International Public Policy Forum (IPPF)

About the program

The IPPF is the only global competition that allows high-school teams from around the world to debate public-policy topics in both written and oral formats. Teams submit a qualifying 3,000-word essay; the top 64 advance to written elimination rounds, and the final 8 teams travel to New York City to debate in person before panels of experts. The grand prize is $10,000. The entry fee is $25 per team.

Focus areas

• Public Policy
• Debate
• Writing
• Public Speaking

Eligibility & application guide

• Open to any high-school team from any country.
• No prior debate experience required.
• Entry fee: $25 per team.

Process overview

• Register at ippfdebate.com.
• Write and submit a 3,000-word qualifying essay.
• Advance through written elimination rounds.
• Top 8 teams debate in person in New York City.
• Winning team receives a $10,000 prize.

Application deadline: October 2026