Are you an international student looking to boost your profile? If yes, then Opportunities Circle is here to fulfil your need. We have compiled a list of Top Competitions for international students 2025-26. These international competitions are available for different levels. International competitions are the opportunities where students will be able to show their knowledge, skills, abilities, and creativity in their specific field and get acknowledgement. But competitions at international level with prizes are something different. Participating in these international competitions can be life changing for students. It will help them in their future career and academic journey, too. These competitions for international students will also open their ways to other opportunities, including different international scholarships, traineeships and internships.
For students, international competitions can be a unique way to gain international recognition, create a strong portfolio, and expand their network. Through participating in these top competitions for international students 2025-26, students will be able to meet and connect with like-minded peers and professionals. These connections will help them in learning and gaining knowledge, furthermore it will also help them in future. They will make contacts and gain exposure to some of the top colleges and corporations worldwide thanks to these international competitions.
There are different types of competitions, some competitions are fully funded, some are partially funded and some competitions offer money prizes, scholarships, certificates and many more. Different institutes provides different types of competitions. Usually the fully funded competitions are onsite competitions. While many competitions are online, where students can participate easily by sitting at their home and win different prizes through these top competitions for international students. Online competitions have become very popular among students all over the world. These online contests provide students a unique opportunity where they can participate, and compete easily.
These international competitions are available in almost all fields. These top competitions are available in science, technology, academic, business, arts, STEM, and many other field. STEM competitions are perfect for those who are students interested in creating solutions to real-world issues. Furthermore there are also many photography, painting, and essay writing competitions. Different photography competitions are very popular among students, these days. Furthermore, there are many SDG’s competitions, which inspires students to work for their planet and win prizes. Following is the list of Top competitions for international students 2025-26:
Importance of International Competitions:
Competitions are very important for international students. These are not just about winning prizes, certificates or cash, they are about gaining skills and experiences. Another benefit of these top competitions for international students are the opportunity to create a global network. Furthermore, competitions will also help them in securing scholarships. Many top competitions offer scholarships to winners, making it an excellent opportunity to fulfil their dream of studying abroad. Moreover, it will also boost your academic profile, which is mostly needed in every scholarship or admission application of top universities. For those who wants to make a difference, these international competitions offer a chance to turn your ideas into pans and, and world-changing initiatives.
List of Top Competitions for International Students 2025:
Immerse Education Essay Competition 2025-26
If you meet the eligibility criteria above, do not forget to read the various benefits the Immerse Education Essay Competition offers students. Opportunities Circle has listed down these benefits for you.
Benefits of the Immerse Education Essay Competition:
- The fully funded Immerse Essay Competition 2025-26 is an opportunity for young individuals to compete in an international competition.
- Furthermore, the international essay competition is free to enter.
- The essay competition offers students the opportunity to win full or partial scholarships for online programs or residential programs in locations such as Oxford, Cambridge, Sydney, London and others.
- Students will get a chance to be part of international summer schools for free and learn from top mentors from all over the world.
- The top 10 winners will receive a full 100% scholarship.
- Runners-up will receive a partial scholarship of up to 50% waiver to study their desired subject.
- The program will provide free support to applicants in essay writing by providing them with essay-writing guides and webinars.
- Moreover, this is an excellent opportunity to build and enhance your essay writing skills.
- A chance to study in top institutes worldwide.
- Deadline: September 18, 2025
UN FAO World Food Day Poster Contest 2025
The UN FAO Poster Competition 2025 offers a platform for individuals to raise awareness, showcase their creativity, inspire action, and receive recognition for their contributions towards a sustainable future. Continue reading below to learn the various benefits this World Food Day contest offers.
Benefits of the UN FAO Poster Contest:
- Participation does not require any fee.
- The UN FAO World Food Day Poster Contest 2025 raises awareness about important issues related to food, water, and sustainability.
- The fully funded UN competition encourages participants to unleash their creativity and artistic skills by designing unique and visually compelling posters.
- Through the poster designs, participants can inspire others to take action toward achieving a sustainable future.
- A jury will carefully select three outstanding poster designs as finalists in each category.
- The World Food Day website will publicly announce the top three poster designs across all categories.
- FAO offices worldwide and FAO social media platforms will actively promote and showcase the winners.
- Winners will receive a certificate of recognition and a surprise gift bag as tokens of their achievement.
- Contestants will have the chance to be a part of the United Nations FAO initiative of competitions and awards.
- Deadline: November 7, 2025
European Union Youth Startup Competition 2025
Do you meet the eligibility criteria above? If yes, make sure to apply for the 2025 Youth Start-up Competition before time runs out. Before you apply, read the various benefits this European Union Youth Startup Competition offers young entrepreneurs.
Benefits of European Commission Startup Contest:
- The YSC winner and finalists will attend the SME Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 10–12 November 2025.
- During the Youth Startup Competition session at the SME Assembly, finalists will have to pitch their startup ideas live to the jury and audience.
- It is an excellent opportunity to showcase innovation and entrepreneurial skills.
- Startups will receive recognition and validation of their startup concept on a European platform.
- In addition, participating in the SME Assembly 2025 offers more than just exposure. It provides a valuable opportunity to network with potential investors and partners.
- The event includes workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions where young entrepreneurs can gain insights, expand their knowledge and develop collaborations with industry experts.
- Deadline: September 20, 2025
Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award 2025
If you are interested in this international award and meet the eligibility criteria above, do not forget to read the benefits of the Young Journalist Award by Thomson Foundation.
Benefits of the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award:
- The international award will select three finalists.
- Three of these winners will have the chance to get their work presented at the annual award ceremony in London.
- A chance to present their stories and work in front of international media experts.
- Moreover, it is an excellent opportunity to expand their connections while engaging with people from around the globe.
- The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award 2025 is a unique opportunity for journalists from different countries.
- Deadline: August 1, 2025
UNESCO Photo Contest 2025 | Chance to Win a Free Camera
Do you meet the criteria above and have what it takes to be a part of this photography contest? If your answer is yes, then keep on reading the various benefits the UNESCO Photo Competition offers its participants.
Benefits of the UNESCO Photo Contest:
- The UNESCO contest is the best platform for youngsters to showcase their talent and skills.
- It offers participants the chance to win a professional or semi-professional camera, which is otherwise costly to buy.
- Furthermore, the UNESCO Photo Contest is a fantastic photography competition for youth from around the globe.
- It promotes creativity and unique ideas.
- The First award will be a professional camera
- The Second award winner will receive a semi-professional camera.
- Similarly, the Third award will be a standard model digital camera.
- Deadline: July 20, 2025
European Prize for Women Innovators 2026 | Win a cash prize
The 2025 EU Prize for Women Innovators award is full of benefits. Each category will have its winners, and all the winners of the 3 categories will get cash prizes. We have listed the benefits below:
Benefits of the European Prize for Women Innovators 2026:
- The EIC Women Innovators Prize will be awarded to the most talented women innovators from eligible regions. The winner of this category will receive EUR 100,000, and the two runners-up will receive EUR 70,000 and EUR 50,000, respectively.
- The EIC Rising Innovators prize will be awarded to promising young innovators under 35. The first winner will receive a cash prize of EUR 50,000, and two runners-ups in this category will receive EUR 30,000 and EUR 20,000, respectively.
- The EIT Women Leadership Award is given to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community. The winner will receive EUR 50,000, and the two runners-up will receive EUR 30,000 and EUR 20,000, respectively.
- All the innovative minds will get international recognition.
- Deadline: September 25, 2025
UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge 2025
Do you meet the eligibility criteria above? If you do, you must apply for the UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence and Deep Tech Challenge. Keep on reading to know more about the benefits this international challenge offers.
Benefits of UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge:
- Winners will gain exposure by presenting their pitches at the UN Tourism Demo Day.
- They will also receive a two-month incubation period at SPARK Innovation Sphere.
- Similarly, winners will have access to more than 90 venture capitalists.
- The UN Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with leading companies and over 150 countries.
- Winners will also receive personalized mentoring programs and the possibility of a pilot project with collaborators from private sector companies and institutions.
- Moreover, startups will have a profile on Playbook, an invitation to participate in the Silicon Valley Summit and access to talent and synergies within the Plug and Play Portfolio.
- It is a fantastic UN program for people and startups focusing on the tourism sector.
- Deadline: March 31, 2025
NASA Beyond the Algorithm Challenge 2025 | Up to $100,000
Do you meet the eligibility criteria above? If yes, you would not want to miss this competition by NASA. Keep on reading to know more about the benefits of this Beyond the Algorithm Challenge. Opportunities Circle has listed the benefits below.
Benefits of NASA Beyond the Algorithm Challenge:
- The NASA Beyond the Algorithm Challenge offers various benefits to participants. It is a paid competition where participants will win cash prizes.
- Top three winning solutions will receive $100,000 each.
- Participants gain skills that help protect and support communities affected by flooding.
- Similarly, this challenge offers a unique opportunity to explore flood analysis through various fields of study.
- Participants will have the chance to work alongside government agencies like NASA, non-profit organizations and private entities.
- By participating in this competition, applicants will be able to apply their skills in new contexts.
- Deadline: July 25, 2025
Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize 2025 | Win $5,000
If you meet the eligibility criteria above, you will not want to miss these photography contests. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of the 2025 Global Prize Competition.
Benefits of Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize 2025:
- The 2025 Global Prize winner will receive $5,000 USD.
- The Global prize competition recipient, top 10 finalists, and top 20 Honorable mentions will get an opportunity to be exhibited globally via UN.org.
- It is an amazing opportunity for photographers to showcase their skills on an international platform.
- Deadline: August 5, 2025
InfraVision International Competition 2025 | Win Up to €10,000
If you meet the eligibility criteria above, you will not want to miss this international competition 2025. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of the Schneider Competition 2025.
Benefits of the InfraVision International Competition 2025:
- There will be three winners of this online competition.
- The first winner will get a prize of 10,000 euros.
- The 2nd-placed team will get 7,000.
- The 3rd-placed team will get 3,000 euros.
- It is an amazing paid opportunity for international students.
- Deadline: July 30, 2025
KBr Photo Award 2025 | Win up to €25,000
If you meet the criteria above, you would not want to miss these paid photography contests. Keep on reading to know more about the benefits and prizes offered by the international contest.
Benefits of the KBr Photo Award:
- It is a paid contest that offers the winner a cash prize of €25,000. Hence, offering a generous reward.
- The selected project will also be presented in exhibitions at Fundación MAPFRE’s two galleries, KBr and Madrid.
- Similarly, it will also be featured in a catalogue by the foundation.
- Photographers will have the chance to showcase their skills and work and gain recognition on a global level.
- Deadline: September 1, 2025
RELX Environmental Challenge 2025 | Win up to USD 50,000
Do you meet the eligibility criteria above? If so, you should not miss this environmental competition. Keep on reading to know more about the benefits. Opportunities Circle has listed the benefits below.
Benefits of the RELX Environmental Challenge 2025:
- The first-place entry will win $50,000.
- The second-place entry will win $25,000.
- The winners also get a year of free access to ScienceDirect, their Scientific, Technical, & Medical business’s full-text scientific information database, which includes about 250,000 papers published in the Environmental Sciences since 2000.
- Deadline: July 27, 2025
ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition 2025 | Win up to $500
If you meet the eligibility criteria above, you would not want to miss the Summer 2025 Future Leaders Competition. Keep on reading to know more about the benefits of this paid competition. Opportunities Circle has listed the advantages below.
Benefits of ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition:
- The international contest offers cash prizes and various other rewards to participants.
- A total of four students will be honored. One Grand Prize winner and three “Best in Class” honorable mentions (one from each submission category).
- The first prize winner will receive a cash prize of $500.
- Both the Grand Prize winner and the honorable mentions will be featured in a biographical article published by ChallengeUS.
- All four recognized participants will receive certificates of achievement and their submissions will be officially published by ChallengeUS.
- Every participant will gain access to the global ChallengeUS Future Leaders Network.
Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition 2026 | Win up to $10,000
Do you meet the criteria above? If yes, you would not want to miss this 2026 playwriting competition. Keep on reading to know more about the various benefits of this paid competition. Opportunities Circle has listed the advantages below.
Benefits of Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition:
- The Yale University competition offers cash awards.
- The winner will receive the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000.
- Similarly, the winning play will also be published by Yale University Press.
- A staged reading of the winning script will take place at the Schwarzman Center at the University.
- It is a fantastic opportunity for emerging drama writers and playwrights to be part of an international competition and compete for various prizes.
- Deadline: August 15, 2025
If you are an international student or youth, this article should have given you a lot of great ideas for top international competitions to enter! There are so many competitions out there for you to get involved in. whether you want to compete in business, science, arts, photography, music, there are plenty of opportunities out there in almost all fields. We hope that our list of top competitions for international students 2025 has helped you make your research to find the best competition according to your interest by giving you access to information about competitions near home as well as ones abroad. So what’s stopping you? Go ahead and submit your application today. don’t forget to share this guide on international competition for students with your friends!
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