Join students across Africa in a prestigious academic competition with $10,000,000+ in scholarships and educational grants for students, schools, and teachers. Featuring Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English Literature.
The Shiing-Shen Competition is an annual, pan-African academic initiative launching its maiden edition in 2026. It is designed to empower outstanding students (aged 13-19) across Africa by providing a fair, transparent, and intellectually stimulating platform to compete at the highest academic level.
The competition was established to bridge educational and technical gaps across the continent by identifying exceptional talent and supporting their development through fully funded international education opportunities. Through the Africa–Asia Initiative for Sustainable Growth and Development, top-performing students will be sponsored to study at leading universities across Asia, enabling meaningful knowledge and skills transfer that contributes to Africa's long-term development.
Participants compete for over $10,000,000 in scholarships and educational grants benefiting students, schools, and teachers across the continent. The competition features five subject categories:
Candidates are expected to pick one subject category to compete in.
The top 50 schools will each receive $20,000 in institutional grants.
The top 50 mentor teachers will each receive $5,000, regardless of the number of students represented.
School and teacher rankings are determined by the performance of the top 50 students across all subject categories.
Selected students will receive comprehensive, fully funded scholarships, which include:
Upon completion of their academic programs, students are expected to return to their home countries to contribute their acquired knowledge and skills. Full details are available in the Terms and Conditions.
The only fee required from students throughout the entire process is the application fee. No additional participation or hidden fees apply.
The Shiing-Shen Competition is conducted in three progressive phases:
A proctored online examination conducted simultaneously across all participating countries.
Conducted either online or physically, depending on country-specific arrangements.
The ultimate stage of the competition, where the champions will be born.
Find answers to common questions about the competition and participation process.
The only fee required from participants is the initial application fee. There are no hidden costs, participation fees, or additional charges at any stage of the competition beyond this application fee.
Application fees are country-specific and are outlined below:
The Shiing-Shen Competition offers fully funded international scholarships for top students, including tuition, accommodation, stipends, and flights. Schools benefit from continental recognition and grants awarded to the top 50 institutions, while outstanding teachers receive cash awards and fully sponsored trips to the Continental Final. Finalists also gain global exposure, networking opportunities, and academic prestige across Africa and Asia.
The testing window opens at 00:00 on 02 February 2026 and closes precisely at 11:59 on 08 February 2026. No extensions will be granted.
The competition will be concluded within one month following the Preliminary Stage. Dates for subsequent stages will be communicated in due course.
The 2026 edition of the competition is open to students from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania aged between 13 and 19 years old.
Register with your school email, upload your passport photo, pay the application fee and receive your unique access code.
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