Top UK engineering competitions

December 2026

1. 31 Dec

   ADS Group

   UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) 2027

   For

   Teams of students aged 11 to 18 from UK schools, colleges and youth groups

   Worth

   A place at the UK National Final and a chance to compete in the International Rocketry Challenge

   Open

January 2027

1. 18 Jan

   Samsung UK

   Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

   For

   Students aged 11 to 18 at secondary schools and colleges across the UK and Ireland, alone or in teams of up to four

   Worth

   Mentoring, work experience with Samsung, Samsung tech and a place on the Piccadilly Circus screen

   Open

February 2027

1. 22 Feb

   Astro Pi Challenge (Raspberry Pi Foundation with ESA Education)

   Astro Pi Mission Space Lab 2026/27

   For

   Teams of 2 to 6 young people aged 19 and under, supervised by a mentor, with some basic coding experience (recommended ages 12 to 19)

   Worth

   A ten-minute flight slot on the ISS for the team's program, plus certificates and the data collected

   Open

March 2027

1. 12 Mar

   EUK Education (EngineeringUK)

   The Big Bang Competition

   For

   Students aged 11 to 18 at state-funded schools, home educated or in a community group

   Open

2. 22 Mar

   Astro Pi Challenge (Raspberry Pi Foundation with ESA Education)

   Astro Pi Mission Zero 2026/27

   For

   Young people aged 19 and under, in teams of up to four, supervised by a mentor such as a teacher or code club leader. Beginners welcome

   Worth

   Your code runs on the International Space Station, with a certificate showing runtime details and orbital coordinates

   Open

3. 25 Mar

   Primary Engineer

   Leaders Award: If You Were An Engineer, What Would You Do? 2026/27

   For

   Pupils aged 3 to 19 in UK schools and home-educated groups. Years 10 to 13 enter in their own year-group category. A teacher registers the school.

   Worth

   Every entry gets a personalised graded certificate (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Shortlisted). Two winners are chosen in each year group.

   Open

April 2027

1. 1 Apr

   British Model Flying Association

   BMFA Universities and Schools Payload Challenge 2027

   For

   Students in full-time education (including home education and accredited apprenticeships) based in the UK and Europe, entering in teams. Check the entry criteria for each challenge.

   Worth

   Judged by professional engineers, with support from the Royal Aeronautical Society, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and RAF Engineering.

   Open

May 2027

1. 14 May

   The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

   IET Faraday Challenge Awards 2027 (Net Zero theme)

   For

   Teams of young people aged 10 to 15, so Year 10 is the only 14 plus year group. A school, community group or volunteer runs a Challenge Day.

   Worth

   Three awards: Sustainability, Future Cities and Innovation, and Technology for Good.

   Open

June 2027

1. 3 Jun

   MTA (Manufacturing Technologies Association)

   TDI Challenge (Technology, Design and Innovation) 2026/27

   For

   Young people aged 14 to 19 interested in engineering and design, including D&T and Engineering students

   Worth

   Top three in each of two categories get a behind-the-scenes visit to the TGR Haas F1 Team factory in Banbury

   Open

July 2027

1. 26 Jul

   European Space Agency (ESA Education), via ESERO UK

   ESA Moon Camp Challenge 2026/27 (design a space habitat)

   For

   Individuals or teams aged 5 to 16 from ESA Member States, submitted by a registered teacher or educator.

   Worth

   ESA participation certificate for every valid submission and a place in the Moon Camp Gallery.

   Open

No fixed deadline

• UK Biology Competitions (UKBC) with the Royal Society of Biology

  British Biology Olympiad 2027 (school entry, 15 to 25 January)

  For

  Y12/Y13 in England and Wales, Y13/Y14 in Northern Ireland, S5/S6 in Scotland. Aimed at students in their final year of pre-further or pre-higher education; most students are 17 to 18.

  Worth

  Certificates for all participants and Royal Society of Biology BioNet membership; top scorers may be invited to training to select the UK team for the International Biology Olympiad.

  15 to 25 January 2027; registration opened 1 October 2026

  Open

• British Physics Olympiad (BPhO)

  British Physics Olympiad 2026/27 school competitions (Physics Challenge, Round 1, Round 2, Senior and Intermediate Challenges)

  For

  Year 13 or below (Physics Challenge, Round 1, Round 2); Year 11 (Intermediate Physics Challenge: younger students may enter, but not older); Year 12 (Senior Physics Challenge). A registered teacher enters the school; students sit papers in school under teacher supervision.

  Worth

  Nationally recognised physics problem-solving challenge with certificates; the Olympiad route leads to UK team selection for the International Physics Olympiad, with an Oxford training and selection camp in April 2027 (provisional dates).

  Physics Challenge (Year 13 or below) Sept to Dec 2026; Round 1 on 12 November 2026 (by invitation from Round 0); Round 2 on 21 January 2027; Senior Physics Challenge (Year 12) 5 March 2027; Intermediate Physics Challenge (Year 11) 26 February 2027; online SPC quiz 18 to 22 January 2027 and IPC quiz 25 to 29 January 2027

  Open

• European Space Agency (ESA Education), with national ESERO offices

  ESA Climate Detectives Teens 2026/27

  For

  Teams of students recommended for ages 14 to 19 from ESA Member States, submitted by registered teachers or educators.

  Worth

  Selected national teams are invited to the Climate Detectives Summit at ESA's Earth Observation Centre (ESRIN) in Italy.

  Kick-off 8 September 2026. National timelines vary, so check the UK ESERO. Selected teams attend the summit at ESRIN, Italy, in May or June 2027.

  Open

• The IET (UK delivery partner)

  FIRST LEGO League Challenge

  For

  Teams of up to 10 young people aged 9 to 16, through a school or youth group

  Worth

  National Champion Awards Prize of £1,000 at the UK National Finals, plus an EDT Industrial Cadets Silver Award for all regional competitors.

  Registration for the BIOGLOW season 2026 to 2027 is open. Regional tournaments run from 12 January to 26 March 2027; registration for each tournament closes six weeks before its date.

  Open

• FIRST UK

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

  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).

  Worth

  A reusable robot kit, industry-judged awards and the UK Championship. Limited bursaries are available to non-fee-paying schools and youth organisations.

  Season runs September to March: local scrimmages November to December, regional qualifying tournaments February to March 2027, UK Championship in April 2027 (date to be confirmed). No registration closing date is published.

  Open

• Greenpower Education Trust

  Greenpower Electric Car Challenge

  For

  Formula 24 is for ages 11 to 16; Formula 24+ is for ages 16 to 25 (sixth forms, colleges, universities and apprentices). Aimed at schools, but private entries, youth groups and clubs are also welcome

  Worth

  Race events and an International Final at Goodwood Motor Circuit

  Teams register through the Start a Team page; 2026/27 race dates not listed

  Open

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

  ICE CityZen Award (16 to 18) and Pollution Control Competition (14 to 16), autumn term 2026

  For

  CityZen Award: students aged 16 to 18. Pollution Control Competition: students aged 14 to 16.

  Worth

  Certificate for taking part, and a chance to win up to £2,000 (shared between team members and school) in the CityZen Award, plus a VIP lunch with the ICE President; top scorers in the Pollution Control Competition can win a prize.

  Autumn term 2026 (no closing date published on the page)

  Open

• University of Southampton, Mathematics Department

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

  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.

  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.

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

  Open

• STEM Racing UK

  STEM Racing (formerly F1 in Schools)

  For

  School teams of 3 to 6 students; secondary classes for ages 11 to 19

  Schools register now. Secondary regional finals run from 13 November 2026 to 25 February 2027; secondary National Finals are on 17 and 18 March 2027 at MAGNA Science Adventure Centre.

  Open

• Space Science and Engineering Foundation (UKSDC)

  UK Space Design Competition 2026/27

  For

  Teams of around 4 to 12 students in Years 10 to 13 (or equivalent) with a supervising adult. Most teams come as school groups or science clubs.

  Worth

  Qualifying teams reach the national final. Students who qualify for the International Space Settlement Design Competition are sponsored to travel to the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

  Regional and digital heats this autumn, then a two-day national final at Imperial College London (no exact date published). Heats not marked full on 23 October 2026: Exeter and Nottingham 14 November, Cardiff 21 November, Digital 5 December.

  Open

• VEX Robotics UK

  VEX Robotics Competition UK (V5 and IQ)

  For

  V5 is open to students aged up to 18: Middle School (secondary students up to 15) and High School (secondary and sixth form up to 18).

  Schools register interest through the UK Nationals site; the top 64 V5 teams qualify for the UK National Competition. No 2027 Nationals date or 2026/27 registration deadline was found.

  Open

Not open yet

• UK Biology Competitions (UKBC)

  Biology Challenge 2027 (school entry, Years 9 and 10, 28 April to 12 May)

  For

  Y9/Y10 in England and Wales, Y10/Y11 in Northern Ireland, S2/S3 in Scotland.

  Worth

  National competition scores and e-certificates; schools can award their own prizes.

  28 April to 12 May 2027; registration opens 23 February 2027

  Not open yet

• CERN (with DESY and ELSA)

  CERN Beamline for Schools 2027 (propose a particle physics experiment)

  For

  Teams of students in high or secondary school, or in the gap between school and university, coached by a teacher. Students must be aged 16 or over on the day the proposal is submitted; there is no age limit for taking part, but only students aged 16 or over on the first day of the stay can travel if the team wins.

  Worth

  Winning teams perform their experiment at a fully equipped beamline; travel, accommodation and experimental equipment are covered. All eligible proposals receive a participation certificate.

  Proposals can be submitted from December 2026; the 2027 deadline is shown as "XX March 2027" (date not yet published)

  Not open yet

• Raspberry Pi Foundation (RPF)

  Coolest Projects online showcase 2027

  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.

  Entries will open on 13 January 2027. Livestream 23 June 2027.

  Not open yet

• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

  Formula Student

  For

  University teams (one to aim for when choosing a university)

  Formula Student 2027 dates are not published yet.

  Not open yet

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

  ICE CityZen competitions

  For

  The CityZen Award for ages 16 to 18; the Pollution Control Challenge for 14 to 16

  Worth

  Up to £2,000, shared between the team and the school

  Runs in the autumn term; check this year's registration dates on the ICE website

  Not open yet

• UK Biology Competitions (UKBC)

  Intermediate Biology Olympiad 2027 (school entry, 4 to 18 June)

  For

  Students in the first year of post-16 education: Y12 in England and Wales, Y13 in Northern Ireland, S5 in Scotland.

  Worth

  Participation can be referenced in higher education applications.

  4 to 18 June 2027; registration opens 17 April 2027

  Not open yet

• James Dyson Foundation

  James Dyson Award

  For

  University students and recent graduates of engineering and design, aged 18 or over

  The 2026 round ran from 11 March to 15 July; 2027 dates not published

  Not open yet

• Robert Gordon University / MATE ROV Competition

  MATE ROV Competition Scotland Regional 2027

  For

  Secondary school pupils building underwater robots (ROVs). Recent regionals have involved schools from the Aberdeen and north-east area.

  Worth

  The regional winner can go on to the MATE ROV World Championship. Industry judges from the subsea sector.

  Registration opens 15 January 2027. The 2027 regional date is still to be confirmed; held in Aberdeen.

  Not open yet

• Student Robotics

  Student Robotics 2027

  For

  Teams of 4 to 6 students aged 16 to 19, plus an adult supervisor (usually a teacher). The adult must be over 18 to register interest.

  Worth

  A loaned robot kit (returned after the competition), volunteer mentoring and a spring competition weekend. Teams program a fully autonomous robot.

  Registration for the next competition has not been announced. The Compete page says Kickstart is around mid-October to early November and the competition is held in the spring.

  Not open yet

• Raspberry Pi Foundation

  UK Bebras Challenge 2026 (computational thinking)

  For

  Young people aged 6 to 19 in the UK. Students cannot register individually: a teacher signs up as the school coordinator.

  Worth

  All participants get a certificate, with gold certificates based on national boundaries.

  Challenge runs 9 to 20 November 2026. Schools can register as coordinators at any time.

  Not open yet

• WorldSkills UK

  WorldSkills UK National Competitions 2027 (Engineering and Technology)

  For

  Apprentices and students entered online by their college, training provider or employer. The 2027 skills list includes engineering skills such as CAD, Mechatronics, Industrial Robotics, CNC Machinist, Welding, Additive Manufacturing and Renewable Energy. Age limits are per skill.

  Worth

  Benchmarked technical skills competitions with national finals, and a route to selection for the UK squad for the international WorldSkills competition.

  Expressions of interest are open for 2027. The 2027 registration, qualifier and final dates are not yet published.

  Not open yet