March to April | Online | 6 weeks | about 35 hours a week
Get comfortable with the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript before Bootcamp starts.
Build what's next. Straight out of school.
A 12-month, full-time programme for school leavers who would rather be building software than sitting in lectures. Learn from working developers, build real projects, and be ready for work while your friends are starting year two.
Go from school to job-ready in 12 months, studying live online from anywhere in Aotearoa
Learn to code, then learn to lead the AI tools that code with you
4.8/5 2025 recommendation rating
Overview
Software is changing fast. Developers now work alongside AI, directing it, checking its work and deciding what's worth building. That makes good developers more valuable, not less.
This year is built to get you work ready quickly. You'll learn to code, then learn to lead the AI tools that code with you, on real projects with real teams. It's hard work, on purpose. You'll come out the other side with accredited skills, a portfolio and a two-year head start.
Your year at a glance
140 Credits at Level 6: New Zealand Certificate in Applied Software Development (Bootcamp) and New Zealand Certificate in Applied Digital Technology (Agentic Launchpad)
Two programmes in one year: Bootcamp, then Agentic Launchpad
Live classes every weekday: with teachers who are working developers
A mixed cohort: learning alongside career changers and people with years of work behind them
Weekly mentoring with Rohan Wakefield, from your first day to your first job
CAREERS
AI software developer
AI software engineer
Full stack developer
Front/back end developer
How the year works
Your year runs in six parts.
April to June | 9 weeks | about 65 hours a week
Live classes with your cohort every weekday, 9 to 5. Pair programming, team projects and real-world builds that get bigger and harder as you go.
All year | Weekly deep dives in Bootcamp, plus a weekly check-in with Rosie
Communication, feedback, teamwork and wellbeing. The skills that help you do well in any team.
July | Online | 2 Weeks
Get your CV, portfolio and interview skills ready for work.
August to September | Online | 8 weeks plus a 2-week block
Build production software with partner companies, and learn to run teams of AI agents on real codebases.
From October | With our support
We work with you towards the outcome you want, whether that's an internship with one of our partner companies or your first role.
March to April | Online | 6 weeks | about 35 hours a week
Get comfortable with the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript before Bootcamp starts.
April to June | 9 weeks | about 65 hours a week
Live classes with your cohort every weekday, 9 to 5. Pair programming, team projects and real-world builds that get bigger and harder as you go.
All year | Weekly deep dives in Bootcamp, plus a weekly check-in with Rosie
Communication, feedback, teamwork and wellbeing. The skills that help you do well in any team.
July | Online | 2 Weeks
Get your CV, portfolio and interview skills ready for work.
August to September | Online | 8 weeks plus a 2-week block
Build production software with partner companies, and learn to run teams of AI agents on real codebases.
From October | With our support
We work with you towards the outcome you want, whether that's an internship with one of our partner companies or your first role.
School Leaver intake 2027
There's one School Leaver intake in 2027.
Bootcamp: March to July 2027
Applications close: mid-February 2027
Foundations starts: 1 March 2027
Break: 12 to 25 April 2027 (2 weeks)
Bootcamp: 27 April to 24 June 2027
Career Skills: 28 June to 9 July 2027
Agentic Launchpad: July to December 2027
Agentic Launchpad: 26 July to 22 November 2027
Into work: from early December 2027
Should I apply?
You don't need to be a genius or have coded before. You do need curiosity, persistence and a real want to do this. We're keeping this group small, so you'll have high teacher ratios and build strong connections with your cohort.
Foundations gives you six weeks to get comfortable with the basics before Bootcamp starts.
During Agentic Launchpad, learn to code from one of the leading developers in New Zealand (and the co-founder of Dev Academy). JV's been building software for many years, was named a 2026 AI Changemaker finalist, and is still coding every day.
He's helped hundreds of people land their first role in tech, and he'll meet with you to talk through how it's going, what you're learning and what's next.
One teacher to every 10 students, 13 years of teaching people to code, and classmates who've already had careers in other industries.
With Dev Academy, you'll learn how to learn. How to ask for help, give and take feedback, work with a team you can't always see, and keep going when the answer isn't obvious.
Developers who use AI well work faster, and more of the job is now directing AI agents rather than writing every line. You'll learn to do both.
Student fees
$22,900 for the full year
Including Foundations, Bootcamp, Career Skills and Agentic Launchpad.
One year of study, two years ahead.
Junior developers in New Zealand can expect to earn $50,000 to $80,000, and tech salaries keep climbing from there. Starting two years earlier makes a real difference.
Dev Academy
Time studying: 12 months
Fees: $22,900
By 2030: Two years of experience as a working developer, earning and paying down your loan
Cash by 2030
2027: -$22,900
2028: $65,000
2029: $75,000
2030: $85,000
Total by 2030: $202,100
Three-year degree
Time studying: 36 months
Fees: $35,000 to $55,000
By 2030: Just graduating and starting to look for work
Cash by 2030
2027: -$15,000
2028: -$15,000
2029: -$15,000
2030: $65,000
Total by 2030: $20,000
For parents and whānau
We know this is a big decision, and that the world of work looks uncertain right now. As AI transforms the world of work, demand for people who can build, understand and work with technology will remain important to New Zealand's future and therefore highly valuable.
Here are the questions parents ask us most.
NZ Certificate in Applied Software Development Level 6 and NZ Certificate in Applied Digital Technology Level 6. Dev Academy has been training developers for 13 years and has 1,400+ graduates working in industry.
Teachers are with them every weekday. Ro meets with the school leavers every week as their mentor, and is there for the whole year.
No. They'll be in live virtual classes, pairing and working on team projects with their cohort every day. There's very little working alone.
It's changing what developers do, not whether we need them. Every big shift in technology is disruptive, then it settles. The people who know how to build with the new tools are the ones who lead. That's what we teach.
$22,900 for the full year. Book a call and we'll talk you through student loans and allowances.
How to apply
Taking that first step to changing your future can be daunting. Our Admissions Team will work 1-1 with you to answer all your questions. We’re here to help you understand our curriculum and fees, as well as what happens after graduation and how we will help you get a job.