# Academic WorldQuest

Team-of-four international affairs knowledge competition run through 30+ local World Affairs Councils, with local winners advancing to the national competition in Washington, DC each April.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | World Affairs Councils of America |
| Category | leadership |
| Cost | Not listed |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Program dates | 2027-04-12 to 2027-04-13 |
| Apply | https://worldaffairscouncils.org/what-we-do/academic-worldquest/ |

## About this program

# Academic WorldQuest

Academic WorldQuest is the World Affairs Councils of America's team knowledge competition on international affairs. More than 30 local World Affairs Councils host their own contests each year, engaging over 3,000 high schoolers, and each local winner earns a trip to the national competition in Washington, DC.

## What You'll Do

- Form a team of four and study ten Academic WorldQuest topics from the official fact-based study guide
- Compete in your local World Affairs Council's contest - up to three teams per high school may enter
- Answer 100 multiple-choice questions across 10 sections of 10 at the national round
- If your team wins locally, travel to Washington, DC for two days of national competition programming
- Meet roughly 250 peers from across the country plus DC-based foreign policy speakers and site visits

## Who Should Apply

Students currently enrolled in a US high school who can be sponsored by a local World Affairs Council. Teams enter through their council rather than directly with the national office, so the first step is finding the nearest council and its contest date. Local contest fees and dates vary by council.

## Outcomes

Competitors build genuine literacy in global politics, security, economics, and culture - the study guide is deliberately dense - and national qualifiers get a Washington, DC trip built around foreign policy programming. The 2027 national competition marks Academic WorldQuest's 25th anniversary.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is eligible for Academic WorldQuest?

Academic WorldQuest is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Academic WorldQuest online or in person?

Academic WorldQuest is an in-person program based in Washington, DC.

### How do I apply to Academic WorldQuest?

Apply directly through World Affairs Councils of America's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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