How does it work?

The Ethics Olympiad offers schools and universities a unique opportunity to develop students’ skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Its purpose is not only to engage students in complex ethical issues but also to provide a constructive space where they can work through these issues together—as members of a shared moral and political community.

Students (“Eth-letes”) are guided by a coach—usually a teacher—who helps them prepare for the event. Each year, age-appropriate and engaging ethical cases are released to coaches in advance. On the day of the Olympiad, teams connect via Zoom, so all that is required is a reliable internet connection.

During an Ethics Olympiad, Eth-letes present and evaluate arguments in response to a central ethical question. Their task is to articulate the position they find most ethically defensible. Participants consistently report that they value this format: it encourages thoughtful, cooperative reasoning and allows them to agree with other teams—something not possible in traditional debates. Our experienced judge/moderators support this process by guiding teams toward clearer, more rigorous thinking.

Senior High School Olympiads (15–18 years) are held in May, Middle School Olympiads (12–14 years) in November, and Junior School Olympiads (9–12 years) in June and September. In 2023, the Australian Association of Practical and Applied Ethics hosted the first Tertiary Ethics Olympiad, now an annual October event.

Schools and universities may register one or two teams of five Eth-letes. Registration fees range from $45–$55 AUD per student, with total team fees between $245–$255 AUD. Member schools and early-bird registrations receive discounted rates. Once registered, coaches receive a comprehensive training kit and access to the ethical case set—six cases for the Junior division, and eight cases for Middle School, Senior divisions and Tertiary Divisions.

Since 2020, all Olympiads have been conducted online, enabling regional and remote schools to participate more easily. The online format also facilitates genuine global engagement—for example, a philosopher based in India or Tasmania can judge a heat involving teams from Victoria and New Zealand.

On the day of the Olympiad, teams compete in three or four heats and are scored according to clear, consistent criteria that reward thoughtful, respectful, and well-reasoned dialogue. Judges assess teams on clarity, conciseness, critical engagement, and collaboration. Top-performing teams receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals. International finals are also held each year: Middle School finals in February and Senior School finals in July.

Registrations are now open for regional events in 2026. We are also offering Training Clinics for Senior, Middle, and Junior teams. You can register using the toolbar please note that some events are already fully subscribed.​​