The Big Psychology Challenge 2026: Challenge Guidelines
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Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University are thrilled to jointly present The Big Psychology Challenge – an exciting opportunity for Year 12 students across Wales and the UK to think big, get creative, and explore psychology beyond the classroom.
Key dates
Please note that the competition is now full and registration has closed.
- School registration deadline: 27 March 2026
- Team and student names confirmed: 24 April 2026
- Video abstract submission deadline: 5 June 2026
- Poster submission deadline: 19 June 2026
- Event day: 3 July 2026
How to enter
We’ve had a fantastic response to the competition, and we’ve now reached our maximum capacity.
You’re welcome to join our reserve list by completing the form below, and we’ll be in touch if we're able to offer any additional spaces.
A teacher must complete this on behalf of their school.
What students will create
Each team must produce:
- A poster
- A two-minute video abstract
Both should answer the challenge theme and complement each other. All work must be original and created by the team.
The event will take place at CUBRIC (Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre) on Friday 3 July 2026. A teacher must accompany the team on the day.
The challenge theme
How can understanding human minds help tackle climate change?
Your poster and video should clearly answer this theme.
Poster guidelines
- Posters must be A0, landscape, and submitted to us by 19 June 2026.
- The poster should complement the team’s video and address the competition theme.
- Each team will be allocated a poster board and must be ready to answer questions during their presentation slot.
Submitting the poster:
- Send us your final poster as a PDF by 19 June 2026. We’ll confirm how to submit it soon.
- We'll print and display it at the event, ready for your team to showcase.
To support your students in preparing a high‑quality submission, see our poster checklist for practical tips on creating a polished, accessible and print‑ready design.
Poster Checklist
Size and layout
- A0 (1189 × 841 mm), landscape
- Leave a 10 mm margin so that no content is lost during trimming
Text and readability
Use clear, accessible fonts. As a guide:
- Title: 100 pt or larger
- Subheadings: 48–72 pt
- Body text: at least 32 pt
Images
- Use high‑resolution images (300 DPI)
- For large images, aim for around 4000–5000 px on the longest edge to avoid blurring at A0 size
File format
- Save as PDF using High Quality Print or Press Quality
- Embed all fonts and images
- Do not submit Word, PowerPoint, PNG, or JPEG file
Final checks
- Proofread your poster carefully
- View at 100% to check clarity
- Make sure all images appear sharp, not pixelated
Video guidelines
- Videos must be no longer than two minutes (penalties apply if exceeded).
- The video should clearly address the challenge theme and may introduce key psychological concepts and ideas.
- Teams may explain what they plan to present in their poster.
Submitting the video:
- Upload your video to YouTube by 5 June 2026 and set the visibility to 'unlisted'.
- Make sure everyone featured in the video has given permission. Videos may be shared publicly on official competition channels.
- Once uploaded, share the link with us using the form below:
Judging criteria
- Communication and presentation skills: Are the poster and video clear and engaging?
- Understanding of psychology: Are key concepts explained accurately and competently?
- Originality: Are the ideas unique and original?
- Creativity: Is the approach to the theme imaginative and compelling?
Contact information
For questions or further details, please contact blsmarcomms@cardiff.ac.uk