Explore student competitions.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK space engineering competition where student teams design a crewed space settlement and present their proposal to industry-style judges. Open to students in Years 10–13, or equivalent, across the UK, usually in teams of 4–12. Rated Advanced Level, with difficulty mainly coming from multidisciplinary engineering design, teamwork, technical decision-making and competitive progression to the national final.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK mathematics competition where students solve 25 multiple-choice problems in either the Grey or Pink Kangaroo for their year group. Open to UK-school students who qualify through the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge or are entered at their school’s discretion. Rated Intermediate Level, with difficulty mainly coming from selective qualification, increasingly challenging problems and time pressure.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK mathematics competition where students solve 25 multiple-choice problems requiring logical and non-routine thinking. Open to Year 8 or below students at UK schools who qualify through the Junior Mathematical Challenge or are entered at their school’s discretion. Rated Intermediate Level, with difficulty mainly coming from selective qualification, increasingly challenging problems and time pressure.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK mathematics competition where students solve 20 challenging integer-answer problems requiring logical and non-routine thinking. Open to Year 13 or below students at UK schools who qualify through the Senior Mathematical Challenge or are entered at their school’s discretion. Rated Advanced Level, with difficulty mainly coming from selective qualification, increasingly demanding problems and the need to produce exact answers without multiple-choice options.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Intermediate, Write the World runs free monthly online competitions across changing writing genres, with entrants producing and revising an original piece for the current prompt. Writers aged 13–19 worldwide can enter individually through a free account; exact prompts and closing dates change each month. The main challenge is shaping an original response to a focused brief, using feedback selectively, and completing a polished revision within the monthly window.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Expert, this UK school programme is for secondary and post-16 students who form and operate a team company through their school. Participants develop, trade and present a real venture before possible regional and national finals. The main challenge is combining product decisions, finance, sales, operations and persuasive pitching while sharing accountability over an extended project.

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Rated Beginner, this creative mathematics opportunity invites school and community learners across the island of Ireland to show where mathematics appears in everyday life. Participants create and submit a poster rather than sit a timed paper. The main challenge is noticing a genuine mathematical idea, explaining it accurately and presenting the observation through an original, readable visual.

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Rated Intermediate, this Poetry Ireland education hub brings together several opportunities for post-primary students, with eligibility, entry route and format varying by competition. Pupils or schools should choose a specific listed programme before preparing. The main challenge is matching work or performance to the correct brief while maintaining originality, accuracy and a strong command of language.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Intermediate, this international Natural History Museum competition is for wildlife photographers aged 17 or under, with separate age categories. Entrants submit original images online and may progress to finalist recognition, exhibition and awards. The main challenge is combining ethical observation, technical control, patience and visual storytelling in a photograph that reveals something meaningful about nature.

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Rated Intermediate, The EngineerGirl / EngineerTeen contest asked students to combine a two-dimensional artwork with an artist’s statement and engineering-design reflection. Individual students in US grades 3–12, including homeschooled and international equivalents, could enter one grade category; The main challenge is coordinating research, visual design, audience awareness, iterative testing, and concise written explanation in one original submission.

QUICK SUMMARY

A US, England and Wales mathematical modelling competition where teams use maths and data to solve an open-ended real-world problem within 14 hours. Open to teams of three to five eligible secondary-school students, mainly US high-school juniors and seniors and sixth-form students aged 16–19 in England and Wales. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from mathematical modelling, data analysis, technical writing and solving a complex problem under strict time pressure.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Intermediate, these creative competition strands are open through ISA member schools, with Sports Design serving Years 5–13 and other art categories covering relevant pupil groups. Schools manage entry into category or regional judging and national recognition. The main challenge is responding originally to the brief while showing thoughtful design choices, technique and clear visual communication.