Competitions and awards are a fantastic way to show employers just what you can do.

Whether it's a chance to get an innovative business idea off the ground, study abroad or secure funding for the internship of a lifetime, it's a great way to stand out from the crowd.

Below you will find a selection of various challenges and awards. These are listed in alphabetical order so please be sure to check each item for specific dates and deadlines.

If you wish to search for further awards or scholarships, please log into JobsLive, click on 'Find a vacancy' and filter the Vacancy type by 'Studentships, scholarships & awards'.

Competitions, Surveys and Awards

Airbus Digital Challenge

Are you:

  • final year Bachelors, Masters or PhD student or graduate with up to three years of experience?
  • skilled in IT, computer science and digital-related disciplines such as Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure Technologies, Internet of Things, System Engineering or Model Based Systems Engineering?
  • keen to discover new industry insights, grow your professional network and enhance your employability?
  • passionate about putting your IT skills to work to ensure the safe and sustainable future of the aerospace industry?

Then the Airbus Digital Challenge is for you!

When? 3rd - 5th April 2024

Where? Online

All eligible candidates, whether selected for this challenge or not, will be invited to join an Airbus digital talent pool now or in the future.

Applications close Monday 11th March.

CMA Essay Competition

To mark its 10th anniversary, the Competition and Markets Authority is hosting an essay competition, asking entrants to submit a 1000-1200 words for a general, non-academic audience in response to this question: What are the benefits of a strong competition and/or consumer protection regime, and how can the CMA better deliver them?

The essays will be judged by an expert panel (including Sarah Cardell, the CEO of the CMA) and there are great prizes up for grabs: multi-store vouchers to the value of £500 for the winner and £200 (each) for the two runners-up. The winner and runners-up will be announced at the 10th anniversary event in London in late April. They will be invited to attend with travel and accommodation expenses covered!

The competition is open to current students (of any subject) and those who have graduated within the last two years. Submit your entry (deadline is Monday 11 March 2024) including contact details, and any queries to essaycompetition@cma.gov.uk.

The winner will be notified by Thursday 4 April 2024.

Develop Phase of Panacea Stars

A fantastic opportunity for science-entrepreneurs has arrived!

Applications are now open for the Develop Phase of Panacea Stars, which enables early-stage deep science founders to de-risk and fund their start-up, whilst competing for a prize worth £100k!

Register now to apply for this great opportunity!

Europe Regional Datathon

Correlation One, a New York based start-up is partnering with Citadel and Citadel Securities to host the Europe Regional Datathon - a data science competition that challenges students from the region’s best universities to tackle real-world social challenges in topics such as urban traffic, renewable energy, and education.

Top performing students have the opportunity to win $15,000 USD in cash prizes along with exclusive recruiting opportunities with Citadel (both internships and full-time roles). The events are completely free and invite only. 

Application deadline is 23.59 on Monday 25 March 2024. Apply now!

G-Research Quant Challenge

This is a great opportunity for postgraduate students to discover G-Research, a leading quantitative research and technology firm, and the world of quantitative finance at their annual Quant Finance Workshop! This year, the event is taking place on Wednesday 13th March from 17.00 - 20.00 at their Whittington offices, 19-30 Alfred Place, WC1E 7EA.

You will take part in their brand new cointegration challenge where you'll test your strategies on unseen, real world datasets. Play for fun or bring your competitive spirit for the chance to win prizes! Following the challenge, you'll have the chance to network with our researchers over some food and drink.

Please note, the workshop is a challenge that can be enjoyed solo or in teams of up to three so feel free to share the registration link with your friends and colleagues. 

 

ICAEW 100

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has launched this year's ICAEW 100 competition - a national business and accounting competition open to all students studying at a university in the UK, regardless of year of study or degree discipline.

The online exercise assesses participants' strengths, provides a tailored strengths report and shares a real insight into the world of chartered accountancy. The better a participant's score, the higher they will place on the ICAEW 100 leader board.

Start your ICAEW 100 journey today: Register before 17.00 on 28 March 2024

Imperial Award

Want to earn an official extra from Imperial on your graduation transcript? Do you want recognition for your employer-friendly attributes? Then the Imperial Award is for you.

Open to all current students (and designed with input from the Careers Service), the Imperial Award gives you a completely private online portfolio to use as a diary or journal. The interactive journal lets you identify your best evidence to enhance your CV and, if you wish, to back up your claim to the assessors (one page of writing). The assessors give written, individual feedback. Multiple assessment periods are offered.

Why? College wants you to develop and rehearse the reflective self-awareness that employers seek from graduates and College is willing to recognise it, formally.

Simply register by logging in with your College username and password, click on ‘guidance’ to watch the promo video and read the Student Guidance pack [pdf], which contains all the information you need to start working towards the Imperial Award. Once you've registered, you’ll hear from the Award team about upcoming workshops and further guidance to support your progress. 

It is free, has immediate benefits, runs all year and could enhance your official transcript.

Find out more here at the Imperial Award webpage. 

L'Oréal Brandstorm

Brandstorm is an international innovation competition organized every year by L'Oréal that has brought together ambitious students from all over the world. The competition gives students the chance to tackle a real business case, gain new skills, exchange with industry experts and have an unforgettable experience.

Sounds cool? Follow the steps and join the challenge:

  1. Build an amazing team of 3 students, register via the official competition website and start your journey.
  2. Come up with the most innovative idea, pitch it during the regional final in you country and win!
  3. Represent your country during the International Final among students from all over the world and have a chance to win it all!

For more information, please visit the official L'Oréal Brandstorm competition website.

Sia Partners Global H-W3B Hackathon

Sia Partners invites you to participate in the London leg of their global Web3 Hackathon, one of the five rounds hosted across the world (Dubai, Luxembourg, New York, London and Paris), all leading to a grand final hosted in Paris in Summer 2024. The hackathon aims to address sustainability challenges through blockchain technology, focusing on promoting environmental stewardship, corporate responsibility and business growth.

  • Date: 6-7 April 2024
  • Duration: 48 hours
  • Location: 90 Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BN
  • Team Size: 2-7 university students - no particular degree required - all skill levels welcome
  • Prize Pool: £40,000

How to register: Visit the H-W3B website to secure your spot. Hurry, limited slots available!

targetjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards

The targetjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards is an annual competition aimed at finding the best undergraduates in the UK. There are 12 awards, each partnered by an employer who provides a fantastic prize for the winner, which could include a paid internship, a trip abroad or other exclusive opportunities.

Applications have now closed for this academic year. Please check back in the Autumn Term for the new round of awards.