Top 2025 Competitions, Volunteering, and Summer Schools for Singapore Students

As you prepare to apply for top-tier universities in the UK and US, you might be wondering what else you can do to enhance your application, and appear as a strong and valuable candidate. While grades are useful in determining your academic suitability, these schools will ultimately evaluate your profile as a whole, and will want to see what you dedicate time to outside the classroom. Unique pursuits such as competitions—whether they be STEM competitions or innovation challenges—volunteering efforts in service of a community, or dedicated summer school programmes can help you really stand out from the crowd. All of these demonstrate strong personal qualities, from leadership to commitment, and add another dimension to your academic excellence.

Competitions for UK and US University Applications

Outside of the classroom, participating in global or national competitions can strengthen your university applications. The competition environment is primed for you to showcase your academic talent, problem-solving skills under pressure, and leadership capabilities.

While there are plenty of competitions to choose from, you’ll want to hone your options by picking the ones that are most aligned with your academic interests. This will help you present a cohesive narrative in your profile when it comes to the university application, and highlight your commitment to your chosen field. Additionally, it also helps to pick competitions that are internationally recognised, since you’ll be applying abroad, and this wide playing field can help demonstrate your eagerness to connect with a global network.

Last, but not least, in evaluating your participation in competitions, you’ll want to pick opportunities that will let you shine. Depending on the nature of the competition and its alignment with your goals, you might pick something that hones your critical thinking skills, emphasises your creativity, or demonstrates your ability to work within a team.

Here are a list of competitions you might consider participating in:

• Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) – STEM Focus
• Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) – STEM Focus
• Google Science Fair – Technology and Innovation
• Singapore Futures Youth Competition– Technology and Innovation
• The Young Technopreneur Challenge 2025 – Technology and Innovation
• MAS-ESS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) Essay Competition*– Writing
• International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)– Mathematics
• The Conrad Challenge– Entrepreneurial and STEM Focus
• International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) – STEM (Chemistry) Focus
• Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition – Writing
• UN Citiverse Challenge – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• British International Education Association (BIEA) 2025 International STEM Competition – STEM and the Environment
• Princeton University’s Ten-Minute Play Contest – Writing
• Bennington Young Writers Award – Writing
• International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) – Writing and Debate
• World Schools Debating Championships – Debate
• Singapore Art Museum Design Competition –Design

Volunteering Opportunities for US and UK University Applicants

Aside from developing your academic skills, universities also want an idea of your commitment to social good. Volunteering is a great way to lean into your altruism through community service, which can also help you develop another dimension to your leadership skills. Given that these qualities are key considerations when it comes to the evaluations carried out by US and UK universities, your choice of volunteer programme is a crucial way to add depth and empathy to your application.

There are many organisations all around the globe that offer open calls for volunteers, so you’ll have no shortage of choices to dedicate yourself to. If time allows, it might be useful to consider combining local volunteer efforts with global considerations. For example, taking up volunteer efforts related to environmentalism or the loneliness epidemic in elderly populations demonstrates a level of critical thinking, and emphasises your passion for the cause as you take up the mantle on multiple scales.

Volunteering also demonstrates your commitment to service and social responsibility, and contributes to your personal development as a conscious global citizen who is keen to spearhead efforts to make the world a better place for people from all walks of life.

If this sounds like something you’d like to pursue, here are some volunteer opportunities to consider:

• Youth Corps Singapore – Local and multi-sector, including seniors, children, education, health, special needs, sports, and heritage
• kidsREAD by the National Library Board – Local, education and literature
• giving.sg – Local and multi-sector, including seniors, the less fortunate, and children with special needs
• Habitat for Humanity (Singapore) – Local branch of the international charity, humanitarian work
• Make-a-Wish Foundation (Singapore) – Local branch of the international charity, humanitarian work focused on children
• It’s Raining Raincoats (IRR) – Local, humanitarian work focused on migrant workers
• AWARE – Local, humanitarian work focused on women’s issues and rights
• UN Women (Singapore Committee) – Local, humanitarian work focused on gender equality
• Willing Hearts – Local, humanitarian work at a soup kitchen serving the underprivileged
• Meals on Wheels by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) Singapore – Local, humanitarian service focused on homebound individuals
• Food Bank Singapore– Local, food redistribution efforts to those in need
• Lions Befrienders – Local, efforts focused on the loneliness epidemic in seniors
• Red Cross (Singapore) – Local, providing medical care to beneficiaries in need
• Caring for Cambodia – Regional effort focused on providing care for children in Cambodia via education and health care
• Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) – Local, animal protection
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Environment and sustainability
• Trash Hero Singapore – Local, environment-focused beach clean-ups

Summer Schools for US and UK University Applications

Alternatively, if you'd like to highlight more of your academic strengths in your university applications, you can consider applying for summer school programmes at institutions that interest you. This is a great way to show your desire to learn, by making the most of the opportunity to engage and familiarise yourself with university-level academic work. As most of these programmes take place in person, they’re also a way for you to get a taste of the university’s environment, which you can tap into when preparing your application to be a full-time student.

Most universities tend to offer curated summer school programmes with courses outside of their usual offerings. As a result, taking up this opportunity will be a unique type of academic enrichment, especially if you find a course that speaks to your academic interests in-depth, or perhaps even expands your knowledge base and provides a new perspective. You’ll be able to build upon this when it comes time to write your personal statement or interact with faculty in the interview, as you’ll have valuable firsthand experience of the institution’s ethos and its alignment with your own goals and interests!

As a result, programmes such as these are also likely to attract a competitive and interesting selection of students from all across the globe, who you’ll have a chance to meet and interact with. You’ll be in touch with a range of perspectives, not just from the institution itself, but from the diverse international student body, and can tap into to build a global network of peers and upcoming professionals.

Here are some summer school programmes you might consider applying to:

• Oxford College Summer School – Award-winning courses in Law, Business, Medicine, and Global Leadership
• University College London – Classics-focused courses
• The Cambridge Experience – Courses include Business, Psychology, Medical Science, and Law, for students aged 13-14
• Imperial Global Summer School – STEM Focus, for students aged 16-17
• SOAS London Summer Programmes – International Relations and History Focus
• King’s College Summer School – Extensive list of courses including STEM, Marketing, Neuroscience, Law, International Relations, and English Literature
• London School of Economics (LSE) Summer School – Specialised programmes in Accounting, Business, English Language, International Relations, and Law
• Harvard Summer School – Residential programme including studies of Literature, Psychology, Law, Business, Gender Studies, and STEM
• Yale Summer School– Residential program with an extensive course catalogue and online options
• Duke University Summer Programme – Extensive list of courses from Aerospace Engineering, Law, and Creative Writing
• Stanford Pre-College Summer Institutes – Virtual experience offering 60 courses including Business, Creative Writing, STEM, and philosophy
• Cornell Summer Session – Online programme offering courses ranging from American Sign Language (ASL) to Cognitive Science, Engineering, Law, and Biology
• Columbia College Edge Programme – In-person programme offering courses across all faculties
• John Hopkins Summer Programmes – Online or in-campus access to courses in Medicine, Neuroscience, and Psychology

Ultimately, placing in competitions, participating in volunteer programmes, or enrolling in summer school are all ways for you to make the most of your passions to help you stand out from the pool of applicants.

Similarly, Crimson Education is dedicated to helping students build a standout profile for top US and UK universities. This includes securing key opportunities like prestigious competitions, impactful summer school programmes, and meaningful volunteering experiences—all tailored to align with your goals. Our team of experts and former admissions officers work closely with students, providing personalised guidance to navigate the application process and identify the right opportunities. With our support, you can confidently shape a compelling profile and take the steps needed to achieve your dreams.

If you’re looking to get started, please contact us to book a free consultation today, and make your higher education dreams a reality!

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