Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Regeneron ISEF is Society for Science’s annual global pre-college research competition across 22 science and engineering categories. Students do not apply directly: they advance by earning selection at a Society-affiliated local, regional, state, or national fair.

The 2027 event will bring finalists to Los Angeles from May 8 to 14. Students present independent research and are judged for category, top, and special awards.

Benefits & funding

The affiliated fair must finance each finalist’s registration fee, round-trip travel, housing, and reasonable project-shipping costs, as well as those costs for the accompanying Adult in Charge; families cannot be required to pay as a condition of participation.
Finalists compete for more than US$7 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships; awards are competitive, not guaranteed.
Category Grand Awards are US$6,000, US$2,400, US$1,200, and US$600. Team members split a team award equally.
Top awards include one US$100,000 award and two US$75,000 awards.

Eligibility

Applicants must be in grades 9–12 or the equivalent and must be selected by a Society-affiliated fair; direct entry is not permitted.
Applicants must not have reached age 20 on or before May 1 preceding ISEF.
Each student may enter one project containing no more than 12 continuous months of research; for the 2027 competition, the research cannot include work performed before January 2026.
Teams may have no more than three members, all of whom must be the original eligible members selected through the affiliated fair.
Project boards and abstracts must be in English, and projects must meet both ISEF rules and any additional requirements of the affiliated fair.
The pathway is available internationally wherever a qualifying affiliated fair serves the student’s area; local fair eligibility and schedules vary.

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

1
Use the Society’s affiliated-fair directory to identify the fair serving the student’s school or geographic area.
2
Review the ISEF rules and required forms before starting research, obtaining any required prior approvals through the local Scientific Review Committee.
3
Complete an original research project and enter the appropriate affiliated fair under its local procedure and deadline.
4
Earn selection as an ISEF finalist through that fair’s judging process.
5
After selection, work through the fair director, who submits the Finalist Questionnaire, Official Party registration, and required paperwork within 12 calendar days after the fair.

Program timeline

Official Party Registration becomes available through the Fair Dashboard.
By Feb 8, 2027
Affiliated fair date + 12 calendar days
Finalist Questionnaire and Official Party Registration are due.
Last date on which a 2027 ISEF-affiliated fair may be held.
Apr 12, 2027
Deadline for abstract rewrites in the Finalist Questionnaire.
Apr 16, 2027
Regeneron ISEF 2027 begins in Los Angeles.
May 8, 2027
Regeneron ISEF 2027 ends.
May 14, 2027