Calling all first-year students!

Want to make a real impact on student life at KCL? Join FirstYearHack 2025 and use the power of gamification to revolutionize the student experience. Whether you're a coder or a creative thinker, this hackathon is for you.

Choose your path: the Technical Route (coding a Windows desktop or Chrome-runnable web application with gamification elements) or the Non-Technical Route (designing a gamified solution with mockups and wireframes). Both require a 4-minute video (demo or pitch).

Your challenge: gamify everyday student life at KCL. Pick a category, address a real problem, and make student life more engaging and rewarding. Check out our example projects for inspiration!

• Creativity & Innovation
  This assesses the originality and novelty of the idea. Judges will be looking for projects that think outside the box and offer fresh approaches to gamifying student life.
• Gamification Elements
  This evaluates how effectively gamification principles are integrated into the solution. Judges will consider the choice of gamification mechanics, their relevance to the project's goals, and their potential to engage users.
• Usability (Technical) / Design Quality (Non-Technical)
  For technical projects, this focuses on how user-friendly and intuitive the application is. For non-technical projects, it assesses the quality and polish of the design, including mockups, wireframes, and overall presentation
• Feasibility
  This criterion considers the practicality and achievability of the proposed solution. Judges will assess whether the project is realistic and could potentially be implemented in a real-world context.
• Demo/Pitch Quality
  This assesses the 4-minute video's clarity and effectiveness. Judges seek a concise, engaging presentation clearly communicating the project's value and functionality (technical demos) or vision and potential (non-technical pitches).