Physics Competitions

This page summarises national and international physics competitions. We would like to collect here all competitions which are open for foreign participation or have an international round. However, we also welcome even regional competitions.

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If you have any updates about any competition or if some relevant physics competition is missing, please, don’t hesitate, and contact us.

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Table of Contents

Olympiads

Generally, individual competitions with more selective rounds which lead to the challenging international round, where participants solve problems on-site.

International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

  • For upper secondary students
  • Usually 5 participants per participating country in the international round
  • Participating countries have various national competitions with various rules which they use for the selection of the best participants.
  • Official website of IPhO. There is also unofficial website of IPhO offers some additional info
International rounds

 

National Physics Competitions

In this category there are listed usually competitions which are the national rounds of the IPhO (and APhO).

National competitions

 

Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO)

The Asian Physics Olympiad is an annual competition for high school students from Asia and Oceania, founded in 2000. It challenges talented students with theoretical and experimental physics problems. The APhO is a regional platform for students who are talented, creative, and analytical to solve complex challenging problems in Physics, which are widely recognized in the scientific community.

International rounds

 

European Physics Olympiad (EUPhO)

EUPhO is an annual international physics competition for high school students from across Europe and beyond. EuPhO challenges participants with demanding theoretical and experimental problems that emphasize creativity, deep conceptual understanding, and analytical skills. The competition aims to foster scientific talent, promote international collaboration, and inspire young physicists by providing a platform to solve real-world physics problems in a stimulating environment. Each year, EuPhO is hosted by a different European country, bringing together top students, teachers, and physicists for a week of academic and cultural exchange.

International rounds

 

European Olympiad of Experimental Science (EOES)

The EOES is an annual competition that brings together young scientists from most European Union countries to engage in interdisciplinary challenges across biology, chemistry, and physics. Organized by a member nation of the EOES non-profit association, each participating country sends two teams of three students, all aged 17 or younger, who collaborate on experimental assignments designed to mirror real-world scientific research. The competition emphasizes teamwork, practical laboratory skills, and the integration of scientific disciplines, offering participants a platform to experience the collaborative nature of scientific inquiry. Beyond the competition, EOES fosters cultural exchange and the formation of international networks among budding scientists.

 

Balkan Physics Olympiad (BPO)

The Balkan Physics Olympiad (BPO) is an annual international competition for high school students from Balkan countries, organized under the auspices of the Balkan Physics Union, featuring a single exam with theoretical and experimental problems, and aiming to promote excellence in physics, foster collaboration, and provide young students with their first international competition experience.

 

Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiads

International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)

​The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is an annual competition for high school students worldwide, established to foster interest in astronomy and related STEM subjects. Founded in 2007, the IOAA promotes international collaboration and the advancement of astronomy education. The competition comprises theoretical, observational, and data analysis components, challenging participants’ knowledge and skills in the field.

International rounds

The International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO)

​The International Astronomy Olympiad is an annual competition established in 1996, aimed at high school students aged 14 to 18 from participating countries. Organised by the Eurasian Astronomical Society, the IAO seeks to foster interest in astronomy and related sciences among young individuals. The competition encompasses theoretical, observational, and practical components, challenging participants to apply their knowledge and skills in astronomy. Each year, the IAO is hosted by a different member country, providing students with opportunities for cultural exchange and international collaboration.

International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC)

An educational science competition open to students from around the world: Unleash your astronomy skills and expand your knowledge through diverse problems that explore the universe. Current high school and university students from all grades and countries are eligible. There are three age groups:

  • Junior: 10th Grade and below (and < 16 years of age)
  • Youth: 11th to 13th Grade (and < 19 years of age)
  • Senior: 1st Year College/University and higher (or ≥ 19 years of age)

Asian-Pacific Astronomy Olympiad (APAO)

The Asian-Pacific Astronomy Olympiad (APAO) is an annual competition for students aged 14 to 18 from the Asia-Pacific region. Established as an affiliated event of the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO), the APAO follows the IAO’s organisational rules. The competition comprises theoretical, observational, and practical components, challenging participants to apply their knowledge and skills in astronomy. Each year, the APAO is hosted by a different member country, providing students with opportunities for cultural exchange and international collaboration.

Olimpiada Latinoamericana de Astronomía y Astronáutica (OLAA)

The Latin American Astronomy and Astronautics Olympiad (OLAA) was founded in 2008 and first held in Brazil in 2009. It is an annual competition that brings together talented students from across Latin America to promote astronomy, astronautics, and related sciences. The event fosters knowledge exchange, collaboration, and ethical values while supporting educational initiatives and the inclusion of astronomy in curricula.

National Astronomy and Astrophysics Competitions

There are mostly mentioned the national round of competitions which are selection for the IOAA and other international competitions.

National competitions

 

International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)

The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) is an annual individual and team competition in the Natural Sciences for students who are under sixteen years old on 31st December of the competition year. IJSO has been established in recognition of the significance of the Natural Sciences in the general education of young people and in all aspects of their lives. It is a purely educational event.

International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO)

The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) is a global competition for secondary school students, challenging participants in areas such as geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, and environmental science. It fosters both individual excellence and international collaboration through a combination of theory exams, practical tests, and team-based activities.

International rounds

Other National Individual Physics Competitions

National competitions

 

Tournaments

Mostly team competitions with long-term solving of challenging physics problems. There is the important role of presentation of the scientific results also.

International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT)

  • For upper secondary student
  • Each participating country sends 1 team of 5 students for the international tournament
  • Also in these competitions are some variations in the national rules and the selection process

International tournaments

National tournaments

List of national tournaments on the IYPT website

National competitions

 

 Young Physicists League (YPL)

YPL (Young Physicists League) is a new and exciting mini international IYPT-style tournament hosted by Greece, since 2024. The set of problems is the same as the IYPT. It is contacted the same dates as HellenicYNT. The diference with IYPT is that the teams play only 3 PFs and they choose the desired problems they wish to present. YPL is a god chance for foreign teams to visit Greece and also gain experience in IYPT, or just participate in an international but more friendly environment.

International Physicists’ Tournament (IPT)

  • For bachelor and master physics students
  • It was created so the students can continue to participate in a similar competition as IYPT

The University Physics Competition (UPC)

The University Physics Competition is an annual, international contest where teams of undergraduate students work together over 48 hours to solve a real-world physics problem and submit a formal paper, testing their creativity, teamwork, and analytical skills.

Science Cup (Pohár vědy)

It has categories for pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary students. Each category has their assignments which are solved in teams and then rated.

Beamline for Schools (BL4S)

Beamline for Schools is a physics competition for high school students from all around the world organized at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, in Geneva, Switzerland, and DESY, the German Electron Synchrotron, in Hamburg, Germany. Teams of high school students can propose an experiment that they want to perform at a beamline, that is, a part of a particle accelerator. The teams that submit the three best proposals win a trip to CERN or DESY to perform their experiments at a fully-equipped beamline.

Competitive conferences

International Conference of Young Scientists (ICYS)

  • Individual competition, in physics, mathematics, computer science and ecology for 14-18 year-old secondary school students.
  • Every participant has to prepare a research report on a subject chosen by herself/himself from any part of the above-mentioned sciences.
  • The language of these ten-minute reports is English and an international jury evaluates and rewards the presentations.
Editions

 

Local conferences

Local conferences

Correspondence competitions (seminars)

Correspondence seminars are competitions formerly conducted by post but are now primarily held online. Participants are afforded several weeks to develop the best possible solutions to problems released throughout the year. Rankings are generally determined on a yearly or term basis, although mid-year entry is also permitted. A key feature is the detailed feedback provided by the organisers, highlighting strengths, and areas for improvement, and sharing model solutions that serve as valuable preparation for future contests.

Correspondence competitions open for foreign participation

FYKOS Correspondence Competition

  • FYKOS is the name of a Czech organisation and also one of the main competition (it is derived from the abbreviation of Physics Correspondence Competition in the Czech language).
  • All the FYKOS’ competitions are primarily for upper secondary students and open for foreign participation both in Czech and English.
  • Individual competition with 6 series of 8 problems throughout the school year. Participants can join anytime during the school year.
  • For each series, there is approximately a month to write solutions and submit them through the website.

KöMaL

  • Probably one of the eldest competitions established in 1893.
  • Organised from Hungary for upper secondary students.

Local correspondence competitions

Some of them could be open for foreign participation, however, they does not have English problem assignments.

Local competitions
  • Czech Republic
    • Fermiho úlohy (Fermi’s Problems) – for upper secondary students
      • Both for individuals and small teams
      • The first part is correspondence and then, there is face-to-face (or online) final.
    • oZáření – for upper secondary students – primarily about the radioactivity and connected topics
    • Výpočty fyzikálních úkolů (Výfuk) – for lower secondary students – general physics
  • Slovakia

 

Team Competitions

Non-tournament competitions, usually take a few hours of solving problems.

International team competitions for university students

PLANCKS

The Physics League Across Numerous Countries for Kick-ass Students (PLANCKS) is an international physics competition for teams of 3 or 4 bachelor’s and master’s students organised by IAPS (International Association of Physics Students). Taking place over four days, the event combines a challenging physics contest with a program full of social and scientific activities. Students from around the globe come together to compete, connect, and share their passion for physics while exploring the host country’s research environment and culture.

International rounds
National preliminaries/organisations

 

International team competitions for upper-secondary students

Fyziklani

  • For teams of up to 5 upper-secondary students.
  • It is held once a year in February in Prague, the Czech Republic.
  • 3 hours of intense problem-solving.
  • There is a possibility for accommodation and participation in the accompanying program for a few days around the competition.

Physics Brawl Online

  • This online competition for teams of up to 5 people is held once a year in the second half of November.
  • 3 hours of intense problem-solving.
  • It has an Open category for anyone – e.g. university students, professors, or generally people who like Physics.

Physics náboj

  • This international competition is held in a few countries at the same time in various places.
  • For teams of up to 5 upper secondary students.
  • Each organising country translates the problems in their native language and all participants solve the same problems internationally.
  • 2024 was held in: Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Spain.

International team competitions for lower secondary students

Náboj Junior

  • This international competition is held in a few countries at the same time in various places.
  • For teams of up to 4 lower secondary students.
  • Each organising country translates the problems in their native language and all participants solve the same problems internationally.
  • 2024 was held in: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Spain.

 

National team competitions for lower secondary students

National competitions
  • Czech Republic