How to Register for World Scholar's Cup
Registration happens per event through the official calendar: pick a round, form a team of three (or sign up solo and be matched), submit that round's form, and pay a small tournament fee. Here is the whole process, with fees, deadlines, and eligibility rules for the 2026-27 season.
Registration, Step by Step
Pick your round on the official calendar
All rounds — Regional, Global, and the Tournament of Champions — are listed at scholarscup.org/calendar with dates and locations. Choose the round nearest you (a team can enter only one Regional Round per season). If your school already participates, your WSC coordinator may handle this step for you.
Form your team of three
Teams are three scholars from the same division. Teammates can come from different schools or even different countries — you just note their affiliations when registering. No team yet? You can register individually and be matched with other scholars at the round.
Complete that round's registration form
Each event on the calendar links to its own registration form. Most rounds use a downloadable form; the Tournament of Champions uses an online form at registration.scholarscup.org. Fill in your team details and submit before that round's deadline.
Pay the round's tournament fee
Fees are set per round and are intentionally kept small — the World Scholar's Cup is a not-for-profit and all study materials are free. Some rounds offer special rates for students from government schools; check your round's listing or contact the organizers.
Download the curriculum and start preparing
Once registered, download the free Guiding Questions for the season's theme from the official subjects page and begin working through them with your team. Our preparation guide covers exactly how to structure those weeks.
Who Can Compete: Divisions and Eligibility
Junior Division
Students up to age 13, typically from around age 10. Scholars aged 10 and under also get their own "Skittles" activities at many rounds.
Senior Division
Students 14 and older, through the end of pre-university education. For the 2026 season, any student born before January 1, 2012 competes as a senior.
All three teammates compete in the same division. If your team mixes ages across the cutoff, the team competes in the Senior Division — the full divisions and age-rules guide covers the edge cases. New to the competition entirely? Start with What is World Scholar's Cup? for the format and events.
What Registration Costs
The World Scholar's Cup is run as a not-for-profit, and every study material — the Guiding Questions, past resources, the curriculum itself — is free to all participants. What you pay is a per-round tournament fee that varies by location.
In recent seasons, Regional Round fees have typically been in the range of $50-150 per student. Global Rounds cost more because they usually bundle accommodation packages, and for most families the flights and hotel — not the registration fee — are the real budget line for an international round. Some rounds also offer special registration rates for students from government schools.
Exact fees are published per event — always confirm the current fee on your round's listing at the official calendar before budgeting. Qualified for the Tournament of Champions at Yale? Our ToC guide covers that event's registration and preparation separately.
Registering Without a Team
Not having a team is not a blocker. The official FAQ is explicit: students may register individually and ask to be joined with other scholars looking for teammates — organizers match solo scholars into teams at the round. Mixed teams across schools and even countries are welcome.
If you end up as a pair, you can still compete: two-member teams are allowed but capped at 30,000 of the usual 40,000 points, since team events score three contributions. Finding a third teammate is always worth it.
Register solo — get matched at the round
Teammates can come from any school or country
Same fees; all study materials stay free
After You Register: Start Preparing
Registration is the easy part — the scholars who medal are the ones who use the weeks between sign-up and competition day well. Work through the season's Guiding Questions with your team, practice all four events, and run timed drills before the real thing.
Registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register for World Scholar's Cup?
The World Scholar's Cup is run as a not-for-profit and all study materials are free. Each round charges a small tournament fee that varies by location — Regional Rounds have typically cost around $50-150 per student in recent seasons, while Global Rounds cost more and usually include accommodation packages. For international rounds, travel is normally the largest expense, not the registration fee itself.
Can I register for World Scholar's Cup without a team?
Yes. The official FAQ states that students may register individually and ask to be joined with other scholars looking for teammates. Organizers help match individual scholars into teams of three at the round.
Can we compete with only two team members?
Two-member teams are allowed, but they are capped at a maximum of 30,000 points instead of the full 40,000, because team events score three contributions. If you can find a third teammate — even from another school or country — you should.
Can teammates be from different schools or countries?
Yes. Mixed teams are explicitly allowed — you simply note your teammates' school affiliations during registration. Many teams at Global Rounds combine scholars from different schools.
When is the registration deadline?
There is no single global deadline — each round sets its own registration window, listed with the event on the official calendar at scholarscup.org. Register early: rounds in popular cities can fill, and earlier registration leaves more time to prepare.
How old do you have to be for World Scholar's Cup?
The Junior Division covers students up to age 13 (usually from around age 10, with special "Skittles" activities for scholars 10 and under). The Senior Division is for students 14 and older through the end of pre-university education — for the 2026 season, any student born before January 1, 2012 competes as a senior.
Can a team compete at more than one Regional Round?
No — a team can participate at only one Regional Round per season. Score well there and you advance to a Global Round, and from a Global Round the strongest teams qualify for the Tournament of Champions at Yale.