Apple's Swift Student Challenge is now opened for applications: Winners get a golden ticket to Apple Park

Last November, Apple announced the Swift Student Challenge and Everyone Can Code projects and earlier today the company updated that applications for the Challenge are now live for the next three weeks.

For the uninitiated, the Swift Student Challenge is not merely a contest since its inception in 2020; it's a platform for young creators to shine and sharpen their skills in a real-world arena. Apple invites students to develop their own app playgrounds within a span of three minutes on a topic of their choosing.

With resources like Swift Playgrounds and Xcode at their disposal, participants are encouraged to hone their coding abilities. Moreover, Apple's Today at Apple sessions, available at local Apple stores, offer a hands-on experience for new learners.

This year, Apple has upped the stakes. Out of the 350 winners, 50 will be recognised as Distinguished Winners for outstanding submissions and will also earn the opportunity to visit Apple in Cupertino for an extraordinary experience. It's a dream scenario for any young developer.

Winners of the challenge will also receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program, which offers a gateway to a world of resources and community.

For aspiring contestants, here are some tips from past winners:

Try to tell a story with your submission to explain why you built it, it can be a personal anecdote or a problem you’re trying to solve. Share your work! Don’t be afraid to put your work out there and share it with others. Get feedback and opinions from others to make your challenge submission better. - Jiang Tongyu, 17, Swift Student Challenge winner (2023)

Find friends and communities that you can work alongside. As solitary as coding is, it can be tough to keep going when you're stuck on a stubborn piece of code that doesn't want to run properly. Take a break, talk through the problem with your friends, and the solution might just come to you easier.

- Jia Chen Yee, 20, Swift Student Challenge winner (2020 & 2021)

Find friends and communities that you can work alongside. As solitary as coding is, it can be tough to keep going when you're stuck on a stubborn piece of code that doesn't want to run properly. Take a break, talk through the problem with your friends, and the solution might just come to you easier. - Jia Chen Yee, 20, Swift Student Challenge winner (2020 & 2021)

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.