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Click Start by the University of Leeds - How to Get Into Software Development

Discover the essential skills that will help you succeed as a developer with this free interactive online software development course. This course is open to all ages!

You can start this course at any time!
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This course is brought to you by:

Future Learn logo
Free
Short Course
Provider:
University of Leeds
Course length:
6-8 hours per course
Delivery method:
Online
Price:
Free
Subjects: Digital Skills, Software Development
Age range: Open to all ages

Kickstart Your Software Development Career

Explore the fundamentals of software development in this free and flexible two-week course. Learn about key roles like requirement engineers and back-end developers, and gain insights from an industry professional on breaking into the field.

Discover Career Paths
Explore diverse industries that hire developers, reflect on your career goals, and get practical tips on job applications and interviews.

Understand the Development Cycle
Learn how software is built, its challenges, and key legal, social, and ethical considerations.

Gain the knowledge and confidence to start your journey in software development.

This free course is part of Click Start, a nationwide training programme developed by the Institute of Coding (IoC), a national collaboration of universities, employers and charities and funded by Nominet – the public benefit company and guardians of the .UK namespace.

The programme, which launched in 2023, helps to tackle the UK’s digital skills gap by offering skills and training to more than 26,500 learners across the country who may not have previously had opportunities.

If you sign up to a Click Start programme, you’ll also get access to GetMyFirstDigitalJob, an online platform designed to help you find and land a digital job. It’s your new hub for jobs, support, and guidance for your digital career.

You’ll get access to job opportunities from employers looking for fresh talent, and a dedicated careers coach who’ll give you one-on-one support to guide you through your job search journey. There’s also learning modules to boost your employability skills in the areas you need them most, and exclusive live events where you can get your questions answered by experts from across the digital industry.

There’s never been a better reason to join a Click Start programme!

GetMyFirstDigitalJob was built by BCS and The Talent People to support the Click Start programme.

The Click Start by University of Leeds programme covers digital skills, as well as personal and professional development, designed to help you apply for a new job or access new opportunities with better pay.

This course takes 6-8 hours to complete, and you can learn at your own pace, on your own schedule, from the comfort of your home. All learning is self-guided, so you might do the course in less time!

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What will I learn?

Welcome to the course

Discover the roles within a software development team and the skills needed to succeed. Explore various development jobs and learn about the legal, social, and ethical concerns important for developers to understand.

Meet the software development team

Discover the inner workings of a software development team and gain insights into the roles and skills that power this dynamic field. Learn about various team roles and how they collaborate.

Being a great developer

Learn the essential skills beyond programming developers need, focusing on ethical development and understanding relevant laws. Discover common ethical issues and the significance of intellectual property.

Careers in software development

Explore the diverse employment opportunities in software development across various industries. Learn about different sectors that hire developers and the specific skills they seek.

Meet the software development team

Gain insights into the software development recruitment process, from application steps to career progression, with tips from a seasoned developer. Learn how to navigate the recruitment tasks and prepare effectively.

University of Leeds are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Tests to validate your learning
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible
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FAQS

Anyone can do this programme. However, Click Start is designed to support under-represented groups. The aim is to give you the digital skills you need to find new opportunities. Or get better pay. Or simply do what you want to do in life.

To start this free course now simply click here to join

All you need is an open mind. You don’t need experience. You don’t need to have been to university. All you need is curiosity and be ready to learn new things. Maybe you want a new direction? Maybe you want to upskill? Maybe you want a raise or promotion in your current role? Click Start gives you the head start you need.

It’s completely free. And no, there’s no catch. This programme has been developed in partnership with the Institute of Coding (IoC) and has been funded by Nominet to help reduce the UK’s digital skills gap.

This course is run by the University of Leeds, and the courses are hosted on the Future Learn platform. The Click Start programme was developed by the Institute of Coding and is funded by Nominet.

Free
Short Course
Provider:
University of Leeds
Course length:
6-8 hours per course
Delivery method:
Online
Price:
Free
Subjects: Digital Skills, Software Development
Age range: Open to all ages