The honest guide to becoming an engineer in the UK

Newsletter
BorntoEngineer
Get the weekly newsletter

CompetitionUniversity of Southampton, Mathematics Department

National Cipher Challenge 2026/27 (University of Southampton codebreaking competition)

An online codebreaking competition in which individuals or teams break ciphers published week by week, using maths and programming skills. The 25th challenge runs from September 2026 to January 2027 with prizegiving at Bletchley Park on 10 March.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
University of Southampton, Mathematics Department[1]
Who it’s for
Open to anyone, but only individuals in full time school level education in the UK and Channel Islands qualify for prizes. No year group or age is stated on the page.[2]
Entry
Students or a school can enter
Worth
£6,000 in prizes, gold and silver medals and downloadable certificates for everyone who takes part; medallists and prize-winners are invited to the Bletchley Park prizegiving.[3]
Cost
A free online codebreaking competition for schools and colleges.
Where
UK-wide (Online (prizegiving at Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes))
Format
Online
Dates
to

Sources

4 sources

  1. University of Southampton

    About the challenge

    Competitors take part by breaking codes and ciphers that are published week by week

    Checked 24 October 2026

  2. University of Southampton

    Rules, Regulations & Policies

    The competition is open to anyone but only individuals in full time school level education in the UK and Channel Islands qualify for prizes.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  3. University of Southampton

    National Cipher Challenge 2026 – University of Southampton

    We have £6,000 in prizes to award this year, and everyone who takes part will be able to download certificates to record their achievements for all time.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  4. University of Southampton

    National Cipher Challenge 2026 – University of Southampton

    September 2026 – January 2027

    Checked 24 October 2026

Details checked by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.

Open now

September 2026 to January 2027; registration opened 24 September 2026; prizegiving at Bletchley Park on 10 March 2027[4]

Apply on cipherchallenge.org (opens in a new tab)

More competition opportunities

All opportunities

Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Closes in 6 days

CompetitionSentinus

Students choose a Sentinus engineering challenge (Retrofit Revolution, Flood Futures or Smart Streets) or their own idea and submit an online poster. Finalists are invited to Belfast to be judged by industry experts.

Worth
£1,000 for each category winner. The overall Sentinus Young Innovator wins a funded trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair 2027 in the USA, plus an accelerator programme and industry links.
Who
Individuals or teams of up to 3 for the Young Engineer category (there are also Young Scientist, Young Mathematician and Young Coder categories). Applicants must be aged under 19 on 1 July 2027.
Entry
Students or a school can enter
Deadline
Registrations close 31 October 2026. Online poster submission by 6 November 2026. Live finals on Thursday 26 November 2026 at Ulster University, Belfast.

Visit sentinus.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Davidson Inventors Challenge 2026/27

Closes in 7 days

CompetitionUniversity of Cambridge Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, with IChemE

Teams pick a UN Sustainable Development Goal, research a real problem and propose a sustainable, innovative engineering solution. Each team gets a mentor and the process runs from November to a final in April.

Worth
An expert mentor for each team, webinars, and for the winners a cash prize, a trophy and a day at the department.
Who
Teams of Year 11 and Year 12 students from UK schools. Maximum of two submissions per school; up to 100 projects selected.
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Deadline
Team sign-up and initial project outline by 1 November 2026. Final reports mid March 2027, shortlisted teams announced early April, final at the Cambridge department in late April 2027.

Visit ceb.cam.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Davidson Inventors Challenge 2026/27

STEM Racing Yorkshire and Humber: University of Leeds support and regional competition 2027

Closes in 19 days

CompetitionUniversity of Leeds Access and Outreach

The University of Leeds is a Centre of Excellence for STEM Racing for secondary schools and sixth form colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber. Teams get design support, free 3D-printed car manufacturing and a test track session before the regional competition at STEM Learning, York on 2 February 2027. A teacher must be the main contact.

Worth
Design support from a School of Mechanical Engineering academic, free manufacturing of up to 3 cars, an hour of exclusive test track access, and a chance to progress to the National and World Finals.
Who
Student teams aged 9 to 19 from schools and sixth form colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber (Entry Class ages 11 to 14, Development Class ages 11 to 19), entered by a teacher.
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Deadline
Design support by 13 November 2026; manufacturing designs by 27 November 2026; test track 14 December 2026; regional competition 2 February 2027

Visit accessandoutreach.leeds.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: STEM Racing Yorkshire and Humber: University of Leeds support and regional competition 2027