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
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.
Code for all is built on the belief that technology should be accessible to everyone – regardless of ability, background or circumstance. Digital equity means ensuring all individuals have the opportunity to benefit from technology and that no one is excluded due to barriers in design or access.
Digital inequalities matter because they highlight the gaps in how technology serves different communities. These disparities can be seen across the digital landscape – from apps that don’t support assistive tools to platforms that overlook diverse user needs. Code for All challenges these gaps by empowering students to design inclusive solutions that reflect the full spectrum of human experience.
Differences in age, ability, language and lived experience all shape how people interact with technology. By addressing these differences, Code for All helps future technologists create tools that are not only innovative but truly inclusive.
The hackathon is spread over two events. One is virtual, on Monday 5 October, and the other is in person, on Thursday 8 October.
To apply, submit the online form before Friday 18 September.