More than a decade after its founding, BrainStation has maintained its reputation as a global leader in coding bootcamps and tech courses. Its education team of 500 industry professionals has trained over 100,000 people and more than 500 enterprise clients through campuses in New York, San Jose, Toronto, and Vancouver. In 2021, BrainStation opened a new campus in London, England, where the bootcamp fuels the talent pipeline for such global brands as Unilever, Diageo, AstraZeneca and Deliveroo. BrainStation has more than 7,000 hiring partners around the world. After going fully online during the COVID pandemic, BrainStation is once again offering in-person classes in Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Miami, and London.

What Sets Brain Station Apart?

BrainStation is highly focused on your future career success, and that work begins on day one of the bootcamp. You’ll kick off the program setting your career goals, then participating in regular resume and interview workshops throughout, with one-on-one support available any time. That career focus, combined with cutting-edge training, translates to a 90 per cent employment rate within six months of graduation.

In addition, BrainStation’s Learning Management System Synapse, is among the most sophisticated on offer in Canada. The live online learning platform allows students to attend live lectures, collaborate with other professionals, and get immediate feedback from instructors — wherever they are.

Lighthouse Labs was launched in 2013 by a group of software developers with a passion for code, mentorship, and education. The school has provided education to more than 40,000 students and its mission is to continuously find the best ways to train the next generation of developers and to transform the way tech education is delivered. Formerly known for its wide-reaching in-person training, in 2020, Lighthouse transitioned to a fully online experience in concert with the growing popularity of remote work. It is also building on its success educating the future workforce with a new data analytics bootcamp debuting in 2023, after launching one of the country’s first cybersecurity bootcamps in 2022.

Lighthouse describes itself as “outcome-obsessed,” and that philosophy translates to employment success: 85 per cent of Lighthouse web development grads in 2022 found employment in “relevant tech roles,” and 82 per cent did so within six months of graduation, with a total average starting salary of $58,549. In 2022, the overall graduation rate was 87 per cent across all programs. A total of 41 per cent of job-seeking web development alumni were employed within 60 days of job searching.

There are more than 4,000 employers in the Lighthouse Labs network and alumni work at companies such as Bell Canada, Capgemini, Telus, Digital Lab (UBC and BC Children’s Hospital) and many more.

What Sets Lighthouse Labs Apart?

Lighthouse Labs has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusivity and accessibility to careers in the STEM fields. The school is actively involved with diversity initiatives including Women Learning to Code, the Indigenous Digital Equity Strategy Project, Digital Skills for Youth, and other programs to open doors to successful tech careers. Lighthouse also continues its commitment to offering one million dollars in needs-based scholarship funding to new students.

Lighthouse Labs continues to offer its new “Flex” model of delivery for learners seeking certification through part-time studies.

In a competitive workforce, graduates need more than a diploma or certificate to help land their first job and so the Career Services team at the school provides career coaching, interviewing and resume prep as well as workshops to get graduates job ready. In 2022, 578 job seekers from Lighthouse Labs were supported by this team who help connect students with employers.

CareerFoundry offers mentored online courses in UX design, UI design, product design, product management, digital marketing, data analytics, and full-stack web development. The Germany-based online educator began with a focus on UX design courses offered to enable beginners to become tech professionals in as little as six months with help from dedicated mentors, tutors and career specialists. And if you’re unsure which program is for you, there’s a menu of free short courses to help you figure out the best fit. According to CareerFoundry, 90 per cent of graduates land a job in their field within 180 days of graduation and the average salary increase in a student’s first role after graduation is $15,082. The average time it takes graduates to land their first job is 75 days.

What Sets CareerFoundry Apart?

CareerFoundry’s online programs strike one of the best balances available today between self-paced online learning and guided mentorship. You’ll receive 1:1 mentoring and tutoring through a live online environment, with support from a dedicated team of student advisors and career specialists. And with full-time, part-time, and flexible schedules, you’ll can learn at the pace that’s best for you.

Each of CareerFoundry’s programs is backed by a job guarantee, which promises a full tuition refund if you don’t land a job within six months of graduation.

With their Dual Mentorship Model, you work in partnership with industry experts. Mentors are senior experts in the field helping you meet your long-term career goals, and your tutor is a course expert providing all your assignment feedback within 24 hours. In the Job Preparation Course, you enjoy 1:1 support from a career specialist.

Since 2011, General Assembly has transformed and future-proofed tens of thousands of careers through experiential education in the most in-demand skills today, including software engineering, UX design, data science, data analytics, Python, React, visual design and more. GA students get curriculum designed to start a career in tech that is taught by expert instructors, a global professional community of over 40,000 full- and part-time alumni, and accessible financing options so you focus on what counts: your career! Add in the support from GA’s career coaches from day one until you land your tech job, and it’s a recipe for success that sees 81.8 per cent of students graduating (see full report here).

What Sets General Assembly Apart?

In 2016, Bitmaker Labs in Toronto was acquired by U.S.-based education company General Assembly. Under General Assembly, the Toronto campus joins 30-plus others worldwide, with access to a global network of nearly 20,000 hiring partners. Bitmaker practically pioneered the free in-class workshop among Toronto-based coding bootcamps — a tradition that continues today with General Assembly, and now includes Generative AI free classes.

If you need financing, GA has several options, from income share loans where students only pay for their tuition once they start a job that earns more than $40,000, to deferred payments with 12 months grace period and 0 per cent interest financing. There are also scholarships and seasonal offers available to help anyone access a career in tech they can love.

If you can’t manage full-time, GA also offers part-time classes in front-end development, React, UX design, JavaScript, and visual design. New “on-demand” self-paced learning options round on GA’s offering, providing students with greater flexibility and more ways to learn.

For coders looking to expand their skillset into another highly employable field, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst delivers innovative and immersive training in another of the most in-demand disciplines today. The university formerly known as Ryerson is known for its career-focused and hands-on education, and its elite dual-certification cybersecurity program delivers the foundational knowledge to transform you into a double threat with a truly future-proofed career.

What sets Toronto Metropolitan University Rogers Cybersecurity Catalyst apart?

TMU’s flagship program Certifications for Leadership in Cybersecurity (CLIC) is delivered through a partnership with the SANS Institute, a global leader in cybersecurity training. And once you graduate, you’ll have not one but two internationally recognized SANS GIAC certifications, giving you a step up in the job search. And 94 per cent of cybersecurity practitioners believe SANS GIAC certifications have better prepared them for their roles, while 82 per cent of organizations prefer hiring candidates with SANS GIAC certifications. A dedicated career support team will also help open doors with employers, providing 1:1 coaching, interview prep, recruitment connections and more.

Montreal-based Le Wagon has established itself as a true global leader in cutting-edge bootcamps. While its web development, data science and AI and data analytics as well as business intelligence courses are all available online, students can study live in 40 locations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. An entrepreneurial spirit seems to come with the Le Wagon education, as its alumni have founded more than 200 tech start-ups. Le Wagon students prove highly employable, with 90 per cent finding work in an average of six months, and with an average salary of $60,000.

What Sets Le Wagon Apart?

Top-notch training is accessible with Le Wagon. There are no prerequisites to join the bootcamps, and there are full- and part-time options available. While it’s intensive, the small cohort of seven students and one instructor allows for personal guidance and attention. Mentoring continues at the end of the program, with a career week to prep your CV, do mock interviews and meet tech experts to build valuable industry connections.

The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) is among the largest providers of continuing education in Canada, with an eye-popping catalogue or more than 700 courses, including 70-plus offerings in the IT field alone. The university has partnered with edX, a U.S.-based education technology company, to deliver a variety of bootcamp programs, from coding to data analytics, UX/UI, digital marketing, and cybersecurity.

SCS bootcamp graduates tend to flourish in the job market, with more than 89 per cent of grads finding work within six months.

What Sets the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Apart?

For a “bootcamp,” the SCS offers surprising flexibility, with a part-time option available for those want that intensive bootcamp experience but may not have the time. While the program is challenging, help is never far away; students can access 24/7 learning support via video or text chat, and 1:1 tutoring is also available. The school has strengthened its career services too, with coaching, portfolio and resume assistance, and technical interview training, now available to all students. This boot camp does not qualify as a School of Continuing Studies certificate program.

The SCS has an employer partner network of more than 250 companies, and you will work with a dedicated career coach to become ready for the workplace and eligible for referrals to the school’s employer partners.

WeCloudData continues to evolve with bootcamps focused on data science and big data knowledge — but with plenty of coding education on offer for the data engineering-inclined. The Toronto-based bootcamp bills itself as a leading data science education and career service provider in Canada, with career-focused programs in data science, data engineering, machine learning, DevOps engineering, and Generative AI, which is new for 2024.

WeCloudData’s high-quality training and complex specialization translates to high job demand, with 95 per cent of graduates finding work within six months, with an average salary of $83,000.

What Sets WeCloudData Apart?

WeCloudData may not be the leading bootcamp for learning front-end development, but excels in Python, SQL, and coding training for data engineers. It was one of the first bootcamps in Canada to offer advanced training in data science, and its co-founder and CEO, renowned big data expert Shaohua Zhang, still spends plenty of time in the classroom, where he consistently gets top marks for teaching. Instructor attention and intimate learning experiences are a hallmark of WeCloudData, which boasts a matchless 4:1 student-instructor ratio.

Concordia University regularly ranks among the top “young” universities in North America; in 2023, the QS World University Rankings named Concordia as the number two school under 50 years old.

The Montreal school has a student population of 50,000 and bills itself as a “next generation” university and its school of continuing education is heavily focused on tech training, with courses and programs in data science and AI, UX, cybersecurity and programming. Concordia’s emphasis on coding and computing is positioning itself to advance a Montreal tech boom.

What Sets Concordia University Continuing Education Apart?

Concordia’s focus on innovative tech training is paying dividends for students; more than 90 per cent of graduates find work within six months and enjoy an average salary of $55,000. That’s not just because of the top-notch training though; Concordia provides extensive career coaching resources to help you develop a portfolio, hone interview skills, and give yourself a leg up in the job market. And with career coaches actively working in the industry, you’ll get informed and reliable prep while building valuable connections.

Carleton University was founded in 1942 and is in the nation’s capital city of Ottawa. More than 30,000 students attend undergraduate programs at the university each year. Carleton’s bootcamp curricula are designed with the most in-demand market needs in mind. Skilled instructors and support staff deliver a dynamic learning experience to students.

What sets Carleton University Apart

Whether you choose to pursue coding or data, over the course of 24 weeks, you’ll be immersed in an intensive program. The university has partnered with edX, a U.S.-based education technology company, to deliver two bootcamp programs. Students not only learn the fundamentals, but also apply the knowledge to solve real-world problems, bolstering their portfolios. The university’s Coding Boot Camp equips students with the core skills needed for a career in web development and technology through engaging classes. The Carleton University Business Analytics and Data Visualization Boot Camp prepares professionals with the specialized skills necessary to land a job in the booming field of data analytics.

Established in 785, the University of New Brunswick (UNB) is one of the oldest universities in Canada and its College of Extended Learning is providing in-demand skills. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 60 disciplines and continuing education in a variety of fields. With its Coding Bootcamp, you will learn to code and prepare for a career as a web developer and gain access to a network of 250+employers who are looking to hire. UNB has partnered with regional industry leaders that include its McKenna Institute — formed in 2021 to help digitally transform New Brunswick — and TechImpact, an organization committed to growing job opportunities in the Atlantic Canadian region through STEM education.

What sets the University of New Brunswick apart?

The university has partnered with edX, a U.S.-based education technology company, to deliver the bootcamp program. UNB’s live 24-week online boot camps are designed to provide the flexibility to obtain skills while managing other commitments, without sacrificing accountability or face-to-face interaction. In a UNB boot camp, you’ll receive the same skilled instruction and curricula as students in the university’s in-person classes, learning the most up-to-date tools and technologies to meet the demands of employers. Classes are held face-to-face, virtually, allowing learners to ask instructors questions as they arise and collaborate with classmates on exercises and projects.

Learners are offered multiple channels for feedback and communication with instructors and fellow classmates, including email, phone, office hours and a dedicated Slack channel.

There is also job placement support, including career-planning services, portfolio reviews, technical interview training, and recruiting help to position them for success in the field. There is also an interest-free payment plan available and a discount for UNB alumni.

Springboard’s mission is to make 21st century skills accessible through mentor-led online courses in data science, data analytics, cybersecurity, UX/UI design, machine learning as well as an AI Accelerator Bootcamp. The San Francisco-based tech academy believes the ideal learning experience should be designed to fit your life’s pace with part-time online offerings and a variety of payment plans.

Springboard’s Software Engineering Career Track program boasts an undeniable track record of success with more than 91.5 per cent of graduates landing a job within six months and they earn an average starting salary of $75,237. Career-track graduates report an average $25,000 increase in salary after completing a course with Springboard.

What Sets Springboard Apart?

This is an engineering bootcamp, which will push you beyond some of the front-end projects and sprints typical of other programs. As a result, it’s also singularly intensive, clocking in at nine months ‑ yes, months ‑ of full-stack training. Given the complexity of the program, there are a few prerequisites such as a basic grasp of JavaScript and CSS. If your skills aren’t quite there or you need a refresher, Springboard also offers a prep course to get you started.

Springboard also offers an unbeatable range of funding options, including multiple payment plans. Given its high job placement rate, Springboard also offers deferred tuition where you don’t pay until you start a job in the field, as well as a job guarantee that promises a full tuition refund if you don’t find a relevant job within six months.

Since its founding in 2012, Coding Dojo has become a top platform in “big data” education, delivering some of the most comprehensive bootcamps in the industry.

What sets Coding Dojo Apart?

Coding Dojo has been in business for more than 10 years and trained more than 13,000 people globally and is part of Colorado Technical University. This partnership gives graduates pathways into undergraduate and graduate degree programs — that means students may have their course credits directly recognized by partner universities. Partners include Northeastern University and City University of Seattle.

Product School offers a unique digital education providing career-change and upskilling certifications in the growing field of digital product management and leadership. Since 2014, the San Francisco-based academy has delivered flexible product management and corporate training that covers the end-to-end product lifecycle: strategy, customer development, design, and product launch. The school has a community of more than two million product professionals and has certified more than 15,000 Product Managers from around the world.

What sets Product School Apart?

If you’re in the market for product management courses, you’ll know many schools tout their industry experts, but Product School definitely walks the talk: all its instructors are real-world product leaders at some of the top digital companies today, including Google, Meta, Uber, Netflix, Amazon and Airbnb. And with an average class size of just 14 students, you’re ensured plenty of personal attention and learning support from some of the brightest minds in the industry.

If you’re not ready to enrol, the school also offers a wide range of free micro-certifications and downloadable resources to sharpen your skills and continue learning. A thriving Slack community of over 100,000 members presents a great opportunity to find support and develop your network.