Berik Sabdenaliyev
Dean, School of Social Sciences, Business & Law — SDU University
The Asia International Business & Finance Challenge is open to students worldwide, Grades 7–12 — not a regional contest. One online qualifying exam, 40 questions in 60 minutes, then the international finals in Hong Kong — judged by real finance leaders.
Finals registration $100 · Finals 5–6 December, Hong Kong Science Park · Finals programme
A-IBFC is built so a motivated beginner can start today and a finalist can walk away with something universities actually recognise.
Finalists earn an official, verifiable certificate to strengthen any university application.
University finance deans, a serving CFO, and award-winning scholars from HKUST and CityU review your work.
No prior finance background needed. Free practice exams, study sets and games get first-timers competition-ready.
Top teams compete live at the finals in Hong Kong — a genuine international experience, not a webinar.
Open to entrants from any country — not a regional contest. Compete alongside students from 50+ countries on the live leaderboard.
This is Year One. The first names on the A-IBFC record are written in 2026 — a smaller field and a real shot at the finals.
Every student registers and sits the qualifying exam individually. Entrepreneurship medalists can then team up for the Hong Kong Finals — Financial Literacy stays individual all the way through.
Best for: younger teams building the fundamentals every future professional needs.
Best for: aspiring founders ready to pitch a real venture to real judges.
Register for $100. Registration covers the two-day Hong Kong finals programme.
Free practice exams, glossary and Quizlet sets. Both tracks share the same exam format: 40 questions, 60 minutes.
Take it at any time in a two-day window: Sat 17 October 10:00 to Sun 18 October 23:59 Hong Kong time. Online in Google Chrome at exam.net — 40 questions in 60 minutes, open to entrants worldwide.
Every medal winner — Gold, Silver, or Bronze — is invited to the international finals in Hong Kong. Your $100 registration covers your place at the finals at Hong Kong Science Park.
Financial Literacy medalists compete individually. Entrepreneurship medalists choose an Individual Round or team up (2–3 students, at least 2 present in Hong Kong) for the Team Case Challenge. Offline exam on 5 December, awards ceremony on 6 December, with judge panel feedback and a joint ceremony with A-ISPC and Emerald Prize.
Hong Kong Science Park. The exam is similar to the qualifying exam, with some more topics added. Download the finals prep guide (PDF).
10:00 Registration
11:00 Offline exam
10:00 Registration
11:00 Awards ceremony
12:00 Group photo
12:30 End
On-ground support for families travelling from abroad. International flights are arranged separately.
Book the full-service package — $799
Questions about the package? Contact us at emeraldhv@nurbakyt.com.
Four steps. The exam is open for two days, so you choose when to sit it.
Open Google Chrome and go to exam.net. Other browsers may not work well.
Type the access code from your email in the box at the top right corner of the page. Each track has its own code.
Enter your full name and surname exactly as you want them printed on your certificate.
Sit it any time in the window, but start by 22:59 Hong Kong time on Sunday so you get your full 60 minutes. You can try your code before the exam opens to check it works — you will reach a waiting lobby.
The exam stays open until 23:59 Hong Kong time on Sunday 18 October, so you do not have to start at opening time. Please start at least 60 minutes before closing (by 22:59 Hong Kong time) so you get your full time. In the US the exam opens on the evening of Friday 16 October.
$100 per student covers the two-day finals programme at Hong Kong Science Park. No hidden fees — every participant receives an official certificate.
University finance leaders and award-winning young scholars from Hong Kong’s top institutions review every finalist — the same standard a real admissions officer or investor would hold them to.
This is A-IBFC’s first year. The field is small, the panel is hands-on, and a strong qualifying submission has a realistic path to the international finals stage. Founding-cohort finalists are the names this competition is built around.
Dean, School of Social Sciences, Business & Law — SDU University
Vice President for Finance / CFO — North American University
HKUST — Computer Science · Dean’s List
City University of Hong Kong — Computer & Data Engineering
Former Kazakhstan National Physics Team
Recognition that means something on a transcript, an application, and a wall.
Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition awarded in each track at the live final.
Every participant receives a certificate; finalists receive distinction-level recognition.
Finalists receive an official, verifiable certificate built to strengthen a real university application.
Written feedback from the panel — rare, specific, and genuinely useful.
Start practising right now — free, no account needed. Registered teams also get the teacher pack, Kahoot games and coordinator kit.
Bring a single team or your whole school. The coordinator registers teams in bulk, receives the teacher pack and poster kit, and tracks the school on the country leaderboard. No finance background required to run it.
Become a school coordinatorAny student in Grades 7–12, from any school, in any country. Financial Literacy is for Grades 7–9; Entrepreneurship for Grades 10–12; the optional full-service package is open to all grades.
No. This is the first edition and it’s built to be beginner-friendly. Every registration includes free practice exams, study sets and games so a motivated first-timer can prepare from scratch.
Both tracks share the same format: 40 questions in one 60-minute sitting, taken online. Take it at any time in the two-day window, from Sat 17 October 10:00 until Sun 18 October 23:59 Hong Kong time. Results and finalist invitations follow on 29–30 October.
Meet and see-off at the airport, accommodation in a twin room at a 3-star hotel, all meals, and a city sightseeing programme with a choice of Disneyland or a top university visit (CUHK) with the group. It also includes the museum, tram, cable car and a cruise dinner. The package is $799 per student: book it here or contact us for details.
The qualifying exam is online — sit it from wherever you are, using Google Chrome. The exam window is two days, from Sat 17 October 10:00 until Sun 18 October 23:59 Hong Kong time. Only those who qualify travel, to the international finals at Hong Kong Science Park on 5–6 December. An optional $799 full-service package is available — see what is included.
Yes. The qualifying exam is always individual, but Entrepreneurship medalists can team up with 2–3 fellow medalists for the Hong Kong Finals Team Case Challenge, with at least 2 team members present in Hong Kong to compete. Financial Literacy stays an individual competition throughout, including at Finals.
An official certificate. Within each country round, entrants are also recognized by score: the top 20% receive Gold, the next 30% Silver, and the remaining 50% Bronze medals. Finalists additionally earn distinction certificates and trophies, plus written feedback from the judging panel.
Registration is paid securely online by card. Registration is $100 per student, all tracks.
Yes. A school coordinator can register multiple teams in bulk and manage them from one account. Email us to be set up as a coordinator.
Yes — schools or institutions registering 10+ students receive a discounted rate of $10 per student. Register your group here: whop.com/ehv-competitions/aispc-aibfc-emeraldprize-discount, or contact emeraldhv@nurbakyt.com.
Full refunds are available until 10 October 2026 — one week before the qualifying exam. After that date, registration fees are non-refundable, as exam logistics are committed based on entry counts. If A-IBFC 2026 is cancelled by the organisers, all fees are refunded in full.
Founding-cohort entries are open. Register for $100 and give your students a worldwide stage and a credential to show for it.
International finals 5–6 December, Hong Kong Science Park