Transfer Hacks is a week-long hackathon that celebrates the creativity, resilience, and skills that transfer students bring to UC San Diego. Transfer students often arrive with unique perspectives and experiences — and this event creates a space to turn those experiences into innovative ideas and meaningful projects.

Participants work individually or in teams to build something that addresses real challenges within the UC San Diego community. Projects can take many forms: tools, apps, websites, or any other creative solution. No prior hackathon or coding experience is required, and students from all majors and backgrounds are welcome. You don't have to be a transfer student to participate!

At the end of the event, selected teams will present their work at a final showcase, celebrating everything built during the hackathon week.

Transfer Hacks is brought to you through a partnership between the Triton Transfers Hub (TTH) and the IDEA Engineering Student Center — two offices dedicated to building community and creating opportunities for UC San Diego students.

What is a Hackathon?

A hackathon is a timed event where individuals or small teams come together to build a creative solution to a real-world problem. Despite the name, you don't need to know how to code. Hackathons welcome designers, writers, strategists, researchers, and builders of all kinds.

Over the course of the event, participants brainstorm, prototype, and present their ideas. At the end, projects are reviewed by a panel of judges and top submissions are recognized and rewarded.

Hackathons are a well-established way to develop real skills, make connections, and produce portfolio-worthy work — all in a low-stakes, high-energy environment.

No prior hackathon or coding experience required. Seriously.

Interested?