Question 1

Do I need to know how to code?

Accepted Answer

No. n8n is a visual tool — you build by dragging and connecting blocks on a canvas, not by writing code from scratch. Friday's workshop starts from zero and assumes you've never opened it. Some of the best hackathon projects come from people who understood the problem well, not from the strongest programmer in the room.

Question 2

I don't have a team. Can I still come?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and plenty of people will be in exactly the same position. Come to the team formation event on Wednesday 9 September (5:30–7:30pm), say hello in #team-formation on Discord any time before the weekend, or just turn up on Saturday morning and we'll place you at check-in. Teams are 2–4 people. Nobody who shows up gets left standing on their own.

Question 3

I've never done a hackathon before. Will I be out of my depth?

Accepted Answer

No. This one is built for first-timers — that's why there's a workshop the night before and mentors available during the weekend. You'll be in a team, you'll have people to ask, and the whole point is to try something and see how far you get in two days. Turning up knowing nothing is a completely normal way to start.

Question 4

Do I have to be a USYD student, and does it cost anything?

Accepted Answer

It's free, and it's open to students from any university — USYD, UNSW, UTS, Macquarie, anywhere. Any degree, any year. You don't need a startup, a portfolio, or a technical background. Places are capped at around 75, so it's worth registering early.

Question 5

Which of the three sessions do I actually have to attend?

Accepted Answer

The hackathon itself is Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, 9:30am–5pm, and you'll want to be there for both days. The Friday workshop (11 September, 5–6pm, online) is where we reveal the challenge and introduce n8n — it's optional on paper, but everyone who comes starts Saturday with a real head start. Wednesday's team formation event only matters if you don't have a team yet.

Question 6

What will we be building — and can we start early?

Accepted Answer

We reveal the challenge at Friday's workshop. It's deliberately open-ended rather than a narrow brief, so there's genuine room to build something you actually find interesting. And because the reveal is the night before, everyone starts from the same line — no team gets a head start.

Question 7

What should I bring, and do I need to set anything up?

Accepted Answer

A laptop, a charger, and an n8n account. We'll send account instructions a few days before — wait for those rather than signing up early, because the free trial runs on a two-week clock and you want it working on Saturday morning, not expired. Bring a water bottle. Everything else is on us.

Question 8

Is food provided?

Accepted Answer

Yes — coffee and morning tea when you arrive, and lunch on both days, all covered by n8n. There's no catered dinner, so plan your own evening meal if you're heading out after 5pm. [CONFIRM: where people flag dietary requirements — registration form field, or a Discord channel]

Question 9

How does Sunday work, and what if we haven't finished?

Accepted Answer

Submissions close at 3:30pm, then you'll have time to prepare before demos start at 4:00 — each team gets 3–5 minutes in front of the judges, and awards are handed out from 5:00. Judges look at creativity, use of AI, functionality and presentation, with three awards up for grabs: Best Overall, Best Innovation, and People's Choice, voted by everyone in the room via Discord.

And on the unfinished part: almost nobody finishes. Half-built projects with a clear idea behind them regularly beat polished ones — show what you made, be honest about what's next, and you'll be in good company.

Question 10

Where do I get help during the weekend?

Accepted Answer

Our Discord, for everything — announcements, finding teammates, technical help, mentor bookings and submissions. The invite comes with your registration confirmation. Mentors run office hours on Saturday afternoon from 1:00: book a slot in Discord and you'll hop on a quick call with someone who can unstick you.

N8N University Hackathon - FAQ

The basics

Getting ready

On the day