iO Academy: Find Top Courses & Training Locations

iO Academy first started as a medical technology company, but the school realized it couldn't hire enough trained tech pros as quickly as needed. iO Academy was started to help students learn tech skills that real companies look for since the school knew what it, and other employers, are looking for in the real world.

For those looking to launch their tech career, iO Academy is ranked the 6th best coding bootcamp in the world. Their courses are designed to teach everything individuals need to know to become talented and successful developers.

Back in 2015, iO’s parent company, Mayden, was growing fast, building industry-leading tech for mental healthcare. At the time, Mayden and tech companies across the world all struggled to find skilled developers to keep up with demand. To solve this problem, founder Chris May and the current iO team devised a curriculum covering tech skills, effective communication, teamwork, and the Agile project management methodology.

The first class graduated from iO in 2015 with a comprehensive grounding in programming fundamentals, as well as an abundance of confidence, enthusiasm, and experience. The goal of iO Academy is to provide a fun, supportive, and social community that values diversity; they strive to be as accessible as possible to help anyone with the drive to learn about coding and related technology.

School Locations

With campuses in Bath and Sheffield, iO Academy is based in the UK. Both in-person and online courses are offered; the latter format allows students to attend from the location that works best for them.

For those who take in-person classes, it is helpful that both Bath and Sheffield have good transport networks. Students who live further from campus may also decide to base themselves in Bath or Sheffield during the week and then return home on weekends.

Subjects Taught at iO Academy

iO Academy teaches full stack development. See how iO Academy stacks up against other training providers by comparing coding courses or web development bootcamps in Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me Tool.

What Classes Are Available?

Those looking to learn full stack web development can find what they need at iO Academy. iO Academy’s Full Stack Track program is committed to best practice and quality code. The course focuses on providing participants with an experience that is as close to the real world as possible. The Full Stack Track is full of projects to help embed participants’ learning and create a portfolio that will impress potential employers. Participants will also learn to work in Agile, which is the project management system used by dev teams everywhere.

In addition to Agile, participants also learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for front end, and PHP and Node.js for back end, as well as databases and frameworks, unit testing and pair programming, and Git and debugging. By the end of the course, participants will be confident in the kind of developer they want to be and what kind of company they wish to work for.

Class Formats

The Full Stack Track is offered full-time, either in-person or online, over 16 weeks of immersive courses. Class sizes at iO Academy are kept small, with only eight students per class. With such a small class size, individuals get the experience of a tech team, rather than a lecture theater.

Participants complete seven projects throughout the course, resulting in a portfolio that shows off everything they’ve learned. There are also optional coding challenges that participants can try at home if they would like. Guest lecturers come throughout the course to teach participants about the interesting ways companies work with tech.

Contact hours throughout the duration of the course are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. This totals 600 hours of trainer contact. Instructors are considered to be teachers and mentors and work with students for the entire duration of the course. All trainers are professional developers with years of experience in the industry, who are dedicated to students’ success.

Admissions Process

iO Academy’s admissions process is simple, and the application takes under 15 minutes to complete. The form asks why the applicant wants to become a developer and whether they have any coding experience. Prospects should answer these questions as fully as possible. The final page of the application allows prospects to choose which course dates they would like to apply for. Prospects can choose more than one date if they are flexible or unsure. Once applications are submitted, iO academy will be in touch within five working days to let prospects know whether their application was successful and what the next steps are.

When reviewing applicants, iO Academy looks for aptitude and attitude. Before being admitted, applicants take a 30-minute quiz with a range of interesting puzzles. The quiz helps iO to understand if an applicant’s brain is suited to the sorts of problem-solving they will come across in coding. Next, applicants have an informal chat with a couple of iO’s trainers to explain why they want to become developers. Finally, trainers review all of the applicants and decide who will gain the most from the course. Those who are not accepted the first time are welcome to reapply at any time.

Pricing & Payment Options

iO Academy offers a few different payment options for the Full Stack Track, which costs £11,000. Individuals can pay upfront, which means paying the full £11,000 pounds the day before the course starts. They can also split the course payment over four monthly installments, which is known as “split upfront payments.”

There is also the option for all UK and EU students to finance the course through interest-free deferred payments via EdAid. Individuals can borrow up to the full cost of the course. EidAid allows individuals to break up the tuition fee with a 24-month payment plan. They also have an EdAid Extended program, which allows individuals to defer the cost of tuition and fees until they’ve graduated and have started earning a salary. After graduating, individuals have 3 months before they must start making payments.

Another option is Knoma, which allows individuals to borrow up to 80% of the Full Stack Track course fee (with the other 20% paid upfront) and then repay it over 12 months. Repayments are interest-free and paid monthly, beginning 30 days after signing and continuing for 12 months.

Career Support Services

To help graduates find jobs, iO Academy works with 60+ tech companies locally, nationally, and internationally. Hiring partners are invited to review iO’s curriculum, give guest lectures, attend project spring reviews, and meet students.

The latter half of the Full Stack Track course also provides career support by teaching students how to structure and write their developer CV, how to succeed in tech interviews, and how to assess a developer job description. Once students write their CV, it is reviewed by trainers who provide assistance as needed. Prior to the end of the course, iO holds a hiring event for students and hiring partners to meet each other in an informal setting. Companies know that iO graduates are skilled and motivated, and look to fill open roles and upcoming vacancies.

There is also an iO Academy Slack channel for alumni where job opportunities and other ways to break into tech are shared. In the long run, iO Academy assists graduates who are ready to move on to mid or senior roles. As long as graduates keep in touch, iO will help to connect them with hiring partners looking for developers at a more advanced level.

Alumni Outcomes

iO Academy has yearly alumni employment statistics, which provide transparent information when it comes to job statistics. The data focuses on those looking for and applying for jobs on a daily basis, and there is much to be proud of according to its 2020 Graduate Outcome Report. Of the 39 graduates included in the report, 100% of students graduated the program on time, and 82% were employed in-field within 180 days of graduation. The average starting salary for graduates in 2020 was £25,300 pounds and nearly 20% of graduates surpassed this average.

What Do Students Say?

Students taking iO Academy’s course have the chance to review their experiences on bootcamp rating websites. Hearing from students directly gives those considering the course a candid perspective on the program.

Overall, reviews for iO Academy are positive, highlighting supportive instructors and an excellent curriculum. Many reviews mention the instructors being kind and offering reassurance to build students’ confidence. One reviewer stated, “Our trainer was extremely patient and clear at every step-no question felt too silly.” Another reviewer noted, “The curriculum was the best I could find personally, and I was pleased to get in and learn so much.”

Other positive reviews discuss excellent job support and the benefits of small class sizes. One reviewer mentioned that he was offered four jobs at the end of the course and got the chance to pick and choose. Several others stated that being in a class of eight allowed for personalized attention from instructors.

There is some mention of challenges with iO Academy when it comes to the intensity of the course. One reviewer stated that the course was so rigorous that he did not have the energy to do much outside of sleeping and learning. Other reviews state that participants must be willing to commit 100% for the duration of the course.

Pros & Cons

Pros of iO Academy

Small class sizes (8 students max)
Excellent curriculum with career preparation for beginners as well as those looking for to change jobs/specialties
Supportive instructors
Job support for graduates
Location Flexibility (in-person/virtual)
Multiple financing options

Cons of iO Academy

Full-time program only (no part-time or flex options)
Few in-person campuses
Course may be too intense for some

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iO Academy

School Locations

Subjects Taught at iO Academy

What Classes Are Available?

Class Formats

Admissions Process

Pricing & Payment Options

Career Support Services

Alumni Outcomes

What Do Students Say?

Pros & Cons

Top Courses at iO Academy

Full Stack Web Development Full-Time

Subjects Taught at iO Academy

Web Development

Map of iO Academy Locations