HudHack 2026: new student-led hackathon for Computer Science students

Computer Science students at the University of Huddersfield tested their skills at HudHack 2026, an inaugural hackathon organised by the institution’s Cyber Security Society.

The student-led event saw around 60 Undergraduate and Postgraduate students compete in a variety of challenges designed to allow them to apply learning from their studies and develop key employability skills, such as teamwork and problem-solving.

Hackers were challenged to solve the problem of an everyday frustration in their university, social or work life, and come up with a technological solution to the issue. Their work was judged by Computer Science academics comprising Subject Area Leader Dr Minsi Chen, Course Leader for Computer Science with Cyber Security Dr Saad Khan and Professor of Cyber Security Simon Parkinson.

The Project Build challenge was won by the Signbridge team, which built an accessibility-focused AI project that combines sign language recognition with speech-to-text-to support real-world conversations. The BreakLoop team came in second with its behavioural intervention web application designed to detect repeated task avoidance and intervene before procrastination becomes a habit. Third place was awarded to the Noyze Hunter team for its smart library noise monitoring system, which detects sustained sound levels above 40 decibels and automatically notifies staff via Discord to help maintain a focused study environment.

A further challenge saw teams complete a series of different tasks worth points based on their difficulty level. Students competing in the Capture the Flag challenge had to utilise their problem-solving and technical skills to find the ‘flag’, which unlocked a code for them to complete the task. The winners were Team Square, who amassed 1825 points, and Squidward Fanclub came in second with 1810 points.

Finally, Lava Lamp Box Breathing won the Hackiest Hack prize presented by event sponsor Hackathons UK, which was for the wackiest idea presented in the Project Build challenge. This team created a simple box breathing app to help with anxiety attacks.

Prizes for the various winners and runners-up included a Raspberry Pi Starter Kit, hi-tech chargers, Micro-bits and Lockpicking kits.

As well as the various challenges, Sam Crich from Eaton Smith Solicitors gave a guest talk about data protection in the Tech industry, and he also provided support to students throughout the day.

Professor Andrew Crampton, Acting Head of Department (Computer Science), who opened the event, commented: “It was wonderful to open HudHack 2026 and to see the Cyber Security Society student volunteers deliver such a carefully planned, creative and truly student‑led event. Every minute of the day had been thought through, and their commitment and professionalism shone throughout.

“What impressed me most was the passion of our students - their drive to push boundaries, solve problems, and collaborate with one another. Events like this are where initiative, creativity and teamwork come to life, and I encouraged participants to reflect on HudHack when future employers ask for examples of these essential transferable skills. The energy, ingenuity and ambition shown are exactly what makes our Computer Science community at Huddersfield so exciting, and I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved.”

Student organiser Ibrahim Gaber, President of the Cyber Security Society, added: “It has been a real privilege to be part of the first HudHack organising team at the University of Huddersfield. Seeing so many passionate and driven students come together to build, collaborate and challenge themselves was genuinely inspiring. The energy throughout the day showed exactly what our student community is capable of when given the opportunity.

“I am proud that we have laid the foundations for what we hope will become a long-standing annual tradition within the Department of Computer Science. More than just delivering a successful event, we wanted to leave a positive and lasting impact on the University before we graduate, setting a strong standard for future teams to build upon. HudHack is only the beginning, and I am excited to see how it continues to grow in the years ahead.”

Find out more about studying Computer Science at Huddersfield

Josh McKeown, Student Experience Officer in the University’s School of Computing and Engineering, commented: “This was a fantastic student-led activity that was enjoyed by all the attendees and was a fun way of developing skills and engaging in friendly competition. The organising team created a fabulous event, and I cannot wait to see how they build upon this in the future.”

The student-led hackathon is set to become an annual event within the Department of Computer Science at the University. Courses include Computer Science, Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science with Cyber Security, Computer Science with Games Programming, and Software Engineering and Computing courses.