competition gives students an opportunity to present original research addressing social, economic, environmental, or technological challenges.
The official research competition identifies four focus areas:
Youth Innovation, Digital Transformation and Responsible Technology
Students can explore topics involving technology, digital transformation, AI, responsible innovation, and youth-led technology solutions.
Climate Action, Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Resilience
This area focuses on climate challenges, disaster preparedness, environmental sustainability, and resilience.
Inclusive Economic Recovery, Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Livelihoods
Students can explore economic recovery, social entrepreneurship, employment, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive economic development.
Public Health, Mental Well-Being and Community Resilience
This area focuses on public health, community resilience, well-being, and related social challenges.
For the Scientific Research category, the official guide states that participants should prepare an original research paper in English of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 words.
The competition is open to Associate's and Bachelor's degree students worldwide, with individual or team participation of up to four members. Registration is free.
4. Essay Writing Competition
The Essay Writing Competition is designed for students who want to explore contemporary global issues through critical and creative writing.
The three official essay sub-themes are:
Young Voices for Peace and Justice
Youth-Driven Innovation for Inclusive Education
Youth Leadership in the Digital Age
Students can explore subjects including:
Economics
Science and engineering
Agriculture
Fisheries
Healthcare
Education
Literature
Social studies
Legal studies
The essay competition is open to active students worldwide. Participants can compete individually or in teams of up to three members, and registration is free.
International Student Competition 2026 Benefits
Participating in ISC 2026 can provide students with international academic and networking opportunities.
The competition offers several forms of recognition.
Participants can receive:
International certificates
Academic recognition
Opportunities for international networking
Opportunities to present their work
Awards for outstanding projects
Opportunities for collaboration with students and academics from different countries
The competition also includes several awards, including:
Gold Medal
Silver Medal
Bronze Medal
Best Presenter
Best Innovation
Best Research
Outstanding Project
People's Choice Award
Selected works may also have an opportunity to appear in conference proceedings or related publications, depending on the competition category and applicable requirements.
International Student Competition 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, students should check the requirements for their chosen category.
In general, applicants should:
Be an active student.
Study at an eligible university or institution.
Prepare original work.
Follow the selected category's requirements.
Submit the work in English.
Follow the official competition guidelines.
Submit before the deadline.
International students are eligible to participate.
The exact academic level and team-size requirements vary between categories.
For example, the Scientific Research Competition specifically targets Associate's and Bachelor's degree students, while the Business Plan Competition is open to D3, D4, undergraduate, and master's students.
Is the International Student Competition 2026 Free?
Yes.
The official ISC 2026 website currently states that participation is free for the competition.
The individual category pages also identify free registration for the relevant competitions.
Applicants should still read the official guidebook carefully because participation requirements can differ between categories.
International Student Competition 2026 Important Dates
The competition officially launched on 3 August 2026.
The main dates are:
3 August 2026: Competition launch and registration opens.
2 October 2026: Registration deadline.
2 October 2026: Submission deadline.
5 to 16 October 2026: Preliminary judging.
21 October 2026: Finalists announcement.
23 October 2026: Technical meeting.
29 October 2026: Grand Final.
The Grand Final is scheduled to take place at Universitas Bangka Belitung.
How to Apply for International Student Competition 2026
Students can apply through the official ISC 2026 website.
Follow these steps:
Visit the official International Student Competition website.
Review the available competition categories.
Choose the category that matches your project or idea.
Read the relevant category guidebook.
Check the eligibility requirements.
Register as an individual or form a team if permitted.
Prepare your project, research paper, business plan, tool, or essay.
Follow the required format.
Submit your work through the official application system.
Complete your submission before 2 October 2026.
Official Website: International Student Competition 2026
What Should You Prepare Before Applying?
Your preparation depends on the category you choose.
For Tool Design
Prepare your technology project, explanation of the problem, solution, technical approach, and demonstration materials.
For Business Plan
Prepare a structured business proposal covering the problem, solution, target market, business model, financial sustainability, scalability, and expected impact.
For Scientific Research
Prepare an original research paper that follows the required structure and focuses on one of the official research areas.
For Essay
Choose one of the official sub-themes and develop an original essay that demonstrates critical thinking, analysis, creativity, and a clear argument.
ISC 2026 Judging Process
The competition uses different evaluation stages depending on the category.
The official competition information states that submissions go through an initial evaluation before selected participants advance to the presentation stage.
For the Business Plan category, for example, the evaluation consists of:
Desk Evaluation: 40%
Presentation Stage: 60%
The Scientific Research category is evaluated by academics and research experts based on factors such as research quality, methodology, innovation, and scientific contribution.
Who Are the Judges?
ISC 2026 has judges from universities, research institutions, and professional backgrounds.
The official judge list includes experts from institutions such as Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Heriot-Watt University, University of Exeter, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and other institutions.
Judges are assigned according to their areas of expertise, including technology, AI, entrepreneurship, research, innovation, communication, and related fields.
Why Should Students Join ISC 2026?
ISC 2026 gives students an opportunity to take their academic work beyond the classroom.
A student can use the competition to:
Present an original project internationally.
Receive an international certificate.
Build an academic portfolio.
Test an idea against external judges.
Gain presentation experience.
Connect with students from other countries.
Explore research and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Receive recognition through competition awards.
For students planning to pursue master's degrees, PhD programs, research careers, entrepreneurship, or international opportunities, a well-developed competition project can also become part of their broader academic portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Student Competition 2026?
The International Student Competition 2026 is an international academic competition organized by Universitas Bangka Belitung in Indonesia for students from around the world.
What is the theme of ISC 2026?
The theme is “Youth-Led Resilience: Turning Crisis into Creative, Inclusive Innovation.”
Who can participate in ISC 2026?
Active students from around the world can participate, subject to the eligibility requirements of their selected category.
Can international students participate?
Yes. The official ISC website states that students from all countries are welcome to participate.
Is ISC 2026 free?
Yes. The official competition website currently lists registration as free.
What are the categories?
There are four main categories:
Tool Design
Business Plan
Scientific Research
Essay
What is the deadline for ISC 2026?
The registration and submission deadline is 2 October 2026.
When will the finalists be announced?
The finalists are scheduled to be announced on 21 October 2026.
When is the Grand Final?
The Grand Final is scheduled for 29 October 2026 at Universitas Bangka Belitung.
Can students participate individually?
Yes. Individual participation is available, although team requirements vary by category.
What language is used?
English is the official language of the competition.
Final Words
The International Student Competition 2026 gives students from around the world an opportunity to showcase research, technology projects, business ideas, and academic writing on an international platform.
With four categories, free registration, international participation, academic recognition, and opportunities for networking, ISC 2026 is open to students who want to take their ideas beyond their university.
If you plan to participate, choose your category carefully and read the official guidebook before preparing your submission.
The application and submission deadline is 2 October 2026.
Official Website: isc.ubb.ac.id
Organized by: Universitas Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
