The honest guide to becoming an engineer in the UK

Newsletter
BorntoEngineer
Get the weekly newsletter

CompetitionRaspberry Pi Foundation (RPF)

Coolest Projects online showcase 2027

Coolest Projects online is a free worldwide showcase for young people up to 18 who have made something with code or digital technology. Every entrant gets a certificate and personal feedback, and VIP judges pick favourites for a livestream on 23 June 2027. Entries open on 13 January 2027.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
Raspberry Pi Foundation (RPF)
Who it’s for
Any young person up to age 18, anywhere in the world, entering alone or in a team of up to five.
Worth
Certificates and personalised feedback for all participants; some projects featured by VIP judges in the livestream.
Cost
Free
Year groups
Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12, Year 13
Where
UK-wide
Format
Online
Dates

Coolest Projects online is run by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. You make a digital project, or choose one you have already made, and enter it online. It might be made in Scratch, with a micro:bit, as an app, or coded in Python. There are seven categories to choose from.

The team checks every entry, which can take up to a week, and then it appears in the online showcase gallery. After registration closes, judges review every project and give feedback. VIP judges choose some favourites to feature in a worldwide livestream on 23 June 2027, and every entrant then gets their feedback and a certificate.

You can enter alone or in a team of up to five. If you are over 13 you can register yourself, or an adult mentor can do it. Projects need to be shown or presented in English, and most need a public video on YouTube or Vimeo showing the project and its code (not needed for Scratch, MakeCode Arcade or micro:bit links). You can enter the same project to the online showcase and to a UK in-person event in Bradford or Cardiff.

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

More competition opportunities

All opportunities

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

Closes in 9 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

QEPrize Create the Trophy 2027

Closes in 23 days

CompetitionQueen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation

Design the trophy for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering using a free 3D design app and submit it online. The winning design is 3D printed and presented to the prize winners in London.

Worth
A laptop, a model of the winning trophy, and a trip to London for the 2027 QEPrize presentation, with reasonable travel paid (plus a parent or guardian if the winner is under 18).
Who
Anyone worldwide aged 14 to 24 on 27 November 2026, entering on their own (no team entries) through the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app.
Entry
Students apply themselves
Deadline
Entries accepted from 9.00 GMT on 1 September 2026. The closing date for receipt of entries is 23.59 GMT on 27 November 2026. Final judging takes place in January 2027.

Visit qeprize.org (opens in a new tab)Details: QEPrize Create the Trophy 2027

UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) 2027

Open now

CompetitionADS Group

Teams design, build and launch a model rocket carrying raw eggs to a set altitude. A well-established aerospace engineering challenge with regional heats across the UK.

Worth
A place at the UK National Final and a chance to compete in the International Rocketry Challenge
Who
Teams of students aged 11 to 18 from UK schools, colleges and youth groups
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Deadline
Registration closes 31 December 2026. Regional heats 19 March to 18 April 2027, UK National Final on 30 April 2027, International Final at the Paris Air Show on 17 and 18 June 2027

Visit ukroc.com (opens in a new tab)Details: UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) 2027