Succeed
    Competition

    High School Academic Research Competition

    by High School Academic Research Competition

    An online academic research contest where students develop an original proposal on any topic, with expert bootcamps and a finalist video round.

    Last verified: 17 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
    High School Academic Research Competition

    • What Succeed checks

      We review public competition details such as eligibility, cost, entry format, deadlines, recognition and submission requirements.

    • What Last verified means

      Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Competition details can still change.

    • How official sources are used

      Succeed uses official provider information where available, then rewrites it into a student-facing summary for comparison and planning.

    • Why some dates are reference dates

      If the current cycle is not available, Succeed may show the latest verified cycle dates so you can understand typical timing.

    • Succeed is independent from this provider unless a partnership is clearly stated.

    Academic Research Competition at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Closed

    Eligibility

    Global secondary students; individual entry

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 13-18

    Location / Region

    Online

    Cost

    $10; $15; $20

    Prize highlight

    $1,000 cash, free research programme and publication

    Entry format

    PDF proposal; finalist video

    Latest deadline

    30 April 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Get next-cycle reminder

    Academic Research Competition summary

    Students choose an academic question from any field and develop it into a concise original research proposal.

    Participant-exclusive webinars and on-demand bootcamps introduce topic selection, literature review, research questions, methodology and proposal writing.

    The strongest 50 proposals advance to a second round, where finalists present their ideas in a short slide-based video pitch.

    It suits curious students who want a structured first research experience without committing to a full-length paper.

    What is High School Academic Research Competition?

    The High School Academic Research Competition, known as SARC, is a global contest in which students present an original proposal on a topic of their choice. The brief spans fields from science and engineering to politics, economics, history and art.

    The experience combines independent proposal development with participant workshops on the research process. Every entrant submits a concise written proposal, and the top 50 progress to a video-pitch round judged alongside their written work.

    Why Succeed highlights Academic Research Competition

    • The open-topic brief lets students pursue a genuine academic interest rather than fit a preset question.

    • Expert-led webinars and on-demand bootcamps make the research process more approachable for beginners.

    • A two-page proposal demands focus and clarity without requiring a completed full research paper.

    • The top-50 video round tests whether finalists can communicate complex ideas concisely.

    • Published formatting and citation rules give entrants a concrete academic standard to work towards.

    Who is Academic Research Competition for?

    Best for

    Independent students with a question they genuinely want to investigate and who would value structured guidance on proposal writing.

    Not ideal if

    You want a team project, detailed first-round feedback or a competition based on a short factual quiz rather than sustained research preparation.

    Is Academic Research Competition worth it?

    It can be worthwhile if you want a manageable introduction to academic research. Choosing your own topic, learning proposal conventions and producing an original piece of work can give you useful material for later reflection or further study.

    The main limitation is that most entrants receive no individual score or written feedback, and only the top 50 reach the presentation round. Treat the process and finished proposal as the core value rather than relying on an award.

    How much preparation does Academic Research Competition need?

    Effort level

    High

    Best started

    Six to eight weeks before the proposal deadline.

    Main challenge

    Narrowing a broad interest into a focused, feasible research question.

    Typical preparation

    • Choose a topic you care enough about to investigate beyond surface-level sources.

    • Use the literature review to identify a specific gap, tension or unanswered question.

    • Draft the proposal early enough to test its scope against the two-page limit.

    • Reserve a final editing session for citations, formatting and the required filename.

    Useful if

    You want to practise independent research and academic writing.

    What do students do on Academic Research Competition?

    You turn an academic interest into a tightly scoped proposal, using the competition's workshops and formatting guidance. Selected finalists then translate the proposal into a short visual presentation.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Register individually using a personal rather than school email address.

    2. 2

      Answer short assessment-form questions about your proposed research topic.

    3. 3

      Choose one of the published research categories for your submission.

    4. 4

      Attend or replay webinars and bootcamps on research fundamentals.

    5. 5

      Write and submit a one-to-two-page PDF research proposal.

    6. 6

      If selected among the top 50, record and submit a slide-based video pitch.

    Academic Research Competition dates and deadlines

    Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.

    Early registration opens

    1 January 2026

    Early-bird registration period begins.

    Reference date

    Early registration closes

    8 March 2026

    Early-bird fee period ends.

    Reference date

    Registration opens

    9 March 2026

    Regular registration period begins.

    Reference date

    Registration deadline

    19 April 2026

    Registration closes at 23:59 GMT+0.

    Reference date

    Bootcamp access

    18 April 2026

    On-demand participant resources become available.

    Reference date

    Proposal deadline

    30 April 2026

    Submit the PDF proposal by 23:59 GMT+0.

    Reference date

    Finalists announced

    6 May 2026

    Top 50 proposals progress.

    Reference date

    Video deadline

    12 May 2026

    Top 50 finalists submit by 23:59 GMT+0.

    Reference date

    Winners announced

    20 May 2026

    Top three global winners are named.

    Reference date

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Residents of all countries may enter

    • Ages 13-18 in secondary or high school

    • Ninth graders under 13 may also enter

    • Qualifying recent graduates may enter during a gap year

    • Gap-year entrants cannot hold university credits

    • Entries must be submitted individually

    • Under-18 prize winners require parental consent

    • Employees, contractors and specified household members are excluded

    How much does Academic Research Competition cost?

    Registration fee

    $10; $15; $20 — Pre-registration, early-bird and regular rates.

    Potential funding / awards

    • Promo codes: Variable discount — Codes may reduce the registration fee.

    What's included

    Participant-exclusive research webinars, On-demand research bootcamps, Proposal-writing and research guidance

    How to enter Academic Research Competition

    1. 1

      Open the official registration page and complete the individual registration form.

    2. 2

      Use a personal email address because school email addresses are not accepted.

    3. 3

      Pay the applicable registration fee by credit or debit card.

    4. 4

      Answer the short assessment-form questions about your research topic.

    5. 5

      Follow the formatting, category and filename instructions for the proposal.

    6. 6

      Use the submission link emailed to registrants before the proposal deadline.

    7. 7

      Check for the confirmation email after submitting your proposal.

    Competition prompts

    Choose one question from your selected subject area. Succeed shows a small preview here, but always check the current competition instructions before writing.

    Questions shown from the latest verified cycle, for reference only.

    Q1.Choose a topic you are passionate about or may study at university.

    Submission requirements

    The first-round entry is a concise academic proposal with a separate cover page and references.

    • Original individual work

    • One-to-two-page proposal body

    • Separate cover page

    • Full name, research topic and email on cover

    • Times New Roman, 12-point font

    • One-inch margins

    • Single-spaced text

    • PDF format only

    • A4 page size

    • APA 7th Edition or MLA citations accepted

    • References listed alphabetically

    • Filename: LastName_#CategoryNumber_SARC.pdf

    • Finalist slide-based video: 1.5-3.5 minutes

    Prizes and recognition

    First place

    Includes a free Indigo Research Intensive Program, SARC publication and a certificate.

    Second place

    Includes a 50% programme discount, SARC publication and a certificate.

    Third place

    Includes a 25% programme discount, SARC publication and a certificate.

    What this may help with

    Demonstrating independent research, writing and presentation skills.

    What it does not guarantee

    University admission or individual feedback on a first-round entry.

    Judging criteria

    • Quality of the research proposal
    • Quality of the finalist video pitch
    • Original work with properly acknowledged sources

    Detailed criterion weightings are not published in the reviewed competition information.

    How to stand out

    1. Turn a broad interest into one focused, original and feasible research question.
    2. Use the literature review to identify a genuine gap rather than merely summarising a topic.
    3. Define clear objectives and a methodology that fit the proposal's limited scope.
    4. Explain anticipated contributions and limitations with precision rather than overclaiming.
    5. Follow every formatting, citation and filename instruction before uploading the PDF.
    6. If shortlisted, make the video pitch visual, concise and centred on the research question.

    Academic Research Competition FAQs

    Yes. The competition allows topics across any field, including science, engineering, politics, economics, history, art and other areas of interest.

    No. The competition is designed for both newcomers and experienced student researchers, with workshops covering the research process.

    No. SARC is an individual competition, and participants must enter in their own name.

    Every participant submits an original one-to-two-page research proposal as a PDF, following the published formatting and citation rules.

    The top 50 proposal writers create a short slide-based video pitch introducing their question, research process and possible future research.

    No. Participation is encouraged, but the sessions are recorded and available on demand for different schedules and time zones.

    First-round participants do not receive scores, marked rubrics or written comments because of the submission volume.

    Submissions are checked for plagiarism, and plagiarised work is disqualified. Entrants must cite datasets, publications, quotations, charts and other borrowed material properly.

    Alternatives to Academic Research Competition

    Compare these related competitions if you prefer an essay brief, a subject-specific entry or a different style of academic challenge.

    Alternatives to Academic Research Competition

    John Locke Global Essay Prize
    Closed

    Challenging questions beyond the school curriculum

    Critical Analysis
    31 May 2026
    Free
    Up to 18

    Best for

    Students who prefer responding to a defined academic question.

    View details

    Save this competition in Succeed to compare it with other essay prizes, deadlines and entry formats in one place.

    Compare with other competitions
    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • SARC Prizes | Win up to $3,000 in Awards
    • Participants Learning Resources | Research Competition
    • SARC Guidelines - How to Submit Your Proposal
    • Register Now | SARC 2026
    • Terms & Conditions | Research Competition
    • SARC FAQ — Research Competition Questions & Answers
    • SARC 2026 Timeline — Key Dates & Deadlines
    • What is SARC? Global High School Research Competition
    • SARC | Global High School Research Competition

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 17 Aug 2026)

    • Official overview checked

    • Eligibility terms reviewed

    • Fees cross-checked

    • Timeline verified

    • Submission rules reviewed

    • Prize terms compared

    • Learning resources checked

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current submission instructions before entering.