Application Guide
The Builders · Built. Tested. Shared.
Everything you need to prepare a strong, complete application — from choosing your Festival Theme to creating your PDF and Project Video.
Applications open 16 September 2026. Use this guide now to prepare — so you are ready the moment applications open.
► New here? See how previous winners explained their work → Powered by EXPLRBefore You Start
The application must be completed in one session. You cannot save it and return later.
Allow approximately 20–30 minutes once your project materials are ready.
Have these ready before opening the application
- Your project information
- Your Project PDF — maximum 3 pages, maximum 5MB
- Your downloadable Project Video link — maximum 2 minutes
- Parent or legal guardian contact information if you are under 18
- Your home postcode
- Your school, college or education-setting information
Before applying, make sure
- You are 13–19 years old inclusive on 22 November 2026
- You ordinarily live in the United Kingdom
- You meet the education requirements in the Official Rules
- You are submitting an individual project
- You have not already submitted another project this year
Team entries are not accepted. This is an individual project competition.
Where Does Your Project Fit?
Choose the one Festival Theme that best fits your project. Don't worry if your idea could fit more than one — select the Theme that most closely reflects the main problem you are working on.
Building & Infrastructure
Designing and building stronger, smarter communities
Think about the places and systems people rely on every day: homes, buildings, roads, bridges, transport, construction, materials and the infrastructure that keeps communities working.
Projects might explore:
- safer or more sustainable buildings
- new construction materials
- bridges or structural engineering
- transport and mobility
- flood-resistant communities
- energy-efficient homes
- city design
- construction technology
- skilled-trades innovation
- infrastructure resilience
Health & Human Potential
Improving health, care and quality of life
Projects can explore how science, engineering and technology help people live healthier, safer or more independent lives.
Projects might explore:
- disease prevention
- diagnostics
- medical devices
- biotechnology
- assistive technology
- rehabilitation
- healthcare delivery
- mental or physical wellbeing
- biomedical engineering
- tools that improve care or accessibility
Technology, AI & Digital Futures
Creating smarter, safer and more responsible technology
Projects can use or investigate digital technology to solve problems, improve systems or explore how technology should work in the future.
No coding required: a project does not have to involve coding to fit this Theme.
Projects might explore:
- artificial intelligence
- machine learning
- robotics
- cybersecurity
- apps or digital tools
- data science
- automation
- responsible technology
- computer systems
- emerging technologies
Food, Planet & Sustainability
Rethinking how we grow, make and sustain our world
Projects can investigate how we produce food, use resources and protect the systems that people and the planet depend on.
Projects might explore:
- agriculture
- food systems
- climate
- renewable or alternative energy
- water
- conservation
- pollution
- biodiversity
- sustainable materials
- recycling and circular economy
- waste reduction
Still not sure which Theme?
Ask yourself: what is the main problem your project is trying to solve?
Choose the closest fit. EXPLR may reclassify a project if another Theme more accurately reflects the submitted work.
Tell Us About Your Project
Your written answers should help a judge quickly understand what you did, why you did it and what you learned.
Clear beats complicated.
Write so that someone who understands STEM — but may not be an expert in your exact subject — can understand your work.
Project Title · max 100 characters
Make it specific enough to tell us what the project is about. It doesn't need to be a catchy marketing title.
Project Summary · max 300 words
Tell us what you created or investigated, what problem or question you addressed, what you did, and what you discovered.
Research Question, Challenge or Hypothesis · max 100 words
What question, challenge or hypothesis guided your project? Not every STEM project needs a traditional scientific hypothesis.
Projects involving engineering, invention, design, computing, building or prototyping may instead describe the challenge or question they were trying to solve.
Objective or Purpose · max 100 words
What were you trying to achieve? Keep this focused — tell the judge what success looked like for your project.
Acknowledgements & References · optional
Optional unless needed to appropriately acknowledge sources, assistance or other people's work. Tell us about important sources and acknowledge teachers, mentors, researchers or others who supported your work.
Support is allowed. The work itself must still demonstrate the applicant's own contribution and understanding.
Build Your 3-Page Project PDF
Think of the PDF as the visual version of your project story. It may include:
- diagrams
- charts
- data
- photographs of the project
- sketches
- drawings
- prototypes
- models
- results
- short explanatory text
Keep it anonymous · Phase 1 is blind judging
Do not include:
- your name
- your face
- your school or college name
- your teacher's name
- email address
- telephone number
- social-media username
- personal contact information
- other information that directly identifies you
Judges should be evaluating the project — not who created it.
Protect other people's privacy
Do not include identifiable medical records, diagnoses, genetic information, biometric information or other sensitive personal information about yourself or another person.
Projects involving human participants must use anonymised or aggregated information in the application. Do not include names, faces or identifying details of research participants unless expressly permitted under the Official Rules.
Your 2-Minute Project Video
Phase 2 gives judges the opportunity to meet you and hear you explain your work.
What to talk about
You do not need a professional video
We are judging your communication and understanding — not your camera or editing skills. A phone or laptop camera is fine.
Applicants may show:
- prototypes
- experiments
- demonstrations
- models
- data
- drawings
- screens
- physical builds
- other project materials
Video link requirements
- May be unlisted
- Does not need to be publicly searchable
- Must open without EXPLR requesting permission
- Must allow EXPLR to download the video
- Must remain active throughout the judging period
- Must include any required password or access code with the application
Test your link in a private / incognito browser before submitting.
Privacy
Do not show or disclose identifiable sensitive personal information about research participants or other individuals.
Your Project Video is used for Festival administration and judging. It is not published simply because you apply or become a Finalist.
If you are selected as a National STEM Champion and accept Champion status, your submitted Project Video may be published and promoted as part of the public-facing Champion programme, as explained in the Official Rules & Terms.
See How Previous Winners Explained Their Work
There isn't one right way to make your Project Video. These examples show how previous students introduced their ideas, explained what they did and communicated why their projects were worth seeing.
Don't copy their style. Your goal is to sound like yourself and show that you understand your project. Production quality in these videos is not part of the judging standard.
Getting Help Is Okay. Make Sure the Work Is Yours.
Real STEM work rarely happens completely alone. You may learn from teachers, mentors, parents, researchers, experts and digital tools.
The project you submit must demonstrate your own contribution, decisions and understanding.
Using AI
AI use does not automatically disqualify a project. AI or digital tools may appropriately support activities such as:
- brainstorming
- research organisation
- coding assistance
- analysing information
- simulations
- exploring possible approaches
- improving clarity
You remain responsible for the ideas, decisions, analysis and final work you submit. Applicants will be asked whether they used generative AI and, if so, to briefly explain how. Do not submit AI-generated work as though it demonstrates your own research or understanding when it does not.
Teachers & mentors
Teachers, mentors and experts may advise, explain, teach, ask questions, help you access equipment or expertise, and provide feedback.
They should not create the project or submission for you.
Have You Invented Something New?
Your project remains your intellectual property. However, entering the Festival means sharing information about your work with judges — and if you become a Finalist or Champion, some information about your project will become public.
If you think you have created something potentially patentable, commercially sensitive or otherwise valuable, consider speaking with a parent, teacher, mentor or appropriate adviser before publicly sharing details you want to protect.
What Happens Next?
Phase 1
Your written submission and anonymous PDF are reviewed. Eligible Opportunity Bonus points may be added administratively for the purpose of determining Finalist advancement. Judges do not see Opportunity Bonus information.
Up to 12 applicants per UK region may become Finalists.
Finalists
Finalists may be publicly recognised by name, UK region and project title. Finalists do not submit a new project.
They complete the separate Finalist Information & Champion Media Agreement to remain eligible for National STEM Champion selection.
Phase 2
Judges review the Finalist's original application, Project PDF and Project Video. Up to 3 National STEM Champions per region may be selected, subject to the minimum judging standard. Additional Special Award Champions may also be selected.
National STEM Champions
Up to 40 National STEM Champions will be invited to the National STEM Festival in London, currently scheduled for 5–10 May 2027.
Champion packages include specified:
- Festival participation
- travel
- hotel accommodation
- meals
- activities
Approximate maximum value: £2,000 per Champion package. Champions under 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
National STEM Champion is a public-facing role. Accepting Champion status includes presenting the project publicly and allowing EXPLR to use specified Champion media, including the submitted Project Video, as described in the Official Rules & Terms.
Ready to Apply?
Eligibility
- I am eligible to apply.
- I am submitting one individual project.
- I have chosen one Festival Theme.
Written Application
- My Project Summary is ready.
- My Research Question, Challenge or Hypothesis is ready.
- My Objective or Purpose is ready.
- I have acknowledged important sources and support where appropriate.
- Maximum 3 pages.
- Maximum 5MB.
- Minimum 12pt substantive text.
- My name is not included.
- My face is not included.
- My school or teacher is not identified.
- I have removed other unnecessary identifying information.
- I have protected research participants' personal information.
Video
- Maximum 2 minutes.
- I appear on camera.
- I identify myself.
- I explain what the project is.
- I explain the problem, question or opportunity.
- I explain what I did, investigated or created.
- I explain what visitors could expect at the Festival.
- My link works without requesting permission.
- My video is downloadable.
- I tested the link in a private / incognito browser.
Before Submitting
- I have read the Official Rules & Terms.
- I have read the Application Privacy Notice.
- I understand my substantive project submission cannot be edited after I submit it.
Applications open 16 September 2026 and close 22 November 2026.