13 Free Online Competitions for High School Students
Updated: 5 minutes ago
If you’re a high school student looking to gain competitive experience on a global level, free online competitions are the most accessible way to do so. These competitions offer opportunities to showcase knowledge, critical thinking, and analytical skills while solving real-world problems or exploring creative outlets. Participating in such competitions will allow you to expand your skill set, learn from peers and mentors, and receive recognition on national or international platforms.
Securing a rank in online competitions can also serve as a solid addition to your college applications and resumes. Whether you’re exploring interests in STEM, art, writing, or business, these competitions can demonstrate initiative and a commitment to excellence.
Often, the entry fees for prestigious competitions can serve as a barrier. But this list of 13 free online competitions for high schoolers gives you options that are accessible, prestigious, and great additions to your resume!
Eligibility: Students from any country enrolled in high school (as of December 31) can apply. More details on eligibility here!
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Submissions open September 14, winners announced on Jan 10.
Submission deadline: December 20. Apply here!
Prizes: Winners will receive a total of $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. Top essayists are invited to the Gala Dinner at Oxford University in July 2027.
The Lumiere Scholars Essay Award is an international essay competition open to high school students (grades 9 to 12) worldwide. 6 winners (1 Gold, 2 Silvers, 3 Bronzes) will share more than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. Prompts are contributed by professors from Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia, Brown, and Dartmouth.
As a participant, you will choose one of the five prompts and submit an argumentative essay on the chosen question. Submissions should be formal academic essays, in English, featuring a clear central argument, well-organized reasoning, use of relevant sources, and thoughtful analysis of opposing perspectives. Entries are judged on five criteria: originality, analysis, evidence, structure, and presentation.
The award seeks well-reasoned, research-based argumentative essays rather than original research papers. You are not expected to conduct primary data collection or advanced data analysis to submit.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Prizes: Top entries will receive cash prizes up to $1000 and full scholarships to the Horizon Academic Research Program. Select essays will be published and featured on Horizon’s website.
Contest dates: Winners announced on Feb 14
Submission deadline: Jan 24
Eligibility: Students from any country enrolled in high school (as of May 31) can apply. More details on eligibility here!
The Horizon Academic Essay Prize is a selective essay contest for high school students from around the world. Each essay will be evaluated by Horizon’s Academic Advisory Board, composed of faculty from top institutions like Yale, Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.
Submissions must take the form of a formal academic essay, written in English, and should include a clear thesis, structured argumentation, engagement with relevant sources, and critical analysis of competing viewpoints. The competition encourages depth over breadth, and will reward essays that pursue a well-defined line of inquiry with originality and nuance. Entries are judged on five criteria: originality, depth of analysis, use of evidence, structure and coherence, and clarity of language.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (register here)
Prizes: A total prize pool of over $9,000, including cash and scholarships for winners. Winning essays are published in YRIS, Yale's undergraduate journal, and winners receive certificates signed by YIRA, YRIS and Lumiere Education.
Contest dates: Registration and submissions open November 15, 2026. Winners announced at a virtual award ceremony on February 21, 2027.
Submission deadline: January 31, 2027, 11:59 PM ET (early bird: submit by December 27, 2026 to add $100 to any scholarship won)
Eligibility: Any high school student in any country who is enrolled in high school as of January 31, 2027.
The Yale Review of International Studies Essay Prize asks high school students to take and defend a position on an open question in international affairs, choosing from four prompts. Essays are scored on five criteria: argument, evidence, counterargument, structure and writing. Registered students also get free access to two Zoom workshops: “How to Choose Your Prompt and Build an Argument,” led by the YMUN Secretary-General on December 13, 2026, and “How to Edit and Strengthen Your Draft,” a live review of drafts by the YRIS Co-Editors-in-Chief on January 24, 2027.
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18 (as of January 31) from any country can apply. More details on eligibility here!
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Submissions open October 4, winners announced on Jan 17.
Submission deadline: January 3. Submit by November 15 for an extra £100 on top of your scholarship.
Prizes: Winners share more than £10,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. The Gold winner receives a £2,000 scholarship plus a £500 cash prize.
The Oxford Essay Prize is a free, international essay competition for students aged 14 to 18, run by the Oxford Centre for Advanced Research (OCAR). 6 winners (1 Gold, 2 Silvers, 3 Bronzes) receive scholarships plus cash prizes, and strong runners-up earn Honours scholarships. Prompts are set by researchers from Oxford, Cambridge, and MIT, who also judge the entries.
As a participant, you will choose one of the six prompts and submit an argumentative essay of up to 1,500 words in English. Essays are judged through double-blind review, and the strongest ones show independent thinking and engage seriously with counterarguments. No original research or data collection is required.
Eligibility: Students from any country enrolled in high school (grades 9–12) can apply.
Location: Virtual
Competition dates: Submissions open Nov 15, winners announced on Mar 7.
Submission deadline: Feb 7. Submit your essay here!
Prizes: Winners will receive up to $2,490 in scholarships toward any Veritas AI program.
Singularity: AI Essay Contest is an international essay competition where high school students write about the future of AI - its risks, its possibilities, and what it means for the world. Prompts are contributed and judged by researchers from MIT, Yale, and Oxford. Free to enter and open worldwide, winners receive up to $2,490 in scholarships to any Veritas AI programs.
Visit https://www.veritasai.com/singularity-ai-essay-contest for more info.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Semifinals: February - March | World Championship: May
Application Deadline: Optional Idea Submission: October 31 (optional) | Minimum Viable Product Submission: January 22 (compulsory)
Eligibility: Current high school students at least 18 years old as of October 1 are eligible to compete. You can check the additional eligibility criteria here.
The Microsoft Imagine Cup is a premier global technology competition for students to create impactful solutions across categories like Earth, Education, Health, and Lifestyle. You will use Microsoft AI services and the Microsoft Cloud to develop projects that address real-world challenges. Submissions must include a pitch deck, recorded pitch, and demo video. The competition offers prizes, including a $100,000 grand prize, mentorship with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, and access to expert coaching and networking opportunities. To learn more about this contest, check out our full guide here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Applications open in the fall and close in February.
Application Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are 18 or younger are eligible to apply.
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship, sponsored by the Davidson Institute, recognizes high school students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and achievement through a significant project. Categories for submission include Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and an “Outside the Box” category for interdisciplinary work. You must submit a 10-minute video detailing your project, essays explaining its significance, and teacher recommendations. The scholarship awards are among the most prestigious for students, offering $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000 scholarships. To learn more about this competition, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Winner to be announced in June
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: US students who are 13 years or older are eligible to apply.
Doodle for Google is an annual art competition open to students across the country, offering them the chance to design a creative Google Doodle. Every year, participants design their doodle based on a specific theme, such as 2024’s prompt: “My wish for the next 25 years.” You can create a submission using any art medium and must include a typed essay explaining the design. The contest is highly competitive, with thousands of entries evaluated first by public votes and then by a panel of Google employees. Awards include a $55,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for the winner’s school or non-profit of choice, Google hardware, and a 24-hour feature of the winning artwork on Google’s homepage.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: Varies according to competitions. You can check specific dates here.
Application Deadline: Varies. Check specific deadlines here.
Eligibility: Current middle and high school students are eligible to apply.
The New York Times Student Online Competitions provide creative opportunities for high school students to engage with writing, journalism, and multimedia. From editorials and narrative essays to educational podcasts and photo essays, these contests allow you to express yourself while reflecting on issues that matter to you. Highlights include a Student Conversation Forum on the U.S. Elections, podcast contests, and multimedia competitions. Winners gain recognition by having their work published on The New York Times Learning Network–a platform that can enhance your academic and creative portfolios.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: September 30 - December 6
Application Deadline: September 13
Eligibility: Current high school students interested in business and finance can participate.
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a global online investment challenge for high school students. Sponsored by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the competition invites teams of 4 to 7 students, guided by a teacher advisor, to strategize and compete using an online stock market simulator. You will gain experience in company and industry analysis, risk assessment, diversification, and investment strategy-building. Global champion team members earn a complimentary spot in Wharton’s online summer programs, “Future of the Business World” or “Essentials of Leadership” (valued at $4,099). Additionally, all finalists receive fee waivers for the Wharton online course “Understanding Your Money” (worth $329).
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: February 28 - March 3
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge) is a leading international competition for high school juniors and seniors in the U.S. and U.K. This free contest invites students to apply math and data to analyze real-world problems, providing insights or predictions. You will work in teams to develop solution papers judged by an international panel of over 100 mathematicians, with top teams advancing to present their solutions at an all-expenses-paid finals event in New York City. With $100,000 in scholarships awarded annually, the challenge recognizes excellence in problem-solving and innovation. In 2025, the M3 Challenge introduced the “SPARK Awards,” celebrating solutions showcasing Passion, Resourcefulness, and Knowledge, particularly from Title 1 U.S. schools.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Entry fees are $10.00 per individual entry and $30.00 per portfolio entry. These can be fully waived.
Program Dates: Regional Awards announcement: January - March | National Awards announcement: June
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by region and can be as early as December 1. You can check the deadline for your region here.
Eligibility: Teens in grades 7-12 who are at least 13 years old can apply.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. The competition invites students to showcase their work across 28 categories, including short stories, poetry, painting, film, and animation. Entries are judged at both regional and national levels based on originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal vision or voice. The competition features a tiered awards system, starting with “Gold Keys” at the regional level, which qualifies for the national competition. National awards include Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, alongside special prizes and scholarships of up to $12,500.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; full or partial scholarships to TED Summer School Location: Virtual Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: November 2-January 25 (results announced); TED Summer School in July & August
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18 worldwide
A free global public speaking challenge for students aged 14-18. Record a one-minute video answering: "Fast forward to 100 years from now. What difference would excite you the most? Why?" Judges look for a clear idea, originality and personal reflection, not polish or accent. Winners receive full or partial scholarships to TED Summer School 2027 in London, New York, Singapore, Sydney or online. Deadline 10 January 2027.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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