What it’s like to be an Apple WWDC student scholar and why you should apply this year

Each year 350 students are invited to attend Apple's famous developers' conference. Here's what it's like to win a coveted scholarship spot
Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi speaks during the keynote address during the 2019 Apple WWDC
Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty
Amelia Heathman19 May 2020

As Apple’s WWDC developer conference rolls around each June, students across the world put their heads down and get coding in order to nab one of the company’s coveted scholarship spots.

Every year, hundreds of students gain a free ticket to WWDC and a place to stay in California during the week-long event as part of the WWDC scholarship programme. The students get a chance to learn more about the famed tech company and how to create apps and services that could one day end up on the App Store.

Though things are a little different this year, WWDC 2020 is taking place virtually as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the scholarship programme is still going ahead, with 350 spots up for grabs. Scholars will receive an exclusive WWDC20 jacket and pin set, as well as access to events during the week-long conference.

“Our student program at WWDC isn’t something we check off the list because it’s something good to do. We do this because we honestly believe in our students and we want to support, encourage and uplift them,” explains Esther Hare, who manages the WWDC scholarship programme as part of her role as head of developer marketing at Apple.

Hare says it’s great to get to know the kids who win a spot on the programme, from reading through the submissions to meeting them at the event. “It’s really meaningful to realise that the next generation is really focused on solving issues with technology. We see so many apps for accessibility; mental health is huge for the student community; [and] peer-to-peer education, kids teaching each other how to code. It’s really a motivating, humbling time that’s super uplifting.”

The company also ensures that it keeps in touch with its scholars, such as Londoner Joseph Mambwe, who attended WWDC as a student scholar back in 2015. He was studying manufacturing engineering at Cambridge University at the time and was creating iOS apps in his free time after teaching himself how to code in 2013.

“After a while, I realised there was a limit to learning on my own and wanted to experience WWDC to enhance my capabilities as an iOS developer through the sessions and workshops,” he says.

GymStreak founder Joseph Mambwe attended WWDC as a scholar in 2015 (Gymstreak )
Gymstreak

Mambwe created a concept of an indoor navigation app that used hyperlapse imagery to visualise a path through indoor spaces which impressed the Apple team and won him a spot. He says it was amazing to attend the conference. “The talks and workshops were incredibly insightful. There were tons of interesting developers from all parts of the planet with inspiring stories. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming, I don’t think I’ve ever high-fived so much in my life!”

But the emphasis on attending something like WWDC isn’t just about seeing Apple Park up close, it’s about being able to liaise with developers and learn more about creating apps and services for Apple products, which are used by over one billion people around the world. Understandably, for Mambwe, meeting all these developers was one of the best things about his scholarship.

“I realised I was limiting myself and that I could be a lot more ambitious both in the technical scope of my projects as well as the sheer scale of my ambition. I realised there is a lot more you can do with just a MacBook and some big ideas, and seeing what other developers have been able to do, by virtue of simply being there with them, I knew I could do it too.”

Since attending WWDC, Mambwe has since gone on to launch his own app, GymStreak, a fitness app that automatically creates workout plans for you at home or the gym. With nearly 800,000 downloads around the world, GymStreak uses motion capture technology to create and animate 3D models carrying out the exercise which you can view in augmented reality.

Create your workout and then the app shows you how to do the moves in AR (GymStreak)
Gymstreak

Given that many gyms around the world are closed at the moment, GymStreak is particularly handy for those working out at home. Mambwe wants to build on the motion capture tech the app uses as well as expand its AR capabilities. AR is another tech that Apple is exploring, with the company reportedly working on a pair of AR glasses.

“I hold the belief that AR tech will change the way we interact with technology and so my ambition is to build into that future [with GymStreak] while still being valuable for users of today’s tech,” he says. “Platforms such as the smartphone were defined by the utility of the applications created for them and I would love to create an app that helps accelerate the adoption of future AR devices."

For this year’s WWDC scholars, students are encouraged to create an interactive scene using Swift Playground, Apple’s coding language and app, that can be experienced within three minutes. Mambwe’s advice for those looking to apply? “Don’t be afraid of expressing big ideas in your submissions. And if you end up going, take full advantage of the opportunity to make connections with the people around you.”

“While kids are at home, I think it’s more important than ever that they have something to work towards,” adds Hare. “This challenge gives kids an opportunity to have a focus on things they can contribute to, they can try something new if they’ve never applied before.”

To apply for WWDC20, visit the Swift Student Challenge page on Apple’s website. Students can apply from the age of 13, as long as they are enrolled at an accredited academic institution or have graduated within the past six months. You have until 7.59am on May 18 to submit a challenge.

WWDC 2020 runs from Monday June 22 - to Friday June 26. Catch up on all the headline news at standard.co.uk/WWDC

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