Get creative with STEM
Take part and build students’ confidence, practice STEM skills and get expert feedback with the UK’s top science and engineering competition.
The Big Bang Competition helps young people take their ideas and bring them to reality through project work.
Every student who enters The Competition gets personal feedback from a real STEM professional. They're encouraged to reflect on their new skills and see just how far they’ve come.
Entries are open! Enter for free by 4 March 2026.
Discover The CompetitionI found the entire experience incredible. I've learnt a lot. I'm very glad I've had this opportunity and to have been able to meet so many like-minded people.
— Pacha Pritchard, Big Bang UK Young Engineer of the Year 2024
What's up for grabs
The Big Bang Competition offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to win amazing prizes in recognition for their hard work! Discover our prizes and special awards below:
Overall winners
At our Award Ceremony, we will crown the overall winners as Big Bang UK Young Scientist of the Year, Big Bang UK Young Engineer of the Year, supported by Thales, and Big Bang UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens. The winner(s) of each award will receive a cash prize of £1000. Competitors in any age category are eligible for these prizes.
Core prizes
The Big Bang Competition has 3 subject streams: science, engineering and technology. Within each stream, there are prizes for young people in different age categories.
Science
-
junior (years 7 to 9) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
- intermediate (years 10 to 11) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
- senior (years 12 to 13) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
Engineering, supported by Thales
-
junior (years 7 to 9) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
- intermediate (years 10 to 11) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
- senior (years 12 to 13) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
Technology, supported by Siemens
-
junior (years 7 to 9) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
- intermediate (years 10 to 11) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
- senior (years 12 to 13) – 1 winner, receiving £500 and trophy. 2 runners up, receiving a certificate each
Special awards
We work closely with STEM organisations and professionals across the sector to celebrate young people's bright ideas with special awards.
You don't need to specify which award you'd like to enter. Our team creates a shortlist of eligible projects, based on each award's theme and focus.
To enter, simply submit your project online by 4 March 2026.
When it's time to choose our finalists, we will let your students know what special awards they are in the running for. We'll organise for special awards finalist projects to have extra online judging calls. This is their chance to show off their ideas to industry experts, and meet real-life professionals, as well as win top prizes.
Check out our special awards:
- IHEEM Innovation in Wellbeing & Healthcare Engineering Award
- A Place at the 67th London International Youth Science Forum 2026
- The ECITB Teamwork Award
- The Intellectual Property Office Innovation Award
- The EUK Education Teacher Award
- The Energy Systems Catapult Award for Building a Carbon Reduced Future Award
- Energy Institute Sustainability Award
- The Stantec Developing Future Communities Award
Enter The Competition
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition is free to enter. It's open to young people in the UK aged 11 to 18 in state-funded secondary education, who are home educated, or who enter as part of a community group.
Entries are open! Enter by 4 March 2026.
