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CompetitionFIRST UK

FIRST Tech Challenge UK 2026/27 (More Than Robots)

Teams design, build and code a robot in Java for a themed game and compete at industry-judged tournaments. Teams also build a portfolio and run community outreach.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
FIRST UK[1]
Who it’s for
Schools, youth organisations and home education groups across the UK working with young people aged 12 to 18. A teacher or club leader registers on behalf of the organisation (teams of up to 15).[2]
Entry
A teacher or school enters
Worth
A reusable robot kit, industry-judged awards and the UK Championship. Limited bursaries are available to non-fee-paying schools and youth organisations.[3]
Cost
£399 annual commitment fee (including VAT) for every team, plus a robotics kit: free with a full bursary, £300 with a partial bursary, or £1,200 self-funded. Events are free.[4]
Year groups
Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12, Year 13
Where
UK-wide (Regional hubs across the UK; UK Championship location to be confirmed)
Format
In person
Funding
Bursaries or funding available

Sources

4 sources

  1. FIRST UK

    Take part in FIRST Tech Challenge

    From September to March, teams design, build, code, and compete with robots to earn industry-judged awards.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  2. FIRST UK

    Take part in FIRST Tech Challenge

    STEM enrichment programme for young people aged 12-18

    Checked 24 October 2026

  3. FIRST UK

    Take part in FIRST Tech Challenge

    Each year, we have a limited number of bursaries available to non-fee-paying schools and youth organisations.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  4. FIRST UK

    Take part in FIRST Tech Challenge

    Commitment fee (annual) £399 £399 £399 Total (VAT incl) £399 £699 £1,599

    Checked 24 October 2026

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

More competition opportunities

All opportunities

Sentinus Young Innovators 2026 (Young Engineer of the Year)

Closes in 7 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 8 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

QEPrize Create the Trophy 2027

Closes in 34 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 high-end laptop, a model of the winning trophy, and a trip to London to see the 3D printed design presented to the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering winners.
Who
Anyone aged 14 to 24 on 27 November 2026 (UK students can enter). Entry is individual, via the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app.
Entry
Students apply themselves
Deadline
Entries opened on 1 September 2026. Closing date is 23:59 GMT on 27 November 2026.

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