2026 Putnam Mathematics Competition
Carleton University will once again be participating in the Putnam Mathematics Competition this year.
The Putnam Competition is a university mathematics contest open to undergraduate students across Canada and the United States. Carleton has a long and proud history of participation, and all undergraduate students are welcome and encouraged to participate, regardless of year of study or perceived mathematical ability.
The competition is designed so that success is not necessarily dependent on a student’s year of study or the specific mathematics courses they have taken. Students who perform particularly well may be eligible for cash prizes and graduate fellowships.
Carleton’s top three participants are designated as the University’s Putnam “team” for institutional rankings. The names of past Carleton team members are also recognized on a plaque in the School of Mathematics and Statistics. Last year, Carleton’s team placed 205th out of more than 500 teams.
Competition Date
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Learn More About the Putnam Competition
For more information about the competition, including its history and prizes, visit the Mathematical Association of America’s Putnam Competition website:
Past competitions, solutions and statistics are also available through the Putnam Competition Archive:
Weekly Preparation Sessions
Beginning at the end of September and continuing until the competition in early December, Professor Brett Stevens from Carleton’s School of Mathematics and Statistics will hold fun and informal weekly preparation sessions.
The sessions will explore a variety of mathematical problem-solving methods and strategies. While there will be a focus on Putnam-style problems, many of the ideas and techniques discussed are more broadly applicable.
Participation in the preparation sessions is neither required to write the competition nor contingent upon participating in the competition.
Interested in Participating?
Students interested in participating in the weekly preparation sessions, the Putnam Competition, or both should contact Professor Brett Stevens at brett@math.carleton.ca as soon as possible.
Please use “putnam” as the subject line of your email.
Students interested in attending the weekly preparation sessions should also include a screenshot of their class schedule to assist with scheduling.