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Harvard National 2027: World Schools Open (online)

Organised by Harvard Debate Council

The World Schools Open division of the Harvard National tournament runs online over Presidents Day weekend and accepts composite teams.

Harvard's World Schools Open division runs online over Presidents Day weekend, 13 to 15 February 2027, and carries a quarterfinals TOC bid. The online division is uncapped and allows composite teams, which is exactly how we enter. A separate Varsity division runs in person in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Rounds run on US Eastern time. The organiser's fee for the online Open division is USD 120 per team. Registration opens on 30 November and closes on 8 February with judges due the next day.

What's included if you sign up through us

  • 4 hours of coaching by experts
  • Sorted registration and judge requirement
  • Feedback about the tournament after the rounds
Why this one?

It is the largest online World Schools field of the American spring and one of the few bid tournaments that welcomes composite teams.

Same weekend as Cal?

Yes. Students choose one; we usually put Asia and Gulf students into Harvard for the earlier Eastern schedule.

Preparing for the tournament

Students entering their first judged rounds usually get the most out of a short run of coached practice first. The Foundation class covers the format from scratch, the Competition Team trains year-round, and the motion bank has thousands of real motions to practise on. How rounds are scored is explained in how World Schools judging works.