Traders at Berkeley

Berkeley Trading Competition

The West Coast's premier intercollegiate trading competition, hosted by Traders at Berkeley.

Held each spring · UC Berkeley

Two days of live trading and research.

Competitors face a series of trading and quantitative research challenges built by Traders at Berkeley, alongside networking sessions with our industry sponsors.

Applications for the next competition are not open yet. Follow us on Instagram for the announcement and dates.

  • $20,000 Prize pool, cash
  • 2 days In person at Berkeley
  • 10+ Recruiting firms on the floor
  • Competitors trading during a Berkeley Trading Competition round
  • The competition floor during a presentation at the Berkeley Trading Competition
  • Participants at a table during the Berkeley Trading Competition

On the floor

Meet the firms that trade the markets.

Between rounds, participants meet current traders, researchers, and engineers from the firms recruiting on site:

  • Citadel
  • Jane Street
  • Optiver
  • Jump Trading
  • DRW
  • Susquehanna
  • Five Rings
  • Flow Traders
  • Hudson River Trading
  • Old Mission Capital

Details

What to know

Prizes
A $20,000 cash prize pool. Top scorers across all games each win, and top players in each individual game win as well — plus special swag and other prizes.
Who can compete
Open to all undergraduate and graduate students interested in quantitative trading — targeted to Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Physics, Economics, and Finance, but built to welcome newcomers with no trading experience.
Travel & meals
Traders at Berkeley covers transportation and accommodation for traveling participants; details go out to accepted competitors. Breakfast and lunch are served each day.

Competition specifics go to accepted participants by email. Questions before then?

Frequently asked questions

Who can compete, and do I need prior trading experience?

The competition is open to any undergraduate or graduate student, including freshmen and sophomores. You don't need prior trading or finance experience; we're looking for strong quantitative ability.

When do applications open, and how do I apply?

Applications typically open in late November and close in mid-December. Accepted participants are notified within a few weeks of the deadline, at which point we arrange travel and housing details. Follow us on Instagram for exact dates and the application link.

Is the competition a team or individual event?

The competition is an individual event and each participant needs to sign up separately. Final scoring and prizes will be awarded based on individual performance.

How will transportation and accommodation costs be reimbursed?

Accommodation will be handled by Traders at Berkeley. Details about transportation reimbursement will be released to accepted participants. Participants should wait until acceptance emails are sent out before booking flights and transportation.