Competition opportunities

The Trench Gascoigne Essay Prize is an annual competition run by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for original writing on contemporary issues of national and international defence and security. Entrants are judged on originality, strength of argument, quality of analysis, style, clarity and concision. The prize is supported by Taylor & Francis and offers publication in the RUSI Journal as well as membership benefits for winners and runners-up.

The competition is open to non-military students in full- or part-time education and to personnel within the first ten years of their regular or reserve military careers. Essays may cover any topic related to defence and security—entrants are encouraged to engage with themes such as geopolitics and global security, military sciences and nuclear policy, illicit economies and finance, cyber and resilience, or energy, climate and security. Submissions must be single-author, original, anonymous for judging, and provided as a Word document or PDF. Entrants must disclose any permitted use of AI and comply with RUSI’s plagiarism and AI-detection policies.

Make UK’s Photography Competition invites entrants to capture modern UK manufacturing through striking, original images. The competition is open to anyone, regardless of experience, and is designed to showcase the people, technology, products, processes and craft behind the sector. Entrants are asked to submit photographs that reveal the reality of manufacturing in Britain and challenge outdated perceptions. The competition is inspired by National Manufacturing Day, with the aim of creating a powerful visual record of the industry and the stories behind the things we rely on every day. Eligible images must show manufacturing activity taking place in the UK, and entrants should describe what the image shows, where it was taken and, where relevant, who is featured. Architecture and agriculture are not eligible. Winners receive a share of a £5,000 prize fund and exhibition space at Smart Manufacturing Week 2027.

Young Founders Lab’s Pitch Competition Prep Program is a 10-week training incubator designed for teams of high school students preparing for highly competitive business pitch competitions. The programme focuses on helping participants develop a complete, competition-ready submission package that can be tailored to a specific target competition.

Across the programme, students work on a fully developed business or social impact model, a polished pitch deck, application materials, and a well-rehearsed video submission. The emphasis is on turning an early idea into a clear and persuasive pitch, with guidance that supports both the content of the venture and the quality of the final application. It is aimed at ambitious young founders who want structured support as they prepare to present their idea competitively.

The MTA Technology, Design and Innovation (TDI) Challenge is a flagship competition for D&T and engineering students across the UK. Entrants submit a project online or through one of the regional events, making it accessible to students who want to showcase inventive ideas and practical problem-solving. Judges review the video submissions and select finalists, who are then invited to present their idea or concept in more detail at the final event. The overall winner is chosen on the day, and the top entries in each category are recognised with a special prize. The competition is free to enter and is designed to celebrate creativity, design thinking, and engineering talent.

International Greenwich Olympiad offers several participation options for students, including in-person attendance with accommodation, in-person attendance without accommodation, UK schools participation, and online entry from anywhere in the world. All listed packages carry a £35 registration fee, and the page presents the event as a student competition with a choice of scholar package.

The full-board option is a seven-day programme with university accommodation, while the day-pass option is for participants arranging their own accommodation. UK schools participants attend the competition day only, and online entrants present virtually. The opportunity is designed for individual participants or teams, and every participant must have a supervisor.

Supervisor rules are clearly set out: one supervisor can oversee up to six students, with a maximum team size of three students. One supervisor attends free for every ten students travelling to the UK, and online supervisors participate free of charge. Family members may act as supervisors if they actively contribute and have an appropriate academic or professional background. The page also explains visitor access, payment methods, and a non-refundable registration fee policy.

The International Geography Bowl is a team-based online buzzer quiz competition run by International Academic Competitions. It is designed for student teams of two from the same school, and the format lets students play together online rather than travelling to an in-person venue. The competition uses geography-themed buzzer questions and sits within the organiser’s European Division programme.

Unlike some of the organiser’s other geography events, the Bowl does not require prior qualifying, so teams can enter directly. It is separate from the European Championships, but strong results can still matter: top placing teams may qualify for the International Geography Championships. The event is aimed at school students and is part of a broader set of geography competitions offered by the organiser.

The International Geography Bee is International Academic Competitions' flagship geography competition for students in Europe and nearby regions. It runs during the school year and is structured around a qualifying stage followed by European Championships. Students can qualify through a free online Championships Qualifying Exam requested by teachers or parents, through an in-person qualifying exam at regional tournaments, or through online regional tournaments.

The competition is offered in age divisions from elementary through varsity, based on birthdate. It features geography-focused quiz formats, including buzzer-based play and multiple-choice questions, with separate routes for individual competitors and team-based Geography Bowl entries. Teams in the Geography Bowl are made up of two students from the same school.

Students who qualify can progress to the European Championships and, in some cases, the broader International Geography Championships. Practice materials and study guides are available to help students prepare for the competition.

The Harvard Political Review Global Policy Case Competition is a worldwide policy-writing competition for middle and high school students. Participants work in teams to produce an evidence-based policy essay that either evaluates an existing public policy or proposes a new solution to a pressing issue. Students are asked to write analytically and persuasively for a general audience, drawing on research, data, and critical thinking rather than storytelling alone. The competition is designed to build skills in journalism, policy analysis, and civic leadership, with a strong focus on clear argumentation and practical recommendations. Teams submit an 800-1,200 word essay in the preliminary round, then the strongest teams progress to a live final round on Zoom where they present and defend their work before judges. Recognition includes certificates for participants and awards for high-performing teams, alongside the chance to have winning work featured by the Harvard Political Review.

The National STEM Festival UK Edition 2027 is a competition for pre-university innovators who want to submit a project for national consideration. Applicants complete one application and provide project information, written responses, a PDF of their project, and a short project video. Selection takes place in two stages. In Phase 1, judges review the written application and project PDF using a blind-review process. If an applicant reaches Phase 2, authorised judges may review the original application, the submitted video, and project materials before finalists and champions are chosen. Successful applicants may be selected as National STEM Champions and invited to take part in the festival programme in London. This is an in-person role, and applicants under 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian as set out in the official rules and terms.

The Royal Geographical Society School Essay Competition is a free annual writing contest run in partnership with the Financial Times. It invites students aged 16-18 to respond to a current geographical question, producing a well-evidenced essay of up to 1,000 words or an alternative ArcGIS StoryMap format. The competition is open worldwide to students studying geography as a separate subject, such as A Level, IB, Scottish Higher, or an equivalent final two years of secondary education. Entries must be original, written in English, include referenced sources, and are judged anonymously by a panel from the Royal Geographical Society and the Financial Times. Prizes include a £50 Amazon voucher or local currency equivalent for the winner, along with publication and wider recognition opportunities. It is designed for young geographers who want to develop research, argument-building, and academic writing skills around a topical issue.

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is a virtual entrepreneurship challenge for high school students from around the world. Entrants develop an original blue-ocean business idea that solves a real-world problem and present it through a short pitch video. Participants also get access to the Blue Ocean Mini-Course and supporting templates to help shape their idea. Students can compete on their own or in teams of up to five. The process includes registration, idea development, video submission, and judging across several rounds. Pitches are reviewed by experienced entrepreneurs and business people, with shortlisted entries moving forward until winners are announced. The competition rewards strong ideas, clear communication, and practical business thinking. Prizes include cash awards, certificates for winners, and recognition for all participants who submit a pitch. It is designed for young people who want to test an entrepreneurial idea, improve their pitching skills, and join a global community of student innovators.

The Practical Ethics and Responsibility Competition invites school students to explore a real ethical issue and think critically about the role responsibility plays in addressing it. Entrants take part by creating a video that explains an ethical problem and presents their ideas on how responsibility is involved. The competition is designed to encourage discussion, reflection and careful argument, while giving young people a chance to develop communication and analysis skills. It is open across the UK to teams of school students in the relevant year groups. Entries are judged, and the top five teams are invited to the final in Oxford. The organisers provide travel costs for all participants, and accommodation costs for teams travelling more than two hours from Oxford. Finalist schools receive a cash prize, making the competition both an academic challenge and a recognised opportunity for students interested in ethics and public debate.

University Centre Grimsby Writing Competition 2026 invites post-16 students from Grimsby, Cleethorpes and the surrounding area to showcase their writing across three categories: Prose Fiction, Non-Fiction/Journalism and Scriptwriting. Entrants can submit original work in their chosen category, with word limits of up to 2,000 words for prose fiction and non-fiction, or a 10-15 page script for scripted media. The competition is designed to give emerging writers a chance to build confidence, sharpen their creative voice and gain recognition from university lecturers and professional writers. Entries are judged on creativity, structure, originality, communication and audience engagement, depending on the category. Winners receive gift voucher prizes for first, second and third place in each category, and shortlisted writers may also be included in a published anthology produced by University Centre Grimsby. The competition is open to students at sixth forms, further education colleges and other eligible education providers.

Join the Big North Styling Challenge for an in-person evening focused on sustainable fashion, creativity, and second-hand style. Hosted by the University of Manchester and Oxfam, the event brings together people interested in fashion, styling, and sustainability to explore how pre-loved clothing can be transformed into fresh, trend-led looks. Participants will work in teams to create a complete outfit using garments sourced from an Oxfam superstore. The challenge includes exploring the store, selecting pieces and accessories, interpreting current fashion trends, and presenting a styled look to a judging panel. It is designed to be interactive, beginner-friendly, and open to anyone who wants to take part. The event is especially suited to students, fashion enthusiasts, stylists, creatives, and sustainability-minded attendees. It offers a chance to develop styling skills, meet like-minded people, and learn more about the environmental impact of fast fashion. Winning outfits may be showcased in an Oxfam shop window.

The Immerse Education Essay Competition invites students aged 13-18 to write a 500-word academic essay on a chosen question and compete for scholarships to Immerse’s university and career preparation programmes. The competition is designed for ambitious young people who want to explore a subject in greater depth, strengthen their writing, and demonstrate academic potential. Entrants can register interest to access an essay guide with questions, tips, referencing advice, and reminders. Essays are assessed by expert markers and guest judges on research, critical analysis, structure, evidence, and writing quality. The competition is free to enter, open worldwide, and allows one submission per person. Prizes include full and partial scholarships, plus participation recognition for entrants who take part.

Raindance’s Script Competition invites emerging screenwriters to submit original short, feature, and television scripts for review by industry specialists. The competition is built to champion independent storytelling and to create visibility for writers whose work is ready to be discovered by the film and television industry. Entries progress through judging stages that include quarterfinalists, semifinalists, and finalists, with the final shortlist named to The Raindance Discovery List. Selected scripts are shared with production companies and industry partners, and winners are chosen in each category. The competition also aims to protect writers’ ownership of their work while creating opportunities for networking, recognition, and possible future collaboration.

The Norfolk Cambridge Society Student Awards 2026/2027 is a competitive awards scheme for students attending any Norfolk school sixth form or sixth form college. Applicants may submit work in their chosen format: an essay, a short video or audio file, or artwork in any medium. The scheme is intended to support students thinking about applying to university and to provide financial help to successful applicants.

Entrants must submit their entry by midnight on 28 January 2027. A shortlist of applicants will be interviewed via Zoom and winners will be decided by the panel. Awards of up to A3600 will be made to winners, with awards scheduled to be announced by the end of March 2027.

More information will be available from participating colleges in September. Prospective applicants can register now to receive further details by emailing awards@norfolkcambridgesociety.org.uk.

RGU CADathon 2026 is a student design challenge sponsored by IMechE and Engineer a Career. Hosted at Robert Gordon University, it brings together students interested in engineering, product design, manufacturing, and innovation for a hands-on CAD-based competition. Teams will be given a problem brief on the day and must develop a CAD model of their solution, alongside a presentation explaining their design process and final concept. At the end of the event, teams will present to a panel of judges. The winning team will receive a prize, a certificate from the Dean of Engineering, and recognition on RGU and IMechE social channels. Participants should bring their own device, and food and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

The Reinecke International Music Competition is an online competition dedicated to the legacy of Carl Reinecke. It is open to musicians worldwide and welcomes entrants across multiple categories, making it accessible to a broad range of performers and styles. The page highlights the 2026 Season 3 of the competition and notes that participants can expect awards and opportunities as part of the programme. The competition appears to celebrate artistic excellence while connecting performers with recognition through a global online format. The application deadline for this season is 1st September 2026, with results announced on 18th September 2026. No age restrictions, fees, or detailed category requirements are stated on the provided page.

The Junior Science Olympiad Exam (JSOE) is an online, bilingual individual written test hosted by Australian Science Innovations (ASI). It is designed to strengthen students’ problem-solving ability and critical thinking across a broad range of science topics, including Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Earth & Environment Science. The competition is open to students in Grade 7-10 / Year 8-11 and takes place over 120 minutes. Participants compete for global awards including High Distinction, Distinction, and Credit, with results determined by Australian cut-off scores. Registration includes the exam, grading, proctoring, past papers, and certificates, and the registration deadline is two weeks before the competition date.