A New Application Path for GitHub Campus Experts
GitHub’s Campus Experts Program turns five years old in 2021, and the team behind it is using the milestone to overhaul how students apply. Since launching in 2016 with a small cohort of handpicked students, the program has expanded into a global network of more than 250 student leaders who organize meetups, conferences, and hackathons while acting as a bridge between campus life and the tech industry.
Demand has climbed sharply—last year alone saw tens of thousands of applications—which pushed GitHub to rethink its selection process. Starting in February, the program is moving to a new application flow designed to speed up responses and give accepted students a smoother onboarding experience.
What the Program Is Looking For
The new application process is built around four core assessment areas:
- Motivation: What drives you and your interest in technology?
- Interest: Why do you want to join the program specifically?
- Growth and potential: Which skills are you hoping to build, and how will they support your personal and professional development?
- Contribution: What kind of impact do you want to make on your campus?
Eligibility requirements have also been tightened. Applicants must:
- Have the GitHub Student Developer Pack
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be enrolled in a formal higher education institution
- Have at least one year before graduating
- Have had a GitHub account for at least six months
Two Steps, Two Deadlines
The application is split into two stages. First, candidates fill out a written form describing their campus community’s challenges, the opportunities they want to create for peers, and their own growth potential. Those who pass the initial screening are then asked to submit a video resume that gives the selection team a better look at their personality, motivations, and interests.
Applications open twice a year, in February and August, and stay open for one full month. After submissions close, GitHub Education reviews them over a two-week period. Successful candidates receive instructions for the video resume and get two weeks to record and upload it. The final review of videos takes about a week before accepted students are invited to official training.
A basic webcam recording is perfectly acceptable. If the video format creates a barrier, applicants can contact the GitHub Education team to arrange an alternative submission method.
Training Gets More Structure
The Campus Experts Training remains the core benefit of the program. Over six weeks, students analyze their local community, learn skills like public speaking, technical writing, and software development, and draft a concrete community proposal.
Two changes aim to make that experience stronger. Course modules now include more explicit instructions to help students produce valid submissions from the start. Additionally, the program is adding scheduled follow-ups and events that give trainees more interaction with mentors, Campus Experts, and peers in their cohort—translating into more opportunities to practice skills and get feedback.
Getting Ready to Apply
The next application window opens in February. To prepare, interested students should sign up for the GitHub Student Developer Pack and subscribe to program updates via the Campus Experts page.
