Open Call for International Computer Science Competition

They believe that blending education with friendly competition can inspire students to develop a lasting passion for computer science, potentially leading to fulfilling careers in research, development, or engineering.

The International Computer Science Competition aims to be accessible to all students from all countries, regardless of their background, school, or institution: all you need is a pen, paper, access to a computer, and an internet connection to join!

Focus Areas

• Internationality: From the very first round, ICSC is a truly global event. All participants tackle the same challenges, ensuring fair assessment and fostering international connections.
• Digital Accessibility: They utilize the power of the internet to open participation to students everywhere, regardless of geographic location or school affiliation. While teacher guidance is beneficial, motivated individuals can participate independently from anywhere.
• Exploration of Theory and Practice: ICSC embraces the full scope of computer science. While many competitions focus primarily on programming as a means of demonstrating logical thinking, ICSC recognizes that the rise of artificial intelligence demands stronger emphasis on conceptual and mathematical problem-solving.
• Real-World Research: Bridging the gap between academic learning and cutting-edge research is vital, especially in a rapidly evolving field like computer science. ICSC problems typically incorporate concepts from recently published research papers. This unique feature provides many participants with their first exposure to actual CS research; a field where groundbreaking work is published daily, sometimes even by exceptional students like you!
• Scaling Difficulty Levels: Their problems are designed to engage both experienced computer science enthusiasts and those beginning to explore the subject beyond the classroom. The difficulty ranges from approachable exercises that reinforce foundational concepts to advanced challenges that introduce novel formats and require deeper analytical thinking. This ensures a rewarding and intellectually stimulating experience for all participants.
• Online Tools for Educators: They equip teachers and schools with resources and support. A dedicated teacher interface allows for streamlined management of student submissions, results tracking, certificate access, and supervision of the Final Round exam.
• Local Communities & Ambassadors: ICSC encourages the formation of local student groups focused on computer science. Their Ambassador Program empowers motivated students to inspire peers, organize local events, and build vibrant communities centered around shared interests in CS.

Benefits

• Encouraging students and youth to participate in ICSC.
• Informing schools, technology clubs, and local organizations about the competition.
• Optionally organizing local events, workshops, or study groups related to computer science.
• Serving as a local point of contact and representative of ICSC.

Funding Information

• The prizes amount to a total value of over 1,000 EUR.
• Senior:
  • 1st Prize: 175 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 1st Prize Certificate.
  • 2nd Prize: 125 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 2nd Prize Certificate.
  • 3rd Prize: 75 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 3rd Prize Certificate.
• Youth:
  • 1st Prize: 150 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 1st Prize Certificate.
  • 2nd Prize: 100 USD
  • Cash Prize, Special 2nd Prize Certificate.
  • 3rd Prize: 50 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 3rd Prize Certificate.
• Junior:
  • 1st Prize: 125 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 1st Prize Certificate.
  • 2nd Prize: 75 USD Cash Prize
  • Special 2nd Prize Certificate.
  • 3rd Prize: 25 USD Cash Prize,
  • Special 3rd Prize Certificate.

Eligible Activities

• Using social media to share ICSC updates and computer science content.
• Presenting ICSC to teachers, school administrators, or student clubs.
• Starting or supporting after-school coding clubs or CS interest groups.
• Organizing info sessions, coding workshops, or problem-solving practice groups.

Eligibility Criteria

• Current high school and university students from all grades and countries are invited to participate.
• They have three age categories:
  • Junior: 10th Grade and below (and < 16 years of age)
  • Youth: 11th to 13th Grade (and < 19 years of age)
  • Senior: 1st Year College/University and higher (or ≥ 19 years of age)
• Students from all age categories will receive the same problems in all rounds. However, the number of problems required to advance differ based on your age group. To succeed, you’ll need curiosity, logical thinking, and creativity.
• As some problems involve exploring research materials, strong reading comprehension in English is helpful.
• A reliable internet connection and access to a computer are necessary for participation and submission.

For more information, visit ICSC.