A hackathon is a creative, time-limited competition where people collaborate to work on a prototype that solves an issue.
Students are encouraged to come up with an idea, form teams, and then build out said idea during the weekend. Your prototype can be in any format - a website, a mobile app, a game, or even a piece of hardware. The most important thing is that you have something presentable at the end of the event.
We are called the Imagination Hackathon for a reason - and that's because we do not prescribe an "official theme". You are free to create whatever you want, in whatever shape you want - for example, it can be an app, a hardware piece, or even a video game.
Some of our prizes do have specific challenges, bounties, or thematic areas attached. If you're looking for a theme, then we strongly encourage you to use them to shape your idea.
No prior experience is required to attend UNIHACK. Just be eager to learn and meet awesome people.
Many students attend UNIHACK as their first hackathon; while others use it as an opportunity to learn and enhance their skills before their intership or graduate program.
In addition to our exciting workshops held before the event (and are often recorded), there will be mentors available during the UNIHACK weekend to give you and your team a helping hand.
You must have between four and six people in your team. You cannot participate as an individual.
You may be asked to merge with another to meet the minimum number requirement.
We reserve the right to relax this requirement during the weekend depending on a particular team's circumstance or the number of participants during the weekend. Please reach out to one of the organizers on Discord during the weekend for guidance.
Your team must work on an original project during the weekend. You will not be allowed to work on an existing project.
You are not allowed to start any development or design work before the event. This includes, but not limited to, code, graphics, sounds and 3D designs.
However, you may start doing research and/or ideation before the event.
You may use AI as part of your project submission.
As part of your submission, you must disclose any and all third-party tools and resources used when building your prototype. This includes any generative AI tools - including but not limited to, Google Gemini, OpenAI, Claude Code, Cursor AI, Github Copilot, and Atlassian RovoDev.
In addition, anything generated with AI must comply with the Code of Conduct and legally licensed.
While we have a series of hubs open during the weekend, you are free to participate remotely from wherever you are located - your university lab, your bedroom, or even your local cafe.
We strongly urge you try and meet with your teammates as best you can during the weekend to collaborate - even if it's through a video call through Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Unfortunately, no. We require all participants to be 18 years or older at the time when the event starts.