Introduction

The Shenzhen FinTech Competition 2026 in China invites eligible international student teams to develop artificial intelligence solutions for financial challenges. The International Track of the Shenzhen International FinTech Competition, also called FinTechathon, follows the theme “AI as a Financial Participant.” Its total prize pool is RMB 250,000, distributed across several awards rather than offered to a single winner.

Participants can choose from six topics covering personal finance, wealth advisory, student finance, insurance, small and medium-sized enterprise finance, and autonomous on-chain wallets. Teams must combine their technical work with documentation, security assessment, and evidence of execution. Registration and submission close on 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8).

Scholarship Overview

This opportunity is a student financial technology competition, not a degree scholarship. Teams of two to five eligible students compete through the International Track, with submissions reviewed online before finalists attend the Shenzhen event. Participation carries no registration fee, and organizers cover specified travel and accommodation expenses for invited finalist team members.

• Opportunity: Shenzhen International FinTech Competition 2026, International Track
• Theme: AI as a Financial Participant
• Team size: Two to five students
• Total International Track prize pool: RMB 250,000
• Competition language: English

Host Country

The competition’s in-person events take place in Shenzhen, China. The schedule includes check-in and a visit to WeBank headquarters, followed by the grand final and awards ceremony. Before these events, organizers conduct an online review of the submitted projects.

Host Institution or Organization

Tsinghua University’s PBC School of Finance hosts the competition with WeBank. The event provides a platform for students to present AI-driven financial technology projects and connect with industry professionals. Outstanding teams may also receive fast-track interview opportunities with WeBank.

Degree Level

The International Track accepts full-time undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students. Participants must be enrolled at eligible overseas universities or research institutions. Students from different academic years may work together, provided every member satisfies the competition’s eligibility rules.

Available Fields of Study

Participation is organized around six project topics rather than a list of degree programs. Teams must select one official topic, while cross-major collaboration is permitted. This allows students with different academic backgrounds to contribute to the same financial technology solution.

• Topic A: Personal Finance Assistant
• Topic B: Wealth Advisory Agent
• Topic C: Cross-border and Student Finance Assistant
• Topic D: Insurance Assistant
• Topic E: SME Finance Copilot
• Topic F: Agent Wallet, an autonomous on-chain wallet topic with a 0–5 point challenge bonus

Scholarship Benefits

The International Track offers cash awards totaling RMB 250,000. The first, second, and third prizes and Best Innovation Award have individual amounts listed below. Several Excellence Awards are also available.

• First prize: RMB 100,000
• Second prize: RMB 80,000
• Third prize: RMB 50,000
• Best Innovation Award: RMB 20,000

There is no fee to register for the competition. Organizers arrange and cover accommodation and round-trip international travel for invited finalist team members. Participants can gain experience developing practical financial solutions, while outstanding teams may receive fast-track WeBank interview opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be full-time students at universities or research institutions outside mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Chinese Taipei. Each team must contain two to five students, with at least 60% of members being non-Chinese nationals. Cross-year, cross-major, cross-university, and cross-border teams are allowed when all members meet the institutional requirements.

Each participant may join only one team across the Domestic and International Tracks. Duplicate registrations are invalid, so teams should confirm members’ participation before registering. All submissions, presentations, and competition reviews must use English, and each team must select one of the six official topics.

Required Documents

Registration requires the official form and the passport biographical page of every team member. The project submission must also include technical, presentation, code, security, and execution materials. Teams should pay particular attention to the different evidence requirements for on-chain and other topics.

• Technical documentation: System architecture, core algorithm description, and security design.
• Presentation deck: Material for a final presentation lasting no more than 10 minutes.
• Source code: A README file, GitHub repository link, deployment instructions, and test cases.
• Security self-assessment: Permission-tier implementation details and a list of known risks.
• Execution evidence: Simulated-account or sandbox operation logs and a demo video for non-on-chain topics; real on-chain transaction hashes for the on-chain topic.
• Optional demo video: No longer than five minutes.

An additional demo video is listed as optional, but the execution-evidence instructions specifically require a demo video for non-on-chain topics. Teams should therefore read the official problem description carefully when assembling their evidence. Updates are allowed before the deadline, with the latest received version taking precedence; changes are not permitted afterward.

Application Process

Begin through the organizer’s official FinTechathon website to access the competition guidelines, problem descriptions, and registration materials. Form an eligible team, choose one topic, and download the official registration form. Check both the institutional and nationality requirements before proceeding.

The application procedure requires teams to email the completed form and passport biographical pages to WANG Yiran to confirm slot allocation. Teams must then email their complete project materials before the submission deadline. Obtain the submission address from the organizer’s official instructions and ensure all materials are in English.

Important Dates and Deadline

The registration and submission deadline is 20 October 2026, at 11:59 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8). Online review runs from 20 to 31 October, with finalists announced on 31 October. The Shenzhen activities follow in November.

• Registration and submission: 20 October 2026, 11:59 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8)
• Online review: 20–31 October 2026
• Finalists announced: 31 October 2026
• Check-in and WeBank headquarters visit: 20 November 2026
• Grand final and awards ceremony: 21–23 November 2026

Tips for Applicants

As general preparation advice, create a shared checklist assigning responsibility for each submission component. Convert the Beijing deadline into each member’s local time and allow time for a final review. Check the team’s eligibility early, especially when members study in different countries or institutions.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

As general project guidance, keep the documentation, code, presentation, and demonstration consistent with one another. Explain the financial problem clearly and show how the proposed system addresses it without overstating its capabilities. Use the required security assessment to describe permission controls and known risks honestly, and check that deployment instructions and test cases are understandable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RMB 250,000 the first prize?

No, RMB 250,000 is the total International Track prize pool. The first prize is RMB 100,000. Other listed cash awards are RMB 80,000, RMB 50,000, and RMB 20,000.

Can students from different universities form a team?

Yes, cross-university and cross-border collaboration is permitted. Teams may also include students from different majors and academic years. Every member must meet the eligibility requirements.

Are finalists’ travel expenses covered?

Organizers cover round-trip international travel and accommodation for invited finalist team members. These arrangements apply to those invited to the event. Registration is also free.

Can a team revise its submission?

Teams may update materials before the deadline. The latest version received will prevail. No changes are allowed after the deadline.

Conclusion

The Shenzhen FinTech Competition 2026 offers eligible student teams a structured opportunity to develop and present AI-based financial solutions. Applicants should review the official topic descriptions, confirm eligibility, and prepare all required evidence. Complete registration and submission by 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8).