We can help you to find accommodation in and around Bath by giving you the contact details of some reputable local estate agents. Spare Room is always worth checking for flat shares, and we have an accommodation channel in the iO Academy Slack group.
We do not have our own accommodation facilities but once you are accepted onto the course please let us know if you have any problems finding something and we’ll try to help as much as we can.
Bath has good transport networks so you can also consider surrounding areas. Bristol, Trowbridge, Swindon and Chippenham have train stations that connect with Bath, while Box, Corsham, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Melksham have bus routes. There are other surrounding towns as well which are all worth checking.
Some of our students who live further afield decide to base themselves in Bath during the week and then return home on weekends. For these students other options such as hotels may be more suitable; there is a Travelodge less than 10 minutes walk from the Academy and a Holiday Inn within 1.5 miles.
Yes, we have good public transport links.
We are a 10 minute walk from Bath Spa train and bus stations. Please note the walk is uphill. Bath is well connected with towns and cities including Bristol, Trowbridge, Swindon and Chippenham. It is also relatively quick by train to get to London (85 minutes), Oxford (65 minutes), Exeter (80 minutes), Gloucester (80 minutes) Southampton (85 minutes) and Cardiff (90 minutes), among others.
Please be aware that there is no public parking on Widcombe Crescent. Approximately 300m up Widcombe Hill past the Academy building there is free parking, however spaces are very limited. Information on other parking options may be found on the Bath Park & Ride website, the Bath & NE Somerset Car Parks website, or at JustPark.
Yes. Please talk to us so that we understand how we can best support you. We have previously taught students with a range of mental health needs and will be as helpful as we can. We are a Mindful Employer, Disability Confident level 1, and committed to openness about mental health for both staff and students.
Yes. Please talk to us about what you need, and we will make sure you have options for quiet space when you need it.
If you’d like to arrange to visit before applying to any of our in-person courses, please contact us.
Yes. We usually have drinks (both alcoholic and non) on a Friday evening after the week of learning has ended, with current students often joined by staff and previous grads.
The Academy has a kitchen and break room where students hang out together during lunch and coffee breaks, as well as a garden which can be used in the warmer months. Past and present students regularly go to local tech meetups together; these are a fantastic way to get to know other people in the tech community as well as expanding your knowledge.
Occasionally we run other events and always encourage students to put together their own social outings.
We work hard to make sure the Academy is inclusive for everyone. We are members of Tech Talent Charter, MotherBoard Charter and Tech She Can Charter, and encourage our students to be involved with support groups such as Bath and Bristol Girl Geeks, Women’s Tech Hub, Sheffield Women in Tech, and WEST (Women in Engineering, Science and Technology).
We have a private Slack group for female and non-binary students, alumni and staff where they can talk to and support each other during their time at the Academy and beyond.
We are always open to change and growth. If there is anything you come across that makes you feel uncomfortable, or something more you think we should offer, please talk to us.
Yes, you can come to study with us from any country. However we cannot offer help with entry to the UK and are unable to offer advice or assistance with visas of any kind.
We offer several remote study options including our Software Developers Essentials and Data Science & Machine Learning courses which may be suitable for students outside of the UK.
We accept students aged 18 and over. There is no upper age limit.
The only exception to the 18+ requirement is where a company is taking on an individual as an apprentice. In this case the student may be 16 or 17, however we will also need to interview them to ensure they have a mature enough mindset to take part in a demanding course where they will be working on projects in a team with people of many different ages.
The 16 week Full Stack Track course costs £12,000.
You will be using a MacBook, mouse and keyboard with an external monitor as a second screen.
You do not have to buy your own equipment as we can provide everything you need whether you’re studying in-person or remotely. A small refundable deposit is required to use Academy equipment.
You can use your own laptop if you wish, providing it meets the necessary specifications: a MacBook Pro from 2019 or later, or a MacBook Air from 2020 or later with at least 8GB RAM and 25GB of hard drive space.
We use Apple machinery as it is considered industry best standard. If you have not used Apple tech before don’t worry, it is easy to get used to and we will help you.
We keep in touch with our alumni through our Slack group and they are always invited to our networking events, as well as graduations and socials (including Friday night drinks!).
If our industry partners are looking for mid to senior roles, or we come across any particularly good openings, we’ll share those with alumni in a dedicated Slack channel, and we also share opportunities for speaking, mentoring, volunteering, and industry meetups. We also love it when past students come back to give guest lectures at the Academy.
Yes. We enjoy being part of the local tech communities, and encourage you to join us. We regularly attend (and speak at) tech meetups such as PHPSW and Bristol JS, and we’ll share details of interesting upcoming events and conferences with you.
You’ll also get to meet people in the tech scene through our guest lectures and industry partner events, as well as our own alumni. We always say, it’s not just about meeting people who’ll get you your first job – it’s about building connections that can help throughout your career.
We have a range of tech companies we work with to get our students into jobs. We call them our industry partners. These companies know that we train people with the skills the industry needs, and they like to meet (and hire) our new developers.
Throughout the year, we run networking events with our industry partners. This allows you to meet industry professionals in an informal setting and they’ll get to know you as a person rather than a CV. You can then apply for any available jobs in the normal way, having already met one on one.
During the course, we hold a day of career advice, where we will talk you through writing a developer CV and interview tips, as well as what to look for in a tech role and company. We’ll check your CV, and help you make the most of your LinkedIn profile.
We will also share other job opportunities we come across, and are on hand if you need to ask for any additional help.
It is possible, but we strongly recommend that you don’t take on additional work while you do the course. The nature of the Full Stack Track is intensive and you will get the most benefit from it by allowing plenty of time to rest and recover, and by using some portion of your own time for practice.
You do not have to come to a taster workshop to apply to us. However if you haven’t yet done much coding and aren’t sure if you would enjoy it as a career, then it is a really good idea to come along and try it out. We will teach you enough for you to design and build something working in a few hours, and see how enjoyable it can be to create something from nothing.
It is also useful if you have decided to become a developer but aren’t sure yet where to study. The session will introduce you to at least one of our trainers, you will get to see our teaching style, and you will be able to ask questions about the course afterwards. You can also attend one of our Q&A sessions if you mainly want to ask questions.
For all applicants, we look for two things – aptitude and attitude.
The first thing we will ask you to do is a 30 minute quiz with a range of interesting puzzles. You don’t need to know anything about coding, the puzzles can be done by anyone. This quiz helps us to understand if your brain is suited to the sorts of problem-solving you’ll come across in coding.
The second thing we’ll do is simply to have an informal chat. You’ll meet with two of our trainers who will want to understand why you’d like to become a developer. If you have any requirements that would make you feel more comfortable for this chat, please let us know in advance.
After this, the trainers will look at all of our applicants and decide who will gain the most from coming to do the course.
If you aren’t accepted the first time but still really want to study with us, don’t worry. We can give you feedback on what you may need to work on, and you are welcome to reapply at any time.
The best and easiest thing is to do some coding practice, which you can do using free online resources. This will help to get your brain working in a problem-solving way, and will mean we can also see you’ve done enough to find out if this is a career you would enjoy.
It is also a good idea to come along to one of our taster workshops. Again, this will help you to understand if you would enjoy doing coding as a job, and will show us that you have done your research.
Sooner is always better. The Full Stack Track course is popular and places tend to be filled many months before their start date, so it is best to apply as soon as you decide you are interested in studying with us.
If the class on your requested start date is filled but you are accepted, you will be offered the next available start date.
If you change your mind later or need to alter your start date that is fine, as long as we have enough notice from you. The sooner you tell us the sooner we can offer your space to another student.
If you want to push back your start date to another month or year, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please be aware that this is only possible before you sign your contract, and the more notice you give the more likely we will be able to place you in a class for the date you want.
Our classes are made up of eight students to one trainer. This is much smaller than most bootcamps, so why do we do it?
Very simply, smaller classes means you’ll get more one on one time with your trainer, and they’ll make sure you are on track for every step of your learning journey. This is important for a course that sets a challenging pace.
We also chose this number as it reflects the size of an average developer team working in scrum. So as well as getting a more attentive learning experience, you also gain the experience of working on projects as part of a tech team as close to the real thing as we can make it.
Our contact hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday each week, for 16 weeks. This adds up to 600 hours of trainer contact – more than many university degrees. You will get an hour for lunch, and refreshment breaks during the day. There are no classes on bank holidays.
You may also decide to do additional practice or coding challenges outside of core class hours. This is not compulsory, but may help your learning journey.
All sorts of people complete the Full Stack Track, and they all enjoy different aspects of coding. Some love getting stuck into creative thinking and problem-solving, others enjoy the constant learning and discovery. Some like building new things, others are enthusiastic about making existing things work better. Some like getting things organised, others like trying to break stuff. There is no one type of developer.
Our students come from all ages and backgrounds. Most are changing careers, but we also have school leavers, university graduates, and people who are returning to work after a career break for childcare, health or travel.
One of the things that make our classes fun is that our students have had such different experiences. So don’t think that you aren’t the typical coder – for us, there’s no such thing.
The short answer is no. A basic level of math comprehension is all that is needed.
Many people believe that you need to be a mathematical genius to be a software developer. This is very far from the truth. Many of our students have come to us as self-professed maths haters, and are surprised to find that this has no impact on how well they do on the course, or how much they enjoy the work.
If it is something you are worried about, we recommend doing a taster session to find out what coding actually involves, and then asking the trainer questions after the session if there is anything you are still concerned about.
No. We recommend that you try some coding before applying, whether online, at one of our taster sessions or our Coding Quick Start short course. This is simply to ensure this is something you know you will enjoy. Once you are accepted we will provide you with some pre-course resources to study so that you can hit the ground running when you start.
Yes. This course has been specifically designed to give all of the skills that are most needed to become a junior developer. These skills go beyond just coding. Past students have included Computer Science university graduates who still found the course invaluable for getting to the level they needed.
One of the things that is important to us is not just teaching you the how but the why. We’ll give you a thorough understanding of programming fundamentals – invaluable in your future career as you continue learning new concepts and languages. The course will also include experience in agile working, pair programming, best practices, and real experience working on projects as part of a team.
Don’t worry. As part of the application process, we will expertly assess whether you’ll be able to complete the course and become a developer. If you make it onto the course, that means we are sure that you can do it.
The course can be tough at times and there may be moments when you feel lost. But you have your trainer to guide you through, and most of the time, just a few weeks after learning a difficult concept you will look back and think ‘but that is so easy now’.
Yes. We will send you a list of free courses to work through before the course begins. The more pre-course work you can do the easier you will find the course. We will provide over 80 hours of content that will give you a great head start.
The general structure is one week of learning, one week of doing. This means that you are regularly using the things you have learned, helping to solidify your knowledge as well as building a great portfolio. We believe that giving you time to absorb and use the concepts you learn will help them to really stick, rather than cramming you with pure theory.
The first few weeks of the course are focussed on getting the basics cemented as well as your Agile Professional Certification training, and after that it will be a balance of theory and practice.
Although we try to take personal preferences into account, we are currently unable to offer applicants a choice of trainer. Throughout the applications and admissions process we work hard to make sure each applicant is matched with the trainer who will be able to best meet their needs and guide them through the course.
No matter who your trainer is, you can be sure that you’ll receive the same award-winning instruction, mentoring and support as every other iO Academy student.
You will receive your Agile Professional Certification as part of the course. We are the only coding bootcamp in the UK to offer this qualification, which will be invaluable when looking for your first role.
For the Full Stack Track course, there is no qualification. This is because what we teach is shaped around providing the most up-to-date skills that are used in tech by real employers, rather than modules signed off by a government department.
Development is a fast-moving field, so traditional qualifications are often outdated by the time they are completed – for that reason, our curriculum is focussed on industry-relevant, practical learning and is not accredited to an institution or governing body.
We’re not here to get you a piece of paper. We’re here to help you become a great developer.
Many people worry about which backend language to learn first when they begin coding. The truth is that it doesn’t matter that much. We teach PHP, but it could be Ruby, or Java, or Python, or C. Don’t worry too much about which one you start with – the more important thing is that you learn the fundamentals of coding, the way all of these languages actually work. We always say we don’t teach PHP, we teach programming.
When you are first learning to code, it is best to learn one language thoroughly than many languages shallowly. After you understand the more abstract concepts involved in that first language, you will be much more able to effectively apply those to additional languages. Those who only have a light introduction to a range of languages will find all of this much harder. About half of our students go into roles where they will be using a language other than PHP, and this has been no problem for either them or their employers. We pride ourselves on teaching our students how to learn, so that they have the flexibility to go down many different paths in future.
But still, why did we choose PHP? Put simply, PHP is the most used server-side programming language for websites. By a large majority. This means that no matter which languages come and go in popularity, PHP will not be going out of use by tech companies any time soon. It is also a relatively simple language for beginners.
Teaching the most used backend web language in the world and one that is well suited to newbie coders was a clear choice for us.
Yes. The course is less about learning a specific language, than understanding how all programming languages work (as well as having a robust working knowledge of both PHP and Node.js). Once you have learned one language, you will find it much easier to learn the next. Almost half of our graduates go into their first roles using a new language.
Agile is a best practice project methodology used by the tech industry worldwide. Not all tech companies or teams use this system, but we believe it is the most effective way to manage the majority of development work.
Many tech companies manage their projects, workloads, tasks and clients using the Agile methodology. It helps to create a structured but flexible environment which focuses on fast delivery and open communication between developers, product managers, and clients. All of our students receive training in how to work on these projects as a Scrum Master (who is like a team coach), along with valuable certification.
We don’t just teach this way of working as theory, we live it. The projects you’ll do during the Full Stack Track are based on the Agile methodology called Scrum. This means that when you graduate and go into your first dev job, you’ll already understand the usual project processes and can hit the ground running.
Yes. You will have at least one project during the course where you will be working with the code of previous students. This will prepare you for working in the industry, where very often you will be working with other people’s old, and often confusing, code.
Yes. We encourage questions, and have a no blame culture. Your trainer will be someone who really knows their stuff, so we want you to make the most of their knowledge and experience by asking as much as you need to.
Some people do decide to teach themselves, and that is ok. It will usually take longer to learn without guidance, and there will be some things which you can’t gain experience with by teaching yourself. You also may run the risk of getting into bad habits which are hard to break later.
However everybody has different learning styles, so some people may find they can teach themselves the core technical aspects of coding using online resources and books. Others find they need a teacher who can be there to explain and support, classmates to learn with, a guarantee they are learning the right things in the right way, and practical projects to embed their new knowledge.
Every student who has come to us has finished the course, apart from a few who had to pause their coding journey due to unexpected health issues. We assess each student based on their ability before they join us, so have full confidence that anyone who comes to learn with us has the ability to finish the course.
Pre-COVID, 100% of our graduates found work in tech less than 6 months after graduating. Even with the disruption to the industry caused by the COVID pandemic, 97% of all iO Academy graduates have received a tech job offer within six months – which we think is still pretty good!
This course is designed for anyone curious about coding. If you’ve considered a career as a software developer but felt unsure whether it’s the right choice for you, this course is a perfect, low-risk introduction to the fundamentals of programming. Learn from experienced industry professionals and discover your new tech obsession.
If you work with websites in a non-technical role, this course will give you the practical skills, knowledge and confidence to build, customise and enhance your own interactive sites and templates; ideal for marketing professionals and small business owners. Even if you don’t have specific professional aspirations, coding can be a rewarding creative way to spend your time and a great way to improve your problem-solving and logical reasoning skills.
You’ll learn three core languages of the web: HTML, CSS and Javascript through a combination of theory sessions and hands-on exercises. Plus, once you’re familiar with these programming languages, you’ll be well-equipped to learn even more. By the end of the course you’ll be able to apply everything you’ve learned to a final practical project.
This course is also a great opportunity to learn stacks of transferrable skills and knowledge too. You’ll build an understanding of how websites function, improve your logical reasoning and problem-solving skills and gain insights that will prove invaluable when working with web developers and software engineers.
Click here to see the whole curriculum week-by-week.
Our Coding Quick Start classes are strictly limited to 12 people. This allows us to strike a balance between making the course accessible to as many people as possible while ensuring all students receive meaningful, high quality support and attention from their trainer.
The Coding Quick Start is a distance learning coding class delivered live online.
It never hurts to shout about your accomplishments so once you finish the Coding Quick Start, we’ll make it official with an exclusive digital certificate so you can show off to anyone who’ll listen!
Course fees are £400. Contributions of up to 100% of your course fees are available through our Diversitech funding programme for applicants from backgrounds that are under-represented in tech.
Not really. You don’t need any previous experience or knowledge of coding; that’s the whole point of this course, after all! This isn’t an intro to IT class, so you’ll need to be a reasonably competent computer user already. Apart from that, a solid grasp of the english language and positive attitude are all you need.
Nope. Throughout the course duration you’ll complete practical exercises and work on a project in the final week but there are no exams, tests quizzes, assessments, appraisals or evaluations to stress about.
Once you complete the course you’ll be able to start building your own interactive websites and email templates from scratch or personalise existing web pages. You’ll have a fundamental understanding of how coding works, which’ll set you up with a solid basis for learning even more programming languages.
If you want to take your training to the next level you’ll be ready to join our Full Stack Track or Software Developer Essentials coding bootcamps and launch your career as a professional software engineer.
The Coding Quick Start is intended as a introduction to programming and covers core concepts and languages over eight weeks of part-time evening classes. The Full Stack Track is an intensive coding bootcamp delivered full-time over 16 weeks and designed to teach everything needed to begin your career as a professional software developer.
Eight weeks. One two-and-a-half-hour evening class per week plus a range of practical exercises to be completed in between each session.
As with all our courses, the Coding Quick Start is developed and delivered by professional software developers with real-world industry experience. Meet our training team here.
Yes, there will be practical exercises to complete between lessons.
Teaching sessions are held online each Monday between 6pm and 8:30pm (UK time) for eight weeks.
The Coding Quick Start is a part-time remote evening class and has been specifically structured to avoid conflicts with existing professional commitments. Most applicants working typical business hours in the UK will be able to complete the course while in full-time employment.
Just a laptop or desktop computer. The specific brand, operating system and spec doesn’t really matter and it doesn’t have to be brand new but it should be a reasonably recent machine (feel free to contact us to check if you’re unsure). Your computer will need a microphone and camera and a second monitor is useful but not essential. Tablets and phones are not suitable. You’ll also need a stable internet connection and somewhere comfortable, quiet and distraction-free to work.
It’s true you can learn a lot using free video tutorials and lessons these days; everything from watercolour painting to open heart surgery (probably…). Even so, there’s no substitute for the feedback, support you’ll get from learning in realtime with an experienced trainer. What’s more, we’ve built a strong reputation on the quality of our training and that’s something you won’t get anywhere but iO Academy!
Click here to fill in a short application form and you’ll be all set.
Once we’ve received your application, we’ll send you some information including our standard terms and conditions which you’ll need to sign and return to us via email. We’ll also ask you to provide a few additional details and will need to see some ID to get you registered. As soon as that’s all sorted and payment has been made, you’re all set! The whole process shouldn’t take more than two weeks.
Once your place on the Coding Quick Start has been confirmed, we will generate an invoice for any applicable course fees which you will need to pay by bank transfer prior to the start of the course. We are currently unable to accept payment by credit or debit card.
Click here to get in touch with any other queries and our team will get back to you.
Yes, we offer all UK and EU students interest-free deferred payment on our course fees via StepEx. You can borrow up to the full cost of the course. Find out more here.
Yes. Talk to your employer about your plans, and ask them to contact us. We can discuss with them whether they would like to sponsor you through the course as a direct payment or in the form of a level 4 apprenticeship.
Yes. Our Diversitech Fund is for people who are underrepresented in tech. Find out more here.
If you are from the UK or any country within the EU, you can apply for EdAid finance. It is not available for any other countries.