Makers Academy London provides the information students need to become Software Developers immediately upon course completion. Their structure offers the choice of a traditional classroom experience or learning on-site as an apprentice.
Makers Academy London has a unique, holistic approach to its Software Development courses. The school provides all the skills necessary to become an entry-level Developer, with an understanding of the importance of work and life balance. For example, they even offer yoga during course sessions!
Makers Academy is a London-based school that was founded in 2012 by Evgeny Shadchnev and Rob Johnson. Evgeny had difficulty securing qualified developers for his software development team and Rob had been through the process of teaching himself a programming language. These experiences led them to create an alternative to university that could provide individuals access to software development careers. The school has received press mentions by Forbes, Business Insider, and the Independent.
The school’s website outlines some of its key values. These include continuous learning, being people-centric, creating equal access to tech education, embracing holistic health, questioning the status quo, and encouraging people to love what they do. In addition to its Makers Academy (a bootcamp-style course), the school offers a Makers Apprenticeship in which students are paid to learn software engineering “on the job.”
The school is based in London (United Kingdom). In addition to its physical location, students can register for the school’s online course format. In the past, the school has hosted students from all over the world.
The Makers Academy offers a bootcamp course on software engineering. You can find out how this course compares to others near you by searching for software engineering using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool.
The school offers a 12-week, full-time software engineering bootcamp (known as the Makers Academy) that teaches students how to code using JavaScript and Ruby. The course also covers Agile best practices. Throughout the course, students practice pair programming so they can be ready for today’s modern workplaces.
The first several weeks cover software fundamentals including object-oriented programming. Next, students learn about web and data persistence and how to use JavaScript for front end development. During weeks five through nine, students complete engineering projects that can later be used in their portfolios. There are three engineering projects in total.
The majority of the course is spent actively pair programming with other members of their cohort. There are also daily workshops and code review sessions. Students who enroll in the school’s courses are also able to participate in holistic well-being practices, such as yoga and medication, regardless of whether they’re enrolled in the in-person or hybrid format.
Makers Academy offers both onsite and hybrid course formats. All of these courses are full-time, as the school does not offer a part-time course format.
The hybrid course has some weeks that take place in-person and others that take place remotely. More specifically, weeks one, two, five, six, eleven, and twelve take place on-site in London. The first couple of weeks takes place in-person to assist individuals in getting to know classmates while the remaining in-person weeks are spent working on group projects. During the in-person weeks, students meet in the classroom from Monday through Thursday and remotely on Fridays.
To be admitted into the Makers Academy, applicants must fill out an online application. Upon receiving applications, Makers Academy invites individuals to complete a technical test as part of the interview process. This involves working through four to five Ruby exercises while pair programming with an admissions team member. This interview takes approximately 45 minutes.
During this interview, the admissions team member considers an applicant’s communication style, thought processes, and problem-solving skills in addition to their technical coding skills. Upon successful completion of the paired-programming exercises, applicants are accepted to the program. If the school thinks an applicant needs more time to develop their skills, it will provide them with coding resources and invite them to come for a second interview at a later date.
The cost to attend a Makers Academy bootcamp is £8,000. Students are asked to pay an £800 deposit upon being accepted to the course. The remainder is due by the first day of the pre-course.
Women and gender minorities, such as transgender and non-binary folks, are eligible to receive a £500 discount. The school does not offer any other scholarships or payment plans; however, the school does partner with Coursebud, which offers individuals personal loan options.
Makers Academy offers career support services such as 1-on-1 mentorship and career coaching. This support continues after graduation, as Makers Academy has a full-time staff dedicated to post-course graduate support. Students also have access to the Makers Academy extensive alumni network, which can be helpful as they work to secure a job in the field. The school does not offer a job guarantee.
Upon graduating from the Makers Academy, the average annual salary of a junior developer is £33,000. With two years of experience, this average salary jumps to £46,000. Additionally, 96% of the graduates surveyed by Maker said that attending this academy transformed their lives for the better. Graduates of the program have gone on to work for Tesco, Deloitte, Google, and Lego, among other companies.
Makers Academy has received positive feedback from students on course review websites. Students mention that the courses are intensive and “demand your full attention, all day.” Many reviewers mention that the course enabled them to pursue a career change. Some reviewers expressed mixed feelings about the fact that their code was reviewed by other students, leaving them feeling at times like the “blind [were] leading the blind.”
Students mention the great career support when applying to jobs after the program. Reviewers also discuss the strong cohort model and the relationships they were able to build. Individuals also appreciated the fact that the school promoted holistic well-being by offering regular check-ins, meditation, and yoga.
The bullets below summarize some of the key takeaways about Makers Academy.
For registration assistance and a list of partners and affiliate schools, see the Partners Page. Neither Classes Near Me (“CNM”) nor Noble Desktop is affiliated with any schools other than those listed on the Partners Page. The information provided on CNM for all schools is intended to provide information so that you may compare schools and determine which best suits your needs. The information provided is not updated regularly, so you should go to the schools website directly to verify their continued offerings. Neither CNM nor Noble Desktop can assist with registration for non-partner schools.