International olympiad · Years 8–11 · Qualifier online
The “Izumrud” International School Olympiad
Ural Federal University (UrFU)
An international olympiad for school students run by Ural Federal University (UrFU) in Yekaterinburg — 10 tracks, with a remote qualifying stage running four and a half months. And it is listed on the Ministry of Science's approved quota list for 2026/27.
🟢 Registration and qualifier: 1 September 2026 – 19 January 2027
A long window — but don't put it off. The qualifier is remote and you can sit it at any point within it, and the final is 31 January – 2 February.
🗓️ The exact date isn't set yet
Registration expected: 1 сентября — according to the official source. We'll alert you the moment it's confirmed.
Deadline expected: 19 января — according to the official source. We'll alert you the moment it's confirmed.
Can you apply? Read this first
🏛️ The strongest backing on this page: the olympiad is listed on the Russian Ministry of Science's approved list for 2026/27 (the school students' list) — the list of olympiads whose winners and prize-winners may apply for the Russian government quota. 🎓 And mind the difference between two separate benefits: ↳The quota route — this is your route as an international student, and its backing is the ministry's list. ↳And UrFU's own admission benefit — the official page says the diploma “may provide additional opportunities when applying to UrFU”, and that “the conditions depend on the olympiad profile, the year of participation and the chosen programme”. So the university benefit is conditional and variable — read its terms in the official document before you build on it. 🔴 And the general rule that applies here: at many university olympiads the university benefit (admission without entrance exams) is tied to a ЕГЭ score — the Russian state exam, which you most likely won't sit. Izumrud's official page does not mention that condition either way, so ask about it outright before relying on the university benefit. The quota route's backing is different — it is the ministry's list, and that is the one that concerns you. ↳The official “benefit details” page — that's where your year's exact terms live.
10tracksmaths · physics · chemistry · history · and more
2stagesremote qualifier · in-person final
8–11school yearseligible to take part
1official sourcedovuz.urfu.ru — the final reference
The opportunity
What is this olympiad?
«Международная олимпиада школьников «Изумруд»» — an olympiad for school students run by Ural Federal University (UrFU) in Yekaterinburg, for years 8 to 11. The official name itself describes it as international.
It splits into two stages: a remote qualifier running from 1 September to 19 January — four and a half months in which you can sit it at any time — and a final on 31 January – 2 February. Results are published on 20 and 27 March.
🔴 And mind the family: UrFU runs three olympiads called “Izumrud”: “Izumrud” (this one — for school students, leading to a Bachelor's), “Izumrud.Student” (for Bachelor's students, leading to a Master's — it has its own page here), and “Izumrud.Debut”. The timetables and the benefits differ — make sure you're on the right page.
The potential prize
What could you reach?
🏛️ A route into the Russian government quota — the olympiad is listed on the Ministry of Science's approved list for 2026/27 (the school students' list), the list of olympiads whose winners and prize-winners may apply for the quota.
🎓 Additional opportunities when applying to UrFU — the official page's own wording. And the conditions depend on the olympiad profile, the year of participation and the chosen programme, so there is no single rule.
💸 A 20,000 ₽ scholarship for those admitted to UrFU via the preferential admission route (БВИ) — per the official page.
📚 Published preparation materials and passing scores — so you can measure yourself before you enter.
🎯 Separate the two benefits — this is the most important line here:the quota route is backed by the Ministry of Science's list, while the university benefit at UrFU is backed by the university's own terms and varies by profile, year and programme. And winning opens the door — the final decision on the quota route is issued by the ministry, and on the university route by the admissions committee. And our rule stands: covering tuition ≠ covering living costs — and the final is in person, so budget the travel.
How to apply
How do you apply?
Everything goes through UrFU's applicant portal. The official page is split into clear steps:
Create an account on dovuz.urfu.ru (your personal account)
Submit a participation application and choose one of the ten tracks — from 1 September
Sit the remote qualifying stage at any point before 19 January
If you pass: choose your city of participation in the final and upload your documents
Attend the final on 31 January – 2 February, and wait for results on 20 and 27 March
📌 Before you register, open “passing scores from previous years” and “preparation materials” on the same site — both are officially published and save you guessing at the level of competition.
🔴 And if your route is the quota: verify for yourself that the olympiad is on the ministry's list for the year you're applying in — the lists are updated every season, and being listed is not permanent.
1 September 2026 – 19 January 2027. A long window, and you can sit it at any point within it.
2
Choose your city of participation + upload documents
A formal step between the two stages — the official page has two separate sections for it: “choose your city of participation” and “upload documents”.
3
The final stage (in person)
31 January – 2 February 2027.
4
Results announced
20 March and 27 March 2027 — in two rounds, per the official timetable.
5
Appeals
The official page has its own “submit an appeal” section — meaning appeals exist here (which is not the case in every olympiad), so find out its deadline from the regulation.
📌 This timetable is from the official page `dovuz.urfu.ru/olymps/izumrud` at the time of writing (27 July 2026). The official page also publishes “passing scores from previous years”, “preparation materials” and “previous years' winners” — all three give you a realistic picture of the competition before you register.
Tracks
The ten tracks
The tracks (профили) exactly as announced on the official page:
MathematicsPhysicsChemistryComputer scienceData analysisArtificial intelligenceEngineeringHistorySocial studiesRussian language
Eligibility
Who can take part?
🎓
School years 8 – 11
That range is published on the official page. If you're in a lower year, wait — but taking part early helps, because it shows you the question style.
🌍
Described as an “international” olympiad
The official name itself carries the word “international”. But the official page does not publish detailed citizenship conditions — check the regulation before registering.
💻
The qualifier is remote
So you can take part in it from your own country, without travelling.
✈️
The final is in person — budget for it now
The final stage is 31 January – 2 February, and there is a formal step called “choose your city of participation”. If you're outside Russia that means travel and a visa — plan early.
🏛️
On the ministry's quota list
The olympiad is listed on the approved list for 2026/27 — and that is what opens the quota route.
Common questions
Tap any question to open the answer ▾
💬What's the difference between “Izumrud”, “Izumrud.Student” and “Izumrud.Debut”?▾
Three different olympiads from the same university.“Izumrud” — the one on this page: for school students (years 8–11), leading to admission benefits for a Bachelor's.
“Izumrud.Student” — for Bachelor's students and graduates, leading to a Master's; it has its own page here.
“Izumrud.Debut” — a third version on the same portal.
The timetables and benefits are completely different — make sure you're on the right page before you build anything on a date.
💬I'm not in Russia — can I take part?▾
The qualifying stage is remote, so you can do it from your own country. But the final stage is in person (31 January – 2 February), and there is a formal step called “choose your city of participation”. So you have to budget travel and a visa into your plan now. The official name describes the olympiad as “international” — but detailed citizenship conditions are not published on the olympiad page, so check the regulation before registering.
💬Does winning mean guaranteed admission?▾
No. And there are two different routes you need to keep apart:
1) The quota route: the olympiad is listed on the Ministry of Science's approved list for 2026/27, and that opens the door for winners and prize-winners to apply for the Russian government quota. The ministry issues the final referral.
2) UrFU's own benefit: the official page says “additional opportunities when applying”, and that “the conditions depend on the profile, the year and the programme”. So it is conditional and variable — read its terms on the official documents page.
In both cases: winning opens the door, and the last decision is an official one.
💬Is the benefit tied to the ЕГЭ exam?▾
The olympiad's page does not mention that condition — neither confirming nor denying it. And this is a particularly important question for you, because at many university olympiads the university benefit (admission without entrance exams) requires a ЕГЭ score — a Russian state exam you most likely won't sit, which makes that benefit practically unavailable to you. Open the official “benefit details” page on urfu.ru and ask the admissions committee outright. 🟢 But note: the quota route rests on different backing — the Ministry of Science's list, not ЕГЭ.
💬Are appeals possible?▾
Yes — the official page has its own “submit an appeal” section, which is not the case in every olympiad (some regulations abolish appeals entirely). But find out its deadline from the regulation — in most olympiads the window is very narrow (a single day after results are announced, in some).
💬How do I gauge my level before registering?▾
The official page publishes “passing scores from previous years”, “preparation materials” and “lists of previous years' winners”. All three give you a realistic picture of the competition — open them before you choose your track, not after.
Everything here is taken from the official page dovuz.urfu.ru/olymps/izumrud at the time of writing (27 July 2026), and the quota listing is from the Ministry of Science's approved file for 2026/27. The university benefit's terms vary by profile, year and programme, and the lists are updated every season — the official site is always the final reference, so open it and check before any step.
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The window is long (four and a half months) but the final is in person — and travel needs early planning. Open the passing scores and the preparation materials now, and if you sign up with us we'll alert you the moment the door opens.
