Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
1. Who can participate in the ISA-iSUN Design Challenge?
The challenge is open to student teams guided by faculty members and industry experts in architecture, planning and engineering. Refer to the Participation Guidelines section for more details.
2. Is there a registration fee?
No. There is no registration fee.
3. Can our team choose more than one site?
Each institution may submit a maximum of three entries, i.e. one entry per site.
4. Will our identity be visible to the jury during evaluation?
No. All submissions must be free of names, logos or institution marks so that the jury evaluation stays fully anonymous through the entire evaluation stage.
5. How and when will we know if we're shortlisted?
Once the evaluation team finalises the Phase 1 shortlist, results are published on the website and emailed to all registered teams, along with instructions for shortlisted teams on the Phase 2 submission window.
6. What happens if our team is not shortlisted after Phase 1?
You'll receive an email thanking you for your participation and confirming that your entry was not selected to move to Phase 2. All teams, shortlisted and not, are notified once the Phase 1 results are finalised.
7. Who is eligible to participate in the ISA-iSUN Design Challenge?
The Challenge is open to students pursuing Bachelor's or Master's programmes in Architecture and Engineering, as well as Master's students in Sustainable Design.
8. Who do we contact if we have a query?
Write to us at isa-isun@grihaindia.org and we'll get back to you.
9. I recently graduated (or completed my academic requirements but my convocation is later), can I still participate?
No. The Challenge is exclusively open to students currently pursuing Bachelor's or Master's programmes in Engineering and Architecture. Please see the eligibility guidelines for full details.
10. Can a team include students from different universities or organisations?
No. All students on a team must belong to the same institution, since registration is done on behalf of the institution.
11. Do faculty members and advisory experts need to be practicing architects?
Faculty members must be affiliated with the participating institution. Advisory experts should be industry professionals, such as practising architects or solar energy specialists.
12. Which building codes and safety regulations should we follow: the site's local codes or our institution's location local codes?
Participants should refer to the applicable building codes and safety regulations of the site they select for their design (i.e., the Maldives, Mauritius, or Fiji), not their home institution's regulations.
13. Is there an honorarium for teams shortlisted for Phase 2?
The competition awards/honorarium are specifically for the overall winners across all three sites. Full details on recognitions are available on the website.
14. Are there any sessions to help us understand the brief before we register?
Yes. Global Induction Sessions are being held between 14-22 September 2026, covering the challenge brief, design sites, evaluation criteria, and submission process. Sessions are scheduled across multiple time zones. Register here: Induction Session Registration.
15. Where do we register for the Design Challenge?
You can register here: Design Challenge Registration.