Introducing our brand new course - the Mid-Level Accelerator! Here we have compiled some questions and answers we believe will be helpful for students.
What is the MLA?
How many times a year will you run the MLA?
Am I eligible for the MLA?
I’m already mid-level, can I apply?
I've already completed the CFGdegree, can I apply?
Can I apply if I am on a Visa?
What equipment do I need?
Timings and commitment expectations: Getting the most out of the MLA!
What is the MLA?
The Mid-Level Accelerator (MLA) programme is open to any candidates with a minimum of 1.5+ years in a tech role, who wish to upskill their technical and professional skills to progress into mid-level roles within the tech industry.
The programme aims to develop and accelerate women with coding experience to the next level and help you move forward on your career path, no matter where you are in your career. On the MLA, you will experience the full software development lifecycle and further understand key areas such as development, testing, and deployment. There are some opportunities to practice your chosen programming language with a few dedicated sessions and on your work on the group project, but it is not a specific programming course (e.g. its not the MLA in Java or Python).
The MLA programme lasts for 16 weeks but can be boosted (depending on the opportunity being offered by the sponsoring company) with a 4-week +Masters that aims to upskill individuals into a new specialism and/or develop mid-level specialists.
How many times a year will you run the MLA?
For the first year, we will just be running one. We intend to run three cohorts per year in the future.
Am I eligible for the MLA?
You are eligible to apply for the MLA as long as you meet the following criteria:
- Identify as a woman or non-binary individual
- Are 18 years or over at the time of application
- You must be available to accept a position within the sponsoring company and in their selected working region
- Have 1.5+ years of experience working within a tech role within the industry
- Have experience in working with either Python, Javascript, Data (SQL) or Java within the last 2-5 years
- Have the passion to excel in any technical discipline
- Have the commitment to move to the next level within your career, and an eagerness to learn and succeed
Each sponsoring company has different requirements, so it’s important that you read each application carefully – especially regarding location, educational background and eligibility to work in the UK.
For information about resignations, staying with your current company and a more detailed explanation of the application process please click here!
I’m already mid-level, can I apply?
Yes! There are many reasons that somebody who is already mid-level would like to apply - returning to tech after a long break, redundancy, a desire to change specialism. We are open to this - please just make sure to carefully check the company requirements when applying to ensure you fit the criteria.
I have already completed the CFGdegree - am I eligible for the MLA?
If you have completed and passed the CFGdegree, and been in your tech role for over 1.5 years, you are eligible to apply for the MLA. You are also welcome to speak to your own company and ask if they would be willing to sponsor you on the course themselves.
Can I apply if I am on a Visa/need a Visa/reside outside of the UK?
Please read our CFGdegree and MLA Visa guidelines here. We would also ask that you read the company requirements prior to applying, and ensure you meet this criteria to avoid being rejected further down the line. If there are no opportunities that meet your current circumstances, please check the company requirements next cohort to see if there are opportunities for you.
What equipment do I need?
In order to participate in our courses, you will need a functional laptop or desktop computer, whether it runs on Mac, Linux or Windows. Chromebook, iPads and other tablets are not compatible currently.
It is essential that your device is updated with the latest software and that you have authorisation to download software. We recommend downloading the Slack app, as this is where we will be communicating with you. You will receive a Slack link to join your specific course channel.
There are no fees associated with the course materials, and we will never ask for payment. If you encounter difficulties downloading the software, please reach out to your tutors in the class Slack channel for assistance. Our community support team are here to help you with your applications, and they do not have specialised technical expertise, unlike our fabulous Instructors!
Timings and commitment expectations: Getting the most out of the MLA!
- Meeting with your team to work on the group project on Mondays and Wednesdays (1.5 hours, 6.30-8pm).
- Attending live labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays (1.5 hours, 6.30-8pm).
- Completing independent learning prior to each live lab (around 1-1.5 hours per topic).
FYI: We will always email you from a @codefirstgirls.com email address. Please report and block any spam emails.
We normally email from mla@codefirstgirls.com unless you have reached the final stage of MLA applications, you may be contacted from employee-specific email addresses.