How do students participate?
Students must participate through their schools. Teachers must register their schools for the competition. This is done by a teacher registered with BPhO for their school. Please see the teacher registration link.
What academic level should students be at to participate?
Students who have completed their school exams in the year of the competition can participate, provided they have not yet started higher-level studies (e.g., BPhO Round 1, A2 university studies, or equivalent to the AS Challenge, or Key Stage 4/Level 3 Physics Challenge studies).
Are there age restrictions?
Students participating in each competition are determined by the grade group specified for each competition. Younger students can participate, but older students cannot.
How can non-UK citizens participate?
Participants do not need to be UK citizens, but must meet the age requirements for each competition. All Chinese students wishing to participate in the BPhO competition, AS Challenge, or Physics Challenge must register through ASDAN-China. For registration, please visit www.seedasdan.org/bpho or contact science@seedasdan.org for more information. Entries from other overseas schools must first contact Contact@bpho.org.uk.
What about homeschooled students?
Participation is through the school. The management and security of competition papers are essential. We are happy to make arrangements with local schools or colleges where other students are participating.
What about the UK team for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)?
① Attending a secondary school, sixth form, or FE university in the UK, ② Being a British citizen or having received most of your education in the UK – If your students are not British citizens but would like to inquire about their eligibility, please contact BPhO.
Round 2 (January): Only students who qualify for the UK team will be invited to participate in this round of competition papers. [The increase in the number of overseas A-level students studying in the UK is welcome, and we are pleased to see their success in the first round, but this does not qualify them for the second round.
Oxford Training Camp: Only students who qualify for the IPhO UK team will be invited to the Oxford Training Camp in April.
Academic Level: Students who have completed their school exams in the year of the competition, as long as they have not yet started university studies, can become team members.
Age Limit: Participants must be no older than 20 years old as of June 30th of the year of the competition.
For more questions about the competition, registration, or competition coaching courses, please scan the QR code to add an advisor for online consultation!
