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.
Included here are hackathons, which can be excellent opportunities to try out and develop skills, network, and in some cases, win prizes! Employers value hackathon experience on a CV because participating demonstrates that you can work under pressure/think creatively/collaborate. Examples of websites that advertise hackathons and competitions include Devpost, Kaggle, Major League Hacking and Eventbrite. Check the listings below for highlighted Hackathons .
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
- New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI
- Bolt Burdon Kemp Design the Change Competition
- Bright SCIdea Challenge
- Canva Gen - Student Hackathon London
- Global Leadership Challenge
- Global Sustainability Challenge
- MIT-Imperial Seed Fund
- Reply Student Clash
- Santander Brighter Futures Grants
- targetjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards
- TCS CodeVita
- The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme
New Horizon: Lead what’s next in AI brings together business professionals shaping how AI changes the way companies operate, and hands-on technologists in software engineering, data science, and data engineering who want to put their skills to work solving real client problems with AI.
The event is run by McKinsey & Company and will take place from Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 February in Budapest, Hungary.
For more information, and to apply before Tuesday 8 December, please visit the New Horizon webpage.
Bolt Burdon Kemp are proud to announce the return of their proprietary Design the Change Competition. Starting in October 2026 and finishing in May 2027, the student competition joins a global conversation about the need for improved accessibility in the world and the importance design plays in making this happen.
Enter as an individual or as part of a team of up to four students for the chance to win £5,000.
Entries must be submitted before Friday 7 May 2027. For more information, visit the Design the Change Competition webpage.
The Bright SCIdea Challenge provides support for students at university (UK and International) to develop an innovative science-based idea into a business plan and to compete for a £5,000 prize.
SCI supports entrants in the competition by delivering free, exclusive training. Teams with the strongest business plan are invited to deliver their pitch to an expert panel of experienced, successful senior business people and innovators.
Participants will:
- Attend free, exclusive, accredited online business training workshops.
- Enhance their CVs and network with industry experts.
- Have the opportunity to pitch their idea at the final on Tuesday 23 March 2027 in Belgrave Square, London.
For more information and to enter before the deadline on Wednesday 11 November 2026, head to the Bright SCIdea Challenge webpage.
What is a Student Hackathon?
Don’t let the name fool you! A Hackathon is an intensive, one-day sprint where students come together to solve a specific challenge using creativity, strategy, and tools (like Canva!). It’s about teamwork, fast thinking, and hands-on making. There is no coding involved.
This year's event is taking place on Saturday 24 October.
Why should you participate?
- Build Your Portfolio: Leave with high-quality work you can actually use.
- Industry Feedback: Get your designs and ideas reviewed by the Canva team.
- Networking: Meet other ambitious students from across London’s top universities.
- Exclusive Prizes: We have some amazing rewards lined up (stay tuned—prizes will be announced soon!).
The Challenges
Expect high-energy tasks where you will have to solve problems related to:
- Personal Branding: Designing a standout visual identity.
- The Future Portfolio: Rethinking how students showcase their work.
- Creative CVs: Transforming the traditional resume into a digital experience.
To find out more visit the Canva Gen Student Hackathon website.
The Global Leadership Challenge (GLC) aims to help emerging leaders grow in the wisdom and character required for responsible leadership that makes a real difference in the world — leadership that does not simply seek to fulfil personal ambition but advances the common good.
GLC is a joint initiative of the University of Oxford and the St. Gallen Symposium, supported by partners.
From Thursday 10 – Monday 14 December, the GLC will focus on challenges defined by our partners. Participants will work on real-world issues and co-create impact projects, addressing them through the lens of responsible leadership and sustainability.
The application window closes on Thursday 5 November but applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Find out more on the Global Leadership Challenge website.
The MIT-Imperial Seed Fund aims to help kick-start early-stage projects between two of the world's foremost universities that lead to high-impact research, discovery science and the deployment of frontier technologies. The 2025 call is open for research collaborations in any discipline across all departments and research groups at each institution.
The deadline for the current round of the Seed Fund is Thursday 3 December (23.59 Boston, USA time). For more information, and to apply, head to the MIT-Imperial Seed Fund webpage.
The Reply Student Clash is an international competition between universities. Working in teams, participants will design and scale innovative AI Agent projects, creating solutions that can transform business, empower society and drive technological progress.
The Imperial event will be taking place on Saturday 14 November, from 10.00, on the 4th floor of the EIE Building. Register today by filling out the online form.
£10,000 in grants available exclusively to Imperial students
Thanks to our partnership with Santander, 10 students at Imperial will each receive a £1,000 Brighter Futures Grant. The grant is yours to spend however you choose, whether that's rent, bills, study equipment or everyday living costs.
Who can apply?
- Current students aged 18 or over;
- Undergraduate or postgraduate;
- Full-time or part-time;
- You don’t need to bank with Santander to apply.
Applying is simple
- Register for Santander Open Academy (if you haven't already);
- Verify your email address;
- Log in and select 'Get Started';
- Choose Imperial College London and complete your application.
Apply by 23.59 on Thursday 3 December 2026. T&Cs apply. Apply online today!
There’s more. Whether you win or not, you'll still have free access to Santander Open Academy and its online learning resources to support your studies and develop skills that employers want.
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 for the 2027 awards are now open! Please see the Undergraduate of the Year Awards website for more information.
Launched in 2012, TCS CodeVita is a global programming competition designed to identify top coders around the world. It's a dynamic contest that unites people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, shattering boundaries. The "Guinness Book of World Records" twice-listed TCS CodeVita as "The world's largest programming competition", with the latest record being made in 2026 with 146,922 participants.
For more information, and to sign up before Friday 13 November, head to the TCS CodeVita website.
The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme is an inspiring and challenging 18-month programme for undergraduate students aims to give a new generation of leaders the knowledge, skills and experience to support their future career and drive meaningful change.
There is an online information session happening on Wednesday 18 November, from 17.00 - 18.00.
- Meeting ID: 97723838129
- Password: h4+Aba
Applications open Monday 23 November and close Sunday 7 February 2027. For more information, and to apply, please head to the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme website.