Explore top psychology competitions, with helpful guides throughout this post. They’re a great way to build your knowledge and skills in the field while showing your talent and passion.
International Psychology Olympiad
This Olympiad challenges participants with an academic test in three sections: concept understanding, application and analysis, and research design. It tests a student’s knowledge of psychology and their ability to apply theoretical concepts to practical problems. Study materials are provided after registration to help you prepare.
- Eligibility: global participation, with over 35 countries having taken part in previous editions.
- Format: an academic test covering a range of psychological competencies.
Minds Underground Psychology Essay Competition
Participants choose from annual essay prompts that pose significant psychological questions. The competition requires extensive research and critical thinking, letting students explore and articulate their perspectives on complex topics in psychology.
- Eligibility: open to high school students worldwide.
- Format: essay writing based on prompts that change each year.
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
This competition encourages high school students to do original research in STEM fields. After submitting a detailed research report, selected students are invited to present at regional symposiums. Those who succeed progress to a national symposium, where they compete for scholarships and awards.
- Eligibility: open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents in high school (grades 9-12).
- Format: participants submit a written research report, then, if selected, present their work at regional and potentially national symposiums.
Additional resources that may help you win JSHS:
Brain Awareness Video Contest
The Brain Awareness Video Contest challenges high school students to create short videos that educate and inspire others about the brain and neuroscience.
- Eligibility: open to high school students worldwide.
- Format: participants create and submit videos that creatively communicate neuroscience concepts to a broad audience. Winners are selected on creativity, accuracy, and educational value.
Psychology Poster Competition
The Psychology Poster Competition invites high school students to design and present scientific posters on psychology topics, showcasing their understanding and creativity.
- Eligibility: open to high school and college students internationally.
- Format:
- Each school or college may submit a maximum of three research posters, each sized A3 in landscape orientation.
- Poster text must not exceed 1,000 words.
- Posters must be the original work of individual learners, not collaborative efforts, and must not be generated using AI software.
- Teachers are encouraged to run the competition within their AS/A-Level Psychology classes and to nominate the top three posters from their school or college.
Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC)
Middle school students start by competing in local science fairs affiliated with the program. Judges at these fairs nominate outstanding students for the national competition, where the top 300 are recognized and finalists compete in Washington, D.C. for larger prizes.
- Eligibility: open to students who participate in an affiliated fair in the U.S. or U.S. territories.
- Format: initial competition at local science fairs, with potential progression to the national level.
Rishab’s experience: 3M YSC, Broadcom MASTERS/Thermo Fisher JIC, Regeneron ISEF, National JSHS, RSI, and more.
See his guide.
TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students
High school students demonstrate their understanding of psychological concepts through a three-minute video. The competition emphasizes applying psychology to improve real-world situations. Categories include social psychology, personality, multiculturalism and gender, and motivation and emotion.
- Eligibility: open globally to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a psychology course.
- Format: a video submission showing the application of psychological concepts.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), hosted by the Society for Science, is the high school counterpart to the Thermo Fisher competition. Students in grades 9 to 12 compete in local science fairs affiliated with Regeneron, and judges nominate a percentage of participants to advance to the international level. At ISEF, finalists from around the world compete for over 600 individual and team awards, including substantial monetary prizes. Unlike the Thermo Fisher competition, ISEF teams compete as a unit.
- Eligibility: open to students worldwide.
- Format: participants submit projects to local science fairs, and successful nominees proceed to the international competition.
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is the oldest and one of the most prestigious science and math competitions in the United States. Established in 1942, it gives high school students a platform to present their original research. Participants conduct in-depth investigations and present their findings in a formal research paper. Expert reviewers evaluate each project, leading to the Top 300 scholars and Top 40 finalists. The Top 40 then compete during an in-person Finals Week in Washington, D.C. for the top 10 awards, and each of the Top 40 receives a minimum award of $25,000.
- Eligibility: open to U.S. citizens and students (regardless of citizenship) studying within the U.S.
- Format: individual participants submit research papers.
Free Student STEM guide with 50+ opportunities, competitions, internships and more.
United States Army’s eCybermission Competition
The eCybermission Competition, hosted by the United States Army, is a virtual STEM competition for younger students. Teams of U.S. students in grades 6 to 9 work on scientific research projects or engineering prototypes that solve community problems. Each team has 2 to 4 members and an adult advisor, and submits a scientific report detailing their research. Awards are available at the state, regional, and national levels.
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
- Format: a team-based competition with scientific reports.
Helpful Resources to Win Competitions
Want to win science fairs and competitions, not just regionally but at the international level? Want to win thousands in scholarships and get into top universities and summer programs?
The Science Fair & Competitions Course by Rishab, who won the 3M YSC, Thermo Fisher JIC, Regeneron ISEF, JSHS, RSI, and more. He has developed strategies based on the behind-the-scenes details of these competitions, and he’ll guide you through the process.
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