There are awards.

The National Student Metallographic Skills Competition was initially a college student event co-sponsored by Tsinghua University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Chongqing University, Southeast University, Central South University, University of National Defense Science and Technology, Hunan University, and Shanghai Institute of Applied Technology. The first National Student Metallographic Skills Competition was held at the University of Science and Technology Beijing from December 6 to 8, 2012, and has been held annually since then.

In August 2015, the Teaching Steering Committee for Materials Specialties in Higher Education of the Ministry of Education issued an official document, deciding to provide specific guidance on the organization of the competition as the organizer of the competition. Since then, the National College Students Metallographic Skills Competition has become a national college students' event recognized by the relevant departments of the Ministry of Education. The competition has been named "Leica Cup" since the fourth edition in 2015.

The 7th National Student Metallographic Skills Competition was held from August 25 to 31, 2018 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, and was co-hosted by Northwestern Polytechnical University and Xi'an University of Technology.