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HackTheBurgh

Scotland's largest hackathon returns in...

Location
The Nucleus Building, Edinburgh
Date
–
Start
End
Participants
300
Team size
Up to 4

About

First conceived in 2014, HackTheBurgh is an annual student-led hackathon run by CompSoc, the University of Edinburgh’s technology society.

HackTheBurgh brings together the best upcoming talent across the country for 24 hours to collaborate on challenges, learn new skills and network with some of the best employers in the technology industry.

Sponsors

HackTheBurgh is possible thanks to our brilliant sponsors and partners:

Schedule

  1. Day 1 Saturday 7th November

    Registration & breakfast
  2. Opening ceremony
  3. Hacking begins
  4. Team submission deadline
  5. Lunch
  6. Sponsor workshops
  7. Dinner

  1. Day 2 Sunday 8th November

    Pizza
  2. Dessert
  3. Breakfast
  4. Project submission deadline
  5. Lunch
  6. Demo & judging
  7. Closing ceremony

View, download or print the itinerary

FAQs

When do applications close?

Applications will close on the 10th of October 2026 at 23:59 (GMT +1).

When will I hear back about my application?

We aim to send you an email notifying you of your application status by the 13th of October 2026.

Who can attend?

You can take part if you are a current student at any university or if you have graduated within the past year. Students from every degree discipline are welcome, whether technical or not. You must be at least 18 years old when the event starts.

Do you offer travel reimbursements?

We do! Read our travel reimbursement information for the latest details.

How will applications be judged?

We will judge applications on a holistic basis, taking your application responses, CV, GitHub, portfolio website and year of study into account.

How will my CV be processed?

All CVs will be manually reviewed by a member of our team when judging applications. When submitting your application, you can optionally choose to share your CV with our sponsors for career opportunities.

Will there be sleeping spaces available?

Yes! We will have designated spaces at the event to allow participants to get some rest on Saturday night. We recommend bringing a blanket or sleeping bag for comfort.

What if I don’t have a team yet?

Don’t worry about it! We will create a Discord server for participants to connect and find teammates before the event, you can also form a team when you arrive.

How do team applications work?

Everyone submits their own application first. After submitting, you can create or join a team, and you can still edit your application until applications close. Team members are judged together: either everyone is accepted or no one is. If you do not join a team, you are judged individually.

How many people can I have on my team?

A team can have up to four members.

Do I need a lot of experience to participate?

Not at all. Whether you're in your first year, study a subject unrelated to computing, or if this is your first hackathon, you’re welcome to apply. It is an opportunity to learn and gain new experience.

What am I supposed to build during the weekend?

Our sponsors will set challenge tracks for participants to take on during the event. You are free to take on and submit a project for whichever challenges interest you. Sponsors will be interested in entries that encapsulate the spirit of the challenge and demonstrate a high level of technical ability and creativity. We hope HackTheBurgh gives you a starting point for something you can keep working on after the event.

Will meals be provided?

We will provide food, snacks and drinks throughout the event. After you’ve been accepted, we will reach out to you about dietary restrictions and share the food options available from our vendors.

What should I bring to the event?

Bring a laptop, charger and valid student ID.

What if I have any other questions?

Email us at hello@hacktheburgh.com or join the CompSoc Discord.