Once you’ve decided the Youth STEM Changemakers: Entrepreneurs for Impact programme is the right opportunity for you, and have thought about whether this is a commitment you’re able to make without compromising your wellbeing or education/work, it’s time to submit your application! Applications are submitted via a Google Form.

You will be asked to share some information about yourself and answer 4 main questions, which will be used to determine whether your application reaches the next stage of selection. We’ll also ask you about your availability for the programme and any support you may need to participate.

We recognise communication can take many forms, the 4 questions can be answered in a range of formats, including typing straight into this form to give a written response, or creating and sharing a link to a video, voice note, performance or poster. Please use whichever method(s) best allows you to communicate your answers! If you need to send us an attachment, you can either upload this to Google Drive (or a file sharing service) and add the link to your application form, or email your responses to helena@youthstem2030.org. All parts of your application must be sent to us before the advertised deadline.

The 4 questions you will be asked are…

💬 The Story of You: What would you like us to know about your identity? This is your opportunity to proactively share anything about yourself that has helped to shape your perspective. Tell us the story of you! Answers should be a maximum of 2500 characters/3 minutes.

🌎 A Problem You Care About: Which specific sustainability challenge are you most passionate about solving and why? Tell us about the specific issue, why you're passionate about it, and why you are the right person to solve this issue. Answers should be a maximum of 1500 characters/2 minutes.

⚡️ Your Motivations: What has motivated you to be part of this programme? Tell us about why you're applying for this programme, what you want to gain from it, and how you think it will help you in your journey creating impact as a STEM changemaker. Answers should be a maximum of 1500 characters/2 minutes.

🗣 Your Superpowers & Kryptonite: What are your top 3 superpowers (skills, character traits, values or attributes) which you hope to bring to the programme and use to make change as you develop of your project? Identify your 3 superpowers, and share a couple of sentences on how you show each of these. Answers should be a maximum of 800 characters/1 minute.
🚀 And, name 2 weaknesses/areas for development (your kryptonites!) you hope to build skills in through the programme.

NB: There are no minimum requirements for response lengths for these questions, but a well thought through application will likely score higher.

After the advertised closing date, you will receive a confirmation email from us, telling you that your application has been received. In this email, we will advise you on when you should hear back from us, based on the number of applications we need to review. We care about every application we receive, so this allows our team to ensure time can be given to fully reviewing each application.

All applications are anonymised before being given to our application reviewers, which minimises bias in our selection process and means you can be confident your application will be reviewed fairly.

After we have completed an initial review of all applications, we’ll email you to let you know whether you have been shortlisted and therefore selected to progress to the next stage of applications (Step 3).

Our interviews are informal in nature and take place by video call (usually Google Meet). Our interviews give you the chance to get to know more about you and your motivation for joining this programme. It also gives you the chance to meet several members of our team to ask any questions you have about Youth STEM Changemakers. We know interviews can be daunting (and this might even be your first interview!), but we’re not looking for who is the best at doing interviews - we just want to get to know you, your passions, and why you want to join the programme, so all you need to do is be yourself and do your best!

NB: Depending on the number of applications we receive, we may skip straight to Step 4 in the application process.

We know how much time you’ll have put into your application, so we’re committed to ensuring that all applicants are informed of the outcome of your application. Our team also works hard to ensure we provide feedback wherever possible to applicants who are interviewed.

Unfortunately, as we often receive many applications, we can’t accept every application we receive. However, if you’ve previously been unsuccessful, we highly encourage you to work on your application and reapply for future opportunities - several members of our other programmes were initially unsuccessful but worked on their applications and made successful reapplications!