If you have a passion for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, you might be looking for ways to explore your interests beyond the classroom. Enter the CREST Awards, a globally renowned scheme that brings STEM to life through hands on, student led project work.
Run by the British Science Association (BSA) and supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the CREST Awards empower young people to act like real scientists and engineers. Whether you are a parent looking to engage your child, a teacher enhancing the curriculum, or a high schooler eyeing top universities, here is everything you need to know.
What is a CREST Award?
CREST (Creativity in Engineering, Science, and Technology) is a scheme that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers. Instead of sitting exams, students complete open ended, enquiry based projects.
The beauty of CREST is its flexibility. Projects can be done individually or in teams, in school, at STEM clubs, or even at home. By completing a project, students build essential life skills like independence, resilience, problem solving, and communication, and are rewarded with a recognised certificate.
Are CREST Awards prestigious?
Absolutely. While the early levels focus on fun and engagement, the higher levels (Silver and Gold) carry significant prestige.
- University admissions: CREST Awards are highly regarded by universities and employers, and make a strong addition to UCAS personal statements and global college applications because they prove a student can handle independent, long term research.
- Academic impact: Studies show that students who complete a Silver CREST Award or higher see a noticeable improvement in their academic grades.
- Skill verification: Because the upper levels are externally assessed by industry and academic experts, holding a Silver or Gold Award is verifiable proof of project management and analytical skills.
Eligibility and award levels
CREST Awards are entirely inclusive, open to young people of all abilities, ages 3 to 19. The programme is non sequential, so you do not need to do Bronze to do Silver. You can jump right into the level that matches your age and experience.
- Star Award (typical ages 3 to 7): Six one hour challenges recorded in a Star Passport.
- SuperStar Award (typical ages 7 to 11): Six one hour challenges focused on everyday science, teamwork, and problem solving.
- Discovery Award (typical ages 10 to 14): Often called CREST in a Day. Over about 5 hours, small teams work on a real world challenge and present their findings.
- Bronze Award (typical ages 11 plus): Around 10 hours of project work using a workbook to structure independent or team investigations.
- Silver Award (typical ages 14 plus): A deep dive project requiring 30 plus hours, a self directed idea, and a written report. External assessment begins here.
- Gold Award (typical ages 16 plus): The ultimate challenge, requiring 70 plus hours of rigorous, original research, often with a mentor from academia or industry.
How to participate and submit
- Choose your level and plan: Use free resources and project briefs from the CREST Resource Library, or invent your own unique project.
- Conduct the project: Keep a log of your hours and document everything. Bronze uses the student workbook; Silver and Gold require a Student Profile Form alongside the final written report.
- Assessment and submission: Star, SuperStar, Discovery, and Bronze are assessed internally by a teacher, parent, or group leader, who uploads a sample and pays the entry fee. Silver and Gold require external assessment through an account at apply.crestawards.org, where you upload your report and Student Profile Form for an expert assessor to review.
How to win a CREST Award
CREST Awards are non competitive. You are not competing against other students. You are striving to meet the CREST assessment criteria. If you meet the criteria, you earn the award. Here is how to make your project successful, especially at Bronze, Silver, and Gold:
- Hit the 15 assessment criteria: Assessors look at planning (a clear aim, objectives, and time management), work throughout the project (using materials well, background research, and citations), finalising (logical conclusions and honest reflection), and project wide skills (understanding, safe and ethical decisions, overcoming problems, and clear communication).
- Show your working and your failures: Assessors value it when things go wrong, as long as you explain why and how you fixed them. Documenting your troubleshooting is vital.
- Use the Student Profile Form: For Silver and Gold this is your chance to tell the assessor directly how you met the criteria, so reflect deeply on your journey.
- Seek mentorship for Gold: Connecting with a university researcher or industry professional helps ensure your 70 hour project contributes something genuinely new.
Ready to start your STEM journey? Unleash your inner innovator, and talk to a mentor about scoping a Silver or Gold project you can be proud of.