ACE Cyber Security competition

The ACE Cyber Security competition has been designed to:

Raise awareness of pathways into Cyber Security and STEM education post 18

'Fill the gap' with a competition that is open to all 14–18 year olds which would challenge and develop skills in Cyber Security

Increase ACE (Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education) visibility through engagement with schools and colleges

The competition, developed collaboratively by several universities and education partners and led by the University of South Wales, brings together teams of up to four young people to complete a series of cyber security themed challenges. These tasks are designed to test both knowledge and practical skills in the field.

For more information contact: rhys.driscoll@southwales.ac.uk

Partners involved in the competition are:

Wales

University of South Wales

Cardiff University

Swansea University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

England

University of the West of England

Surrey University

Kent University

Plymouth University

Aston University

Leeds Beckett University

De Montfort University

Aston University Birmingham

Northern Ireland

Belfast Metropolitan College

Scotland

Abertay University

Edinburgh Napier University

Competition structure

Key information

The competition is FREE.

Teams must be made up of students aged 14–18 who are in full-time education.

Each team may consist of up to four members, and mixed age groups and genders are encouraged.

All participants within a team must be from the same school or college and may only be part of one team.

Schools and colleges are permitted to enter multiple teams, provided all participants meet the eligibility criteria.

Entrants must be based in the United Kingdom.
Young people should complete the questions without support from teaching/academic staff and parents. We want to test their knowledge, skills and experiences as these may feed into final round activities.
A full set of terms and conditions and privacy notice can be found by clicking on the links.

5–25 October 2026

Teams sign up through a guardian (teacher or representative of the school/ college) using this link:

ACE Cyber Security competition- sign up 2026-2027 – Fill in form

Round 1- Online qualifier

9–28 November 2026

Round 1 takes place online between 9 and 28 November 2026. The first round has a mixture of questions to accommodate the different knowledge, skill and experience levels of young people across the UK. They can complete them in any order, and there is no requirement for all questions to be completed. Young people should aim to complete as many questions as they can in the time frame they are given.

Eligible teams will receive the competition questions and answer submission links via their team guardian before 9 November 2026.

Teams will work together to solve a range of cyber security challenges, including problem-solving tasks, puzzles, and brain teasers covering a variety of topics. Activities can be completed either remotely at home or within a school or college setting.

Competition materials may be printed and completed at any time during the competition window and in any order. However, all answers must be submitted in a single session using the online submission form provided to team guardians. All required materials and instructions will be sent directly to team guardians in advance of the competition.

Round 2- Final

February–March 2027

Successful teams will be invited to attend a live final event hosted by their regional Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security (ACE-CSE) university or a participating education partner.

When registering for the competition, team guardians will be able to select their preferred finals venue from the participating institutions. Please be aware that all costs associated with attending a final event are the responsibility of the school/college.

During the live finals, teams will compete in a series of hands-on cyber security and problem-solving challenges, with each host institution showcasing activities aligned to its areas of specialist expertise. Teams will compete against other regional finalists for the opportunity to be crowned champions at their respective final.

The live finals will take place between February and March 2027. Further details, including venue information, schedules, and event arrangements, will be communicated directly to team guardians in advance of the event.

Competition highlights 2025-2026