STEM program
Featured
New York Academy of Sciences
NYAS Junior Academy Fall 2026
A free virtual STEM program where students ages 13 to 17 work in international teams on real-world innovation challenges.
STEM
Innovation
Research
- Deadline
- Fall 2026 student applications close July 2, 2026
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free
STEM program
Featured
Citadel
Citadel High School Terminal 2026
A virtual high school competition where students use programming and analytical thinking to explore trading strategy problems.
Computer Science
Quantitative Finance
Mathematics
- Deadline
- Application deadline: July 6, 2026
- Region
- United States, Canada
- Cost
- Cost not listed
Innovation competition
Featured
Xccelerate Technologies Foundation
XTF Global Innovation Challenge 2026
A global student innovation challenge for ages 13 to 24 across research, prototype and technology tracks.
Artificial Intelligence
Climate
Biotechnology
- Deadline
- Project submission deadline: August 31, 2026
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free
Science competition
Featured
Breakthrough Prize Foundation
Breakthrough Junior Challenge 2026
A global science video challenge for students aged 13 to 18 explaining a major idea in physics, life sciences or mathematics.
Physics
Life Sciences
Mathematics
- Deadline
- Submission deadline: September 15, 2026
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Cost not listed
College scholarship
Featured
QuestBridge
QuestBridge National College Match 2026
A free college match and scholarship application for high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds.
College Admissions
Scholarships
Financial Aid
- Deadline
- National College Match application deadline: October 1, 2026
- Region
- United States
- Cost
- Free
Coding competition
Featured
Congressional App Challenge
Congressional App Challenge 2026
A U.S. coding competition where middle and high school students build and submit original apps through participating congressional districts.
Computer Science
Coding
App Development
- Deadline
- Competition deadline: October 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET
- Region
- United States
- Cost
- Free
Competition
Genç Başarı Eğitim Vakfı (Junior Achievement Türkiye)
GençBizz High School Entrepreneurship Program
A learning-by-doing program where high school teams build and run a real mini-company over the school year.
Entrepreneurship
Business
Financial Literacy
- Deadline
- Annual school-year program — schools and teams enroll at the start of the academic year
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- Free — students operate on zero capital
Competition
Horn Entrepreneurship, University of Delaware
Diamond Challenge (Global High School Entrepreneurship Competition)
A free global entrepreneurship competition with a large prize pool, open to Turkish high school teams.
Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation
Business
- Deadline
- Annual — submission window roughly September to mid-January
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free; no entry fee
Summer Program
Sabancı University
Sabancı University Summer High School (Lise Yaz Okulu)
A residential, English-language pre-university summer program where high schoolers take real university courses.
University Prep
Engineering
Natural Sciences
- Deadline
- Annual — three two-week terms in July-August; apply in spring
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- Paid — ~79,500 TL for a 4-course term (incl. accommodation & meals)
Competition
Science Heroes Association (Bilim Kahramanları Derneği)
FIRST LEGO League Challenge — Turkey (Bilim Kahramanları Buluşuyor)
The Turkish chapter of the international FIRST LEGO League Challenge robotics and research program.
Robotics
Coding
Engineering
- Deadline
- Annual season — teams form and register ahead of the autumn-winter tournament season
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- Per-team registration fee applies
Research Program
Özyeğin University
Özyeğin University High School Summer Research Internship
A summer program placing high school students into real university research projects across multiple faculties.
Scientific Research
Engineering
STEM
- Deadline
- Annual — research runs over the summer (about July-September); applications open in spring
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- See official page for fees
Olympiad
TÜBİTAK BİDEB
TÜBİTAK National Science Olympiads (Ulusal Bilim Olimpiyatları, 2202 Program)
Turkey's official subject olympiads selecting and training students for international science olympiads.
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
- Deadline
- Annual — first-stage exam applications typically due April, with the exam in May
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- Free (no application fee)
Competition
Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Vakfı) and partners
TEKNOFEST Technology Competitions (Teknoloji Yarışmaları)
Turkey's largest aerospace-and-technology festival, with dozens of competition tracks open to high school teams.
Robotics
Aerospace
Artificial Intelligence
- Deadline
- Annual — applications typically close around February; festival later in the year
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- Free to enter; finalist travel/accommodation often supported
Science Fair
TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye)
TÜBİTAK 2204-A High School Students Research Projects Competition (Lise Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Yarışması)
Turkey's flagship national research-project competition for high schoolers, across basic, social and applied sciences.
Scientific Research
STEM
Social Sciences
- Deadline
- Annual — call typically opens autumn with submission around December
- Region
- Turkey
- Cost
- Free (no application fee)
Science Fair
Ritsumeikan Junior & Senior High School (with MEXT and JST support), Japan
Japan Super Science Fair (JSSF)
International high-school science fair where students present research and collaborate in cross-country teams in Japan.
Science Research
STEM
International Collaboration
- Deadline
- Annual — held in early November; school registration earlier in the year
- Region
- Japan
- Cost
- See official site for fees
Scholarship
UWC ISAK Japan (United World Colleges movement)
UWC ISAK Japan — Need-Based Financial Assistance & Scholarships
International boarding high school in Japan offering need-based financial aid (up to full scholarships) to admitted students regardless of nationality.
International Baccalaureate
Leadership
Boarding School
- Deadline
- Annual Grade 10 admissions cycle; request aid during the application (apply the year before)
- Region
- Japan
- Cost
- Total ~¥7,225,000/yr; need-based aid from partial up to full scholarship
Research Program
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
YUVIKA — ISRO Young Scientist Programme
Two-week residential space-science programme for Indian Class 9 students, with lectures and hands-on rocket/satellite activities.
Space Science
Aerospace
Physics
- Deadline
- Annual — applications typically open early in the year (Feb-Mar) with the camp in May
- Region
- India
- Cost
- Free — ISRO covers materials, lodging & food; travel reimbursed
Research Program
International Board of Asian Science Camp (IBASC); 2026 host The University of Hong Kong
Asian Science Camp
Annual Asian forum where top pre-collegiate and college students meet Nobel laureates and collaborate on science.
Science
Physics
Chemistry
- Deadline
- Annual — apply via national delegations ahead of the Aug 2-8, 2026 camp
- Region
- Asia-Pacific
- Cost
- Often delegation-funded (varies by country)
Competition
World Robot Olympiad Association (HQ Singapore)
World Robot Olympiad (WRO)
Global robotics competition where student teams design, build and program robots across four categories and age groups.
Robotics
Coding
Engineering
- Deadline
- Annual season — national-round deadlines vary by country; international final later in year
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Registration fee set per country
Science Fair
IEOM Society International (Industrial Engineering & Operations Management)
High School STEM Competition — IEOM Doha, Qatar
Students submit an original STEM research/innovation project to compete for awards at the IEOM Qatar conference.
STEM
Engineering
Research
- Deadline
- Tied to the 2026 IEOM Doha conference; abstract portal open
- Region
- Qatar
- Cost
- Possible conference registration fee
Competition
INJAZ Al-Arab / JA Worldwide (MENA Regional Operating Center)
INJAZ Al-Arab Company Program & Young Entrepreneurs Competition (YEC)
Student teams build a real startup over ~6 months and compete for Company of the Year at national and regional levels.
Entrepreneurship
Business
Innovation
- Deadline
- Annual — about a 6-month program cycle culminating in national then regional YEC
- Region
- Middle East
- Cost
- Typically free/sponsored
Olympiad
King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), Saudi Arabia
Mawhiba International Olympiad & Enrichment Programs
Saudi national pipeline training gifted students for international science/math olympiads and ISEF, plus enrichment and research.
Mathematics
Science
Computer Science
- Deadline
- Rolling/annual enrollment per program; olympiad qualification runs through the school year
- Region
- Saudi Arabia
- Cost
- Free (foundation funded)
Essay Prize
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (UAE)
Arab Reading Challenge
Students read and summarise 50 Arabic-language books across the year, advancing through school, national and regional rounds.
Reading
Arabic Language
Literature
- Deadline
- Runs on the academic-year cycle; registration via schools earlier in the year
- Region
- Middle East
- Cost
- Free
Scholarship
United World Colleges (UWC International)
United World Colleges (UWC) – IB Diploma Scholarships
Scholarships to study the two-year IB Diploma at an international UWC school, awarded mainly via national committees.
International Education
IB Diploma
Leadership
- Deadline
- Annual — apply via your national committee (deadlines vary, typically autumn-winter)
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Need-based scholarships, full to partial; 80%+ of selected students receive support
Competition
Zayed Sustainability Prize (UAE)
Zayed Sustainability Prize — Global High Schools Category
Global award funding student-led school sustainability projects in health, food, energy and/or water.
Sustainability
Climate
Energy
- Deadline
- Annual — applications typically open around mid-year
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- No entry fee
Olympiad
EOES (successor to the EU Science Olympiad / EUSO); 2026 host Lund, Sweden
European Olympiad of Experimental Science (EOES)
Team experimental-science olympiad for under-17s, combining biology, chemistry and physics.
Experimental Science
Biology
Chemistry
- Deadline
- Annual — about one week in spring (2026 in Lund); selection via national competition
- Region
- Europe
- Cost
- Free to selected team members
Summer Program
XLAB Göttingen (central facility of the University of Göttingen)
XLAB International Science Camp (Göttingen)
Three-week hands-on lab research camp at a University of Göttingen facility, open to international students.
Physics
Biology
Biomedicine
- Deadline
- Annual — about 3 weeks in August; applications open earlier in the year
- Region
- Germany
- Cost
- ~€3,900 all-inclusive except travel
Competition
Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) / Stockholm Water Foundation
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
The world's most prestigious water-research prize for high-school students; national winners compete in Stockholm.
Water Research
Environmental Science
Sustainability
- Deadline
- Annual — international final in Stockholm in August; entry via your national SJWP competition
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free entry via national competitions; international final trip covered
Olympiad
EGMO (2026 hosted by Animath, France)
European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO)
International mathematics olympiad for girls; each country sends a team of four.
Mathematics
Problem Solving
Olympiad Maths
- Deadline
- Annual — EGMO 2026 in Bordeaux 9-15 Apr 2026; selection via your national olympiad
- Region
- Europe
- Cost
- Free to selected team members
Essay Prize
Körber-Stiftung (EUSTORY network)
EUSTORY – Network of National History Competitions
Pan-European network of national history competitions where students do original research; winners join cross-border summits.
History
Historical Research
Writing
- Deadline
- Cycle/deadlines vary by national competition (annual or biennial)
- Region
- Europe
- Cost
- Free
Competition
European Space Agency (ESA Education / ESERO)
European CanSat Competition
Teams build a soda-can-sized satellite, launch it to ~1 km, and run a real mini space mission.
Aerospace
Electronics
Programming
- Deadline
- Annual — cycle opens mid-September (national dates vary); European final 17-19 Jun 2026
- Region
- Europe
- Cost
- Free educational project run by ESA
Competition
European Commission, Directorate-General for Translation
Juvenes Translatores (EU translation contest)
EU-wide translation contest for 17-year-olds; one winner per Member State wins a trip to Brussels.
Languages
Translation
Linguistics
- Deadline
- Annual — school registration Sep-Oct; student registration Oct-Nov; contest late November
- Region
- Europe
- Cost
- Free
Science Fair
Stiftung Jugend forscht e.V.
Jugend forscht
Germany's largest STEM youth research competition, with a junior track and a 15-21 track.
STEM
Biology
Chemistry
- Deadline
- Annual — register online by 30 November; report due January; federal final 28-31 May 2026
- Region
- Germany
- Cost
- Free to enter
Competition
CERN (with partner facilities DESY and ELSA)
Beamline for Schools (BL4S)
Teams of secondary students propose a particle-physics experiment; winners run it at a real beamline.
Particle Physics
Experimental Physics
Engineering
- Deadline
- Annual — proposals due mid-March; portal opens January
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free; winning teams' trip covered
Competition
European Commission (Horizon Europe); 2026 hosted by Kiel University with Stiftung Jugend forscht
EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)
EU-wide showcase where first-prize winners of national science competitions present research to a jury.
Science Research
STEM
Innovation
- Deadline
- Annual — finals 22-27 Sep 2026 in Kiel; entry via your national science competition
- Region
- Europe
- Cost
- Free; finalist travel/accommodation covered
Competition
National Gallery (with The Roche Court Educational Trust)
ARTiculation Prize
A national public-speaking prize where 16-19s deliver a 10-minute talk on a work of art.
Arts
Art History
Public Speaking
- Deadline
- Annual — register autumn; regional heats Jan-March; Grand Final in London in spring
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- Free for state schools; independent schools ~£240 inc VAT
Essay Prize
The Poetry Society
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
One of the world's biggest poetry competitions for 11-17 year-olds, finding and nurturing young poetic talent.
Poetry
Creative Writing
Arts
- Deadline
- Annual — opens spring, closes 31 July; winners announced in autumn
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free to enter
Competition
The Peter Jones Foundation
Tycoon Enterprise Competition
A free national enterprise competition where students actually build and run a real business as a team.
Entrepreneurship
Business
Enterprise
- Deadline
- Annual — schools register and run businesses across the school year; awards ceremony follows
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- Free to enter (goodwill loan up to £3,000 per school)
Essay Prize
John Locke Institute (Oxford)
John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize
A globally prestigious essay competition inviting students under 19 to argue a question from leading academics.
Writing
Humanities
Philosophy
- Deadline
- Annual — register by late March, essays due late May
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free for on-time entry (late submission fees apply)
Science Fair
Stripe (formerly BT Young Scientist), with the Dept. of Education, Ireland
Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE)
Ireland's landmark student science fair, where second-level students showcase original research for major prizes.
Science
Technology
Research
- Deadline
- Annual — entries usually close late September; exhibition in Dublin early January
- Region
- Ireland
- Cost
- Paid — entry fee €20 / £18 per student
Science Fair
EngineeringUK (The Big Bang)
The Big Bang Competition (UK Young Scientists & Engineers)
A free national STEM project competition giving young people a stage at The Big Bang Fair and life-changing prizes.
Science
Engineering
Technology
- Deadline
- Annual — opens autumn, closes early March; showcase at The Big Bang Fair in June
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- Free to enter
Olympiad
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
UK Chemistry Olympiad
The RSC's national chemistry challenge for 16-19s, with a path to the International Chemistry Olympiad.
Chemistry
Problem Solving
STEM
- Deadline
- Annual — Round 1 sat late January; schools register beforehand
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- Free for British Isles schools
Olympiad
UK Biology Competitions / Royal Society of Biology
British Biology Olympiad
The UK's premier biology olympiad for sixth-form students, leading toward the International Biology Olympiad.
Biology
Life Sciences
STEM
- Deadline
- Annual — sat late January; schools register up to the competition window
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- School-administered
Olympiad
British Physics Olympiad (University of Oxford, Dept. of Physics)
British Physics Olympiad
A year-long ladder of physics competitions selecting the UK team for the International Physics Olympiad.
Physics
Mathematics
Problem Solving
- Deadline
- Annual series — register by September; competitions run November to March
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- Varies — school-administered; many competitions are free
Competition
UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT)
Senior Mathematical Challenge
The UK's flagship maths challenge for senior students, opening the door to national olympiad rounds.
Mathematics
Problem Solving
Logic
- Deadline
- Annual — exam in early October; schools register in September
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Cost
- Paid — school buys entry packs (~£15-16 per 10 students)
Climate competition
Planet+
Planet+ Climate Solutions Challenge 2026
A global climate solutions challenge where high school and undergraduate teams design and pitch real-world climate solutions.
Climate
Sustainability
Policy
- Deadline
- Applications open September 2026; exact deadline not listed
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Cost not listed
Entrepreneurship competition
Verge Challenge
Verge Challenge 2026
A global online pitch competition where high school students submit written business concepts and compete for cash prizes.
Entrepreneurship
Business
Innovation
- Deadline
- Round 1 closes September 2026; exact day not listed
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Application fee listed on official site
Art competition
ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT Summer Art Competition 2026
A free summer art competition for students in grades 9 to 12 focused on innovators and Unsung Heroes.
Visual Arts
Innovation
Storytelling
- Deadline
- Submissions due September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- Free
STEM competition
Caltech Engineers Without Borders
Caltech EWB Science and Engineering Competition 2026
A global middle and high school STEM competition with online tests, video semi-finals and live final presentations.
Science
Engineering
Critical Thinking
- Deadline
- Late registration deadline: September 17, 2026
- Region
- Global
- Cost
- US$35-US$55 per student; fee waiver available
Essay scholarship
Veterans of Foreign Wars
VFW Voice of Democracy 2026-2027
A patriotic audio-essay scholarship contest for U.S. high school students with national and local award opportunities.
Writing
Civic Engagement
Public Speaking
- Deadline
- Student entry deadline: October 31, 2026
- Region
- United States
- Cost
- Free
Research competition
Society for Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search 2027
A prestigious original research competition for high school seniors in science, math and engineering.
Research
STEM
Engineering
- Deadline
- Application deadline: November 5, 2026 at 8pm ET
- Region
- United States
- Cost
- Cost not listed
