Discover STEM-themed competitions for you and your students to enter in this academic year

A digital artwork showing an atom next to a trophy

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Learn about the fantastic array of science competitions your students can enter – so you can sign up as soon as possible

Competitions are great for students. There is a wide range of science competitions that your students can take part in. With everything from essay, photo and video competitions to practical projects, there’s something to interest every student.

Besides the array of downloadable materials you can make use of in your lessons, as homework or part of a science club, the benefits of taking part include learning how to work in a team, grasping how lessons apply to real-world problems – plus a possible bit of extra cash!

You can jump straight to the lists of science-writing prizes or more arty competitions (such as photography and drawing prizes) or simply read on to discover what’s open to you and your students this academic year.

These competitions have been ordered by closing date. Listing a competition does not serve as an endorsement by the RSC. Last updated: January 2023.

Big Bang Young Scientists and Engineers Competition

Age: 11–19 
Registration opens: now
Closes: 30 March 2023

The Big Bang Competition recognises young people’s achievements in STEM and builds confidence in project-based work, focusing on investigation, discovery and use of scientific methods. Students can submit their project as a written or video report – on any topic in the field of STEM. The possibilities are endless!

Students can include their involvement in the competition in their extracurricular activities on UCAS forms and personal statements and be in with the chance of winning a range of awards and prizes – from £200–£1500.

Find out how to get started and get inspired with past projects on the Big Bang website.

Global essay competition: Young voices in the chemical sciences for sustainability

Age: 35 and under 
Registration opens: now
Closes: 31 March 2023

An annual essay competition on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability, organised by the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD) in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The competition is open globally to entrants under 35 years of age. The theme for the 2023 competition is: How can the chemical sciences lead the stewardship of the Earth’s element resources?

Essays will be grouped into seven regions for shortlisting and selection of winners, based on the entrant’s country of normal residence. Each regional winner will receive a prize of US$500 and their entries will be published in RSC Sustainability. The shortlisted essays will be collected in an annual compendium, Young voices in the chemical sciences for sustainability, available on the IOCD’s website. Individual shortlisted entries will also be featured from time to time on IOCD’s website.

Essays will be judged on how well they highlight the importance of scientific approaches grounded in the chemical sciences for solving sustainability challenges. Entrants should take a broad, global perspective, and reflect on the intersection of science, society and policy aspects, rather than describing a particular scientific advance in great technical detail. Essays must not exceed 1500 words of body copy.

Science meets art

If you have some students who would be hooked by the artistic side of science, check out these competitions:

British Science Week poster competition

Age: 11–14
Registration opened: 23 January
Closes: 31 March 2023

British Science Week is back in March 2022. Also returning is their themed poster competition – and this year’s theme will be ‘connections’.

Besides creativity, the judges also want to see clear, accurate, informative content communicated in an engaging and effective way – a great opportunity to practise students’ scientific communication skills. There is a whole host of science-themed prizes for both individuals and their schools on offer.

Entrants can be teams or individuals and each school can submit up to five entries. Find out more on the website, where you can also find activity packs for inspiration.

Local to Newcastle?

Newcastle Secondary School SciFair is the first university-run city-wide secondary school science fair. Sci-Fair is a whole day event that will occur during British Science Week at Newcastle University, at which students will present their models, posters or PowerPoint presentations about a scientific topic of their choosing. SciFair is open to ages 11–16. There are multiple prizes to be won on the day to recognise student’s efforts. There is limited capacity so students should not start their projects before it has been approved; once project proposals have been approved students will have until March to complete their projects.

BIEA Youth STEAM Competition

Age: 6–18
Registration opens: now
Submissions open: January 2023
Closes: 30 April 2023 for first-round submissions

The BIEA Youth STEAM Competition asks students to use their creativity to come up with ideas for a more sustainable future based on a specific theme. This year’s theme is “developing solutions for sustainable cities”. Students research, design and present their solution, including a written report.

Students can enter as individuals or in teams of up to five members and schools can enter more than one team. Submissions will be accepted from January 2023 and the international final will be held in July 2023. Learn more on the competition website.

TeenTech Awards 

Age: 11–16
Registration opens: now
Submissions open: March 2023

Closes: TBD

The TeenTech Awards encourage students to see how they might apply science and technology to real-world problems across several different categories, from food and retail through the future of transport to wearable technology. Students identify an opportunity or a problem, suggest a solution and research the market.

Students can work individually or in teams of up to three people. All submitted projects receive feedback and a bronze, silver or gold award. The best projects go forward to the TeenTech Awards Final for judging and the winning school in each category will receive a cash prize. The final will take place in London on Friday 30 June 2023.

Science writing competitions

Keep a look out for the questions and prompts for the following essay competitions and more creative science writing prizes that will appear throughout the year. Ideal additions to UCAS applications, they’ll get students thinking about science, too.

  • The Oxford Scientist Schools’ Science Writing Competition (700-word magazine article; ages 15–18; deadline likely to be July 2023; prize includes £50 and being published in the magazine)
  • Association of British Science Writers’ Young Science Writer of the Year (800-word journalistic essay; ages 14–16 in certain areas of the UK; to open in January 2023; prize includes up to £1000 and ABSW membership – and the winning essay will be published on the BBC news site!)
  • TechFest STEM Next Essay competition (3000-word research project; likely to run June–Sept 2023; prizes include up to £150 of Amazon vouchers)
  • Newnham College, Cambridge (2000-word academic essay; age 16–18 women at state school only; deadline likely to be March 2023; winners receive up to £400 to split with their school)
  • Robinson College, Cambridge (2000-word academic essay; ages 16–18; deadline likely to be July 2023; winners receive £50 book tokens)
  • Peterhouse College, Cambridge Kelvin Essay Competition (academic essay making an argument; ages 16–17; deadline and prizes TBD)
  • Pembroke College, Oxford North West Essay Prize (2000-word academic essay; age 16–18 state school students in NW of England only; to open in summer 2023; prize of up to £100 in book tokens)

Imperial College Science in Medicine School Teams Prize

Age: 16–19
Registration opens: now
Closes: 30 June 2023

The National Heart and Lung Institute and the British Heart Foundation’s Centre of Research Excellence at Imperial College London are running this competition to encourage sixth form school students to think beyond the school curriculum and explore the world of research in healthcare.

Students will need to consider how trends in science and engineering will impact on health and medicine in the future. They will also have to understand the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and teamwork in research and development for improvements in public and individual health. Students will need to consider affordability, availability and acceptability of inventions in medicine. The competition will also foster communication skills among students.

There are three separate team contests and schools can enter one team into each contest. Teams should have no more than six members and should adopt a multidisciplinary approach. 

Generous cash prizes will be awarded to winners in each contest – 1st place: £3000; 2nd place: £2000; 3rd place: £1000. Shortlisted teams will be offered the opportunity of an online mentoring session with an academic. Prize winners may be invited to submit blogs on their submissions and prize-winning posters will be exhibited at the annual Imperial Festival. All students who take part will receive certificates of participation.

IET Faraday Challenge

Age: 12–13
Registration opens: January 2023
Closes: July 2023

Faraday Challenges are cross-curricular STEM activity days for UK schools run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. This annual competition draws on students’ practical science and engineering skills, asking them to work in teams to solve real-world engineering problems and think creatively. Schools can host Challenge Days and invite teams from local schools to join them or apply to join a day at another school.

Teams should be made up of six students aged 12–13 years old (England and Wales Year 8, Scotland S1/S2, Northern Ireland Year 9). Schools may host a challenge day themselves or attend one hosted at another school.

Students win prizes for themselves and a trophy for their school. There is also a national league table and the top teams from across the UK go through to the national final, with the chance to win a cash prize of up to £1000 for their school. Plus, by taking part students will also meet the criteria for achieving a CREST Discovery Award.

There is also the Virtual Faraday Challenge open to anyone aged 7–15.

Deadlines passed:

Top of the Bench

Age: 14–16
Registration opens: now (regional heats)
Closes: January 2023

Top of the Bench (TOTB)is an annual practical chemistry competition that has been running for over 20 years. It’s a long-standing favourite for students and teachers, and is a great chance for students to put their teamwork and practical skills to the test.

Regional heats will be led by RSC local sections between October and January, with the winning team from each heat progressing to the national final held, in the spring, at a UK university (where there is also a session for teachers to explore resources and ideas for the classroom with one of the RSC’s education coordinators).

First prize is awarded to the best overall school performance, with five teams receiving runners up prizes. Plus, there’s the opportunity to win the Jacqui Clee Award, which is given to the student who has demonstrated an outstanding individual contribution.

Teams must consist of four students: two from year 9/S2; one from year 10/S3; one from year 11/S4.

Find more information, including past papers and how to apply, on the TOTB homepage.

Schools’ Analyst

Age: 16–17
Registration opens: now
Submissions open: January 2023
Closes: Friday 24 February 2023 

The Schools’ Analyst Competition is returning to schools in 2023, with teams endeavouring to find out who is sabotaging entries at The County Bake Off!

Run by the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund and the Royal Society of Chemistry, it allows students to expand their chemistry knowledge and skills through practical analytical experiments. Students must be in Year 12 (England, Wales, NI)/S5 (Scotland)/5th Year (Ireland).

Schools and colleges register their interest to host a heat and, if randomly selected, can now enter up to 25 teams of three students to compete to be crowned the overall school winner. Each winning school team will then compete within their region to find regional winners. Regional winners receive a cash prize for themselves and their school.

Register your interest to host a heat in your school through the RSC events website by 24 February 2023. To host the competition, you only need standard school laboratory equipment and some consumables (a bursary is available for those who need it).

Equipment boxes will be delivered to successful applicants by 31 March 2023 and results must be submitted by 19 May in Ireland (to ensure schools have the chance to award winners before the summer holidays) and 16 June elsewhere.

MathWorks Math Modeling challenge

Age: 16–19 (England and Wales only)
Registration opens: now
Closes: Friday 24 February 2023 

The M3 Challenge is an internet-based applied maths competition that inspires participants to pursue STEM education and careers. Working in teams of three to five, participants have 14 consecutive hours to solve an open-ended maths-modelling problem focused on a real issue during the challenge weekend, 3–6 March 2023.

The problem typically has a socially conscious theme – equity, the environment, conservation or recycling, energy use, health, and other topics that young people care about. The challenge gives students the opportunity to experience the vital role applied maths plays in society and its value to gain insight into multi-faceted, real-world problems. For example, 2022’s problem centred around modelling the impacts of remote work.

Free access to resources including modelling and coding handbooks, videos and sample problems help teams prepare for success.

The competition’s final presentation and awards ceremony event will be held in New York City in late April – an all-expense paid experience for the nine finalist teams. These top teams will be awarded scholarships toward the pursuit of higher education, with members of the overall winning team receiving $20,000 (»£17,000) each.

For rules, resources and to register, visit the competition website.

Cambridge Chemistry Race

Age: 16–18
Registration opens: Mon 5 December 2022
Closes: February 2023

In the Cambridge Chemistry Race, teams of 3–5 students solve as many theoretical problems as they can over the course of two hours – ranging from easy riddles to tasks of A-level difficulty and complex chemical problems.

Once a team has solved a question, the examiner verifies their answer and hands them the next question. Points are awarded based on the number of successful attempts. Whoever gets the most points wins!

Students are allowed to use a calculator, books, notes, and printed literature. The challenge aims to test problem-solving skills and chemical understanding rather than knowledge. Explore past questions and solutions here to get an idea of what’s in store.

Schools may only enter one team each and places are first come first served.

The competition is run in collaboration with the University of Cambridge’s Department of Chemistry. This year, it is joined by the University of Oxford too, so students may compete in either city. The competition will take place on Saturday 4 February 2023. Learn more on the competition website.

Imperial College Science & Innovation Competition

Age: 4–adult
Submission deadline closed: Friday 20 January 2023

The purpose of the Science & Innovation Competition is to motivate young people to engage with science, to encourage them to work as part of a team and to engage them in a fun activity that is motivated by their curiosity and drive.

Teams of 2–4 people must develop a new and innovative scientific solution to help achieve one of the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development. To enter, teams will be asked to create a 5-minute film that describes the science behind their idea.

The final event takes place in March 2023 at Imperial College’s main campus in South Kensington, date to be confirmed

Learn more on the website.

UK Chemistry Olympiad 

Age: 16–18 (recommended)
Closed: 9 January 2023

Run by the RSC, The UK Chemistry Olympiad is designed to challenge and inspire older secondary-school students, by encouraging them to push themselves, boost their critical problem-solving skills and test their knowledge in real-world situations. Explore past papers to get an idea of the types of questions involved.

There are three rounds that culminate with the prestigious International Chemistry Olympiad, which this year will hosted in Zürich, Switzerland. Round 1, a written test taken in your school, is scheduled to take place on Thursday 26 January 2023. Students then receive bronze, silver or gold certificates depending on their scores.

Up to 30 students will be selected to move on to round 2 – a training weekend, this year scheduled for 1–4 April 2023 at the University of Nottingham. As a result of the weekend, four students will then be chosen to represent the UK in the international competition on 16–25 July 2023.

Step one is to register your school or college. Do this and find out more information about preparing on the Olympiad homepage.

Quantum on the Clock

Age: 16–18
Closed: 8 July 2022

The Institute of Physics’ QQQ group’s Quantum on the Clock competition is open to all A-level or equivalent students in the UK and Ireland. Students are tasked to create a three-minute video about any aspect of quantum science or technology. Entries can be individual or in teams of up to four students.

Cash prizes are on offer for the winners and runners-up, with the judging focusing on creativity, clarity, engagement and accuracy. The ‘best individual’ and ‘best team’ winners will also receive year subscriptions to Physics World  and an expenses-paid invitation to a prize-giving ceremony at the Photon 2022 conference dinner, which will take place from 30 August until 2 September 2022.

To find out more and apply, watch this video and go to the Quantum on the Clock website.

Unsung Heroes of Science video competition

Age: 16–18
Closed: 17 May 2022

The Unsung Heroes of Science video competition  from Hertford College, University of Oxford is open to all 16 –18 students around the world. Entrants are tasked with making a two-minute video sharing the story of a scientist whose contributions were overlooked. Entries can be submitted by individuals or in teams of up to three.

Professor Alison Woollardwill be judging the competition and looking for engaging content and brilliant ideas, so you can film and edit the video with whatever equipment you have, including mobile phones. Shortlisted videos will be shared by the organisers, with the most viewed winning the Audience Award. All UK-based shortlisted participants will be invited to a prizegiving event in the summer. Winners of the competition in the UK will get to go behind the scenes at the Royal Institution’s (Ri) Christmas lectures  and runners up will be awarded annual Ri memberships.

Watch the video, find out more information on the competition website and submit your entry by 17 May.

Clean Tech Competition

Age: 15–18
Closed: 22 April 2022 (registration); 29 April 2022 (paper submission deadline)

The Clean Tech Competition research and design challenge asks students to identify a problem with our natural world and resource use that they want to change, innovate a sustainable solution and submit a research paper to the judges. This year there is no topic restriction; entries simply need to have one goal: create a sustainable solution for an environmental issue.

This is a great opportunity to refine research, analysis and literary skills.

Each team should be made up of one to three students, who must be 15–18 years old on the submission deadline, 29 April 2022. Once the papers have been submitted, the top 10 teams from the global pool will be selected to progress to the virtual global finals. They will present their research and prototypes to the judges, and will receive handsome cash prizes, with the first team also earning a continued mentorship from an expert in the field. 

Find out more and register on the competition website.

Royal College of Science Union (RCSU) Science Challenge

Age: 14–18
Closed: 11 February 2022

Imperial College London’s RCSU Science Challenge is all about science communication – requiring students to demonstrate their skills in debate and reasoning and teach the public about science and its consequences.

Questions on a given theme are set by eminent scientists – who even read the shortlisted entries, so there’s a real chance students’ work will be seen by world-leading academics. You can find last year’s (Covid-related) questions on the website.

There are both individual and team categories, and students can answer one of the questions in either written or video form of up to 1000 words or four minutes respectively. Winners receive cash prizes, plus there are non-cash prizes for the runners up.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed on 14 March 2022 and invited to the grand final on 21 March 2022 at the Royal Institution, where they will deliver a short presentation. Find more information about taking part on the challenge website.