Applications are open for the International Machine Learning Competition 2026 ($1,500 prize) - the International Machine Learning Competition (IMLC), where students worldwide learn how machine learning really works by solving problems from the basics to current research.

Compete across three rounds over about five months. Total prizes and awards are worth $1,500 USD, plus international/national awards and Gold, Silver, or Bronze Honours. Qualification Round deadline: Sunday, 13 December 2026, 23:59 UTC.

This Opportunity Station guide is original copy based on the official IMLC site (imlco.org). It is not a reprint of any third-party blog.

Quick Facts - IMLC 2026

Detail	Information
Competition	International Machine Learning Competition (IMLC) 2026
Organiser base	Primarily online; organising team largely based in Germany
Prize pool	$1,500 USD total prizes and awards
Rounds	Qualification → Pre-Final → Final
Qualification deadline	13 December 2026, 23:59 UTC
Final results	Announced ~1 March 2027
Open to	High school and university students worldwide (gap-year students planning university also eligible)
Experience needed	None - school maths and curiosity are enough to start
Submit	Qualification Round submission portal

About IMLC

Today, machine learning powers most of what people call AI - yet few students learn how a model is trained, why it predicts what it does, and when it fails. IMLC fills that gap beyond typical school curricula. Problems span six areas: core methods and optimisation, deep learning, frontier models, real-world applications, and trustworthy AI. You start with fundamentals and work up to a recent research paper.

Benefits & Awards

Total prizes and awards worth $1,500 USD
Official digital certificates for all participants (verification IDs)
International awards for outstanding participants
National awards for top performers from each country
Gold, Silver, or Bronze Honours for high-scoring finalists
Special awards for outstanding teachers, schools, and regional representatives
International community, mentorship, and academic networking
Hands-on skill development from fundamentals to frontier ML research

Competition Process

Qualification Round (until 13 Dec 2026) - Solve ML problems independently online from anywhere. Score 15/17/20 points by age group to advance. Collaboration with friends is allowed in this round only.
Pre-Final Round - Supervised or digitally monitored exam; includes reading a real scientific research paper. (Pre-Final registration costs apply; financial aid available.)
Final Round - Supervised, tool-free international final on a unified schedule (~40 minutes). Top finishers earn awards; results around 1 March 2027.

Eligibility

Current high school or university students worldwide
Gap-year students between high school and university who plan to start university soon
Interest in machine learning, AI, and/or mathematics
Computer with internet for online stages; no powerful GPU required
No prior ML experience required

Age groups

Junior: 10th grade and below (and under 16)
Youth: 11th - 13th grade (or age ≥ 16)
Senior: 1st-year college/university and higher (or age ≥ 19)

Age/grade on the Qualification deadline (13 December 2026) locks your group for the whole edition. All groups receive the same problems; higher groups need more points to advance.

How to Apply / Submit

Review problems and round details on imlco.org.
Solve the Qualification Round 2026 problems.
Submit your solution via the official submission portal by 13 December 2026, 23:59 UTC.
Teachers/schools can manage students via the IMLC dashboard; ambassadors welcome for local outreach.

Official Links

IMLC official homepage

Submit Qualification Round solutions

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FAQs - International Machine Learning Competition 2026

When is the qualification deadline?

Sunday, 13 December 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

What is the prize?

Prizes and awards total $1,500 USD, plus certificates, national/international awards, and Gold/Silver/Bronze Honours.

Do I need ML experience?

No. School mathematics and curiosity are enough for the Qualification Round.

Who can enter?

High school and university students worldwide (and eligible gap-year students), competing in Junior, Youth, or Senior age groups.

Where do I submit?

Via the IMLC submission portal after solving the qualification problems.

Results for “Science Without Borders Challenge 2027”

International Machine Learning Competition 2026 ($1,500 prize)