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Three Universities.
One Mission. Zero Limits.

IKU is a cross-university hackathon catered towards female and non-binary students — a weekend of code, community and confidence, brought to you by KCL Womxn in STEM, Imperial Womxn in SET and UCL Women in STEM societies.

Register interest What is IKU?
October 202617th – 18th
Bush House, KCLStrand Campus, London
Free to attendMeals & swag included
Event Countdown
00
Days
00
Hours
00
Mins
00
Secs
3
Partner universities
24
Hours of hacking
4
Tracks
£0
Cost to attend (meals and snacks included)
About IKU Womxn in STEM Hackathon

A room built for you to build in.

Womxn and non-binary students remain underrepresented at hackathons — IKU exists to close that gap. Organised by KCL Womxn in STEM, Imperial Women in STEM, UCL Women in STEM, and hosted at Bush House, IKU brings together students from King's, UCL and Imperial for a day of building, mentorship and community, with no prior hackathon experience required.

King's College London Imperial College London UCL
  • 01Beginner-friendly, by design
    Workshops and mentors are there from your first line of code to your final demo.
  • 02Cross-university community
    Meet and build with womxn in STEM from three of London's leading universities.
  • 03Real recognition
    Compete for prizes, get networking opportunities with sponsors, and walk away with a project for your CV.
  • 04A safe, inclusive space
    Run under the MLH and Hackathons UK codes of conduct, for everyone who identifies as womxn or non-binary.
Schedule

How the weekend runs

An overnight hackathon across 17th–18th October — full schedule confirmed closer to the date.

Day 1Saturday 17th October+
  • 09:00 – 10:30
    Registration open
  • 10:00 – 11:00
    Opening ceremony
  • 11:00
    Hacking starts
  • 13:00 – 14:00
    Lunch
  • 14:00 – 15:00
    Workshop / talk
  • 16:00 – 17:00
    Workshop / talk
  • 18:00 – 19:00
    Dinner
  • 19:00 – 20:00
    Workshop / talk
  • 20:00 – 20:30
    Mini event
  • 21:00
    SleepSpace opens
  • 21:00
    Potential workshop / talk / mini-event
  • 22:00
    Potential workshop / talk / mini-event
Day 2Sunday 18th October+
  • 07:30
    SleepSpace closes
  • 09:00 – 10:00
    Breakfast
  • 12:00
    Hacking ends / submission deadline
  • 12:00 – 13:00
    Lunch
  • 13:00 – 15:00
    Judging
  • 15:00 – 16:00
    Closing ceremony
  • 16:00
    Event ends
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What is a hackathon?+
A hackathon is an event where people come together to build projects, usually over a short period of time. At IKU, you'll have 24 hours to work on a project with your team, attend workshops and talks, and get mentorship from experienced developers.
Who can attend IKU?+
IKU is catered towards students who identify as female or non-binary, from any UK university, at any experience level — including complete beginners.
Do I need a team?+
No — you can arrive solo and form a team on the day, or come with friends. Teams are typically 2–4 people.
How much does it cost?+
IKU is completely free to attend, including meals, snacks and swag.
Where does it take place?+
Bush House on King's College London's Strand Campus, in central London.
Is there an age limit?+
Yes, participants must be at least 18 years old and be a university student to attend.
When can we start working on our projects? Can we use previous work?+
You can start working on your project as soon as the opening ceremony ends. You're welcome to brainstorm ideas beforehand, but all code and project work must be created during the event. Existing frameworks, libraries, and tools may be used, provided they are appropriately credited.
How do I sign up?+
Registration opens closer to the event — hit "Register interest" below and we'll email you the moment tickets go live.
What is the duration of the event?+
IKU Womxn in STEM Hackathon takes place over a weekend and includes 24 hours of dedicated hacking time. Participants are welcome to head home overnight, stay awake throughout the event, or get some rest inside the venue. We provide dedicated sleeping and quiet rooms. If you plan to stay overnight, we recommend bringing something comfortable, such as a pillow, blanket, or hoodie.
What should I bring?+
Bring your laptop, charger, and any other equipment you need to build your project. We also recommend bringing a water bottle, snacks, and comfortable clothing. If you plan to stay overnight, consider bringing a pillow, blanket, or hoodie for comfort.
Partners

Presented with

MLH
Hackathons UK
KCL WiSTEM
Host & Main organiser
Imperial & UCL WiSTEM
Co-organisers
Sponsors

Backing IKU

Location

Bush House, King's College London

30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG — on King's College London's Strand Campus, a short walk from Temple and Covent Garden underground stations.

Stay in the loop

Be the first to know when tickets open.

Register your interest and we'll email you as soon as applications for IKU Womxn in STEM Hackathon 2026 go live.

Register interest