Jugend forscht

Country:
Germany
Category:
Competitions

Checked against official sources on 2 October 2026.

Overview

Jugend forscht is Germany's national youth science and technology competition. Participants pick their own research topic, find a mentor and present a project. Over 130 competitions are held across Germany each year, and winners receive money and prizes in kind.

Who can take part

There are two age divisions.

DivisionWho
Jugend forscht juniorFrom Grade 4 up to age 14
Jugend forschtAges 15 to 21

Levels or stages

Subject fields

Projects are entered in one of seven fields: working world, biology, chemistry, geo and space sciences, mathematics and computer science, physics, and technology.

Competition levels

  1. Regional competitions.

  2. State competitions, for regional winners.

  3. The national final, for state winners.

Important dates

The registration deadline for the current cycle is November 30. Dates of the regional, state and national rounds for 2027 were not given on the pages checked.

Fees

The site mentions financial support for participants who need it; no participation fee was listed.

How to apply

Register through the online portal at anmeldung.jugend-forscht.de by the deadline.

Preparation tips

Choose a question you can test yourself, keep careful records of your method and results, and prepare to explain your project to a jury.

Can I enter as a team?

The official pages checked did not state team rules; check the participation page for the current conditions.

Sources