Hello everyone,
I’m looking for some clarity from the community regarding eligibility for the Swift Student Challenge 2026, particularly for students taking a gap year in India.
I graduated from high school (Class XII, CBSE – India) in May 2025. After graduating, I chose to take a gap year to prepare for competitive entrance examinations in India, with the goal of pursuing Computer Science / Engineering. I’ll be applying to accredited universities for programs starting in mid-2026, and I’m not currently enrolled in a college.
My question: The eligibility guidelines state that high school graduates must have graduated within the past 6 months and must be awaiting acceptance or have received acceptance to an accredited institution. Since the submission deadline is February 28, 2026, my graduation would be about 9 months prior, which puts me in a gray area.
Has anyone here participated in, or seen others participate in, the Swift Student Challenge while taking a gap year and preparing for university entrance exams? Is there any known flexibility or precedent for students in this situation?
I’ve been following the Swift Student Challenge since 2023 and would really love to participate if I’m eligible. Any insights or experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Thanks for the post and the question. I’m not part of that team. I see your post didn’t get any answer. So if I look at the rules page at https://developer.apple.com/swift-student-challenge/eligibility/
The problem for your specific case is the timing. Since you graduated in May 2025 and the submission deadline is in February 2026, you will be approximately 9 months past your graduation date at the time of submission. This is outside the standard 6-month window mentioned in the rules. Check my math on this please.
Also you could email the team and ask them about the timing for this as at the application page there is an email address for them https://developer.apple.com/swift-student-challenge/policy/
The only way to get a definitive answer for your specific case is to contact the Swift Student Challenge administrators directly. They are the only ones who can answer that question I think. Be sure to include all the key dates and facts you mentioned in your post and your plan to enroll in a university in mid-2026. The specific rule you are concerned about (the 6-month graduation window).
Wish you luck.
Albert Pascual Worldwide Developer Relations.
