SciFest Ireland 2027
An all-Ireland STEM competition where students develop and present original science, technology, engineering or mathematics projects. Open to second-level students across Ireland through schools and regional SciFest events. Rated Advanced Level, with difficulty mainly coming from project development, scientific investigation, presentation skills and competitive progression to the national final.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Advanced Level
5 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
12–19
School level
Second-level students in Ireland (including Northern Ireland)
Registration method
School or Individual
Competition stages
SciFest@College regional fairs with progression to higher stages
Fee
Free
Online / in-person
In-person
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
1 Jan 2027
Registration closes
11 Mar 2027
Competition starts
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition ends
Not yet announced by the organiser
Editorial perspective
Our Take
SciFest is best understood not as a single high-pressure final, but as a project pathway. Established in 2006, the programme moves from local SciFest@School events to free regional SciFest@College fairs, a National Final and, for selected award winners, international opportunities. That structure matters for preparation: a student does not need to begin with a polished breakthrough, but they do need a question they genuinely own and enough evidence to explain the decisions made along the way. The 2025 National Final results show the breadth of work that can succeed. The STEM Champion project explored muon analysis for non-invasive tomography, while other recognised projects examined microplastics from kitchen utensils, chronic-pain diagnosis, wind-turbine design and technological support for independent living. The useful lesson is not to imitate those subjects. It is that SciFest can accommodate very different ideas when the investigation is specific, the method is defensible and the student can communicate what the evidence does and does not show. For most students, the best preparation is therefore practical rather than theatrical: narrow the question, design a realistic test, record unsuccessful attempts as well as useful results, and practise discussing limitations. CompeteMap sees SciFest as especially valuable for students who enjoy sustained enquiry and are willing to revise their work after feedback. A complicated title is no substitute for a manageable investigation that the student understands from beginning to end.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
A Guide to Doing a SciFest Project
Open resource ↗Student workbook covering hypotheses, fair tests, data, reports, posters and judging.
Official · Free · Project handbook · Essential
SciFest Project Ideas
Open resource ↗Category-organised ideas, investigations, safety notes and past finalist abstracts.
Official · Free · Idea bank and exemplars · Recommended
Choosing an Idea and Getting Started
Open resource ↗Short worksheet for narrowing a feasible research question.
Official · Free · Planning worksheet · Recommended
Teacher Resources: Guides and Judging Rubrics
Open resource ↗Central collection of project guides and category-specific judging rubrics.
Official · Free · Resource collection and rubrics · Essential
Source information
Related competitions
Science & Research · Advanced Level