The Intercollegiate Math Tournament is pleased to announce its inaugural event at Columbia University.

Compete for $20,000 in cash prizes, including a $8,000 top prize!

ICMT is the first in-person team-based mathematics competition for undergraduate students from universities worldwide. The tournament is organized by graduate students and alumni from prestigious mathematics competitions including BMT (UC Berkeley), SMT (Stanford), HMMT (Harvard & MIT), PUMaC (Princeton), and CMIMC (CMU).

Detailed information regarding the schedule, room assignments, and event logistics will be released closer to the competition date.

Register on ContestDojo Registration Guide

Registration Timeline

Registration opens on Wednesday, October 15 at 9:00 PM ET on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.

Dates	Registration Period	Price Per Student	Notes
10/15 – 12/1	Regular Registration	$15	Tournament shirts included.
12/1 – 1/31	Late Registration	$25	Tournament shirts not guaranteed.

Registration fees are refundable only under extenuating circumstances.

Student Eligibility

To participate in ICMT, you must:

• Be actively enrolled as an undergraduate student at an accredited college or university
• Not have received a bachelor's degree or international equivalent

Students from both domestic and international universities are welcome. Mathematics majors or formal mathematics coursework are not required—only a passion for mathematics.

Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to team@intercollegiatemathtournament.org.

Teams

Teams consist of four students. Teammates may be from different universities but must compete in the same division:

• Division A (for experienced competitors): In addition to the Division B syllabus, topics include linear algebra, abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, as well as other undergraduate subjects. Division A teams compete for a $20,000 cash prize pool, with the top prize of $8,000.

• Division B (for newer competitors): Topics include high school math competition subjects (AMC 10/12 level), as well as single- and multi-variable calculus, differential equations, and basic linear algebra.

Sample problems are available to help determine the appropriate division:

• Division A sample problems
• Division B sample problems

Looking for teammates?

Don’t worry! You can register yourself as a solo team and we will merge incomplete teams before the competition, or you can use our teammate finder.

How to Register

Registration, team assignments, waiver signing, and score reports are managed through ContestDojo, our online competition platform. For step-by-step instructions, review the ContestDojo registration guide.

Questions about the ContestDojo portal should be directed to team@intercollegiatemathtournament.org.

Travel and Accommodations

Teams are responsible for arranging their own travel and lodging. Columbia University has secured discounted rates at a few local hotels.

Lodging Options

Due to heavy regulation of short-term rentals in New York City, Airbnb options are limited. For more affordable accommodations, we recommend:

• Hotels in New Jersey along the Northeast Corridor NJ Transit line
• Hotels in Jersey City or Hoboken along the PATH line

Please note that check-in begins at 8:00 AM at Columbia University.

Transportation

We strongly recommend using public transportation. For those who choose to drive, these are the parking decks recommended by the Columbia Visitor Center.

By Train: If traveling by Amtrak, trains arrive at Penn Station (Moynihan Train Hall). From there, take the Uptown 1 train to 116th Street.

By Air: Columbia University is accessible from all three major New York City airports:

• From LGA (LaGuardia): Take the M60 SBS bus directly to Columbia University (116th Street stop).
• From JFK (Kennedy): Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station or Howard Beach, then take the subway to Penn Station or Port Authority Bus Terminal, then take the Uptown 1 train to 116th Street.
• From EWR (Newark): Take NJ Transit to Penn Station, then take the Uptown 1 train to 116th Street.

Financial Aid

ICMT has limited financial aid funding available exclusively for students demonstrating significant financial need (e.g., Pell Grant recipients or students with equivalent documentation). Financial aid recipients may receive:

• $250 stipend, intended for one night of lodging (Friday)
• Registration fee waiver (awarded following the competition)

We strongly encourage teams to pursue departmental or institutional funding from their universities for travel and lodging expenses. ICMT financial aid is awarded on a highly selective, case-by-case basis and may only provide partial assistance.

Financial aid applications will be accepted until December 15, and considered on a rolling basis subject to remaining budget afterwards.

Terms and conditions of financial aid:

• Financial aid will be provided on a reimbursement basis for:
  • Individual student tickets ($15 or $25)
  • $250 stipend, intended for Friday night lodging. A maximum of 2 students per team will be offered this stipend.
  • ICMT is unfortunately unable to reimburse students for flights or other travel at this time.
• Recipients of financial aid are required to check-in in the morning and attend all rounds of the competition.
• Students must abide by the rules of the competition and must not be disqualified for any form of academic dishonesty or cheating.

If a student receiving financial aid fails to meet any of the above requirements, we reserve the right to deny reimbursement.

Priority financial aid decisions will be finalized on December 22, 2026. Students will be notified of all decisions via email, and will have to accept financial aid by December 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT.

Schedule

Friday, February 27, 2026 (Optional)

• Evening mini-events including sponsor activities, integration bee, and additional events to be announced

Saturday, February 28, 2026

• Check-in begins at 8:00 AM
• Competition concludes approximately 7:00 PM

A detailed schedule will be released closer to the event date.

Meals

The Columbia Statistics Department has generously sponsored lunch for all participants. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options will be provided.

Contest Format

ICMT consists of three rounds:

• Power Round (team-based): A proof-based team round where contestants answer a series of questions centered around a specific topic, culminating in significant results in that field.

• Individual Round: Contestants complete a series of short-answer questions covering a broad range of mathematical topics within their division.

• Constellation Round (team-based): A fast-paced round with real-time submission and a live scoreboard, testing not only mathematical knowledge but also strategic planning and quick thinking.

Detailed information regarding timing, scoring, tiebreakers, and number of questions will be announced at a later date.

All answers must be submitted according to the acceptable answer formats document. Answers not submitted in the specified formats will be marked incorrect, even if mathematically equivalent.

Activities

Hudson River Trading (HRT), our premier sponsor, will host an activity following lunch.

Optional Friday evening activities will include an Integration Bee and social events hosted by our sponsors. Additional details will be released closer to the competition date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are calculators or reference materials permitted?

Calculators and graph paper are prohibited. Protractors, rulers, and compasses are permitted. Blank scratch paper will be provided to all participants.

All answers must be exact, reduced, and simplified. Illegible answers will not be graded. Academic dishonesty will result in immediate disqualification, and your university will be notified.

Can advanced middle or high school students compete?

No. Due to Columbia University campus policies, minors are not permitted to compete.

Advanced middle and high school students may be interested in these competitions: Berkeley Math Tournament, Stanford Math Tournament, PUMaC (Princeton), Harvard–MIT Math Tournament, Penn Math Contest, Caltech Harvey Mudd Math Competition, Duke Math Meet, Johns Hopkins Math Tournament, and Mustang Math Tournament.

Can I compete without affiliation to a university?

No. All participants must be actively enrolled undergraduate students at an accredited college or university without a bachelor's degree or international equivalent.

Can I compete if I have a bachelor's degree?

No. ICMT is open only to undergraduate students who have not yet received a bachelor's degree. Graduate students interested in mathematics are encouraged to apply to join our organizing committee at team@intercollegiatemathtournament.org.

How are awards distributed?

Awards will be presented at the closing ceremony. Cash scholarships for Division A winners will be electronically deposited to student accounts, with team prizes divided equally among present team members. ICMT reserves the right to verify undergraduate enrollment status before disbursing scholarships.

Can I participate virtually?

No. ICMT 2026 will be offered exclusively as an in-person event.

I am an international student requiring a U.S. tourist visa. Can you provide registration confirmation?

Yes. Please contact us at team@intercollegiatemathtournament.org for registration confirmation documentation.

Do team members need to be from the same university or year?

No. Team members may be from different universities and different academic years. However, all team members must compete in the same division.