WSC World Scholar’s Cup

1. Theme

Reigniting the Future

2. Divisions

The World Scholar’s Cup has two main divisions:

• Junior Division: For students up to 13 years old (though there is no minimum age, most are at least 10).
• Senior Division: For students aged 14 and older.
  The Senior Division includes students up to their final year of pre-university education (e.g., high school, A-levels, IB Diploma Program). Students enrolled in such a program as of January 1 of the competition year remain eligible for all events, including the Global Rounds and the Tournament of Champions.

3. Teams

Individual Registration: Students can register individually and will be paired with others seeking teammates.

Mixed Teams: Teams can include members from different schools or countries, providing an opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration.

Coaches and Advisors: While schools often have a program advisor or chaperone, the competition is largely student-driven, and having a dedicated club advisor is optional.

Two-Member Teams: Allowed to compete but limited to a maximum score of 30,000 points instead of 40,000. They will be unlikely to win recognition in Collaborative Writing, the Scholar’s Challenge, or Team Debate, as one-third of the scoring opportunities are missing. The two-member team must meet the same qualification thresholds as three-person teams for advancement to the Global Round and Tournament of Champions.

4. Dates 

Note: For all of our rounds taking place after January 01, 2026, scholars will no longer be allowed to use devices (or to access the Internet) in the debates.

Event Schedule:

• Regional Rounds: Held globally throughout the year.
• Global Rounds: Take place in June, July, and August.
  • Doha Global Round: Jun 12-17, 2025
  • Bangkok Global Round: Jun 27-Jul 02, 2025
  • Ljubljana Global Round: Jul 11-16, 2025
  • Seoul Global Round: Jul 25-30, 2025
  • Shenzhen Global Round: Aug 08-13, 2025
  • Kuala Lumpur Global Round: Aug 22-27, 2025
• Tournament of Champions: Hosted at Yale University from November 6-12
  • Junior Division Tournament: November 6-11
  • Senior Division Tournament: November 7-12

Team Events:

• Team Debate: Three-on-three debates on motions related to the annual theme.
• Scholar’s Bowl: A fast-paced quiz using special clickers to answer questions.
• Collaborative Writing: Teams write essays arguing different perspectives on thematic topics.
• Scholar’s Challenge: An individual test across multiple subjects with opportunities for medals. 

Community Events:

• Scholar’s Scavenge: At Global Rounds, students are placed into diverse teams of 15 and sent on a series of playful, city-based challenges. 
• Debate Showcase: Top 12 debaters from different nations form new teams for live debates. Afterward, judges and even audience members join the discussion, creating an open, community-driven conversation.
• Scholar’s (Talent) Show: A platform to showcase talents, from dancing to reciting pi digits.
• Scholar’s Fair: A cultural fair where delegations share food, traditions, and performances from their home countries. 

Certificates and Invitation Letters:

• Participation certificates and invitation letters are emailed to delegation contacts post-round.
• Delegation leaders should contact WSC via email if they do not receive the documents.

Visa Support:

• Standard invitation letters are provided post-registration.
• For embassy-specific requirements, email WSC at contact@scholarscup.org with the necessary details.