A view of the night sky with lots of stars and the northern lights

Frequently asked questions

What are the prizes for this competition?

Prizes for this competition vary by country and pathway. For more information, please visit the ‘Countries involved’ section on https://www.viasat.springpod.com/

Who can participate in this competition?

This competition is open to A-Level students from the UK, plus university students from the UK, US and India. For specific eligibility criteria, please read our full terms and conditions at https://www.viasat.springpod.com/terms-and-conditions

What resources do I need access to in order to participate?

For written project submissions, you must have access to word processing software such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word. For audio/video/animation project submissions, you must have access to software that enables you to submit video/animation files in mp4, and audio files in mp3.

How long does this program take to complete?

We estimate this program to take 6-8 hours to complete, excluding live streams and project work. This is an estimated figure, and time spent can vary drastically from student to student. For more information on the project timeline, please visit https://www.viasat.springpod.com/#timeline

What happens if I can’t make a live stream?

Don’t worry! All live streams will be recorded and available for you to watch on-demand so you can fit them around your schedule.

Will I receive a certificate upon completing the program?

Yes! You will receive a Viasat and Springpod branded competition certificate upon finishing each phase of this program. You may choose to share your certificate on social media to highlight your success.

When does this program start?

Starting 8:00 am (London time) Wednesday 8 January 2025 you will be able to register and carry out the Application Process in order to enter the Competition. You can also submit your 'interest' from this date and receive updates on the competition. Phase 1 of this program commences on the 27th of January 2025, and coincides with the first livestream of the competition.

Is there a completion deadline for this program?

For phase 1 project submissions, the deadline is March 2nd 2025 for all regions.For phase 2 project submissions, the deadline is as follows for each region:

UK - May 4th 2025
US - May 4th 2025
India - May 18th 2025

All other content can be completed at your own pace and time, to fit around your schedule. For more information on project timings, please visit https://www.viasat.springpod.com/#timeline

When will I find out if my submission has been successful?

You’ll know if your submission has been successful by Monday March 24th 2025. This is also the start date of phase 2, so mark your calendars!

What format should my submission take?

Written submissions can be uploaded as a PDF, Google Doc or Word Doc submission, as long as your submission is under 100MB. Video/animation files must be uploaded in mp4, and audio files in mp3.