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Competitions for the next generation of analytics experts

Curiosity can unlock a career in analytics and data science for students. The most important thing about data is what you do with it. This is your chance to flex your SAS skills.

Two unique opportunities for collaboration, curiosity and innovation.

But which global competition is right for you: Curiosity Cup or SAS Hackathon?

Both competitions give students the chance to:

Get hands-on data science experience

Learn new problem-solving approaches using the latest analytics technology

Complete a data science project that will help kick-start your career

Gain recognition and earn digital badges for your résumé

To help decide which competition is right for you,
check out our at-a-glance comparison

 

CURIOSITY CUP

SAS HACKATHON

What's in it for you
  • Explore a topic you’re curious about while expanding your analytics portfolio.
  • Compete against students from all over the globe.
  • Gain important face time with your faculty adviser.
  • Get access to free courses, tutorials and more.
  • Participate in free SAS workshops.
  • Work on a predefined use case with data provided by SAS.
  • Compete against students from all over the globe.
  • Participate in free SAS workshops and gain access to new, free learning resources.
More reasons to participate
  • Hone your analytics skills with hands-on experience that you can add to your résumé.
  • Get recognized by industry professionals when you present your findings.
  • There may be an opportunity to develop your application and commercialize your ideas with SAS. Teams own their own IP (intellectual property).
  • Connect with local and global innovators, partners and industry leaders.
  • Add to your analytics portfolio, an important component of your job market search.  
Skill level required
  • Open to all students regardless of analytics and data science expertise.
  • Experience with SAS®9 or SAS® Viya® is a plus.
  • Open to all students with some analytics and data science experience.
  • Experience with SAS®9 or SAS Viya is a plus.
Team structure
  • Teams of 2-4 students and a faculty mentor.
  • Bring your own team of 2-10 students.
  • Register as an individual student and build a profile in the Hacker’s Hub to connect with other individual participants seeking teams.
What you’ll submit
  • Share your analysis and findings in a paper of 2-5 pages. Finalists will submit a video presentation describing their data analysis for judging.  
  • Present your solution – create two videos, a three-minute pitch and an eight-minute presentation – for judging.
Mentors
  • A faculty sponsor from your academic institution.
  • No mentors needed.
Software
  • Use SAS®9 or SAS Viya to conduct your analysis.  
  • SAS Viya.
Timeline
  • Registration opens Dec. 1, 2024.
  • Registration closes Jan. 31, 2025.
  • Paper submission due Feb. 19, 2025.
  • Round two video submissions due March 26, 2025.
  • Winners announced on or around April 16, 2025.
  • Registration opens May 30, 2024.
  • Registration closes Aug. 30, 2024.
  • SAS Hackathon begins Sept. 16, 2024.
  • SAS Hackathon ends Oct. 11.
  • Video uploads/submissions between Oct. 7 and Oct. 17, 2024.
  • Winners announced on Nov. 18, 2024.

Next steps: Decide which competition is right for you

  • Dive into the details of each competition. Visit the websites to learn more.
  • Check out innovation stories and watch winning submissions from last year.
  • Register and/or join interest lists to be notified when registrations open.
The Curiosity Cup
A global SAS student competition
SAS Hackathon
Where your curiosity leads to innovation