CREST Awards is a national and international STEM award scheme run by the British Science Association. Launched in 1986, it gives secondary school students a framework to design and carry out their own hands-on science, technology, engineering, or maths projects — and receive formal recognition for that work. Unlike competitions, CREST is non-competitive: any student who meets the criteria for their chosen level receives the award.
Award levels for secondary students:
| Level | Typical Age | Project Hours | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 11+ | ~10 hours | Teacher-assessed, BSA sample moderation |
| Silver | 14+ | ~30 hours | External CREST assessors |
| Gold | 16+ | ~70 hours | External CREST assessors |
How it works:
Students choose their own STEM topic — there is no prescribed subject or question. They design an investigation, carry it out, collect and analyze data, and document their findings. At Bronze level, teachers assess the work internally using CREST criteria. At Silver and Gold, submissions go to an external panel of CREST assessors.
For Silver and Gold, students are encouraged (and for Gold, strongly recommended) to work with a volunteer mentor from academia or industry.
Who participates:
CREST can be run through a school, club, or other organization, or independently at home. The typical ages in the table are suggestions: the official secondary page explicitly says all awards are open to all ages. Students register at apply.crestawards.org; for Bronze, a teacher or adult must register and assess the project, while for Silver and Gold a student can register and submit their own project, or a teacher or group leader can do so on their behalf. In 2024, over 5,700 international applications were received from countries including Australia, China, India, Italy, USA, and Vietnam.
Fees:
Registration fees cover the award and certificate, and can be paid by a school or, for Silver and Gold, by the student directly. Bronze costs £16/student internationally, with a minimum order of ten Bronze awards; Silver £32.50; Gold £55. In Scotland, award application fees are free for young people aged 3–19, funded by the James Weir Foundation, using a voucher code and Scottish delivery address. UK schools in challenging circumstances may seek separate Engage funding. The Autumn 2026 grant deadline was October 20 at 5 p.m. (timezone not stated), with decisions expected by December. These funding dates do not limit ordinary year-round CREST submissions.
Recognition:
CREST is promoted by the British Science Association as a way to strengthen UCAS applications, particularly at Gold level.
No deadlines:
Projects can be started and submitted at any point in the academic year. There is no application window or cohort cycle.
Checked November 4, 2026 against the secondary award guidance, Help Centre, Scotland fee scheme and Engage funding. The Help Centre confirms no project or resubmission deadline, while placements and linked competitions may have their own dates. Silver/Gold assessment can take 2–6 weeks after payment; current UK certificate delivery guidance is 3–6 weeks, rather than the former 3–4 week estimate.