Major Student Programs & Hackathons
- internships
- hackathons
- google
- microsoft
- career
Landing a role at a top-tier tech company often starts long before the final placement season. Major tech giants and Fintech firms run annual programs, hackathons, and research initiatives designed specifically to identify top talent early.
Here is a breakdown of the most prestigious student programs you should have on your radar.
1. HackWithInfy (Infosys)
HackWithInfy is a competitive coding competition for second-year to pre-final year students across India. It serves as a direct gateway to technical interviews at Infosys.
- Timeline: January to July.
- Eligibility: 18+ years old, B.E./B.Tech/M.E./M.Tech (CS/IT), 60% or 6.5+ CGPA, no active backlogs.
- Process:
- Round 1: Online coding (3 questions).
- Round 2: Grand Finale (Hackathon) for the top 100 participants.
- Benefits: Prize money up to ₹2,00,000 and full-time job/internship offers.
2. Microsoft Engage
A mentorship program providing 1:1 support from Microsoft engineers as you work on a real-world project.
- Timeline: June to July.
- Eligibility: 2nd year (B.Tech) or 3rd year (Dual Degree), 7+ CGPA, strong CS fundamentals.
- Benefits: Monthly stipend of ₹80,000 – ₹1,00,000 and an inside look at Microsoft culture.
3. Flipkart GRiD
An engineering campus challenge focused on e-commerce technology and problem-solving at scale.
- Timeline: June to September.
- Eligibility: B.Tech/B.E./M.Tech students (India & US). Teams of 2–3.
- Benefits:
- Internship Stipend: ₹1,00,000/month.
- SDE-1 Offer: Up to ₹32.57 LPA.
- Prizes: E-Gift Vouchers worth up to ₹1,50,000.
4. Google Step & Internship
Google’s student hiring focuses heavily on mobile industry standards and core programming.
- Timeline: June to September.
- Selection: Written Exam, Coding Test, and Technical Interviews.
- Benefits: Stipend of ₹75,000/month.
5. CodeStreet (American Express)
Amex’s flagship hackathon for solving Fintech-related riddles.
- Timeline: August to October.
- Eligibility: Pre-final or Final year technical students.
- Benefits: Prize money up to ₹75,000 and PPI (Pre-Placement Interview) opportunities.
6. Goldman Sachs Engineering Campus Hiring
A program for students to join one of the world’s leading investment banks.
- Timeline: Applications start in July.
- Eligibility: Second or Penultimate year students.
- Benefits: Monthly stipend of ₹1,00,000.
7. Hackerramp (Myntra)
A forum to ideate and implement a functional prototype with mentoring from Myntra’s engineering leaders.
- Timeline: September to November.
- Process: Ideation -> Implementation -> Pre-Finale -> Grand Finale.
- Benefits: Top prize of ₹1,25,000 and PPI opportunities for finalist teams.
8. Code For Good (JP Morgan Chase & Co.)
A hackathon where you work alongside JP Morgan technologists to solve problems for social-good organizations.
- Eligibility: 7+ CGPA, B.Tech/B.E. (CS/IT/Circuit branches).
- Benefits: Individual prizes (₹17k–₹25k) and job opportunities.
Other Notable Programs
| Program | Company | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Mitacs Globalink | Canadian Universities | 12-week Research Internship in Canada |
| Amazon India | Amazon | ₹80k Stipend + Relocation |
| Stratethon | Optum | $6,700 Prize Pool + PPIs |
Pro-Tip for Applicants
Most of these programs prioritize Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) and System Design basics in their initial rounds. If you are participating in hackathons like Myntra Hackerramp or Flipkart GRiD, ensure your GitHub profile is active and your READMEs are well-documented.
