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CompetitionBritish Physics Olympiad (BPhO)

British Physics Olympiad 2026/27 school competitions (Physics Challenge, Round 1, Round 2, Senior and Intermediate Challenges)

The British Physics Olympiad runs a series of physics problem-solving papers that teachers register their school to enter and supervise. They range from the Year 11 Intermediate and Year 12 Senior Physics Challenges to Round 1 and Round 2, the selection route for the UK team at the International Physics Olympiad. Useful for students heading towards physics-based engineering degrees.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
British Physics Olympiad (BPhO)[1]
Who it’s for
Year 13 or below (Physics Challenge, Round 1, Round 2); Year 11 (Intermediate Physics Challenge: younger students may enter, but not older); Year 12 (Senior Physics Challenge). A registered teacher enters the school; students sit papers in school under teacher supervision.[2]
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Worth
Nationally recognised physics problem-solving challenge with certificates; the Olympiad route leads to UK team selection for the International Physics Olympiad, with an Oxford training and selection camp in April 2027 (provisional dates).[3]
Cost
£20 for a school entry of up to 999 students[4]
Year groups
Year 10, Year 11, Year 12, Year 13
Where
UK-wide (Sat in your own school)
Format
In person
Dates
to

Sources

4 sources

  1. British Physics Olympiad

    BPhO Round 0

    This is the first of the selection papers for the UK team for the IPhO.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  2. British Physics Olympiad

    Intermediate Physics Challenge (Y11)

    They are aimed at Year 11 (UK). Younger students may enter, but not older.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  3. British Physics Olympiad

    Intermediate Physics Challenge (Y11)

    Sat within your school supervised by the teacher. It may not be sat by students at home.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  4. British Physics Olympiad

    Senior Physics Challenge (Y12)

    £20 for a school entry of up to 999 students

    Checked 24 October 2026

Details checked by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.

Open now

Physics Challenge (Year 13 or below) Sept to Dec 2026; Round 1 on 12 November 2026 (by invitation from Round 0); Round 2 on 21 January 2027; Senior Physics Challenge (Year 12) 5 March 2027; Intermediate Physics Challenge (Year 11) 26 February 2027; online SPC quiz 18 to 22 January 2027 and IPC quiz 25 to 29 January 2027

Apply on bpho.org.uk (opens in a new tab)

More competition opportunities

All opportunities

Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Closes in 6 days

CompetitionSentinus

Students choose a Sentinus engineering challenge (Retrofit Revolution, Flood Futures or Smart Streets) or their own idea and submit an online poster. Finalists are invited to Belfast to be judged by industry experts.

Worth
£1,000 for each category winner. The overall Sentinus Young Innovator wins a funded trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair 2027 in the USA, plus an accelerator programme and industry links.
Who
Individuals or teams of up to 3 for the Young Engineer category (there are also Young Scientist, Young Mathematician and Young Coder categories). Applicants must be aged under 19 on 1 July 2027.
Entry
Students or a school can enter
Deadline
Registrations close 31 October 2026. Online poster submission by 6 November 2026. Live finals on Thursday 26 November 2026 at Ulster University, Belfast.

Visit sentinus.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Davidson Inventors Challenge 2026/27

Closes in 7 days

CompetitionUniversity of Cambridge Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, with IChemE

Teams pick a UN Sustainable Development Goal, research a real problem and propose a sustainable, innovative engineering solution. Each team gets a mentor and the process runs from November to a final in April.

Worth
An expert mentor for each team, webinars, and for the winners a cash prize, a trophy and a day at the department.
Who
Teams of Year 11 and Year 12 students from UK schools. Maximum of two submissions per school; up to 100 projects selected.
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Deadline
Team sign-up and initial project outline by 1 November 2026. Final reports mid March 2027, shortlisted teams announced early April, final at the Cambridge department in late April 2027.

Visit ceb.cam.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Davidson Inventors Challenge 2026/27

STEM Racing Yorkshire and Humber: University of Leeds support and regional competition 2027

Closes in 19 days

CompetitionUniversity of Leeds Access and Outreach

The University of Leeds is a Centre of Excellence for STEM Racing for secondary schools and sixth form colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber. Teams get design support, free 3D-printed car manufacturing and a test track session before the regional competition at STEM Learning, York on 2 February 2027. A teacher must be the main contact.

Worth
Design support from a School of Mechanical Engineering academic, free manufacturing of up to 3 cars, an hour of exclusive test track access, and a chance to progress to the National and World Finals.
Who
Student teams aged 9 to 19 from schools and sixth form colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber (Entry Class ages 11 to 14, Development Class ages 11 to 19), entered by a teacher.
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Deadline
Design support by 13 November 2026; manufacturing designs by 27 November 2026; test track 14 December 2026; regional competition 2 February 2027

Visit accessandoutreach.leeds.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: STEM Racing Yorkshire and Humber: University of Leeds support and regional competition 2027