LYDF Youth Policy Hackathon

Returning in the beginning of the 2026-2027 Academic Year, the Policy Hackathon offers Sixth Form students a chance to propose a policy within an annual theme, while working with other students and undergraduates to develop it over the course of a working day.

Registration for the Hackathon will open on 13 July 2026.

What is the Youth Policy Hackathon?

The LYDF Youth Policy Hackathon is the Foundation’s policy competition aimed at Sixth Form students (and replaces the SDG Policy Challenge). From the 2026/27 Academic Year, the Hackathon will run annually under a different international policy theme. Based on the theme, students choose whichever country's context makes the strongest case for an innovative policy that they want to introduce. The challenge is made up of 2 parts:

  • Stage 1 (July - September 2026): A one-page policy brief describing the current landscape. Identify the policy gap (i.e. what is missing?), and make an argument on what you would actually introduce or change.

  • Stage 2 (Early October 2026): Selected finalists will be invited to the Hackathon Day at the LSE, where you will be put into groups (of around 3-4), choosing one policy and developing it through the day with an LSE undergraduate student. This will become a fully-worked policy (implementation, feasibility, strategy for winning support) which will be presented to the judging panel.

Eligibility and Key Dates

The challenge is open free of charge to any Sixth Form student (Years 12-13). Entry to the Hackathon is individual and involves signing up to the Challenge and submitting the one-page policy brief by the specified deadline. Finalists will be notified within one week of the deadline where they will be invited to the Hackathon Day (scheduled for early October 2026).

There are two Award Categories in the Hackathon:

  • Best Policy Proposal - This is decided from the briefs which were submitted, based on the research quality, persuasiveness and level of innovation demonstrated within the brief.

  • Best Policy Presentation - Awarded to the best team on the Hackathon Day, based on the substance, feasibility and delivery of the developed policy.


Both award categories are evaluated by the LSE100 Faculty Team and will be awarded during the Hackathon Day. All awardees will be recognised with a certificate, a presentation opportunity during London YouthMUN 2027 as well as a full scholarship to London YouthMUN 2027.

2026 Challenge: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) is a legally binding international treaty detailing the fundamental civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of every human being under the age of 18. This means that governments are obligated to work together to meet children’s basic needs and help them reach their full potential. Your challenge is to propose (or change an existing) policy which will help better protect the rights of children.

Brought to you in partnership with LSE100

This Hackathon is organised with LSE100, LSE’s flagship interdisciplinary course taken by all first-year undergraduate students. The course is designed to build your capacity to tackle multidimensional problems through research-rich education, giving you the opportunity to explore transformative global challenges in collaboration with peers from other departments and leading academics from across the School.