Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Offered by Breakthrough Prize Foundation
- Award
- $250,000
- Deadline
- Level
- National
Who can apply
- Year in school
- hs junior, hs senior
Conditions worth reading twice
Open to individuals who are 13 years old by May 11, 2026 and not yet 19 on October 1, 2026 -- an AGE gate, not a school-grade gate. Must be an individual entrant (no group or commercial entries), not a previous winner of this or a similar Sponsor competition, and not a Sponsor-affiliated person or their family member. Residents of any country/region under comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions are ineligible; otherwise open worldwide, including every U.S. state. Minors need parent/guardian permission. Entry is a single English-language video (2:00 or under) on a science/math/life-science topic, uploaded publicly to YouTube; no essay or written component is required.
How to apply
Applications are handled by the provider, not by ScholarDuck. Check the deadline on their page before you start — deadlines move, and ours is only as fresh as our last check.
Common questions
When is the Breakthrough Junior Challenge deadline?
September 15, 2026. That is the date ScholarDuck recorded from Breakthrough Prize Foundation's own page. Providers move deadlines without notice, so confirm it on Breakthrough Prize Foundation's page before you plan around it.
How much is the Breakthrough Junior Challenge worth?
$250,000. This is the figure listed on the page ScholarDuck checked, not an estimate of what any one applicant receives.
Who is eligible for the Breakthrough Junior Challenge?
Year in school: hs junior, hs senior. Those are the eligibility facts ScholarDuck recorded from Breakthrough Prize Foundation's page — a summary of what they publish, not their complete rules. Read their own page before you apply.
How do I apply for the Breakthrough Junior Challenge?
Through Breakthrough Prize Foundation. ScholarDuck does not accept or forward applications. This page links to the Breakthrough Prize Foundation page ScholarDuck checked, which is where their instructions live; open it, confirm the deadline and requirements there, and apply directly with them.
Writing the essay is the slow part
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