The International Chemistry Olympiad is an annual competition for secondary-school chemistry students. National bodies select their representatives, and each participating country is expected to send four competitors and two mentors.
The 59th IChO is scheduled in Taipei from 19 to 28 July 2027. It combines practical and theoretical chemistry examinations with international scientific and cultural exchange.
Benefits & funding
- The organizer covers the organized program, including accommodation for competitors and International Jury members.
- The organizer provides local transfers from and to its designated airport or station on the official arrival and departure days, plus accident insurance connected with the itinerary.
- Participating countries cover return travel to the designated arrival point and pay the team participation fee, currently USD 3,000 per team. Delegation members must arrange medical insurance for travel and the stay.
- Competitors can earn gold, silver, or bronze medals, honorable mentions, and participation certificates under the official regulations.
Eligibility
- Competitors must be secondary-school students or recent graduates who have not started university education. A graduate must have finished no earlier than the most recent graduation before 1 July 2027.
- Competitors must be under 20 on 1 July 2027.
- Each competitor must either hold a passport from the represented country or have studied in that country’s secondary-school system for more than one academic year.
- Students cannot apply centrally. Participation is decided nationally, normally through an open national selection process for a four-student team.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
High School
Age requirement
≤ 19 yrs
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Application process
- 1Find the organization responsible for the Chemistry Olympiad in the student’s country.
- 2Check that organization’s eligibility rules, selection stages, and national deadline.
- 3Enter and complete the national selection process.
- 4If selected, follow the national delegation’s instructions; the participating country confirms and registers its team with the organizer.
Program timeline
By November 2026
The organizer normally sends invitations to eligible participating countries; countries not automatically invited apply by the end of November.
Preparatory tasks are distributed to participating countries.
January 2027
Country-specific
National selection deadlines and stages.
Age and student-status eligibility reference date.
1 July 2027
19 July 2027
IChO 2027 begins in Taipei.
28 July 2027
IChO 2027 ends.