Top 10 Student Competitions

Guest post: StudentCompetitions.com

Looking for ways to showcase your talents? From art and design to science and math, political science to engineering, there are opportunities out there to suit all interests and ambitions. Aside from the possible prizes on offer – which can include full scholarships to help you continue your studies – student competitions are also a fantastic way to challenge yourself, validate your skills and apply your knowledge to projects outside the classroom.

Here are 10 of the best student competitions coming up:

1. Shell Ideas360

This global competition, organized by Shell International Limited, aims to encourage students to develop innovative ideas for tackling energy, water and food issues. You can enter on your own or in a team of up to three people, with a chance to share ideas in an online community before submitting your final project. Up to 100 entries will be selected for development with support from Shell mentors and experts. Runners-up receive a year’s subscription to National Geographic Magazine and the overall winner gets a National Geographic expedition, to be taken during the university summer vacation period in 2014.

Who can enter? Full time undergraduate or postgraduate students.

2. Sony World Photography Awards – Youth Award

The Sony World Photography Awards is looking for the next generation of talented young photographers, through its Youth Award. Whether you are studying photography or just love taking photos, this is your chance to get international recognition. There are three categories to choose from: Culture, Environment and People. Prizes include: image displayed in the London exhibition and official book, global media coverage, Digital SLR camera equipment and the chance to travel to London with VIP tickets to the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony.

Who can enter? Anyone aged 19 and under.

3. The New School Competition

Here’s your chance to win a scholarship for a bachelor’s degree in art and design, music or the liberal arts at The New School in New York City. There are eight scholarships up for grabs, half of which are full and half partial, plus four Apple iPad Mini products. To be in with a chance of winning, you’ll need to complete a logical reasoning test, a quiz about The New School, and submit a video presenting your creative case.

Who can enter? High school or college students applying for a place at one of the four participating departments: Design, Music, Liberal Arts, and Jazz & Contemporary Music.

4. Sweden-Brazil Scholarship Challenge

Here Brazilian students have the chance to win a tuition fee waiver for a master’s program of their choice at a leading Swedish university – either Chalmers University of Technology or Linköping University. The two selected winners also get a paid internship during their studies, at a company such as Saab and Stora Enso. Entrants have to complete a series of tests and quizzes, as well as submitting an application essay and personal statement.

Who can enter? Brazilian engineering and natural science students, and recent graduates of an engineering, architecture or natural science degree from a Brazilian university.

5. Fordham Business Challenge

Next on the list of hot student competitions: the Fordham Business Challenge. This is one for everybody who’s ever dreamed of living in the Big Apple. Those who make it through a series of quizzes about New York City, general affairs and their own field of specialization are in with a chance of winning a scholarship for a specialized master’s program at Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration (GBA) in New York. There are eight full scholarships and eight half-scholarships available.

Who can enter? Students interested in applying for a master’s program at Fordham University, in one of eight selected fields.

6. Stockholm Innovation Scholarship Competition

This competition, for people based in Stockholm, aims to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking and help innovators take their ideas to the next stage. Seven winning innovations will be awarded a total of 600,000 SEK (about US$93,500). The prize ceremony will be held in Stockholm City Hall to tie in with Nobel Week in December.

Who can enter? Anyone who lives, works or studies in Stockholm city.

7. Snap, Style & Share Competition

This is another one for budding photographers. Take a photo of something that you think demonstrates exceptional design – anything from an innovative piece of architecture to a breathtaking example of the natural world. Next, demonstrate your ability to use Autodesk’s Pixlr® Express photo-editing app to style and enhance the original image. There are multiple prizes available, including Apple iPads and the chance to get your image professionally framed and shown in the Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco.

Who can enter? 13-25 year olds in participating countries.

8. Challenge Your Perspectives 2014

If you’re a US student or recent graduate, and you think you know a lot about international relations, peace and development work, environment and sustainability, this is for you. Show off your knowledge in these areas and you could win a scholarship for an English-taught master’s degree at a top university in Sweden. Two winners will be selected to receive tuition-fee waivers, one for the Masters in International Development and Management at Lund University, and one for the Masters in Social-Ecological Resilience from Sustainable Development at Stockholm University.

Who can enter? Current bachelor’s students in the US, or recent graduates from US universities.

9. Go Green in The City 2014

The fourth annual Go Green in the City competition, run by Schneider Electric, challenges students around the world to come up with ideas to improve urban energy management. The top 12 teams will be flown to Paris, where they'll battle it out to win a round-the-world trip and a career opportunity at Schneider Electric.

Who can enter? Business and engineering students, in teams of two, of which at least one must be female.

10. MDH Tech Race 2013

Finally, Sweden’s Mälardalen University is challenging students worldwide to test their engineering and tech knowledge by completing a timed quiz online. Entrants also have to submit a motivational statement. Prizes include an Apple iPad (worth approx. US$500), and the contest is open to bachelor’s students, master’s students and recent graduates worldwide.

Who can enter? Current bachelor’s and master’s students, and recent graduates

Based in Sweden, StudentCompetitions.com is the world’s largest portal of competitions for students and young professionals. Founded in 2010 by four students with a passion for competitions, it aims to help students worldwide to interact, cooperate and access valuable opportunities, such as internships, scholarships, study trips and much more.