• For the Secondary category, eligible participants must be following Computing as an optional subject at MATSEC level (either at school or with a private tutor) and must be in Years 9, 10 or 11, or have just completed Year 11. Registrations for this category must be approved/confirmed by the school teacher OR private tutor. School teachers can confirm up to FIVE students per school, and private tutors up to TWO students. Selection of the students is left in the discretion of the school/teacher/tutor.
• For the Post Secondary category, eligible participants must have Computing and/or IT at Intermediate or Advanced level, or any other IT-related qualification at MQF Levels 4 and/or 5.
• For the Open category, eligible participants must be 18 years of age or older and currently living in the Maltese Islands. This category primarily aims to attract undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in the IT field, software developers, and educators teaching IT-related subjects.
• There is no registration quota for post-secondary, and open categories.
• Registration is done through this website.
• Registration deadline is Friday, 5^th June 2026.

Secondary & Post-Secondary categories:

• For the Secondary category participants are to use Python programming language only.
• For the Post-Secondary category participants are to use either JAVA or Python programming languages only. It is in the discretion of the participant which programming language to use.
• The Qualifiers round will be held online via Zoom. A session link will be provided to all participants prior to the contest.
• Participants are expected to:
  • switch on their webcam at all times, and
  • immediately accept an invite from the invigilator to share their screen when prompted.
• The Final round will be held at ICE Malta (NOT ONLINE).
• Exemptions to participate online during the Final Round will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, a 10-minute online VIVA session will be conducted after the Final Round if the candidate ranks among the top five candidates.
• Participants can use any programming IDE they prefer. However, for the Final round, the pre-installed programming IDEs on our computers are Thonny (for Python) and BlueJ (for Java) only. However, participants are welcome to use their own device and preferred IDE.
• It is important that the work of Post-Secondary category participants using the Java programming language can be executed through the BlueJ IDE. Such participants must ensure that their work is accessible through the BlueJ IDE.

Open category:

• Participants are free to use any tech stack of their choice, including programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools they are most comfortable with.
• The session will be held in-person at ICE Malta (Zebbug) using a bring-your-own-device model. Internet access and an optional extended monitor will be provided. Participants are responsible for ensuring their device is fully functional, pre-loaded with any required software or tools, and equipped with the necessary cable to connect to the extended monitor.
• All participants will work individually (this is a solo challenge). Strict security protocols will be in place throughout the competition. Any attempt to plagiarise or receive help from another person will result in immediate disqualification.
• Participants are expected to maintain a respectful environment during the session. This includes keeping noise to a minimum, avoiding unnecessary conversation, and not distracting others. Silence is to be observed throughout the competition room unless speaking with an organiser or judge.
• The entire session will be recorded via CCTV for security and integrity purposes.
• During the session, it is mandatory that participants:
  • maintain healthy habits and take short breaks,
  • submit their task by 5.00PM, which must include:
    • the completed solution
    • a brief screen recording created after the coding session, showing how the code is compiled, set up, and run (ideally including a quick walkthrough of the output or product created)
  • undergo a 10-minute viva session and expected to answer the judges queries/concerns.

Generic R&R:

• Being an open-book competition; participants can reference any online/offline resources they deem fit.
• Only one solution per task must be submitted to the judges.
• A judging panel will give points to the work presented to them according to established criteria.
• The task specifics and an assessment rubric will be given during the contest. Therefore, participants will be aware of what the judges are expecting from them.
• Participants may use AI tools responsibly in their workflow. While attribution of AI-generated code is not required, you must understand your code and may be asked to explain it.
• Any code taken from online sources, not from gen AI tools, must be referenced by including the URL as a comment in the source code.
• Any case of copying code from other people, online sources, or uncredited external sources (not including AI-generated code) will result in disqualification of the concerned participant(s).
• Any decision by judges will be final.

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Check How to install Zoom app.
Note: there is no need to sign up on Zoom. From the Zoom app, you can click on the ‘Join a Meeting’ option and insert the meeting link that we will provide.

Secondary & Post-Secondary categories:

• The challenge includes a qualifications round and the top 10 participants will pass to the final round.
• Participants are presented with a task during the qualifiers round and another a task for the final round.
• The qualifiers task includes a 2-hour timeframe, whereas the final task has a 3-hour timeframe.
• Participants are to carry out the tasks on an individual basis.
• Participants must submit only ONE solution to the judges.

Open category:

• Individual participants are given an 8-hour time frame to solve the given task.
• Participants must submit only ONE solution to the judges.
• A guidebook outlining the task to better prepare the participants for this competition will be available closer the the competition. We will inform all registered participants when this will be come available.

The tasks provided during the contest comply with the content covered in the respective syllabus as follows:

Secondary Category (Python)

• Input Statements
• Output statements ; including formatting of output, such as the use of F-String
• Assignment expressions
• Sequential execution
• Conditional execution and branching (If-Elif-Else)
• Looping constructs (For/While Loops, including Nested Loops)
• Tuples, Lists and Dictionaries data structures
• String functions
• Random Module
• User-Defined Functions
• Basic Graphical-User Interface

Post-Secondary Category (Java / Python):

• Skills expected for the Secondary Category
• Object-Oriented Programming (classes, encapsulation, inheritance, method overriding)
• Exception handling (try – except … block)
• Handling of Text and/or Object Files
• Data Serialisation using JSON
• Arrays, Multidimensional Arrays and Vector lists (for JAVA Language instead of Python Tuples, Lists and Dictionaries data structures)

Open Category:

• There is no set level of programming. Participants are expected to rise to the challenge
• A guidebook outlining the task to better prepare participants for this competition will be available soon!

Participants are encouraged to enjoy this challenge for the sake of the experience, learning and fun. However:

Secondary & Post-Secondary category:

• Winners and two runners-up will be awarded:
  • a place in code.sprint hall of fame 🌟
  • an awarding blockchain certificate 📜
  • a €400 sponsorship for further studies in programming at ICE Malta 📚💻🎓
  • other prizes as follows:
    • €500 cash prize for the winner and a trophy 🏆💰
    • €300 cash prize for the runner up and a medal 🥈💰
    • €200 cash prize for the second runner up and a medal 🥉💰
• All finalists will be given a blockchained finalist certificate and a €50 voucher from a local tech store as a token of our appreciation for your hard work and dedication.
• All other participants will be given a blockchain certificate of participation.

Additionally, the schools of the top three participants from each category will receive a hard copy certificate.
The 1st place winner’s school will also receive a trophy 🏆, while the 2nd and 3rd place schools will receive a medal 🥈🥉, respectively

We encourage all under/post graduate students, candidates studying IT related commercially certified courses, software developers, and educators to participate in this challenge for the opportunity to gain valuable experience, knowledge, and have fun. However:

• The winner and two runners-up will be presented with:
  • a place in code.sprint hall of fame 🌟
  • an awarding blockchain certificate 📜 
  • €3000 cash prize for the winner and trophy 🏆💰
  • €1500 cash prize for the runner up and medal 🥈💰
  • €500 cash prize for the second runner up and medal 🥉💰
• All other participants will be given a blockchain certificate of participation.

• Right to cancel or modify: code.sprint reserves the right to cancel, suspend or modify the challenge if any problem prevents the challenge from running as planned.
• Release: All participants agree to release and hold code.sprint harmless from and against any claim associated with the challenge/event.
• Limitation of liability: code.sprint is not responsible and cannot be held liable for technical errors or other things that may prevent the challenge from running as planned.
• Right to substitute: code.sprint reserves the right to substitute the awarding prizes with another prize if the advertised prize is not available.
• Permission to take screenshots of online sessions: code.sprint reserves the right to take screenshots during online contest session/s which will be used as evidence for accreditation purposes only.
• Permission to store participants’ work: code.sprint reserves the right to store the work submitted by the participants for up to 10 years for accreditation purposes.
• Disqualification: You may be disqualified from code.sprint contest and forfeit any prizes you may be eligible to receive if the organizer reasonably believes that you have attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the contest according to the Contest Rules & Regulations. You may report violation of these terms by another contestant by contacting us.