Code Institute

Code Institute's Diploma in Software Development is a full-stack web development bootcamp, which you can take full-time (4 months) or part-time (up to 14 months). Although I was unemployed at the time, I eventually chose the part-time option as I didn't want to commit to a full 8-hour-a-day obligation. It eventually took me just over 7 months to complete the course, precisely the time I set myself in the beginning.

TL;DR: my experience with the course, the topics covered, the support offered, the student community, and with Code Institute in general, has been overwhelmingly positive. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in web development, with only one caveat: if you're a complete novice to the computer world, don't quite know the difference between Windows, Word and Explorer yet, or have never used the word "variable", then you might find yourself struggling with certain course topics.

Intro

Code Institute (CI) has a nice "demo course" for aspiring applicants, called the 5-Day Coding Challenge. It is designed to give the prospective applicant a taste of the coding world, of the teaching approach the full course takes, and an opportunity for the person to ascertain whether their aptitude and interests are really aligned with what the course has to offer. I ran into the challenge by fortune (or by search engine wizardry? :)) and completed it just to see what it was all about. I enjoyed it, it was fun and interesting, but as I hadn't made a serious decision to change careers at that particular time yet (I had worked in the aviation industry for 18 years prior), I didn't give it much thought when I finished it.

Pre-course

A couple of months later - and by then I was already seriously contemplating leaving my then-current job and changing careers - I was contacted by CI's Educational Advisor and asked if I'd be interested in taking the course. Our first conversation (over the phone) lasted for over half an hour, during which he explained to me the types of support offered during the course, the financing options, and addressed all questions I had. It was not one of those generic phone sales calls where the person just reads a written advertisement in robot-like voice spouting their perfect product - it was an open and honest personal conversation involving many questions from my part, and at no time did I have the feeling that he was just trying to sell me his product.

 What really “sold” me for the course – even in comparison with other similar courses I had looked at – were these promises:
- a university-credited diploma upon successful completion of the course,
- a curriculum built upon technologies in high demand by the industry,
- four-pillar in-course support (Student Care, Tutors, personal Mentor, Slack community)
- career support upon course completion.

Price

The price of EUR 5500 (I think it's slightly higher now) was not negligible by any stretch, but once I had made the final decision to change careers, and comparing the above promises to other courses of similar content/scope and their prices, it was more than reasonable. So I quit my job, and decided to jump in head-first. And I never looked back.

Start

On the first day of the official course start (new part-time students officially start on Tuesday) I received a personalised welcome call from Student Care, followed by an email containing a bundle of useful student brochures (welcome pack, Student Charter, support guide), and a personalised course schedule based on the time I had said I'd like to complete the course in. The schedule is very useful for tracking one's progress as it tells you exactly what lesson you should be at on which date, thus helping you plan your studying and preventing you from falling behind on the schedule. Really helpful.

Contents

The courses Learning Management System is an online application enabling access to all the course materials, plus links to Tutor Support and Slack (although Slack definitely works better when downloaded as a standalone desktop app).

The course contents are divided into modules of two general types:
- "Fundamentals" modules - teaching the syntax of the particular language covered (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python),
- "Practical" modules - providing practical application of the theoretical concepts learned in the Fundamentals.

Thus the HTML and CSS modules are followed by a User-Centric Frontend module (introducing Bootstrap), JS is followed by an Interactive Frontend module (introducing jQuery), and Python is followed by Practical Python (introducing Flask), Data-Centric Development (introducing SQL and MongoDB), and Full-Stack Frameworks (introducing Django).

As a general rule, the Fundamentals modules are a mix of text lessons, runnable examples and auto-graded challenges or quizzes, while the Practical modules are video/tutorial-based (with occasional challenges) and involve theory (e.g. UI/UX design concepts or database design) and code-along mini projects.
 
I found most of these lessons very intuitive and easy to follow; some challenges were really challenging and there are some individual points that perhaps could be explained more clearly (although that is really completely subjective), but I can honestly say that I never encountered any issue that I wasn't eventually able to resolve with some own research or, when that failed, using one of the available support options.

What bears pointing out is that at the end of every module (be it Fundamentals or Practical) there is a Student Feedback Form which enables every student to leave feedback on the module they just completed. Student feedback is clearly important to CI, and the course is undergoing constant improvements -  just as an example, around the time I started, they changed the “official” course IDE to replace an outdated one, and around the time I was finishing, the Django module was fully remade to use Django 3, and is IMHO currently the best module in the course. Minor bugs or problems (which can also be reported through Slack) are usually resolved (or at least worked around) within hours or days at most.

A single weak point  (but again, this is a completely personal opinion) I was able to identify in the course, is the transition from JavaScript fundamentals to practice. While the JS Fundamentals module is really solid, and the Practical part covers some essential topics like API handling quite well, what I felt was lacking was a code-along project that would build a working JS app from scratch, a demonstration how to apply all the little pieces of the puzzle that are JS syntax and put them together into a working app. The feeling I had was that of a person holding a large set of Lego bricks and knowing exactly what each one does separately, but having no idea how to put them together. By its very nature, JS is a significant difficulty increase from HTML/CSS, and I found myself really struggling to put my theoretical JS knowledge to practice, as did a significant number of other students I conversed with. This is the single point I think really should be improved in the course, and I wrote that in my Feedback Form.

Projects

Every major Practical module ends with a Milestone Project, which has clear official requirements and is graded by an external expert. Thus at the end of the course the graduate has a portfolio of four major apps (HTML/CSS, HTML/CSS/JS, Flask/MongoDB, Django/SQL) that they can demonstrate their knowledge and skills with. The value of the Milestone Project work is immense - one learns to use a real IDE (Gitpod is the official one for the course, but the student is free to choose any alternative IDE if they want to, albeit with limited support), to use Git and GitHub, to search for solutions online (one learns that "Google is your best friend" is so much more than just a catchphrase), to use online tools (validators etc.) and resources (Stack Overflow and beyond) and, most important of all, one sees the result of their theoretical knowledge being materialised into something working and usable. Priceless.

Support

The "four pillars" of support, as advertised, are:

Student Care
A service for general student matters (LMS access, mentor assignment, progress tracking etc.).  But the level of care they demonstrated (at least to me) far exceeded my expectations. Every six weeks or so I would receive a phone call asking me how I was, acknowledging my progress, my good use of Tutor Support and Slack activity, asking if I was ready for my Milestone Project and/or if I had any difficulties. When my hometown was struck by an earthquake in March 2020, they even called me to ask if there was anything they could help me with - may seem like just a nice gesture, but to me, that's more student care than what I received during my polytechnic studies.   

Tutor Support
A chat-based instant support for day-to-day course-related issues. Primarily intended for lesson clarifications or help with challenges, they will also never refuse to answer even project-related or debugging issues. I only contacted them five or six times during the entire course, three of those times in relation to my Milestone Project, and only when I was really really stuck, but every single time they came through incredibly and helped me resolve my issue or at least pointed me in the right direction. One time the lady Tutor even set up a one-to-one screen-sharing live call to help me debug my code using Dev Tools.
The best part? Tutor Support is available 24h on weekdays and 9-17h on weekends. It doesn't really get much better than that.

Mentor
Each student is assigned a personal mentor, a professional programmer whose primary purpose is to guide the student through their milestone projects. Three half-hour sessions per project are foreseen, and the mentor is there not so much to help with coding issues, but to provide ideas on code improvements, suggestions on best practices, advice on app features etc. Apparently some mentors get more involved, some less, but I'd say that how much you get from your mentor is mostly up to you - I for example have a feeling now that perhaps I could have gotten much more had I asked, but at the time I was too busy just getting my apps to work and submitting my projects on time.

Slack
Current students, alumni, some of the mentors, and some of the CI staff (mostly Tutors and the Community Manager) are what makes up the CI Slack Community. 
Each course module has a dedicated channel where students can ask questions about specific course-related issues they encounter, and what is so invaluable is that they will often get not only peer-level answers (e.g. from a "senior" student who had struggled with the same challenge before them) but also expert-level clarifications from alumni and/or mentors who already work as professional programmers. Some mentors and alumni go so far to occasionally host live educational calls they see students struggle with, and these calls are an immense additional learning opportunity.

I can say without a shred of doubt that the Slack community is the most valuable non-coding part of the course. The amount of support, friendliness and positivity in the channels is incredible, and I have made some really good friends there even though I have never met any of those people before.

Career support

I must say I was the most skeptical about this part. Yes, there is a Careers module at the very end of the course, with some really useful contents (what a CV should look like, why a LinkedIn profile is important, how to write a good cover letter). Also, many third-party vacancies are regularly posted in Slack, and also CI cooperates with several renowned companies who look for developers. But as a career-changer I really felt I would need more "personalised" assistance as I had never attempted a job hunt before, much less in the programming market. I was afraid the module and the job posts alone would be woefully insufficient.
All my fears were alleviated in my first Google Meet call with the Career Support lady. Not only did she help me remake my CV and advised me what to change in my LinkedIn profile on the spot, she also gave me "homework" (with instructions how to do it) to look for prospective employers/vacancies and make a list.
In the next call, we reviewed the list and she told me to start applying from the bottom of the list while she would start contacting the HR/recruiting departments in the companies, with the aim of introducing me so I would not be just another anonymous application. We continued through email correspondence, where she provided me with more very valuable advice e.g. on how to respond to application rejections. In the first three weeks of a serious job hunt, I managed to land three interviews. And while I haven't received any job offers yet (it's been only four weeks now, and it's vacation season), I feel that the career support I have received so far has been nothing short of stellar.

Course difficulty

You will hear some people complain that there is too much self-study and outside research required, that for the attached price tag you shouldn’t need to do that. I disagree. Yes, some individual research is needed. But I say with full confidence that there is no obstacle that the course puts in front of the student that couldn’t be overcome using own efforts, Google + outside resources, , Tutor Support, and Slack – at least I haven’t encountered one. And I really appreciate the moments when I was forced to do some own “digging”, as these have taught me the invaluable skill of looking for solutions, asking questions and Googling properly – I know that all this sounds like a joke, but if you’ve ever talked to a programmer, you’ll know it isn’t. I’m glad I wasn’t handed all the answers on a silver platter – I truly believe it has made me a better future programmer. It has also helped me overcome some personal insecurities, which is also a point not to be thrown away.

There will also be people who feel that they are struggling too much, that the lessons are too difficult or too unclear and that the amount of support available is insufficient. While I can appreciate the sentiment - I had my struggles during the course, especially with JavaScript as mentioned above, and there will be the odd lesson that could have been worded better - I have to disagree again. As a former Air Traffic Controller,  I can provide this parallel: while probably almost anyone could be taught to eventually work as an Air Traffic Controller, the time required to achieve that, and the quality of one's work afterwards, would vary wildly from person to person. But the bar has to be set somewhere. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and I don't think it's fair to expect the bar to be set at the level of our weakness. Personally, I have zero talent for visual arts. Could I then blame a painting course for failing to make a Picasso out of me?

Conclusion

What I feel I have received from the course:
- solid grasp of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Flask, Django, MongoDB and SQL, and the corresponding documentation,
- familiarity with Bootstrap, Materialize and jQuery,
- ability to plan, design and execute a web project from start to finish,
- ability to troubleshoot, debug and fix my code,
- solid knowledge of code versioning,
- ability to use a professional-level IDE, and the ability to grasp any alternate one in the future,
- ability to ask good troubleshooting questions, 
- ability to search online resources quickly for solutions and/or clarifications,
- ability to help others resolve their code issues.
- immense support on all levels, from coding assistance to career to community/friendship.

All said and done: worth every cent and every minute invested. 

I recently completed the web development course at Code Institute, and overall, I found it to be a valuable learning experience.

The course is divided into five sections, each beginning with a theory block that includes explanatory videos and quick coding challenges. These theory blocks are well-structured and provide a solid foundation in the respective topics.Following the theory, each section features a prebuilt codealong project, where you replicate a project step-by-step using the concepts learned in the theory block. This practical approach really helped me connect the dots and solidify understanding.The personal projects are where I learned the most. They take up a significant portion of the course. Be prepared to invest a lot of time into these personal projects (80% of the full course time). It's very important to carefully read the project requirements multiple times. Missing even a small requirement can impact your grade significantly.

The theory is quite good, and there's a visible effort to keep the content up to date with modern technologies (html, css, javascript, python, jquery, django, stripe api, react and some more ...), though it's understandably difficult to have everything current at all times. The coding challenges, however, weren't always my cup of tea. They sometimes required specific answers, and minor syntax issues could cause hang-ups, which wouldn't have been an issue using an IDE, as the challenges are done completely within the browser just like with the 5-day coding challange that Code Institute makes avaliable as a taste of whats to come - though keep in mind that the course will get much more challenging compared to the 5-day challenges.

A major plus of the course is the monthly hackathons hosted online. These are excellent opportunities to gain team coding experience, learn agile development, and use Git.

For me, the best aspect of the course was the one-on-one help from a mentor. You have meetings three times for each project, each lasting 30 minutes. While I found this a bit short, it was incredibly helpful to get professional feedback from someone with experience. When I started the course, the lessons used to be 45 minutes which was definitely much more helpful (they got shortened while I was studying). These sessions were key in resolving issues and advancing through the course.

Additionally, the course offers job search assistance through a separate mini-course that helps you create your CV, teaches you about LinkedIn, the job market, and job interviews. There are also job announcements and listings in the course's Slack channel that you can apply to if they fit your profile. There's another 30-minute one-on-one session where you review your CV with an advisor for feedback. Ultimately, you're responsible for writing applications and finding a job that works for you. While this is fair, I feel the course could provide more hands-on assistance in this field given its pricetag (i.e. multiple coaching sessions).

As for the difficulty, it's hard to comment definitively as I had some prior coding knowledge. The course was challenging and required a big time commitment. I spent about 6 hours a day on it for 8 months, with 3 or 4 weekly breaks for holidays (maybe more :) who knows). It's possible to complete the course faster, but I believe the quality of my projects and what I learned would have suffered.

Overall, I would recommend Code Institute's web development course to anyone looking to gain practical skills in web development. The structure, content, and emphasis on hands-on learning make it a worthwhile investment in my opinion.

My journey with Code Institute began unexpectedly with the 5-Day Coding Challenge. I enjoyed that brief introduction and, years later, found myself enrolling in the full course. My goal was simple yet meaningful: I wanted to gain enough knowledge in coding to teach my kids.The course was far from easy. Juggling full-time work and family responsibilities with the rigorous curriculum made it a struggle, especially in the beginning. The material was challenging, and with so many demands on my time, I often had to skip learning modules. At one point, especially during the second project, I nearly quit. However, I pushed myself to keep going, despite countless late nights and the pressure of a 12-hour workday. I eventually realized that my health was more important than any timeline, so I slowed my pace, prioritizing sustainable progress.Code Institute organized regular hackathons. I participated in several of them, which turned out to be invaluable parts of my journey. Through these events, I improved my coding abilities, learned new techniques, and gained insights from working with other team members.Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I am no longer the beginner who once hesitated. I now feel confident in my coding skills and am grateful for the rewarding experience that Code Institute provided. It was a hard journey, but sticking with it was worth it in the end.

I am having an amazing experience with Code Institute, and I highly recommend their course to anyone looking to break into web development or further their tech skills. The curriculum is comprehensive, hands-on, and designed to give students the practical skills to excel in the industry. I particularly enjoyed the structured yet flexible approach, which allowed me to learn at my own pace without feeling overwhelmed.
One of the program's standout features is the Careers module. It goes beyond technical skills, focusing on job readiness, CV building, interview preparation, and more. This helped me feel confident about my prospects. The team at Code Institute provides invaluable guidance throughout this process, and the result is that students graduate not only with solid coding skills but also with a polished portfolio and job-seeking strategy.
The supportive community is another big plus. Whether through the Slack channels, peer support, or mentors, there’s always someone to help or provide encouragement. The hackathons are a great opportunity to collaborate, build connections, and put your skills to the test in a fun environment. Overall, it’s been a fantastic journey, and I’m grateful for the learning and growth I’ve experienced.

The course was quite challenging, especially since I had no prior experience with programming. However, the support I received at every stage of my learning journey was invaluable in helping me complete the program and earn my diploma. I want to especially highlight the community organization, where help and guidance were always readily available.The course is excellently structured, with a focus on practical application rather than theory. While the deadlines were strict, they motivated me to mobilize my resources effectively. I consider myself a fully capable specialist, albeit at a beginner level, who can design an application from concept to implementation. I have fallen in love with development, and I owe this to the team at Code Institute. I would highly recommend this bootcamp to anyone unsure of where to learn programming!

I'm not sure what level of overall accreditation this course provides, but I needed to retrain as a programmer.
I am a developer who started my professional career in the 90s, with languages like ASM and C, and I developed many projects in working environments like Visual Studio and with Waterfall methodologies. Today it is essential to work with rapid prototyping languages, in cloud-oriented projects, and in much more flexible development environments.
This course has provided me with the level of information and skills to tackle new projects with current tools and methodologies.
Because of my availability and the complexity of the projects that CI requires, it was not easy for me to graduate, but I do not regret taking this course.

I have done a lot of self studying before and it felt lonely at times. 
Joining Code Institute made me feel so much part of a team with extreme support on each step of a journey. I have attended 2 Hackathons and each was an incredible speed up of my learnings along with presentable soft skills that are so much in demand. (eg. Teamwork, collaboration). Employees love theses skills and knowing there is so much opportunity to showcase them with Code Institute is a huge bonus. 
Havent seen anything like this, curriculum is changing along with the new trends ! You only learn what is really needed today! Not something you will never use again.  100% reccomend if you want to streamline your learnings. 

I completed Full Stack Web Development Diploma with specialisation in e-commerce. It takes 52 intense weeks, a lot of discipline and self learning but you learn plenty. At times it felt course structure could to be adjusted slightly and content updated (something they are doing slowly) but overall they managed to fit in a lot of knowledge in fairly short time. Support is great from peers, tutors and your own mentor too. It always depends how much work you put in yourself and this course is definitely the case. Having option to join hackathons is fantastic, it really helps getting a better feel for real life experience.

I recently completed my bootcamp last month and overall, I found the curriculum to be quite comprehensive. The classes were highly interactive, which kept things engaging, but there were moments where the theoretical aspects felt a bit tedious. My specialization was in data analysis, and in this area, I felt that there wasn't enough support from the student care team, which is something they could improve upon.However, regarding the rest of the full stack course, I believe it covers a wide range of topics effectively. One suggestion I have is that upon completing the course, they could offer graduates the opportunity to pursue an additional specialization, even if it means paying an additional fee.Overall, the bootcamp provided a solid foundation and valuable skills, but there are areas where enhancements could make the experience even better for future students.

I've always had an interest in programming, though I was quite inexperienced before the diploma. Being a creative individual, I always tried to imagine what you could build using computers. My decision to finally take the plunge, was made thanks to the five day coding challenge. Enrolling in the course, I assumed it would be challenging, but for students with little or no experience in programming, the learning curve might appear steep and the material overwhealming at times. However, I never felt that I was alone on this journey, thanks to our wonderful slack community, frequent tutor support and the mentoring sessions provided by Code Institute. At times I experienced the course material to be a bit outdated and I had to work with earlier dependencies to make my projects work. However, employing a solution-focused mindset is somehing that I believe is important if you want to be a developer. Anyone looking for a serious challenge and who is willing to be teachable, will reap the rewards of being familiar with several programming languages and having built five portfolio projects at the end of the course.