FAQ

No! The ESF CoCo Hackathon is open to all students, regardless of their Computer Science background. Although a basic understand of programming is recommended and will sooth their experience, participants will not be expected to be familiar with programming languages. 

Note: Some intermediate and advanced workshops may have some specific requirements.

There are no age restrictions for any workshops! At CoCo, we believe that age does not define a student’s capability and tech-proficiency. Any and all ages are welcome to sign up for beginners, intermediate, and advanced courses. Just be aware on the specific requirements for each workshop before signing up!

Not necessarily! You can register for the hackathon (Oct 3), the workshops (Oct 4) or both!

However, attending both days maximizes your chances to earn XP for the shop rewards. It is the perfect opportunity to put your coding skills to the test while learning brand-new computer science knowledge from our amazing external providers and student hosts.

A laptop (and its charger if you know it dies fast...) is mandatory for both the hackathon and several hands-on workshops. Please also bring your student ID card in case we need to identify you and bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated! We will provide FREE snacks and lunch to participants on both days 😋🍴

Besides workshop related equipment that will be provided on the day, we may not be able to lend out any equipment (e.g. laptops, chargers etc.) so please bring them yourself!

Yes! We will be providing FREE snacks and lunch to participants on both days. 

If you have any dietary restrictions, please make sure to mention them in your registration forms (for the specific days you are attending) so we can accommodate your needs.

Please note: If you have severely complex allergies or highly restrictive dietary requirements, we highly recommend bringing your own food to avoid any risks or unexpected issues on the day. Your safety comes first!

Absolutely! ESF CoCo is designed for all skill levels. We will have mentors on-site to help beginners get started and you even earn baseline XP just for participating!

It is all about fun vibes here. Plus, we offer a Junior Division that helps seperate advanced coders from those with little to no experience, making it the perfect entry point for beginners.

This depends on the type of hackathon chosen. Times/Dates given below is an estimate - please refer to the information pack sent out if you signed up for the most up to date information.

A. Startup hackathon event (Presentation) - Online

• You will be given the theme around 2 weeks before the event and can start coding once released

• Start time and theme announced: September 13th, 2026

• Online submission deadline: September 27th, 2026

• Presentations & Award ceremony (Shortlisted in person): October 3rd, 2026

B. Traditional speed coding challenge (Timed) - IRL

• You will be given the theme the day of the event during the opening ceremony

• Start time and hackathon #1 announced: October 3rd, 2026 at around 10am

• Submission deadline for hackathon #1: October 3rd, 2026 at 12pm

• Start time and hackathon #2 announced: October 3rd, 2026 at around 1pm

• Submission deadline for hackathon #2: October 3rd, 2026 at 3pm

• Award ceremony: October 3rd, 2026 during the closing ceremony

Only for Startup hackathon event (Presentation)! Everyone who chooses to participate in this needs to submit a video recording on their presentation & product. If shortlisted, you will be invited to come on October 3 to present in real-life and attend the award ceremony.

All hackathon participants get extra XP and will obtain certificates for their works!

No. Peer scanning is strictly locked to one time pairings (once a link is made, it cannot be scanned again). Workshop check-ins are restricted to once per hour to prevent participants from skipping rooms just to grab codes and wall quizzes enforce immediate timestamp and account locks upon submission.

To ensure everyone is fully present and respect during key moments (and to avoid chaos), the entire XP system will be completely locked and closed during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. We want everyone looking up at the stage and listening (after all you are here to learn...), not glued to their phone screens!

No. The live leaderboard on the website will be hidden exactly 1 hour before the Closing Ceremony. The final top ranks will remain a secret until revealed live on stage!
psst there may even be some secret prizes/rewards during the closing ceremony so stay tuned!

To break the ice, standard single player prize redemption will freeze once you hit a specific XP cap. To break past this cap and unlock your rewards, you must find another participant who has the same number of XP, team up and scan together for both of you to unlock access to our store.