Formula Student
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' flagship student competitions offer exciting and fun opportunities to gain hands-on experience, tackle real-world engineering challenges and connect with like-minded innovators from across the UK and beyond.
From designing railway locomotives and racing cars to autonomous vehicles and unmanned aircraft, our industry-recognised engineering competitions allow students develop the technical, professional and teamwork skills that employers value.
Registration for the 2027 competitions will open by the end of September: sign up to receive updates when the rules and registration are available.
Read on to find out more about our student competitions and watch the highlights from this summer’s finals events.
Formula Student
Formula Student is Europe's most established educational engineering competition, challenging students to design, build and race a single-seat race car. Teams develop expertise across mechanical, electrical and manufacturing disciplines, while gaining experience in leadership, budgeting, sponsorship, marketing and project delivery. The competition is widely recognised by employers as a leading benchmark of practical engineering excellence.
In addition, the Formula-Student AI (FS-AI) competition focuses on autonomous vehicle technology, where teams develop driverless systems capable of navigating courses independently. Providing hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning, sensor integration, robotics and software engineering, this is an ideal platform for students interested in shaping the future of mobility.
UAS Challenge
The UAS Challenge requires teams to design, build and operate an unmanned aerial system capable of competing to set mission parameters. Participants gain experience in aerospace engineering, avionics, flight operations, data analysis and systems integration, while developing the problem-solving and communication skills essential for a career in modern engineering.
Railway Challenge
The Railway Challenge tasks teams with designing, building and operating a miniature railway locomotive while addressing a range of engineering, business and operational challenges. Participants gain valuable experience in systems engineering, project management, safety, sustainability and teamwork, while developing a deeper understanding of the railway industry.
Stay Informed
Whether your interests lie in transport, motorsport, autonomous technology or aerospace, these competitions offer an outstanding opportunity to enhance your technical knowledge, grow your professional network and stand out to future employers.
Take the first step towards an unforgettable engineering experience. Visit the Railway Challenge, Formula Student, FS-AI and UAS Challenge websites today and register your interest to be among the first to hear when team registration opens for the next competition cycle.