7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Coding Bootcamp

Coding bootcamps were developed in response to the need to train new developers in a faster, more responsive and more practical way than traditional education. They’ve been proven to work, and organisations such as the ACS continue to advocate for more training options and to warn of the consequences if Australia continues to fall behind when it comes to the technological skills of our wider workforce.

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It’s become clear that bootcamps are great for Australia, but are they right for you? And how on earth do you choose one? 

If you’re considering a bootcamp education to reach your career goals and become part of our tech-savvy future, then how do you choose the coding bootcamp that’s right for you?

In 2015, Coder Academy (then Coder Factory) was the first on the scene in Australia, but fast forward to 2023, and quite a lot has changed. Demand for quality bootcamp education is growing, and so supply is growing too.  

Let’s have a look at some of the main bootcamp courses teaching full stack web development in Australia today. 

• Academy Xi
• Codecademy
• Coder Academy
• edX
• General Assembly
• Le Wagon

These bootcamps all give you the option to learn useful programming languages and tech stacks, so that by the end, you’ll be ready to create applications, software or websites. But will that make you an employable junior full stack developer? 

There are many things to consider when choosing a coding bootcamp, so here we will compare them using the following seven questions. 

• Does the course offer flexible delivery?  

• Does the course offer live teaching? 

• Does the course offer accredited qualifications? 

• Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees? 

• Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course? 

• Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based? 

• Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Each bootcamp was given a score based on their ability to meet our key criteria, and the order in the table above is based on that. 

Now, you might be thinking this is a pretty biased system if Coder Academy has come out on top based on questions that we’ve come up with. The criteria were chosen however because they’re all things that we at Coder Academy believe are important. You’d hope that we meet our own benchmarks, right? 

Other things might be important to you, and that’s ok. For example, we believe that offering a recognised qualification (a Higher Education Diploma of Information Technology) both gives our students greater opportunities for further study and career options, while also holding us to higher standards for teaching and learning outcomes. 

But not everyone needs a degree. This list is just a quick comparison, based on some of the questions you might be asking when considering your bootcamp options. At the end of the day, you will be evaluating your chosen bootcamp based on your own key criteria.

Comparing Australia’s Coding Bootcamps 

Here’s a further breakdown of the courses included in the table above and why they meet (or don’t meet) our key criteria. 

Provider: Coder Academy

Course:

Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp

Does the course offer flexible delivery?

Yes. Coder Academy bootcamps are 100% virtual – allowing you to learn from anywhere, or to find a quiet place to study at our Support Hubs in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne. 

Does the course offer live teaching?

Yes. You’ll have live classes with an experienced educator, and can access educator support 9am – 5pm, six days a week, either in person, or virtually, depending on your preference. 

Does the course offer accredited qualifications?

Yes. By partnering with our sister school, AIT, an accredited higher education provider, the Higher Education Diploma of Information Technology that you complete is a recognised qualification, equivalent to those issued by any of Australia’s big universities. 

Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees?

Yes. Eligible students will be able to apply for a FEE-HELP loan when they enrol with Coder Academy. You can find further information on Government loans, and assess your own eligibility on the Government’s Study Assist website. 

Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course?

Yes. After successfully completing the course and meeting the industry placement criteria (don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds), students have the option to take part in a 4-week industry placement. There is no extra cost, and as long as students wish to complete the placement (some of our graduates already have jobs as junior developers by the time they graduate!) and have met the criteria, then the placement is a standard part of any Coder Academy bootcamp course. 

In addition to this placement opportunity, our partnerships team strive to form a relationship with, and to nurture, every single Coder Academy student throughout their bootcamp journey. As Coder Academy’s Lee Harrison said of the guidance our students receive, “I think it is really something special… they are really being shaped into industry-ready junior coders along the way”.   

Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based?

Yes. Coder Academy have offices (and drop in Support Hubs) in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. We were the original accredited coding bootcamp in Australia, and we’re proud to remain Australian owned and accredited, while offering our courses in a 100% virtual format, so that students can join us from wherever they’re based. Head off on that road trip, or dial in from a Top End cattle station, all while knowing that you’re learning from Australian-based teachers who are deeply immersed in the industry locally. 

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Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Yes. You will complete multiple projects throughout your course, from websites where you code the front end and the back end, to designing and implementing your own useful apps. All of these projects can be used to showcase your skills. During the bootcamp, you’ll have the support of educators as you create these applications, and because they’re your own projects, you’re free to continue refining them both during and after your course so that you have a portfolio that really shines, or even an app that’s ready to take to market if that’s your goal. 

Provider: General Assembly 

Course:

Software Engineering Bootcamp

Does the course offer flexible delivery?

Yes. Students can study either online or in Sydney.

Does the course offer live teaching?

Yes. Students are offered a combination of live and video instruction.

Does the course offer accredited qualifications?

No. General Assembly’s headquarters are in the U.S. and their website states that they are “not accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting body.” 

Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees?

No. 

Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course?

No. General Assembly offer career coaching to their students, but do not have an internship program. 

Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based?

No. General Assembly have Australian campuses, but are a U.S. based company.

Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Yes. Students will work on and complete projects throughout their course. 

Provider: Le Wagon

Course:

Web Development

Does the course offer flexible delivery?

Yes. Students can learn on site in Melbourne or Sydney, as well as online. 

Does the course offer live teaching?

Yes. The course offers live sessions and live teacher support. 

Does the course offer accredited qualifications?

Le Wagon’s course information does not mention any recognised or accredited qualifications.  

Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees?

No. Australian students and permanent residents in this course will not be eligible for Government student loans. 

Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course?

No. Le Wagon offer limited coaching and interview preparation only.

Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based?

No. Le Wagon is a French organisation. 

Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Yes. Students will build their own web applications during the bootcamp.   

Provider: edX

Course:

edX provides the Coding Boot Camps for Monash University, The University of Sydney, The University of Adelaide, and The University of Western Australia. 

Does the course offer flexible delivery?

Yes. Students learn in a virtual classroom.

Does the course offer live teaching?

Yes. According to the edX website, the course promises interactive classes and “trainers who are fully vetted by the university.” 

Does the course offer accredited qualifications?

No. Despite being delivered through Universities, the program is not accredited, and does not result in a university-issued qualification.  

Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees?

No. 

Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course?

No. Students will be offered portfolio, resume and interview skills assistance only.  

Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based?

No. You might not have heard of edX (formerly Trilogy Education), but this American education platform, owned by parent company 2U, is the power behind the bootcamp programs at some of Australia’s top universities. 

Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Yes. Participants will create applications as part of the course.

Provider: Codecademy

Course:

Full-Stack Engineer Career Path

Does the course offer flexible delivery?

Yes. All units are offered through Codecademy’s online platform.

Does the course offer live teaching?

No. There are no teachers for Codecademy courses. Students have access to a forum with other students, and will receive automated suggestions for further study.

Does the course offer accredited qualifications?

No. While Codecademy have named their completion certificates “Professional Certifications”, these are not externally recognised.   

Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees?

No.  

Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course?

No. Subscribers to Codecademy’s Pro plan will have access to their job board, but no placement or internship.   

Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based?

No. Codecademy’s headquarters are in New York. 

Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Yes. Students will be directed to build their own portfolio projects throughout the learning pathway.  

Provider: Academy Xi

Course:

Software Engineering Transform 

Does the course offer flexible delivery?

Yes. This course is taught online.  

Does the course offer live teaching?

No. The coursework consists of reading material and prerecorded videos, and live sessions will take place with mentors and other students, rather than with educators.  

Does the course offer accredited qualifications?

No. Students will receive a certificate of completion only.   

Are students able to apply for Government loans to cover their course fees?

No. Students are not eligible for Government loans with Academy Xi courses.  

Is an internship or industry placement included as part of the course?

No. Academy Xi offer a “Career Support Program” to their eligible students, but not an internship or job placement.     

Is the bootcamp Australian owned and based?

While Academy Xi is an Australian company, New York based tech education provider, Flatiron School provides the course content.  

Do students graduate with a portfolio of work?

Yes. Students will complete assessment projects throughout their course.  

What Else Should You Consider When Choosing a Coding Bootcamp?

Will you receive adequate support?

At Coder Academy, we make sure every student is supported by scaling our education and support staff up and down depending on the class size, so that we can provide a ratio of educators to students that is approximately one teacher per 15-20 students for every cohort. 

Our online delivery is designed to give you access to the flexibility that you need to study from wherever you are around Australia or around the world, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be on your own. 

Students will have access to our Support Hubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with a high speed internet connection and support from a real person in our academic assistants and educators. The Support Hubs are always there if you need some face-to-face interaction (or just need to get out of the house). 

You can also contact your educators via messaging app Discord for immediate answers and problem solving. If you’re really stuck, then the educators are always happy to jump on a video call.   

Does the provider support diversity in tech?

A lack of diversity amongst developers of technology can severely impact users of that technology. The bias that comes from a lack of diversity can create ethical complications  and severely impact people’s quality of life – especially when it comes to areas such as safety or healthcare. 

Here at Coder Academy, we want to give our cohorts the best chance of reflecting society – not just a narrow section of it. 

Our Diversity in Tech Scholarship ensures we continue to support and empower underrepresented groups on their journey into rewarding tech careers.  

Does the bootcamp offer adequate learning time?

Coder Academy still offers more learning hours than many other bootcamps, although many of our competitors have increased the length of their courses.

Bootcamps are meant to be fast – that’s one of the main goals. Career-oriented training that helps you upskill or reskill, learning everything you need to know to get the job done. 

That said, we’re only human, and it takes time for new skills to sink in. 

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Six months (our Accelerated bootcamp) is already quite a short period of time to completely transform your career, pick up a job-ready level of coding, as well as hone the developer tools, soft skills, and relationships you’ll need to land that first job. To absorb the amount of new content we cover in a shorter amount of time is borderline ludicrous – and graduates from shorter bootcamps often feel this, as do their employers!

The six-month Accelerated bootcamp lets learners transform their careers fast, while our 10-month Standard bootcamp has live classes scheduled two evenings a week and on Saturday mornings – allowing you to take more time, hold down a job and make time for your other life commitments. 

Is it even worth taking a bootcamp? Won’t AI make coding irrelevant? 

Not according to our research. Or our industry-experienced educators. Or our graduates embarking on their new careers. 

• The World Economic Forum has predicted that by 2025, 97 million new roles will have been created by the “robot revolution”.
• In a recent experiment, Westpac gave their software engineers generative AI tools to test and saw a 46 per cent productivity gain with no noticeable drop-off in code quality.
• The Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights research predicts future growth of 27% for software and applications programmers, reaching a workforce of 198,400 by 2026, with even higher demand expected in our major cities. 

Read: Will AI Steal My Job?

Will I really get a job at the end of the bootcamp?

Coder Academy’s Web Development Bootcamp is designed with the career changer in mind, so we pride ourselves on how quickly our grads go into jobs, and kick on with a career in tech. 

According to our last placement summary survey, 85% of eligible graduates were immediately placed post bootcamp, and over half ended up employed with their placement company.

Want to hear how fast our graduates find jobs? In their own words?

Want to hear how fast our graduates find jobs? In their own words?

Which Coding Bootcamp is Right for You?

We hope that answers some questions you might have had about the different coding bootcamps available in Australia today. As we said at the start, everyone’s circumstances and priorities will be different, so if you have questions that weren’t answered here then we’re always up for a chat. 

Another great way to learn about bootcamps (and coding in general) is through our regular, Coder Academy info sessions.