COMPETITION RULES

Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC)

These Rules are effective from January 1, 2026.

They outline the terms and conditions for participating in the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC). Participation in each season implies acceptance of that season’s rules, which may differ from previous seasons. If you do not agree, please refrain from participating or using related resources.

Last updated: July 27, 2026.

Introduction

The Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) is a program designed to develop students’ skills in Excel, data analysis, and business modeling. By registering for or participating in any MECC Challenge or Competition, participants agree to comply with these rules and related policies.

Students who are already registered for the MECC program do not need to re-register each season. Participation in a season implies acceptance of that season’s rules.

Definitions

• Challenge: A non-competitive, skill-building Excel assignment available during the season.
• Competition: A competitive event for individuals or teams, in which participants are ranked based on performance.
• ExPrep Platform: A web-based platform that hosts all MECC training challenges. Registration is required, and you’ll receive an access code after signing up for the MECC program on this website.
• Excel Esports Online Platform: A web-based platform that hosts all MECC competitions. A separate free registration is required to access the platform. To participate in MECC competitions, you may also need to complete an additional participation form.
• Excel Esports Case: A structured problem-solving case consisting of multiple Excel-based questions, graded automatically and objectively.
• MECC Weekend Battle: An online individual competition held over a designated weekend.
• MECC Team e-Invitationals: Online team competitions coordinated by an MECC College Ambassador.
• MECC Regionals: An in-person MECC competition hosted by a partner university.
• Online Regional Winners’ Battle (April 25, 2026 – live-streamed): Online event determining advancement to the MECC European Open Finals.
• MECC European Open: In-person event consisting of Day 1 Open Event and Day 2 Finals.
• Junior Varsity (JV): Introductory competition level intended for beginners.
• Varsity: Advanced competition level requiring strong Excel and analytical skills.
• Badge (Certificate): Digital recognition awarded for completing specific Challenges or participation milestones.
• MECC College Ambassador: A faculty member who registers with MECC to coordinate participation and team events at their institution.
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Objectives of MECC

MECC aims to develop students’ skills in:

• Data analysis
• Business analysis
• Logical reasoning
• Microsoft Excel modeling
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The program consists of:

• Challenges: Non-competitive learning exercises
• Competitions: Ranked events for individuals or teams
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Organizers and Supporters

MECC is organized by the Financial Modeling World Cup (FMWC), with guidance and input from Microsoft Excel MVPs and professors.

Microsoft Corporation provides support, including permission to use the “Microsoft Excel” name.

Eligibility & Registration

• Open to students worldwide.
• Only actively enrolled students are eligible to be ranked and receive badges or awards.
• Students must register for the MECC program at sign-up page.
• Training challenges are hosted on ExPrep platform while competitions are conducted on the Excel Esports Online platform, each platform requires separate free registration.
• The same email address should be used across all MECC platforms.
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Participation Costs

• Online participation is free.
• Costs for in-person events vary by event and will be communicated in advance by the organizers.
• Organizers reserve the right to decline participation at their discretion.
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Training Challenges

• Designed to build Excel, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Most Challenges include video walkthroughs.
• Available on the ExPrep Platform throughout the season.
• Participants may submit multiple attempts in order to improve their score.
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Badges (Certificates)

Badge Issuance

• Badges are issued once per week.
• Students should expect to receive earned badges in their emails in the weekly issuance following the week in which the requirements were completed.
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Active Badges – Season 2026

Participants are responsible for verifying that their ExPrep Portal reflects credit for completed Challenges or Competitions. If discrepancies arise, participants should contact MECC support at info@mecc.college, including their registered ExPrep email.

Competition Overview

Overview 

Competitions involve solving Excel Esports Cases under time constraints. All questions are objectively graded. Competitions may be individual or team-based and can happen either online or in-person.

Junior Varsity and Varsity Levels

• Junior Varsity: Ideal for beginners, featuring easier problems.
• Varsity: Includes more complex problems requiring advanced Excel skills.
• Participants can choose to compete in either or both levels depending on competition.
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Case Structure

• Cases are solvable by general Excel users, with no prior knowledge of specific disciplines required. Any necessary background information is provided with detailed instructions.
• Older Excel versions (2010 and later) are sufficient, though newer versions may offer faster solutions.
• Model formatting and style are not judged unless explicitly stated in specific assignments.
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Submission

• Participants must submit answers within the allocated time on the Excel Esports Online platform.
• Participants may need to create models from scratch or adapt provided templates.
• All Excel Esports cases should be completed in Microsoft Excel, and the solution file must be uploaded in the designated spot on the Excel Esports Online platform. If the solution file is not uploaded, the player’s or team’s result may be disqualified.

MECC Weekend Battles

• Four Weekend Battles during Spring Season 2026 (January 30 – February 1, February 20-22, March 20-22, April 24-26).
• Four Weekend Battles during Fall Season 2026:
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• Competitions are open throughout the weekend; participants may choose any start time that fits their schedule.
• For each case, the 30-minute timer starts once they join the game.
• Each Weekend Battle includes Junior Varsity and Varsity levels.
• Students are encouraged to participate in both.
• If a student competes in both levels during the same Weekend Battle and achieves a score above the Varsity median, the student will be excluded from Junior Varsity rankings for that event.
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Results will be published on the MECC Rankings and Excel Esports Online Rankings after each event.

Top 30%: Published with full name, country, and university.

Remaining participants: Results are anonymous but can be compared via their Rankings ID from their Excel Esports Online account.

Important: If a student participates in the MECC Team e-Invitational, they may still complete the following Weekend Battle cases; however, their results will not be ranked, as both competitions use the same cases.

MECC Team e-Invitationals

• Online team competitions coordinated by MECC College Ambassadors.
• Teams consist of three students; multiple teams per school are allowed.
• All team members must compete together in one location under College Ambassador supervision.
• In extenuating circumstances (such as illness, death, or other emergency situations), a team may substitute a player or compete as a duo. One-person teams are not allowed.
• For convenient information sharing, teams can set up a shared Excel Online file before the game or use the chat function available on Excel Esports Online.
• Includes Junior Varsity and Varsity levels but team must choose before the event at which level to play.
• The game has live leaderboards for both Junior Varsity and Varsity games. Results are announced right after the games end.
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Qualification for MECC Team Championships

• Each player from the top 30% of teams in the Varsity level qualifies for the Team MECC Championships Quarter-Finals in Las Vegas (Nov 30–Dec 2, 2026).
• Qualified players may participate with their original team or form a new team.
• Students who graduate before the MECC Championships are not eligible to form a team or participate in the MECC Championships. And their qualification spot cannot be transferred to another player.

MECC Regionals 

• In-Person event MECC Regionals are hosted by universities in partnership with MECC.
• Date: April 11
• Four competition categories: Speed, Visual, Data, and Ninja Challenge.
• Each category includes Junior Varsity and Varsity levels.
• All participants will receive a Badge.
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Game Format

• All cases will be completed in 30-minute testing sessions.
• For speed challenges, the 30 minutes allows time to learn the case and complete it as quickly as possible. Rankings will be based on the best times (in seconds), and only 100% correct attempts will count.
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Advancement

Individual:

• The overall Varsity winner from each Regional advances to the Online Regional Winners’ Battle on April 25 (live-streamed).
• The winner of the Online Regional Winners’ Battle receives a guaranteed spot in the Top 10 Finals at the MECC European Open, as well as travel reimbursement (up to EUR 300 for European participants and up to EUR 1,000 for international participants) and hotel accommodation.
• If the winner is unable to attend the European Open, the next highest-ranking participant will be invited.
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Teams:

• Each player from the top 30% of teams in the Varsity level from each Regional event qualifies for the Team MECC Championships Quarter-Finals in Las Vegas (Nov 30–Dec 2, 2026).
• Students who graduate before the MECC Championships are not eligible to form a team or participate in the MECC Championships.

MECC European Open

• Dates: May 22–23, 2026
• Location: H20 Esports Campus Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Structure:
  • Day 1: Open Event
  • Day 2: Finals – Top 10 players compete
• Detailed event information is here.
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MECC Qualification Round

• Date: October 3, 2026
• Online competition. Students must fill a participation form on Qualification Round page before the event and have their Excel Esports Online accounts ready.
• Only students eligible for the MECC Championships (e.g., at least 18 years old on the day travel begins and enrolled in degree-granting institutions) will be able to participate in this battle. They will need to confirm their eligibility on the participation form.
• To accommodate participants from different time zones, students will have a chance to select one of the following time slots:
  • Time Slot 1 – Saturday, October 3, 2026, 7:00 UTC | Saturday, October 3, 2026, 12:00 AM Pacific Time
  • Time Slot 2 – Saturday, October 3, 2026, 16:00 UTC | Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9:00 AM Pacific Time
• The Excel Esports case will differ between the two time slots.
• Players will have 30-minute time limit to complete the case.
• There will be no question feedback and no bonus question lockouts.
• Participation is scored based on the answers submitted on the Excel Esports Online platform.
• Participants who do not upload a solution model will be automatically disqualified.

Advancement:

• A total of 70 students will qualify from this round for the MECC Individual Championship Semi-Finals. Qualification spots will be allocated among top players between the two time slots in proportion to the number of participants in each session.
• Students who qualify for the Individual Semi-Finals also become eligible to compete in the MECC Team Quarter-Finals. If they can form a team according to rules – must include at least one Individual Semi-Finals qualifier and consist of three students representing the same school.

Championship Support for Qualifiers:

• Top players will be eligible to apply for travel and event attendance support.
  

  Students who qualify will receive detailed information about the available support and how to apply after the Qualification Round.

  • Top 10 qualifiers may apply for:
    
    • Travel support
    • A complimentary The Active Cell event ticket
    • Shared accommodation during the event
  • Qualifiers ranked 11–70 may apply for:
    
    • A discounted The Active Cell event ticket
    • Shared accommodation during the event

  Students whose travel and event expenses are already covered by their university or another organization are kindly encouraged not to apply, allowing support to be directed to those who need it most.

Season School Rankings

To encourage student engagement and the development of Excel Esports communities within schools, MECC ranks schools based on participation using the following ratio:

Ranking Ratio = Total Challenges Completed by School Students ÷ Square Root of the Number of Students Submitting at Least One Challenge

• Rankings are cumulative throughout the season.
• Students who register but do not submit any challenges do not affect their school’s ranking.
• The Top 20 schools (on September 30) qualify for the MECC Team Championships Quarter-Finals for a team spot not tied to any specific players.
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MECC Team & Individual Championships in Las Vegas

For students to take part in the event, a valid The Active Cell Training Camp ticket is required.

MECC Team Championship 

Qualification:

There are four pathways through which players can qualify for the MECC Team Quarter-Finals:

1. Team e-Invitationals – players from top 30% of teams from each event.
2. MECC Regionals – players who contributed to the top school’s score qualify.
3. School Rankings – The top 20 schools in the School Rankings as of September 30 qualify and receive one Team Quarter-Finals spot that is not tied to any specific players.
4. Qualification Round – Players who qualify for the Individual Semi-Finals from Qualification Round are also eligible to form a team for the Team Quarter-Finals, provided there are two other players representing the same school.

Day 1 – MECC Team Quarter-Finals

• Qualified players may form a three-person team (all students must represent the same school) to compete for a place in the MECC Team Semi-Finals the following day.
• Each team must include at least one qualified player.
• Multiple teams from the same school are allowed; however, a maximum of two teams per school may qualify for the Team Semi-Finals.
• 30-minute Excel Esports game with a live leaderboard, level feedback and no bonus lockouts.
• The event takes place during The Active Cell Training Camp in the conference rooms.
• Students will use their own hardware.

Day 2 – MECC Team Semi-Finals

• The top 20 teams from Day 1 qualify for the Team Semi-Finals.
• This event takes place in the HyperX Arena. Some teams will compete on stage, while others will compete at stations on the arena floor.
• The event will be live streamed on the MECC YouTube channel.
• Player substitutions or changes to the team roster from Day 1 are not permitted. The only exception is in the case of a medical emergency approved by the organizers.
• 30-minute Excel Esports game with a live leaderboard, level feedback and no bonus lockouts.

Day 3 – MECC Team Finals

• The top 4 teams from Day 2 qualify for the Team Finals.
• This event takes place in the HyperX Arena, with all teams competing on stage.
• The event will be live streamed on the MECC YouTube channel.
• Player substitutions or changes to the team roster from Day 1 are not permitted. The only exception is in the case of a medical emergency approved by the organizers.
• 30-minute Excel Esports game with a live leaderboard, level feedback and no bonus lockouts.
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MECC Individual Championship

Qualification

• There are two pathways through which players can qualify for the MECC Individual Semi-Finals:
  • Qualification Round (October 3) – A total of 70 students will qualify. Qualification spots will be allocated between the two time slots in proportion to the number of participants in each session. If a qualified student does not attend the MECC Individual Championship, the qualification spot will be added to the Last Chance Qualification Round.
  • Last Chance Qualification Round (November 30 – Day 1) – A total of 10 students will qualify. If a student who qualified from Qualification Round doesn’t attend the event in Vegas, their spot will be added to LCQR.

Day 1 – Last Chance Qualification Round

• All students attending The Active Cell are eligible to participate.
• This round offers a dual qualification opportunity for both the MECC Individual Semi-Finals and the Microsoft Excel World Championship (MEWC) Quarterfinals.
• 30-minute Excel Esports game with no leaderboard, no feedback, no bonus lockouts, and a “Submit Early” option.
• Participation is scored based on the answers submitted on the Excel Esports Online platform.
• Participants who do not upload a solution model will be automatically disqualified.
• The event takes place during The Active Cell Training Camp in the conference rooms.
• Students will use their own hardware.
• Results will be announced on Day 2.

Day 2 – MECC Individual Semi-Finals

• 80 students who qualified through either the Qualification Round or the Last Chance Qualification Round will compete.
• This event takes place in the HyperX Arena. Some students will compete on stage, while others will compete at stations on the arena floor.
• The event will be live streamed on the MECC YouTube channel.
• 30-minute Excel Esports game with a live leaderboard, level feedback and no bonus lockouts.

Day 3 – MECC Individual Finals

• The top 12 players from Day 2 qualify for the Individual Finals.
• This event takes place in the HyperX Arena, with all players competing on stage.
• The event will be live streamed on the MECC YouTube channel.
• 30-minute Excel Esports game with a live leaderboard, level feedback and no bonus lockouts.

Prize Money

Total prize fund for MECC Team & Individual Championships is USD 34,050.

Tie-Breakers

If two or more participants or teams are tied with the same score after the game ends, the following tie-breakers apply in the following order:

1. Shortest time to achieve the final score (exception: for the Last Chance Qualification Round, the shortest game time applies).
2. Highest score in the most recent round.
3. Highest score in preceding rounds (evaluated in reverse chronological order).
4. Earliest MECC registration date.

Case Design Team (CDT)

The Case Design Team is responsible for creating Challenges and Competitions. If an MECC Participant’s case is used, that participant is not eligible to compete in that round.

Code of Conduct & Fair Play

Participants must compete honestly and respectfully.

Fair Play Rules in Competitions:

• Players should compete ethically, avoiding any form of cheating or manipulation.
• Except for team competitions, the players should only use their own skills and abilities to complete the cases.
• AI tools (including Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Mode in Excel) are prohibited for solving cases.
• AI may only be used to translate instructions.
• Internet use during competitions is prohibited for seeking solutions or external help.
• For clarity, the use of pre-created LAMBDA formulas, VBA code, and other similar means of tech-related performance enhancement is allowed to the players.
• Violations may result in disqualification without refunds or awards.
• Participants found cheating or violating fair play rules in any competition or event organized by FMWC may be disqualified from MECC. In such cases, FMWC and MECC shall not be held liable for any costs, losses, or expenses incurred by the participant.

Rule Changes & Organizer Rights

Organizers may amend these rules at any time. Participants are expected to follow the latest version of the rules as published on the MECC website.