SparkHacks is open to anyone! Whether you are a freshman with no coding experience or a senior with a keen interest in technology, you are welcome to join. We encourage diversity and a mix of skills to create a dynamic and enriching experience for all participants.

Applications will open on January 20 at 8:00 AM and will remain open until January 27 at 11:59 PM. After applications close, the organizing team will review all submissions and send out invitations, waitlist notifications, and declinations within the next few days. If you receive an invitation, you’ll need to accept or decline your spot. Once you accept, we’ll be able to confirm your attendance at the hackathon. Please apply as early as possible, since spots are limited! If you’re applying with a team, make sure everyone applies as soon as possible as well.

No problem! We have a No-Code track where you can take one of our prompts and implement it using Figma!

Yes, teams must consist of 3 to 5 members; Individual participation is not allowed due to devpost rules, and the events nature is not conducive to solo participation. However, we will be having a Team Formation Social to help you find potential teammates!

No, all projects must be started and developed during SparkHacks. Participants are expected to attend the opening session to learn of the tracks and corresponding prompts.

Unfortunately, at this time we cannot offer an overnight Hackathon experience. You are welcome to continue hacking at home within the hacking period but we cannot provide facilities for sleeping on campus.

Mentors will be available throughout SparkHacks in person as well as through Discord to provide guidance, answer questions, and assist participants with technical challenges. You can reach out to a mentor at any time during SparkHacks!

All submissions will be made through Devpost which is also how we will be keeping track of teams. There will be a session to familiarize yourself with how to submit your project through Devpost during the hackathon.

Prizes may vary, but typically winners will receive recognition as well as valuable tech gadgets. Prizes are track-specific and the list of prizes can be found in the HackPack.

All SparkHacks resources, including guidelines, workshops, resources to help you best prepare, and other relevant information, is currently available in the HackPack.

Nope! SparkHacks is completely free. We'll provide meals, swag, and all the resources you need during the event.

Absolutely! SparkHacks is beginner-friendly, with workshops, mentors, and resources to help you get started.

No. SparkHacks is exclusively for current UIC students.

Teams are finalized once hacking begins, so plan your team in advance.

Not at all! You can contribute to brainstorming, design, and presentations, and we even have a no-code track for designers.

No. All projects must be created during the 24-hour hackathon timeframe.

The event theme sets the vibe, but your project doesn't need to align with it unless you're participating in a specific themed challenge or track.

Projects are judged on innovation, usability, technical complexity (or design for no-code), and overall impact. Check the Judging Criteria section for more details.

Yes! We'll host pre-hack workshops (Feb 4-6) and technical sessions during the event to help you learn new skills.

You can reach mentors through the #ask-a-mentor channel on Discord or meet them in person at the mentoring areas.

Bring your UIC ID, laptop, chargers, headphones, power bank, and any personal items you'll need for the 24 hours.

Yes! We've got you covered with meals and snacks throughout the event.

SparkHacks is a 24-hour event, so no sleeping areas are provided. If you need to rest, plan your own accommodations.

Reach out to the #ask-organizers channel on Discord or find an organizer dressed in [distinguishing feature, e.g., SparkHacks t-shirts or badges] for immediate assistance.

You can email us at sparkhacks@uic.edu or message us on social media! You can find our social links in the bottom right corner of our website.