Competitions and awards

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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. 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), 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: Imperial Award. 

Attention all tech enthusiasts and problem-solvers: get ready for the ultimate challenge at Diageo’s Digital and Technology hackathon competition!

Showcase your skills and creativity on Tuesday 13th June 2023 as you collaborate with like-minded individuals to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. This is your chance to take your ideas to the next level and make a difference in the world.

If you are a student in your penultimate year and have a passion for Digital and Technology, this is the chance to showcase your skills and creativity. Great prizes will be awarded to the winning team and participants, and you could win yourself a spot in the Assessment Center for Diageo’s D and T Graduate Scheme as well as some amazing mentoring opportunities! Whether you are a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the tech world, all levels of expertise are welcome to participate; judges will be looking for originality, creativity, and functionality in the final products.

Application Journey:

Step 1: Sign up and complete the pre-selection interview steps on the HireVue webpage before Tuesday 23 May 2023.

Step 2: Join Diageo's HQ for the Hackathon on Tuesday 13th June 2023 and show your unique qualities, pioneering innovative ideas and team-work skills.

For more information, visit the Diageo Digital and Technology Student Hackathon webpage.

Summer Invitational Terminal

Terminal is an online game where software engineers and computer scientists build an algorithm to play a tower defense game in a team-based setting. Watch this video to see Terminal in action!

When: August 7 - 14 

Where: Virtual

Who: First-year and second-year undergraduate students and first-year masters students

Prizes: $15,000 + recruiting/networking opportunities with Citadel and Citadel Securities

Apply here! 

Looking to master Excel VBA and Macros? If so, you should apply for one of the 5,000 scholarships available from Santander Scholarships Excel for All 2023. Excel for All, delivered by Udemy, is a flexible, online programme, with a specific course for competent Excel users looking to make their work-life easier. Learn how to leverage Excel functionality with Macros and automate your work with VBA. There are only 5,000 places, so apply early for your chance to be selected!

Applications close on Tuesday 16 May 2023. For more information, visit the Santander scholarships webpage.

WorldQuant Brain IQC

The IQC is WorldQuant BRAIN’s flagship event and one of the biggest quant events of the year, bringing together students, academia and professionals from around the globe.

It offers participants the opportunity to apply their curiosity about math and science and their intersection with the financial markets. The competition will take place on WorldQuant BRAIN’s web-based simulation platform, that participants can leverage for developing and backtesting predictive mathematical models (or, as we define them, “alphas”).

The BRAIN program offers multiple advantages:

  • Learn: It is a great opportunity for individuals interested in finance to discover the world of quantitative finance and apply their knowledge using the datasets and tools on the BRAIN platform.
  • Earn: Top users on the platform have the opportunity to become Research Consultants with us and be compensated on the quality of their ideas, with the freedom and flexibility to work how they want. Select consultants also have opportunities for internships and full-time positions at WorldQuant.
  • Connect: Be part of a diverse group of intellectually curious individuals with an interest in quantitative finance. Access in-depth training and mentorship from experienced quants and exciting global challenges and events.

So far we have engaged with 21000+ global users on the platform, more than 1000 of whom have been on boarded as research consultants.

IQC Details

  • Global, three-stage, team-based competition. Registration is open from March 3 to May 18, 2023
  • Potential research consultant, internship and full-time opportunities for top performers
  • Opportunity to represent your country at the Global Finals in The Bahamas
  • Top-scoring teams may be eligible to win cash prizes from a pool of up to US$100,000*
  • Use 65,000+ data fields, tools and free learning resources to grow your knowledge of quant finance

Apply here!

The APM Branch Awards celebrate the achievements of students, and allows them to showcase their project skills and achievements. A submission could include a group or individual project, a social, sporting or charity event, or an entrepreneurial project which a student has delivered within the past three years. APM Branch level winners will be entered into a national final and the winner will be announced at the APM Festival of Education and Research in 2024.

Apply by Saturday 13 May 2023 on the APM website.

Brandstorm is an international innovation competition organized every year by L'Oréal that has brought together ambitious students from all over the world. The competition gives students the chance to tackle a real business case, gain new skills, exchange with industry experts and have an unforgettable experience.

Sounds cool? Follow the steps and join the challenge:

  1. Build an amazing team of 3 students, register via the official competition website and start your journey.
  2. Come up with the most innovative idea, pitch it during the regional final in you country and win!
  3. Represent your country during the International Final among students from all over the world and have a chance to win it all!

For more information, please visit the official L'Oréal Brandstorm competition website.