The Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. While competing with their peers from around the world, students gain real life experiences, make new friends, and turn their ideas into reality. The brightest young minds join together and, using technology, take on the world’s toughest problems. Open to students around the world, the competition spans one year, beginning with local, regional, and online competitions, and seeks innovative Competition entries that address the Imagine Cup 2012 Theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems. The Finalists go on to compete at the Worldwide Finals, which is hosted in a different country every year.

Unless otherwise indicated in the specific Competition Rules, you are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

• You are 16 years of age or older; and o If you are 16 years of age or older, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, then you should ask your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission prior to submitting an entry into this Competition.
• You are actively enrolled as a student at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) degrees (including home schools) at any time between 1 January 2011 and 31 May 2012; and
• You are not an employee or intern of Microsoft Corporation, or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and
• You are not involved in any part of the execution or administration of this Competition; and
• You are not an immediate family member of (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Competition; and
• You are not a resident of any of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, andSyria.
• PLEASE NOTE: U.S. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Therefore residents of these countries/regions are not eligible to participate.

For more information, visit Rules and Regulations page.