Gold Honour
Awarded to Final Round participants who reach at least 50% of the total points and finish in the top group of eligible participants.
AUL IPhyC 2026Prizes & recognition
Recognition for rigorous thinking.
The awards programme is worth USD 1,500 and includes nine international cash prizes, national awards, Final Round honours, and a certificate for every participant.
International cash prizes
9
First, second, and third prize in each age group.
Awards & prizes
USD 1,500
The published value of the 2026 awards programme.
Participation certificates
Everyone
Every participant receives a soft-copy certificate.
National recognition
Top 3
National awards for the top three participants in each country.
International prizes
Nine places. Three age groups.
First, second, and third prizes are awarded in each age group. The figures below are the published 2026 cash amounts.
The overall awards programme is valued at USD 1,500, including cash prizes and special honours.
| Age group | First prize | Second prize | Third prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | $250 | $175 | $125 |
| Youth | $200 | $150 | $100 |
| Junior | $175 | $125 | $100 |
Amounts are in US dollars. Prize winners also receive a special prize certificate. Hard copies are shipped internationally.
Final Round honours
Gold, silver, or bronze.
Finalists who reach at least 50% of the total points receive an honour based on their relative score. The official FAQ describes Gold, Silver, and Bronze in a 1:2:3 ratio.
Silver Honour
Awarded to high-scoring Finalists within the published Gold, Silver, and Bronze ratio.
Bronze Honour
Awarded to Finalists who reach at least 50% of the Final Round points but fall outside the Gold and Silver bands.
Beyond the individual
Recognition for the people around you.
National awards, representative awards, teacher awards, and school awards broaden the recognition beyond the top individual scores.
National Awards
The top three participants from each country, with at least 50% of the Final Round points, receive a special National Award certificate.
Representative Awards
Local representatives can be recognised for outreach, encouragement, collaboration, science communication, and long-term impact.
Teacher Awards
Honorary awards recognise teachers who supervise Finalists, support strong results, and promote IPhyC. No cash prize is attached.
School Awards
Schools can be recognised for participation and Finalist numbers, or for sustained support of their students. No cash prize is attached.
Certificates
Everyone leaves with something.
Certificates acknowledge participation, not only victory. They are issued digitally and carry a permanent verification ID.
All participants receive a participation certificate as a soft copy.
First, second, and third prize winners receive hard-copy certificates by international shipping.
Finalists who are not international prize winners receive soft-copy certificates.
Every certificate carries a verification ID that can be checked on the official IPhyC website.
Compete for more than a score
Do the work. Earn the recognition.
Every participant receives a certificate. The strongest performers also compete for international prizes and honours.
External links open the official IPhyC site