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International Finance Olympiad

International Finance Olympiad

International Finance Olympiad (IFO)

OpenBusinessEconomicsOlympiad

About the Program

The International Finance Olympiad (IFO) is an annual online competition with free competition registration that challenges high school students worldwide to apply finance and economics knowledge to financial problems. Organized by EAE International (registered in Singapore), IFO identifies top performers globally.

Qualification:

Beginning in 2027, qualification replaces the former qualifying test. Students qualify by completing the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst (self-paced lessons and practice materials) and earning 470 or more points before the qualification deadline. There is no separate qualification examination.

Competition structure:

Module A: Analytical Reasoning (all qualified students, online with remote proctoring)

  • 120 minutes, 5 materials, 100 objective questions (200 points)
  • The top 6 students from each country/region become Finalists
  • Students in Asia and Oceania sit at GMT+8, Europe and Africa at GMT+1, and the Americas at GMT-4 (based on school location)

Module B: Advanced Thinking (Finalists only)

  • 180 minutes, 1 case material, 5 written-response questions (200 points)

Recognition:

  • Individual awards announced after final review
  • School Team Awards for schools with 6 or more participating students
  • Top 30 schools receive international rankings (Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers)

2027 key dates:

  • Registration deadline: August 11, 2027 (23:59 GMT+8)
  • Mock test: August 14, 2027
  • Qualification deadline: August 21, 2027
  • Module A: August 21, 2027
  • Module B (Finalists): September 11, 2027

Registration note: Participation requires a school advisor. The advisor registers the school, then each student registers, qualifies, and competes with an individual account.

The official rendered 2027 schedule, checked November 4, 2026, confirms August 11 registration at 23:59 GMT+8, August 14 mock test, August 21 qualification/Module A and September 11 Module B. Registration is advertised as already open, while the same page also lists January 1, 2027 as the opening date. The actual opening date remains unresolved; no subsequent-cycle dates were verified. The organizer assigns module timing by the school’s continent, although a separate FAQ suggests travel-related registration choices; students’ assigned exam details are available in their own EAE account.

IFO states competition registration and participation are free, but the mandatory official linked LearningFirst qualification bundle advertises USD20 one-time purchase or subscription access. A free-access arrangement for every competitor was not verified. The zero competition-registration charge therefore does not establish that the full qualification pathway is free.

Eligibility

Currently enrolled high school, secondary, or pre-collegiate students worldwide graduating in 2028 or later; fresh graduates, gap year students, and college students are ineligible; requires school advisor registration and verification; students qualify by earning 470 or more points on the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

A school advisor registers the school via finance-olympiad.com (first-time schools are verified within 3-5 business days and receive student registration links; returning schools are registered automatically), then each student registers with an individual account. Registration deadline August 11, 2027 (23:59 GMT+8). Students then qualify by earning 470 or more points on the IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst by August 21, 2027. Qualification requires the official LearningFirst bundle, whose linked access page lists USD20 one-time purchase or subscription access despite IFO’s free-competition statement. No universal free bundle-access arrangement was verified.