Oxford German Olympiad 2026:
ROUND 2
Closing date for all Round 2 entries is Thursday 26 March 2026 at noon.
You can enter a maximum of two of the tasks below. Please note the respective age restrictions.
Round 1 and Round 2 are separate competitions. You may enter both, but do not need to have entered Round 1 in order to enter Round 2.
Entries should be submitted via the online form. Please note that we cannot accept postal or email entries. Entries received by post, by email or after the deadline will not be considered.
Winners and runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, in June 2026.
If you have any questions please contact the Olympiad Coordinator at olympiad@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.
There's still time to also enter Round 1 of the Oxford German Olympiad 2026!
Task I: 125 Jahre Wuppertaler Schwebebahn
Competition open to pupils in years 8 - 12 (age 12-18)
First Prize: £100 Second Prize: £50
Entrants should choose one of the following two topics:
1) In October 1900 - shortly before the official opening in 1901 - Kaiser Wilhelm and his wife went on a test ride of Germany's newest invention: the Schwebebahn in Wuppertal. Write a fictional diary entry about this experience, from the viewpoint of Kaiser Wilhelm, his wife, the conductor, or a spectator. (300-400 words).
2) Find out about Tuffi the elephant and discuss the following question in essay or podcast form: "War der Auftritt von Tuffi in der Wuppertaler Schwebebahn eine harmlose Werbeaktion oder ein unverantwortlicher Umgang mit Tier und Technik?" (300-400 words or max. 5 min).
3) "Warum war der Bau der Wuppertaler Schwebebahn um 1900 sowohl ein technischer Fortschritt als auch ein Risiko?" Write an essay or create a video presentation (300-400 words or max. 5 min).
For full details of the competition, download the entry guidelines. Enter using the online form.
Image by Giuseppe Vizzari from Pixabay
Task II: Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907)
Competition open to pupils in years 8 - 12 (age 12-18).
First Prize: £100 Second Prize: £50.
Draw or paint a self-portrait in the style of portraits by the German artist Paula Modersohn-Becker. Describe what is typical of her portraits and include a comment on your own painting. (100-200 words).
For full details of the competition, download the entry guidelines. Enter using the online form.
Task III: Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
Competition open to pupils in years 8 - 12 (age 12-18).
First Prize: £100 Second Prize: £50.
Rilke wrote several poems about animals, including Der Panther, Die Gazelle, Die Flamingos and Papageien-Park. Write a poem in German about an animal (or animals) and EITHER create a video of yourself reading both one poem by Rilke AND your own poem, OR write a commentary in German (100–200 words) comparing your poem with ONE of Rilke’s animal poems.
For full details of the competition, download the entry guidelines. Enter using the online form.
Camden House Book Proposal
Competition open to postgraduates and early-career researchers at a UK university
Prize: £300 and consideration for publication with Camden House*.
Task:
Submit a book proposal for a book that would fit the profile established by Camden House in German studies. In association with Camden House.
For full details of the competition, download the entry guidelines. Enter using the online form.
*click here to see a recent publication by a previous Camden House Book Proposal winner
The Oxford German Network is grateful for the support of the following:
Founding Partners:
Jesus College, Oxford
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Magdalen College School, Oxford
BMW Group Plant Oxford
The Oxford German Olympiad is generously supported by Lidl GB.
Donor of the German Classic Prize: Jonathan Gaisman QC.
The Oxford German Network gratefully acknowledges
the generous support of ALL and ISMLA to the Oxford German Olympiad
The Oxford German Network is also grateful for the generous donation of prizes by the following:
Austrian Cultural Forum London
Blackwell UK Ltd.
British-German Association
Camden House (Boydell & Brewer)
Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom
German Embassy London
Goethe Institut, London
Oxford-Bonn Link
Penguin Books
White Rose Project
The Oxford German Network would like to thank the Bodleian Libraries for permission to use the Blackwell Hall in the Weston Library.
