Competitions and awards
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. 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
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), 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: Imperial Award.
Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) Competition 2023
If you are an entrepreneur or have a strong business idea within the arts and creative sector that is driven by social change, the Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Partnering with MeWe360, the programme aims to enable and celebrate talented entrepreneurs to make positive social impact through their creative ventures. DBACE is committed to championing initiatives that seek positive change in society and help to build the long-term success of the UK creative industries.
This could be your chance to secure:
- Up to £20,000 investment to start or grow your enterprise
- Membership to MeWe360's Incubator programme, including 12-months of business support with MeWe360 and Deutsche Bank's high calibre industry & business mentors
Applications are welcome from those at the ideas stage to established businesses. If you have a creative idea, a social vision, and a desire to see your business come to life, DBACE wants to hear from you!
Applications are open now and are accepted until 31 March 2023. You can read more about the competition, sign up to free support events and complete your online application on the DBACE website.
Google Europe & EmployAbility Scholarship for students with disabilities
Google, in partnership with EmployAbility, is committed to helping the innovators of the future make the most of their talents by providing scholarships for Computer Science students with disabilities.
Recipients will each receive a €7,000 scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of the applicant’s academic background, leadership skills and demonstrated passion for Computer Science.
Applications close on Sunday 14 May 2023. For more information, visit the EmployAbility website.
Bain & Company's True North Scholarship for Black Heritage Students
Are you bright, enthusiastic and curious? Do you enjoy solving challenging problems? Are you looking to chart your own course through an extraordinary career?
True North is an unchanging and true point on a gyro-compass. It is constant, singular and unaffected by factors like magnetic forces or location. For Bain & Company, True North is their unswerving commitment to always do the right thing by their clients, their people, and the wider community. They have designed this programme specifically for exceptional students who identify as Black, to inspire and equip them with practical leadership and personal impact skills.
Applications close at 23.59 (BST) on Tuesday 25 April 2023. For more information, please visit the Bain & Company website.
UBS Get Recruitment Ready Competition
What if you could get ready to be recruited by UBS in just four steps? Introducing Get Recruitment Ready, the quiz that reveals the UBS recruitment process with answers that may surprise you. You’ll also gain valuable insights that will help set you apart from other candidates. All you have to do is answer four questions, and you could win a £1,000 Apple voucher and a mentoring session with a UBS employee, to help kickstart your career.
Apply by Wednesday 12 April 2023 on the UBS competition website.
Becas Santander Skills | Excel for All 2023
Looking to master Excel VBA and Macros? If so, you should apply for one of the 5,000 scholarships available from Santander Scholarships Excel for All 2023. Excel for All, delivered by Udemy, is a flexible, online programme, with a specific course for competent Excel users looking to make their work-life easier. Learn how to leverage Excel functionality with Macros and automate your work with VBA. There are only 5,000 places, so apply early for your chance to be selected!
Applications close on Tuesday 16 May 2023. For more information, visit the Santander scholarships webpage.
targetjobs Female Coding Challenge with Skyscanner
To enter you need to:
- Identify as a female undergraduate student at a university in the UK
- Be in your penultimate or final year at university
- Be studying a software engineering/development, computer science, or IT related degree
- Have the right to work in the UK after graduation.
Applications close on Thursday 20 April 2023. For more information, visit the targetjobs website.
Toshiba Fellowship Programme (TFP) 2023 - 2024
The Toshiba Fellowship Programme offers a unique opportunity for qualified PhD level scientists, to journey alongside Toshiba into innovation discovering a new world of research and development, as well as exploring and living a new cultural experience in Japan initially for one year.
Toshiba has been successfully operating the TFP since 1983, since when many exceptional researchers have participated, launching their careers with valuable industry experience and innovative research. Toshiba Fellows have gone on to enjoy globally diverse careers in academia, government and industry, building on the foundations of their research work at Toshiba's excellent facilities.
The Fellow receives a generous package, including a fixed salary and relocation assistance to and from Japan, together with support and advice prior to and during their stay.
The TFP 2023 - 2024 research contract is expected to start betweeen January and June 2024.
Applications for the 2023 - 2024 Fellowship programme close on Friday 24 March 2023.
Find out more and apply via the Toshiba website.
Association for Project Management (APM) Branch Student of the Year Award 2023
The APM Branch Awards celebrate the achievements of students, and allows them to showcase their project skills and achievements. A submission could include a group or individual project, a social, sporting or charity event, or an entrepreneurial project which a student has delivered within the past three years. APM Branch level winners will be entered into a national final and the winner will be announced at the APM Festival of Education and Research in 2024.
Apply by Saturday 13 May 2023 on the APM website.
L'Oréal Brandstorm 2023
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:
- Build an amazing team of 3 students, register via the official competition website and start your journey.
- Come up with the most innovative idea, pitch it during the regional final in you country and win!
- 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.