2026 Stevens High Frequency Trading Competition
The School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology is pleased to announce the annual Stevens High Frequency Trading Competition (HFTC-26)! This rigorous, high-stakes event is open to all qualified undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in an accredited university anywhere in the world.
HFTC-26 Information
The Competition: Structure, Strategy, and Rules
HFTC-26 is a unique competition where teams are required to architect, code and deploy their own strategies for intraday algorithmic trading.
All simulations will be executed on the SHIFT high-frequency trading simulation platform, an advanced, in-house system developed at Stevens. SHIFT provides the granular market microstructure and low-latency environment necessary to test sophisticated strategies under conditions mirroring real-world markets.
This event is structured to achieve three primary objectives:
Foster Innovation: Enhance coding proficiency and deepen quantitative understanding of market mechanics and trading microstructure.
Validate Skills: Develop practical implementation skills for advanced algorithmic trading concepts using Python and the FIX Protocol.
Identify Talent: Recognize and reward successful algorithmic strategies through significant monetary group prizes.
Core Rules
Category | Detail |
Trading Assets | Trading will involve either the 30 Dow Jones stocks (for historical simulations) or synthetic tickers (for agent-based simulation days). |
Trading Scope | Intraday trading only. |
Initial Capital | Teams start with a virtual balance of $1,000,000, which is reset every competition day. |
Execution Constraints | Trading strategies are subject to specific execution minimums and are charged standard market fees/rebates. |
Trading Software | Teams will be provided with a virtual machine to develop strategies using the SHIFT Python API. |
Why You Should Apply: The HFTC Advantage
Participation offers a direct competitive advantage for individuals pursuing careers in quantitative finance by facilitating the conversion of academic knowledge into high-level, practical application.
1. Technical Skill Deployment
Implementation Mastery: Master the practical development and execution of trading algorithms.
High-Fidelity Experience: Operate within a professional-grade, low-latency infrastructure, gaining experience highly relevant to HFT roles.
Performance Optimization: Gain direct experience developing, backtesting and refining strategies within a simulated environment.
2. Academic Validation and Networking
Recruitment Signal: Success in this competition serves as a significant, objective signal on a curriculum vitae, validating applied quantitative ability and execution to financial recruiters.
Academic Development: Solidify interests and skills in advanced domains, leading to research opportunities and placement in Financial Engineering and Quantitative Finance graduate programs.
3. Strategic Resilience
Adaptive Challenges: The competition spans multiple weeks, featuring distinct, complex trading scenarios (including historical volatility events and reinforcement learning agents) that necessitate continuous algorithmic adaptation.
Quantifiable Success: Compete for a total prize pool of $3,600, awarded based on metrics that measure performance against market dynamics. Teams are scored in an F-1 fashion across five competition days, meaning points are weighted to increase significantly with each successive round, rewarding teams that maintain consistent performance and improve over time.
Eligibility & Team Structure
Requirement | Details |
Participants | Undergraduate or graduate students who are currently enrolled in any accredited university, domestically or internationally. |
Team Size | Teams must comprise a minimum of two members and a maximum of four members. |
Team Composition | Teams may be composed of students from the same or different universities. |
Prerequisites | At least one member of each team must possess familiarity with Python programming and GitHub. |
Team Designation | Each team must designate a Team Leader responsible for submitting the complete application package. |
Prizes
Place | Prize |
First Place | $2,000 |
Second Place | $1,200 |
Third Place | $400 |
How to Enter the Competition
1. Application Process
Application Deadline: February 1st, 2026
No initial application fee. Teams undergo comprehensive review by Stevens finance faculty for approval.
2. Selection and Technical Assessment
Approved teams will receive a technical assessment to evaluate proficiency.
Technical Assessment Release: February 6th, 2026
Technical Assessment Deadline: February 13th, 2026
3. Final Notification and Registration
Final Selection Notification: February 20th, 2026
Registration Fee: Upon selection, a $100 registration fee per team is required.
Registration Payment Deadline: February 27th, 2026
Competition Timeline
Event | Date |
Application Deadline | February 1 |
Technical Assessment Release | February 6 |
Technical Assessment Deadline | February 13 |
Final Selection Notification | February 20 |
Registration Payment Deadline | February 27 |
Orientation Session (Mandatory) | March 4 |
Test Run 1 | March 9 |
Test Run 2 | March 13 |
Competition Trading Days | March 27 – April 24 |
Award Ceremony | May 1 |
For additional inquiries, contact the coordination team at algotrading@stevens.edu.
We look forward to reviewing your application and witnessing the deployment of your rigorous and innovative trading strategies. Assemble your team and secure your competitive edge!