Verifying your student email when creating a student hackathon

Devpost provides our hackathon platform free of charge to student organizations hosting student-only hackathons. To confirm that your event qualifies for the free student license, we ask the organizer to verify an academic email address before creating the hackathon. You can read more about what qualifies for the student license in section 6 of our Terms of Service. This article covers:

• What academic email verification is and why we ask for it
• How to verify your academic email
• What to do if your email isn’t recognized
• What to do if you don't receive the verification email
• What to do if you don't have an academic email address

What is academic email verification?

Student hackathons can only be created by verifying an academic email address — an email issued by your school or academic institution. This quick step helps us confirm that your event qualifies for the free student license before your hackathon goes live. The address you verify is also used as your hackathon's contact email, and it doesn't need to match your Devpost account email.

Please note: Your hackathon may still be reviewed at any time by the Devpost team to ensure it complies with our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.

How do I verify my academic email?

1. Start creating your hackathon from the Hackathons page. Under Student Hackathons, Click Host online for an online event, or Host in-person for an in-person event.
2. On the Eligibility check screen, enter your educational institution email address. Only an email issued by a recognized educational institution is accepted — personal addresses (such as Gmail, Outlook or other custom personal domains) cannot be used to verify a student hackathon.
3. Click Submit for review. We'll send a verification email to the address you entered.
4. Open the email from Devpost and click the verification link to confirm your address and begin creating your hackathon.

Please note: The verification email can take a few minutes to arrive. Be sure to check your spam or promotions folder if you don't see it right away.

I didn't receive the verification email. What should I do?

If the verification email hasn't arrived after a few minutes:

• Check your spam, junk, and promotions folders.
• Confirm you entered your educational institution email address correctly, and request a new email if needed.
• Add support@devpost.com to your safe senders / allowlist, then request the email again. Some school email systems filter outside messages, so you may also need to ask your school's IT department to allow messages from this address.

What if my email isn’t recognized

If we can't automatically validate your email address, you'll see an Additional verification required screen with a short appeal form. Enter the requested details about you and your educational institution, then click Submit appeal. Our team will review your request within 3–5 business days. If your request is approved, you'll be able to complete the verification steps above and continue creating your hackathon.

I don't have an academic email address. Can I still create a student hackathon?

Student hackathons can only be created by verifying an academic email address, so an academic email is required to get started.

If you're a student without an academic email address, ask a teacher or professor to create the hackathon on your behalf using their academic email. They can then add you as a manager so you can help set up and run the event. Learn more in Adding and removing hackathon managers. Note: All managers of the hackathon, including the creator, are responsible Posters and must abide by Devpost's Terms of Service. If the hackathon doesn't comply, the accounts may be suspended.