Built environment, engineering & IT

Taking part in competitions can enhance your career opportunities in this sector. You could win a cash prize, an internship or even a chance to travel abroad.

Deadlines are staggered throughout the year, so check each link for up-to-date information.

Built environment

targetjobs: Construction, Engineering and Environment Undergraduate of the Year - opportunity to win a 6-to-12-week paid internship tailored to your interests OR a 12-month industrial placement with AECOM. You will also be given the opportunity to secure a permanent graduate role on AECOM's development programme upon graduation. Open to undergraduate students on a construction, energy and sustainability, engineering, environmental, project management, quantity surveying, transport planning or water related degree in their penultimate year or second year of a four-year course. Applications close in February each year and winners are announced in April.
120 hours - global architecture competition for students (individuals and teams of up to 3). Assignments are released then you have 120 hours to work on your submission. Usually opens in March each year.
International Velux Awards - biennial competition for students of architecture. Registration open in September every second year and close the following April.
COINS Grand Challenge - an annual competition which aims to kickstart innovation in construction. This competition is open to anyone whose idea could improve construction safety, sustainability, efficiency or something else. The student competition is free to enter and offers cash prizes, internship opportunities and a chance to pitch ideas to industry experts. Usually opens in February and closes in June each year.

Energy & the environment

targetjobs: Construction, Engineering and Environment Undergraduate of the Year - opportunity to win a 6-to-12-week paid internship tailored to your interests OR a 12-month industrial placement with AECOM. You will also be given the opportunity to secure a permanent graduate role on AECOM's development programme upon graduation. Open to undergraduate students on a construction, energy and sustainability, engineering, environmental, project management, quantity surveying, transport planning or water related degree in their penultimate year or second year of a four-year course. Applications close in February each year and winners are announced in April.
Earth Model Award - international competition for geoscience students working towards a Master’s degree in Earth Sciences. Opportunity to gain industry recognition for your project and win up to $2500 USD. Applications usually close in October each year - can sign up for key deadlines (academic engagement).
UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA): Students - events, competitions and internship opportunities.
Schneider Go Green (Europe) - annual global student competition for sustainable energy solutions, organised by Schneider Electric. Open to students of business, engineering, marketing, science or innovation, you'll work in teams of 2-4 to compete for a team prize of €10,000 and mentoring from Schneider. Applications usually open in September and close in February each year.
Cleantech Challenge (CTC)- annual global innovation and business plan competition that serves as a launch pad for cleantech business ideas. Teams will pitch their business idea and collaborate throughout a two-day bootcamp to answer a challenge question for a chance to win £20,000 toward developing their business. Applications open in January and Stage 1 submissions close in February each year.

Engineering

targetjobs: Construction, Engineering and Environment Undergraduate of the Year - opportunity to win a 6-to-12-week paid internship tailored to your interests OR a 12-month industrial placement with AECOM. You will also be given the opportunity to secure a permanent graduate role on AECOM's development programme upon graduation. Open to undergraduate students on a construction, energy and sustainability, engineering, environmental, project management, quantity surveying, transport planning or water related degree in their penultimate year or second year of a four-year course. Applications close in February each year and the winners will be announced in April.
Oliver Wyman HackAtOW - test your analytical and coding skills and be part of an international challenge while learning specific technical skills and soft skills from Oliver Wyman experts and peers. The finalists will go to Madrid to pitch their idea in front of a jury and the winning teams will receive a prize plus fast-track access to the selection process to join Oliver Wyman. Travel costs for the final phase are covered by Oliver Wyman. Open to penultimate and final year students or recent university graduates with a quantitative academic background (Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Informatics, Data Science, or Engineering). Applications close in February. Check website for next years competition dates.
Formula Student - challenges engineering students to design, build and develop a single seater racing car for competition. Registration usually opens between October - December, with the live event taking place in July.
Labman Automation: Fightfest - robot fighting championship for students, open to teams of up to 4 full-time students. £1,000 in winnings will be split across the top 3 teams. Applications close in February. Check website for next years competition dates.
YES Competition - global business plan competition for postgraduate students and post-doctoral researchers. Applications typically open in May and close in September each year. Register now for YES23.
UK SEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) - run various competitions throughout the year. Check website for deadlines.
Schneider Go Green (Europe) - annual global student competition for sustainable energy solutions, organised by Schneider Electric. Open to students of business, engineering, marketing, science or innovation, you'll work in teams of 2-4 to compete for a team prize of €10,000 and mentoring from Schneider. Applications usually open in September and close in February.

IT

targetjobs: Software Engineering Undergraduate of the Year - opportunity to win a paid 12 week internship with Skyscanner in London or Edinburgh, plus exclusive one-to-one networking opportunities with senior colleagues and £300 to spend on travel. Open to undergraduates studying a software engineering/development, computer science, or IT related degree in their penultimate or final year at university. Applications close in February and the winners will be announced in 21 April.
targetjobs: AI and Robotics Undergraduate of the Year - opportunity to win a 12 week paid summer internship with Ocado plus the chance to have a one-to-one career conversation with a senior member of the Technology Leadership team. Open to students on a STEM related degree with relevant modules, in their penultimate at university or studying a post-graduate degree. Applications open in October and close in January.
Cyber Security Challenge - runs national online competitions throughout the year to raise awareness of cyber learning opportunities and careers. Prizes include internships with sponsor companies, training bursaries and conference places. Ongoing, check website for deadlines.
Grads in Games Awards - 2 industry-led game dev challenges: Search for a Star, for final year or Masters students, and Sumo Digital Rising Star, for non-final year undergraduates. See the website for project submissions for next year.
Oliver Wyman HackAtOW - test your analytical and coding skills and be part of an international challenge while learning specific technical skills and soft skills from Oliver Wyman experts and peers. The finalists will go to Madrid to pitch their idea in front of a jury and the winning teams will receive a prize plus fast-track access to the selection process to join Oliver Wyman. Travel costs for the final phase are covered by Oliver Wyman. Open to penultimate and final year students or recent university graduates with a quantitative academic background (Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Informatics, Data Science, or Engineering). See the website to apply for next year.
Microsoft Imagine Cup - annual global student technology competition. Working in a team of up to 4 students, you'll use your imagination and passion to create a technology solution to problems facing the world today - and maybe even turn your idea into a business. Registration opens in October for next year's competition.
BAFTA Supporting Talent - includes awards, competitions, career development and scholarships. UK Scholarship Programme provides financial assistance for postgraduate course fees or undergraduate living costs, mentoring support and free access to BAFTA events around the UK for a year. Applications usually open in March and close in May each year.
Kaggle - range of data science and machine learning competitions, some with prizes. Ongoing, check website for deadlines.
Tech Nation: Rising Stars - competition for innovative, early-stage tech startups. Enter for the opportunity to connect your startup with mentors, investors and influencers, and significantly raise the profile of your business. Open for pre-registration now.
Schneider Go Green (Europe) - annual global student competition for sustainable energy solutions, organised by Schneider Electric. Open to students of business, engineering, marketing, science or innovation, you'll work in teams of 2-4 to compete for a team prize of €10,000 and mentoring from Schneider. Applications usually open in September and close in February each year.
Faculty Data Science & Data Engineering Fellowship - helps STEM PhD graduates, masters graduates and post-doctoral researchers transition into a career in data science. They run 3 fellowships a year: spring (starting January/February), summer (starting in May) and autumn (starting in September and October). Applications close three or four months before the next fellowship begins. The Fellowship programme starts with two weeks of intensive lectures and workshops at Faculty, before being paired with project companies for a paid six-week data science project.
Bank of England Innovation Competition - create a short video or a presentation on a fintech question for a chance to win a paid data or technology internship at the Bank of England. Open to all students studying in the UK. Applications close in January. See the website to apply for next year.