You will be using a MacBook, mouse and keyboard with a large 24” monitor as a second screen.
You can use your own laptop if you wish, providing it meets the necessary specifications, however you do not have to buy your own laptop as we have everything you need. We need a £150 deposit and you can then use the Academy MacBook for the duration of the course.
If you decide to use your own laptop, this must be a MacBook Pro from 2015 or later, with at least 8GB RAM, a 2.7GHz processor, 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.
If you would like to do work at home in evenings or on weekends, you can take your MacBook home with you providing it is protected in a sleeve for travel and kept undamaged.
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 flatshares, and we have an accommodation channel in the 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 further afield. 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.
Those who live further afield and are planning to base themselves in Bath during the week then return home on weekends might like to look at other options, like the Holiday Inn which is located near the Academy.
Yes. We are a ten minute walk from Bath Spa train station and bus station.
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.
There is no public parking on Widcombe Crescent. Approximately 300m up the 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.
Outside COVID restriction periods, yes. Taster sessions are held at the Academy, and you will also have your application chat with the trainers here (unless you decide to have your chat remotely). We can’t offer individual tours, but you can do your own virtual tour of the building here.
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.
We also have a kitchen, games room and garden where students hang out together during lunch and coffee breaks, and we regularly go to tech meetups in Bristol and Bath.
Occasionally we run other events, like hackathons or lightning talks, and are always happy for students to put together their own social outings. There is also an unofficial Academy Dungeons & Dragons group, for those who dare.
We keep in touch with our alumni through our Slack group and they are always invited to events such as graduations or socials (as well as Friday night drinks!).
If our hiring 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.
We work hard to make sure the Academy is inclusive for everyone. We are members of Tech Talent Charter and Tech She Can charter, and encourage our students to be involved with local groups such as Bath Girl Geeks, Bristol Girl Geeks, and Women’s Tech Hub.
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 extra you think we should offer, please talk to us.
Yes. We enjoy being part of the Bristol and Bath tech community, 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 hiring 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 hiring partners. These companies, mainly based in Bristol and Bath but also from London and other areas of the UK, know that we train people with the skills the industry needs, and they like to meet (and hire) our new developers.
Before you graduate, we will run a networking event with any of these companies who are currently hiring junior developers. This will allow you to meet each other in an informal setting and they’ll get to know you as a person rather than a CV. You can then apply for their jobs in the normal way, having already met one on one.
Leading up to this, 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 take a professional photo for you to use on LinkedIn.
We will also share other job opportunities we come across, and are on hand if you need to ask for any additional help.