2027 International STEM Olympiad: What Nigerian students need to know

For Nigerian students with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the 2027 International STEM Olympiad, to hold in Lisbon-Portugal, could be a chance to compete alongside some of the world’s brightest young minds.

Experts emphasise that students’ grasping the concepts, learning their application in day-to-day life, and improves one’s skills, rather than the traditional rote learning approach, and this is what comes with competing in STEM Olympiad, among others.

Olympiad competitions introduce students to the unique nature of competitive exams at an early age. It lets them gain hands-on experience in attempting different papers and solving different kinds of problems by using their critical thinking and reasoning abilities.

Besides, the distinct paper pattern with multiple-choice questions, time barrier, and a competition-focused environment motivates them to perform their best, unlike a regular semester, thus creating a major shift in their perception towards examinations and results on the whole.

Alex Onyia, CEO at Educare, recently unveiled guidelines for schools, parents and students seeking to participate in the 2027 International STEM Olympiad.

Onyia in his official X handle @ @winexviv, states that interested students will be able to begin registration after August 15, 2026, according to the organisers of the competition.

“The registration portal will open for the new academic session following the successful conclusion of the 2026 International STEM Olympiad and Coding Olympiad Grand Final held in Rome, Italy, from July 2 to 8, 2026.

“The registration guidelines, examination schedules and portal access will become available when registration officially opens after August 15, 2026.”

Besides, the organisers confirmed that the 2027 Grand Final will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, inviting students worldwide to begin preparations for the new competition cycle.

The Rome event brought together 1,154 participants and guests from 54 countries, with the award ceremony marking the end of the global competition.

What is the International STEM Olympiad?

The International STEM Olympiad is a global academic competition designed to promote education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through real-world problem-solving rather than conventional classroom testing.

Unlike traditional examinations that assess students based mainly on memorisation, the Olympiad focuses on applying scientific and mathematical concepts to practical situations, encouraging critical thinking, logical reasoning and innovation.

The competition is organised by Main Team Organisation GmbH, a Germany-based educational organisation established in 2012, which conducts educational programmes and international competitions for students and teachers across Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

According to the organisers, the Olympiad was created to provide students interested in STEM with access to international-standard questions and learning materials while giving them the opportunity to compete with peers from different countries.

Categories

Students can participate in three categories: Mathematics – Grades 1 to 12, Science – Grades 1 to 12, and Technology and Engineering – Grades 6 to 11

Who can participate?

The competition is open to students from Grades 1 to 12, regardless of age. Students are expected to register according to their current grade level rather than their age or year of school enrolment.

There is no restriction on nationality, and schools or individual students from participating countries can register.

How to register

Registration will commence after August 15, 2026, through the official International STEM Olympiad portal. To complete registration, students or schools are expected to: Create an account on the official student portal. Register using the student’s current grade. Select one or more competition categories. Pay the applicable registration fee, and choose their preferred examination date once announced.

Students are allowed to register for multiple categories, however, payments become non-refundable once completed.

Examination format:

Each examination lasts 60 minutes, and they are conducted under strict online supervision. Participants must use a device with a functioning camera throughout the examination.

Students caught cheating or attempting to use unauthorised materials risk immediate disqualification. The organisers also warned that opening another browser tab during the examination automatically sends an alert to the examination centre.

Note: The organisers stressed that the use of artificial intelligence tools to answer examination questions is strictly prohibited.

Besides, participants are prohibited from using: Calculators, books, printed materials, dictionaries, AI tools, and additional browser tabs.

Languages: The languages of use are English, Spanish, French, Russian, Azerbaijani, and Turkish.

Recall that the Nigerian team at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale in Rome, Italy, after the Mathematics and Science competitions involving participants from over 150 countries.

Nigerian representatives comprising of Egejurum Onyedikachi, Onwubiko Chimduebube, and Don Munachimso, won gold at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale in Rome, Italy.