British Biology Olympiad (UKBC)

Our Take

CompeteMap's editorial perspective, based on our research and competition guide.

Schools with account can register until the end of the competition window. Students sit online while on-site at school/college. - The British Biology Olympiad is an advanced post-16 competition for Y12/Y13 students and equivalent groups. - The 2026 papers ran from 19 to 28 January; schools should monitor the official UKBC page for the next cycle. - Students complete two supervised 45-minute online multiple-choice papers through their school or college. - BBO rewards biological reasoning and core principles in unfamiliar contexts, not syllabus recall alone. - For UK students, BBO is the first stage of selection for the four-person International Biology Olympiad team.

Trust Metadata

Last checked at: 6 Jul 2026

Verification status: Verified

Source URLs

• https://ukbiologycompetitions.org/british-biology-olympiad/
• https://ukbiologycompetitions.org/hrf_faq/what-are-the-eligibility-requirements/
• https://ukbiologycompetitions.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BBO26-poster.pdf

Why this listing is included

• Competition dates are 19 to 28 January 2026.
• Schools can register until end of competition window.
• Eligibility year groups are listed for UK regions.
• Format is two 45-minute multiple-choice papers.
• Entry is free for UK schools.

Related Competitions

Similar competitions in United Kingdom under Science.

Preparing for competitions

Read our student competition guides for pathways, timelines, and tips.