Apple Swift Student Challenge To Launch In February 2024: What Is It, Eligibility Criteria

The US-based tech giant Apple has announced its plans to hold its next Swift Student Challenge in February 2024. The Swift Student Challenge tasks students with creating an innovative coding project using the Swift Playgrounds app.

Since 2020, students participating in the challenge have joined a worldwide community of developers using Swift — the same programming language used by professionals — to create the next wave of groundbreaking apps. The next challenge will open in February 2024, and will include a new category recognising 50 Distinguished Winners, who will be named for standout submissions.

This year’s Swift Student Challenge will have 350 winners, and there will be a category that recognizes a total of 50 Distinguished Winners for standout submissions. All of the Distinguished Winners will be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, where they will be able to connect with their peers and the Apple team, while all winners will be granted a free one-year membership in the Apple Developer program.

Starting in February 2024, students will have three weeks to submit their app playgrounds to Apple. Apple judges entries on technical accomplishment, creativity of ideas, and content of written responses explaining the project. Students can sign up on the Apple Developer website to be notified when submissions open.

Eligibility Criteria

Students who are 13 years of age or older in the United States or the equivalent minimum age in the relevant jurisdiction. They need to be registered as an Apple Developer with Apple or be a member of the Apple Developer Program.

Fulfil one of the following requirements:

– Be enrolled in an accredited academic institution or official homeschool equivalent;

– Be enrolled in an STEM organisation’s educational curriculum;

– Be enrolled in an Apple Developer Academy; or

– Have graduated from high school or equivalent within the past 6 months and be awaiting acceptance or have received acceptance to an accredited academic institution;

– And the person should not be employed full-time as a developer.

Challenge is designed for student developers who are cultivating their software development skills. You can receive a Swift Student Challenge award or a WWDC Scholarship up to four times.