For Students
IYPT is open to all students enrolledin a recognised secondry education establishment, including Te Kura.
There are two ways to enter IYPT in NEw Zealand. Read about both of them here.
The IYPT Year
IYPT 2027 Milestone Dates
20th July 2026 – IYPT announce 17 problems for 2027 Tournament.
15th Augist 2026 – Launch 7 problems for New Zealand competitions. Workshop for Academy students and those new to the Tournament
Summer 2026/2027 – online meetings and webinars for Academy students an dthse working towrds a rep team selection application.
12th February 2027 – Video entries for the NZ Rep team selection process due.
27th and 28th February 2027 – NZ Rep team selection camp (up to 20 students by invitation only who were seected on the strength of thier video entries.
7th March – NZ Rep team for 2027 announced. 1st group of new academy members announced.
March 20th and 21st – 1st team training camp. Problem allocation.
April 3rd – School’s team tournemant. 2nd group of new academy members announced team copmetition.
April 24th to 26th –April 2nd team training camp (ANZAC weekend)
June 5th to 7th – 3rd team training camp
July 1st and 2nd – Pre-Tournament training camp.
Resources to help your investigation
As you start your research, you may find this IYPT reference kit a useful starting point. While not an official IYPT document or set of instructions, it is prepared by people with years of experience at IYPT. It should help you work out exactly what physics is involved in each problem.
Here is a short video to help you design your 12-minute presentation for presenting a solution. For the schools’ team tournament, you present live. As an individual trying for a place in the rep team, you present on video.
The video below shows the most important dos and don’ts for your solution presentation. Thanks to our Alumni and Trustee, Daniel Shi (Silver medal winning team @IYPT Poland in 2019).
And here is another video about opposition. As shown, it only applies to team entries, however individuals may also find it useful when preparing to discuss your research with the selection panel as they will ask similar questions.
Teams – you should notice in this video two things. Firstly, that good opposition is a team effort. And secondly, that the presenter still has work to do after they finish their presentation!
Our thanks again to Daniel and Eric for producing these videos.
At the tournament you present and defend your reserach in a physics match (called Physics fights at IYPT). Learn all about physics matches here.