How the ISEF competition works
From who can enter, to how students qualify, to what happens during the week of the fair — here is the full picture of competing at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Eligibility
ISEF is for high-school students. The core rules are simple, though every detail matters when you register.
Grades 9–12
Competitors are high-school students in grades 9 through 12 (and generally no older than 20 in the year of the fair).
One project
Each finalist presents a single project — the result of their own original research or engineering work.
Solo or team
Projects may be individual or completed by a team of up to three students working together.
How students qualify
You cannot register for ISEF directly. Finalists are selected at Society-affiliated fairs — there are 365 of them across more than 60 countries, regions, and territories.
Build a project
Carry out a genuine research or engineering project in one of the 22 categories, documenting your method and results.
Win an affiliated fair
Enter a Society-affiliated regional, state, or national fair. Top projects there earn the right to advance to ISEF.
Become a finalist
Selected students attend ISEF as official finalists, joining roughly 1,700 peers from around the world.
Doing it by the book
ISEF projects must follow detailed rules designed to keep research safe, ethical, and fair. Before experiments begin, students complete a research plan and the required approval forms — especially for projects involving humans, animals, or hazardous materials.
At the fair, every finalist prepares a clear abstract and a display board that communicates the question, method, results, and conclusions at a glance.
Our Resources guide walks through how to prepare each of these well.
Judging & awards
Over the week of the fair, finalists are interviewed by panels of professional judges — working scientists, engineers, and researchers. Projects compete for category Grand Awards, and more than 45 organizations present their own Special Awards, scholarships, and internships.
The very top projects earn the headline prizes, including the $100,000 George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award — see the Winners & Awards guide for the full structure.
What judges reward
A polished poster is not enough. Judges are looking for the qualities of a real scientist.
Original question
A clear, creative research question that the student genuinely owns.
Sound method
A rigorous, well-controlled approach with honest analysis of the data.
Real understanding
Deep grasp of the science — not just the result, but why it matters.
Clear communication
The ability to explain complex work simply and confidently.
Competition FAQ
Can I register for ISEF directly?
What grades are eligible?
Can I work in a team?
What do I need to prepare before the fair?
How are projects judged?
Planning your path to ISEF?
Explore the 22 categories to find where your project fits, or get help planning your route to the fair.