Apple's Swift Student Challenge returns in 2025; 50 winners to get Cupertino HQ invite

Apple is once again opening its doors to the next generation of coders through its Swift Student Challenge. This annual event, which has impacted thousands of students worldwide, is set to return in February 2025. The challenge is a platform for students to showcase their creativity and build real-world skills using Swift, Apple's own programming language. Swift is the same language used by professionals to create apps for Apple's devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Swift Student Challenge offers an opportunity for students to join a global community of developers. The challenge is open for three weeks, during which students, educators, and their advocates can submit their innovative app ideas. The information on how to prepare for the challenge and sign up for notifications is available at developer.apple.com.

Through Swift Student Challenge, Apple will recognize a total of 350 winners whose submissions demonstrate excellence in innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity.

Recognizing excellence and fostering innovation

Of this group of 350 winners, 50 Distinguished Winners will receive additional recognition and an invitation to Apple's headquarters in Cupertino for a summer visit in 2025. Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, expressed her excitement for the upcoming challenge. "Every year, we're incredibly impressed by the ingenuity of the apps students are creating, and we're excited to see what the next round of the challenge will bring," she said. 

To further support students in their journey, Apple is also unveiling updated Swift Coding Club resources. The Swift Coding Club starter kit provides activities to empower students with a passion for app development to further explore Swift and SwiftUI, and spread the word among their peers. This initiative is designed to build a community of young developers and equip them with the skills needed for a future career in app development.

In addition, Apple is offering new Develop in Swift Tutorials. These tutorials are a great first step toward a career in app development using Swift, SwiftUI, and Xcode — Apple's integrated development environment.

In the past, the company has launched similar initiatives to encourage young people to explore the world of technology and coding. For instance, the Hour of Code initiative, which Apple has supported for several years, is a global movement that introduces students to coding through a one-hour introduction to computer science.

The Swift Student Challenge, like the Hour of Code, is more than just a competition. It's a platform for students to learn, innovate, and make a difference in the world of technology.