International Physics Olympiad Eligibility
Eligibility for the IPhO is governed by the official statutes of the competition, but the selection process is managed entirely by each participating country. Students must first qualify through their national system.
General Eligibility Criteria
- Age Limit
- Must not turn 20 by June 30th of the competition year.
- Education Status
- Must not be enrolled as a student in a university or equivalent post-secondary institution.
- Team Composition
- National teams consist of up to five students.
- Selection Process
- Selection is handled by a designated national organization.
The Role of National Olympiads
To represent a country at the IPhO, you must first excel in your own country's national physics olympiad program. These programs typically involve several rounds of exams and training camps. The national organizing body (for example, the American Association of Physics Teachers in the USA) is responsible for selecting and training the final team of five students. Interested students should seek information from their school's physics department or their country's physical society to learn about the first steps.