The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is a research competition for high school seniors run by Society for Science, and the Regeneron Science Talent Search scholarship money is large: $3.1 million is distributed each year, including a first-place prize of $250,000. Students enter with an original research project and a full application. The STS 2027 application closed on November 5, 2026, so current juniors are the next group who can plan to enter.
Everything below comes from the Society for Science Regeneron STS page, checked in November 2026. Where the sponsor does not publish a figure, this page leaves it out rather than guessing.
Who is eligible for the Regeneron Science Talent Search
STS is a competition for high school seniors who have completed original scientific research. The detailed eligibility rules, including the residency rules, are set out in the 2027 Official Rules document, which Society for Science links from its Official Rules page. That page says the rules “outline eligibility requirements, ethics statements, and rules for scientific research.”
One eligibility point catches students out every year. Research involving human participants, vertebrate animals, cell lines or tissue, or potentially hazardous biological agents “likely requires pre-approval and/or documentation paperwork,” according to the rules page. If your project touches any of those areas, the approvals generally need to be in place before the work starts, not when you apply. Questions about whether a project qualifies go to [email protected].
What the award pays
Society for Science says “$3.1 million in awards are distributed annually, including the first place prize of $250,000.” The 40 finalists compete for “more than $1.8 million, with a top prize of $250,000.” At the 2026 competition, the sponsor reports that the forty finalists received more than $1.8 million in awards.
| Stage | Number of students | What the sponsor publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | More than 2,600 | Original research plus a full application, reviewed holistically |
| Top 300 Scholars | 300 | Share of the $3.1 million annual total |
| Top 40 Finalists | 40 | Compete for more than $1.8 million; trip to Finals Week |
| First place | 1 | $250,000 |
The landing page does not break out the per-student award for the Top 300 Scholars or for each finalist place, so check the Official Rules for those figures before you count on a specific amount. The award is a one-time prize, not a renewable scholarship.
How selection works
The sponsor describes four stages. Around 2,600 students enter, “submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study and full application for holistic review.” From that pool, 300 are named Scholars. The Top 40 Finalists are then “selected from 300 scholars and more than 2,600 applicants.” Finalists travel to Finals Week, where projects go on public exhibition and the winners are announced at an awards ceremony.
“Holistic review” matters here. STS judges the research and the student, not only the result. You can read that in the advice past finalists give on the sponsor’s page, covered below.
Using the sponsor’s own numbers, 300 Scholars out of more than 2,600 applicants means roughly one in nine entrants reaches the Scholar round, and 40 finalists means about one in 65 reaches Finals Week.
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Deadlines and timeline
These are the dates Society for Science publishes for the STS 2027 cycle:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application period | June 1 to November 5, 2026 (now closed) |
| Top 300 Scholars announced | January 7, 2027 |
| Top 40 Finalists announced | January 21, 2027 |
| Finals Week | March 11 to 17, 2027 |
| Public Exhibition of Projects | Sunday, March 14, 2027 |
| Awards Ceremony | Tuesday, March 16, 2027 |
The sponsor has not yet posted dates for STS 2028. If the pattern holds, the application would open in early summer 2027 and close in the fall of senior year, but confirm on the STS page before planning around that.
How to make a strong application
Because STS is a research competition, most of the work happens long before the application opens. The steps below come from the sponsor’s rules and the advice finalists give on its page.
- Start the research in junior year or earlier. The application window opens in June and closes in early November of senior year. A project that begins that summer leaves little time for results.
- Clear the approval paperwork first. Work with people, vertebrate animals, tissue or hazardous biological agents usually needs pre-approval under the Official Rules. Missing paperwork can disqualify strong research.
- Show your process honestly. Jashvi Desai, a 2026 finalist quoted by Society for Science, advises applicants to “lean into your process. Don’t hide the confusion, pivots, or failed ideas.” Holistic reviewers want to see how you think, including what went wrong.
- Do not rule yourself out. Atreyus Bhavsar, a 2022 finalist, says on the same page that “you do not need to be the smartest in the room to apply.”
- Use the sponsor’s resources. Colin Chu, a 2026 finalist, encouraged applicants to take advantage of the support Society for Science offers. Ask your science teacher or research mentor to read the rules with you.
For the written parts of the application, our scholarship essay guide covers how to write about your own work without overstating it.
Similar programs to consider
- The Davidson Fellows Scholarship also rewards a significant completed project in STEM, with awards of $25,000 to $100,000 for students 18 or younger.
- The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship suits seniors with financial need heading into computer science or engineering.
- Our scholarship finder filters national and state awards by grade, field and deadline.
- Prize money can affect your aid package. Read merit vs need-based aid before you report a large award to your college.
Regeneron STS FAQ
Can I still apply for STS 2027?
No. Society for Science says the STS 2027 application closed on November 5, 2026. Scholars are named on January 7, 2027.
How many students apply?
The sponsor says around 2,600 students enter each year, and the 40 finalists were selected from 300 Scholars and more than 2,600 applicants.
Do I need special approval for my project?
If it involves human participants, vertebrate animals, cell lines or tissue, or potentially hazardous biological agents, the rules say it likely requires pre-approval or documentation. Email [email protected] if you are unsure.
When is Finals Week?
For the 2027 competition, Finals Week runs March 11 to 17, 2027, with the public exhibition on March 14 and the awards ceremony on March 16.