European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)

What it is

EUCYS (European Union Contest for Young Scientists) is a science research competition for young researchers. Unlike subject olympiads, you don't solve problems here: participants present their own research that they've been working on for months.

Judges assess how independently you worked, the scientific novelty of your project, and how well you understand the topic during the defense. Projects from any field are accepted — from biology to social sciences.

What you get besides the trip

Defending your own research in front of an international jury is a rare experience for a school student, and it looks impressive on applications for scholarships and exchange programs abroad. A project done for EUCYS usually becomes the foundation of a portfolio.

How to participate

This is a project competition, so the path is different from subject olympiads. In Ukraine, selection is run by the Small Academy of Sciences (MAN) through a research paper defense competition.

1. Register with your territorial MAN branch and prepare your own research work with a scientific supervisor.
2. Pass the regional stage of the competition-defense (usually February).
3. Pass the all-Ukrainian stage (March–April).
4. The strongest papers selected by MAN are put forward for international competitions.

Current conditions and deadlines are on the MAN Ukraine website.

How to prepare

• Start with past years' problems. They are published in open access on the official olympiad website — this is the most accurate sense of the level.
• Find a teacher or study group. Self-preparation at this level rarely works: you need someone to help you understand your mistakes.
• Don't miss the school stage. This is the most common reason why strong students don't go further — they simply didn't register in time.
• Follow announcements on IMZO — the exact dates of stages change every year.

Does this give benefits for university entry

Participants who represented Ukraine at international competitions are a separate category in admission rules. Conditions change every year, so the only reliable source is the current Procedure for Admission to Higher Educational Institutions, published separately by the Ministry of Education each year. Don't rely on last year's articles — the rules really do change.

Official sources

eucys.eu · man.gov.ua

Always check the official website before applying: dates and conditions change every year.