18 International STEM Competitions For High Schoolers

International competitions offer high school students a global stage to showcase their skills, collaborate with peers worldwide, and gain experiences that shape their academic and professional futures. Whether you're drawn to synthetic biology, environmental sustainability, robotics, or scientific research, there's a competition here that can propel you forward.

Below are 18 of the best international STEM competitions, followed by the world's leading science olympiads.

Top International STEM Competitions

1. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

ISEF is the world's largest international pre-college science competition, giving high school students a stage to present independent research across roughly 21 categories, from biology and chemistry to physics and engineering. Top awards include the George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award ($75,000) and multiple $50,000 awards, alongside category and special awards from sponsors.

Eligibility: high school students in grades 9–12 who have conducted individual (or small team) research projects and advanced through an affiliated regional or national fair. For a deep dive, see our guide to ISEF-winning project ideas and our step-by-step guide to qualifying for ISEF.

2. S.T. Yau High School Science Award (Asia)

A research-based competition emphasizing innovation, originality, and persistence, founded by Professor Shing-Tung Yau. Students submit original research across six categories, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Economic and Financial Modeling, and defend their work in an oral defense before expert judges.

Eligibility: current secondary school students in Hong Kong and the Asian region outside Mainland China. An especially strong fit for students in Asia aiming to compete at a high level in a specific discipline.

3. EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)

Run by the European Commission, EUCYS brings together around 150 young scientists from nearly 40 countries to present their projects to a jury and the public. Contestants submit a written project, a short video, and a poster, then answer the jury's questions, competing for substantial prizes (top awards of €7,000, plus special prizes like study visits to leading scientific organizations).

Eligibility: students aged 14–20 who have won first prize at their national science competition, with projects individual or in teams of up to three. Because entry runs through national contests, it's the natural next step for top competitors in participating European countries.

4. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP)

SJWP is an international competition for students developing research projects that address major water challenges, drawing tens of thousands of participants from around 40 countries. Finalists are selected from national competitions and judged by international water experts at a royal ceremony in Stockholm, where the award is presented by its patron, H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Eligibility: students aged 15–20 with a research project focused on a water-related challenge, from quality and availability to treatment and management. Ideal for students whose work connects to water, sustainability, or the environment.

5. Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE)

Ireland's premier science and technology exhibition, held annually at the RDS in Dublin, where more than 500 finalist projects are presented to judges and visitors alongside live demonstrations and stage talks. Students can enter individually or in groups of up to three, competing for prizes including the Stripe Young Scientist(s) of the Year Trophy, a €10,000 top prize, and the chance to represent Ireland at the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).

Eligibility: secondary school students in Ireland (Republic and Northern Ireland), across Junior, Intermediate, and Senior age groups. Groups spanning age categories enter in the age group of their oldest member.

6. GENIUS Olympiad

GENIUS Olympiad is an international project competition centered on environmental issues, spanning science, engineering, creative writing, art, music, and business, with the science and engineering categories drawing research projects on environmental and sustainability challenges. Despite the name, it's a project-and-research competition rather than an exam-based olympiad. For a full breakdown, see our guide to winning GENIUS Olympiad.

Eligibility: high school students worldwide, who typically qualify by submitting a project for review.

7. Yakutia International Science Fair (YISF)

YISF is an international school science conference-competition held annually in Yakutsk, Russia, where students present original research across four sections:

• Mathematics, Computer Science & IT

• Physics, Astronomy & Engineering

• Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences & Chemistry

• Social Sciences & Humanities.

Students defend their projects in oral presentations before an expert commission and take part in an open "People's Choice" poster competition, with diplomas awarded for first, second, and third place in each section and a Grand Prix for the top delegation overall. It runs in a blended in-person and remote format, and the competition language is English.

Eligibility: secondary school students from Russia and from countries around the world, competing individually or in teams. Projects must be completed within the year preceding the competition and submitted in English.

8. International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition

iGEM immerses students in synthetic biology: teams design, build, and test genetically engineered systems using standard biological parts, then present at the annual Grand Jamboree.

Projects at iGEM tackle real-world issues from sustainability to healthcare, with gold, silver, and bronze medals plus special awards for categories like Best Project and Best Presentation. Teams (high school, with an adult supervisor) typically face a participation fee plus travel costs.

9. World Robot Olympiad (WRO)

WRO challenges teams to design, build, and program robots to complete tasks based on annual themes, emphasizing creativity, teamwork, and applied STEM. Open to students up to 19, in teams usually affiliated with a school or club, with awards varying by age group and category.

10. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

FRC blends the excitement of sports with science and technology: teams design, build, and program robots for a themed annual challenge. It's known for its scale of scholarship opportunities, alongside trophies and grants for team development. Open to high schoolers, typically in school- or community-sponsored teams.

11. STEM Racing Secondary

STEM Racing is a global competition where student teams design, analyze, test, and race miniature cars using professional CAD (Autodesk Fusion) and CFD (Ansys) software, while also developing a brand, an enterprise portfolio, and project management skills. The Secondary division runs across three classes, Entry, Development, and Professional, that build progressively, with the top class advancing through regional and national finals to the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals.

Eligibility: students aged 11–19, competing in teams. The Entry class is designed for ages 11–14, while the Development and Professional classes are open across the full 11–19 range.

12. The Conrad Challenge

The Conrad Challenge is an entrepreneurship-and-innovation competition where students create sustainable solutions to global challenges across categories like aerospace, energy, and health, developing business plans and prototypes and pitching to judges.

Open to students aged 13–18 worldwide, guiding them from idea toward potential commercialization.

13. Breakthrough Junior Challenge

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge global competition to communicate a complex scientific idea, in physics, math, or life sciences, through a short, engaging video. It celebrates scientific creativity and clear communication, with major educational prizes (including a large college scholarship, a prize for the student's teacher, and a science lab upgrade for their school). Open to students aged 13–18 worldwide.

14. International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT)

Known as the "Physics World Cup," IYPT challenges teams to solve open-ended physics problems and defend their solutions against peer criticism, rewarding collaborative problem-solving and critical thinking. Held annually for teams of high school students.

15. Microsoft Imagine Cup

The Imagine Cup is a global technology competition where students build innovative software solutions, apps, games, or other digital tools, using Microsoft technologies to address social, environmental, or health challenges. Open to students 16 and older in teams, with a substantial top cash prize, mentorship, and internships.

16. Intel AI Global Impact Festival

The Intel® AI Global Impact Festival is a competition inviting students to develop AI- and machine-learning-based projects that address global challenges in areas like healthcare, environment, and education, then showcase them for feedback from industry experts. Open to students roughly 13–19 worldwide, individually or in teams, with cash prizes, scholarships, and mentorship.

17. Bretton Woods Economics Competition

This global competition that engages students in the world of international economics, requiring them to analyze, debate, and present on issues affecting the global economy. It's an excellent forum for young economists to explore economic policy and development, and a strong fit for students whose interests bridge STEM, data, and economics. Open to high school students worldwide.

18. International Research Olympiad

An olympiad-style competition dedicated solely to scientific research, representing 45+ countries' top youth researchers.

Unlike subject olympiads that test mastery of a single field, the IRO assesses the skills at the heart of research itself: critical thinking, analytical reasoning, data interpretation, question formation, and science communication, rewarding big-picture thinking and practical application over memorization.

It runs in three phases: an online Opens round (largely multiple-choice, analyzing research papers and scientific data), virtual Semifinals (free-response questions judged by researchers, open to the top 10%), and in-person Finals at Harvard Square, where top participants compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals, with accommodation for finalists covered plus additional sponsor prizes and recognition.

Eligibility: The IRO accepts high school students aged 13–18 worldwide.

Science Olympiads

Subject olympiads are among the most prestigious international competitions, but they're a distinct track from the research-and-project competitions above, they're exam-based, testing mastery of a subject through theoretical and practical rounds, and students typically qualify by advancing through national competitions.

The major science and math olympiads include the:

• International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO),

• International Biology Olympiad (IBO),

• International Physics Olympiad (IPhO),

• International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO),

• International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI),

• International Economics Olympiad (IEO),

• International Geography Olympiad (iGeo),

• International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA),

• International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC).

Most award gold, silver, and bronze medals, and selection to represent your country is itself a significant achievement.

Explore More Competitions

This list covers the international stage, but there's much more out there depending on your interests and location. For a broader roundup, see our guide to 50 STEM competitions for students.

If a specific field is your focus, our guide to neuroscience competitions for high school students goes deep on that area, and students in India will find tailored options in our guide to top competitions for Indian high school students.

Compete With Winners in Your Corner

Choosing the right competition is the first step, building a project that wins is the next. That's where ScienceFair comes in. Every coach on our team is a past science fair winner, and alongside our Ivy League research mentors, they'll help you choose the right competition, build a rigorous project, and prepare to face the judges.

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a call with our academic advisor.