The Shenzhen FinTech Competition has an international track for full-time university students studying outside the listed China regions. Teams develop ideas under the theme AI as a Financial Participant. Undergraduate, master’s and PhD students from any discipline can take part if they meet the team rules.
The international track offers a RMB250,000 pre-tax prize pool and travel and accommodation support for shortlisted finalists. Registration and submission are scheduled to close on 20 October 2026, with possible earlier registration closure. This guide explains team eligibility, the six topics, finalist support and the official submission route.
Shenzhen FinTech Competition Details
The international track is new for the competition’s eighth edition. It invites cross-disciplinary teams to propose AI-driven tools for practical financial problems, with English used for the international track.
The competition is hosted by Shenzhen University WeBank Institute of Financial Technology, with Shenzhen University and WeBank as strategic guidance units. The IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Singapore Chapter is a technical guidance institution and publishes the international-track rules and schedule.
Competition | Shenzhen International FinTech Competition, international track |
|---|---|
Theme | AI as a Financial Participant |
Team size | 2–5 members; at least 60% non-Chinese nationals |
Study location | Universities outside Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Chinese Taipei |
Language | English; Chinese proficiency not required |
Prize pool | RMB250,000 for the international track, pre-tax |
Deadline | 20 October 2026; Singapore Time UTC+8, closing hour not stated |
Final | Shenzhen: check-in 20 November; Grand Final 21–23 November 2026 |
Stay Updated with Guidance Gem
Follow Guidance Gem for verified scholarship, fellowship, and education updates.
Always recheck the official source before submitting an application.
Prizes and Finalist Travel Support
The Shenzhen FinTech Competition prize pool is divided among named international-track awards. The published cash amounts are pre-tax, and entering the competition does not guarantee a prize or a funded visit.
Travel to and accommodation in Shenzhen during the Grand Final period are covered for shortlisted teams. Finalists are also offered a WeBank headquarters visit, and the schedule plans invitation letters on 31 October for university approval and visa arrangements.
Eligibility for Shenzhen FinTech Competition
All participants must be full-time students at universities outside Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Chinese Taipei. The rules welcome all academic levels and disciplines, but the study-location restriction applies to every member.
Teams must have between two and five members, with at least sixty percent non-Chinese nationals. Each participant can join only one team across the domestic and international tracks; duplicated registration can invalidate all affected team submissions.
Topics and Registration Information
Teams choose one of six topics: personal finance, wealth advisory, cross-border and student finance, insurance, SME finance or an autonomous on-chain agent wallet. Pick a financial problem your team can explain clearly and connect to the selected track.
The official registration form is available from the competition website linked by IEEE. Fill in every field the form asks for and email it as described in the application steps below.
How to Apply for the Shenzhen FinTech Competition
Use the official competition website linked from the IEEE track announcement to download the registration form. The stated application route is email submission to fintechathon@ican-x.com, with a prescribed subject line.
The organisers say they will send a confirmation within forty-eight hours. Keep the submitted form and email acknowledgement, and contact the organiser if confirmation does not arrive; do not treat simply downloading the form as registration.
Application Deadline and Student Alternatives
Registration and submission close on 20 October 2026, with the published schedule expressed in Singapore Time, UTC+8. No closing hour is specified; organisers reserve the right to close registration early while keeping the submission deadline for already registered teams.
For other practical development routes, compare the AI internships guide and Google Student Researcher. Students interested in short academic exposure in China can also review USTC Winter Camp; an internship, research placement and camp have different objectives from this team competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Shenzhen FinTech Competition questions below focus on practical application decisions. The most important checks concern where you study, how your team is formed and which benefits are conditional. These answers summarise the international-track rules rather than the domestic track.
Recheck the official website before registering because the organisers may close registration early. Keep visa and university approvals in mind if your team is shortlisted.
Can students from any discipline enter?
Yes, the international track allows undergraduate, master’s and PhD students regardless of discipline. Every participant must still meet the full-time enrolment and university-location rules.
Can a Chinese national join an international team?
Yes, subject to the team rules. At least sixty percent of the team must be non-Chinese nationals, and all members must study at eligible universities outside the listed China regions.
Can one person enter two teams?
No. A participant can join one team only across both tracks. Duplicate registration may void all affected submissions.
Are travel expenses covered for everyone?
No. Travel and accommodation support applies to shortlisted international finalists during the Grand Final period. It is not a funding promise to every registrant.
What happens after submission?
The schedule lists screening on 21–22 October, online review on 23–28 October and finalist announcements on 31 October. The Grand Final and awards are planned for 21–23 November in Shenzhen.
Conclusion
The Shenzhen FinTech Competition offers students a practical setting to develop and present an AI-based financial solution. The strongest first step is to build an eligible team and choose a problem that fits one of the six topics. Prize money and finalist travel support should be understood as conditional benefits.
Complete registration early rather than relying on the final day, because organisers may stop accepting new teams sooner. Check the 20 October submission schedule and keep your confirmation email. Use the official international-track announcement for current rules and the linked competition portal for the form.
