Teacher Information

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The 2026 Synopsys Championship is March 9-10, 2026.

Planning and Preparation

Read ISEF Rules and Guidelines before students begin their projects. 

As an ISEF affiliated fair, the Synopsys Championship follows ISEF Rules and uses ISEF forms, but SCVSEFA also has some requirements and forms that are specific to the Synopsys Championship. 

Review information under the Rules and Registration and Teachers tabs, including Who can Sponsor and Responsibilities. Information on projects at a Regulated Research Institution (RRI) may be found here.

Check the Student Information page to see our advice on finding a project and applying to the Synopsys Championship.

Student Clinics and Teacher Workshops (2024-2026)

A Teacher Workshop, if available, is recommended for new teachers as well as sponsors who will supervise a PSP (privately-sponsored project). Contact the SRC if you would like to host a workshop at your school.

  • Teacher Workshop 2025-2026 presentation – video recording
  • Teacher Workshop 2024-2025 presentation – video recording
  • Student Clinic 2025-2026 presentation – slides only
  • Student Clinic 2025-2025 Engineering ONLY presentation – slides only
  • Student Clinic 2024-2025 presentation – slides only
  • Student Clinic 2024-2025 Engineering ONLY presentation – slides only

Application Process

The online application requires the student or team leader to complete several steps:

  • register online,
  • complete a set of digital forms,
  • upload the forms to the students forms folders,
  • pay the application processing fee, which officially SUBMITS the application for review.

After registration, the student (or team leader) receives a Project Code and personalized instructions via a detailed Project Page. You can read a step-by-step guide to the application process here.

Teacher access to a project Forms Folder is possible but not automatic. Either the student/team leader or the Fair Administrator can grant access.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

  • If SRC pre-approval is required for a project, the application must arrive before the deadline, see the Important Dates page for all deadlines.
  • ALL students who participated previously MUST apply for SRC pre-approval and file a Form 7 with their applications. The SRC will determine if their project qualifies as a “continuation project” or not.
  • A project involving humans, including questioning about or testing a project, must be submitted for pre-approval and include the Human-Participants Research Plan. For further details please visit the ISEF Rules for Human Participants.
  • The FINAL application deadline of January 12, 2026 is for (a) the submission of applications and forms, AND (b) payment of the application processing fee. SRC review and approval continues after this deadline.
  • Consider requesting payment voucher codes for your students if multiple projects will be covered by a single check. Contact the Fair Manager via the contact page for details.
  • Applications will not be processed until payment is received. Alert the Fair Manager to any questions or problems via the contact page.

Judging by Category and Field of Study

Students must select a Category and Field of Study when they register.
For detailed information on Categories, Fields of Study and project numbers, go to Project Categories.

  • For Category Awards, projects are judged by category in groups of about 8 to 12 projects by a team of at least two judges.
  • Projects done at home, school or in the field (non RRI) are judged by grade and category.
  • Projects done at Regulated Research Institutions (RRI) are judged by category only.

Chaperones + Rules for Teachers

Registered classroom teachers employed by schools participating in the fair may sign up to be Chaperones during the judging period 1:30–6 PM. Use form below to register. You will need to confirm that you have read and agreed to the Rules for Teachers.