In a visit to Singapore last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook likened learning coding to speaking a “global language” and being equipped for jobs of the future.
In schools, it has been made compulsory for all upper primary students to attend coding enrichment classes from this year onwards to “develop a healthy pipeline of tech talent for the digital economy.”
As the economy becomes increasingly reliant on technology, more Singaporeans are learning coding not only to pursue an alternative career pathway, but to stay relevant to employers.
While you can learn coding for free on sites like freeCodeCamp or even Github, certification often comes with a price tag attached.
However, websites like Coursera, Udemy and Code Academy don’t offer qualifications for cheap. It’s even harder to tell which courses have substantive curricula.
Meanwhile, distinguished universities like Harvard have opened up some of their courses free, with an option to purchase certification only after you complete the course.
That said, we’ve compiled this list of some certified coding courses on the market that you can take advantage of.
EdX Harvard CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
By far our top pick, Harvard’s CS50 is a foundational programme in computing that is stackable on EdX.
Completing CS50 lays the base for you to pursue a certificate in Web Programming, Game Development, Artificial Intelligence, App Development and more on the EdX platform.
Although obtaining certification requires a fee, CS50, like many courses on EdX, are auditable, or free to learn.
This means you can try your hand at the course without committing wholesale to it and seeing your investment go to waste. The course will cover languages including C++, Python, Java and HTML.
Price: US$90 (S$125)
Duration: 8 to 16 weeks
Website: Harvard @ EdX
Le Wagon
Le Wagon offers full nine-week and part-time 24-week courses in Web Development.
The course will teach its students programming basics in Ruby, relational database, SQL & ORM, Software architecture and developer tools and workflow.
The course is structured to take place both offline and online. Students are expected to meet their peers and teachers three times a week to work on coding challenges.
Hiring and network events are also held every week, and graduates have been hired at Microsoft, Google and Amazon. Le Wagon has a global network of alumni and partners that span over 39 countries.
Price: Upon request
Duration: 9 to 24 weeks
Website: Le Wagon
Hackwagon
Hackwagon offers bootcamps in Cyber Security and Full Stack Web Development. Each courses offer three classes catering to differing levels of experience.
All courses conducted at Hackwagon are held seminar-style, with graded assignments provided at each learning milestone.
Among the global top five coding schools on Switchup, Hackwagon offers its graduates a LinkedIn-compatible digital certificate to display your qualifications globally.
The company also offers networking opportunities with partners, who link graduates to internships and jobs.
Price: S$740 to S$2,500
Duration: Up to 7 weeks
Website: Hackwagon
General Assembly
Kickstarted in 2011, General Assembly is a global company that employs an instructional team which originate from businesses like Google, Amazon and Airbnb.
It offers full and part-time courses for working adults online and offline, such as on Python, Javascript, UX and Front-End Web Development.
Their classes are structured to ensure that students become fluent coders, and contain capstone projects which can be used for portfolio-building.
Businesses like Bloomberg, L’oreal and Havas also hire General Assembly to retrain their existing workforce.
Price: S$5,350 to S$14,659
Duration: 1 week to 8 months
Website: General Assembly
SG Code Campus
One of Singapore’s more established coding schools, SG Code Campus partners with organisations like Amazon, Singapore Management University and Apple to create and teach courses in IT.
Although Code Campus predominantly serves students, courses for working adults are available.
Courses include Python Programming, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
Their clients include both private individuals and corporates like OCBC Bank, PayPal and Shopee. The school also offers courses in data analytics.
Price: S$1,100 to S$10,200
Duration: 1 week
Website: SG Code Campus
SP Diploma (Conversion) in Web and Programming
Targeted at adults in the non-IT industry, this one-year part-time programme offers two post-diploma certificates in the fundamentals of web development.
The course will teach you programming fundamentals in Python and Javascript, and web design and optimisation.
The diploma was introduced in response to the Infocomm Media 2025 Master Plan which highlighted the rising demand for software development skills.
The course offers subsidised fees for Singaporeans and those eligible for the Enhanced Training Support for SME Scheme (ETSS).
Price: S$570 to S$5,700
Duration: 1 year
Website: Singapore Polytechnic
NUS Graduate Certificate in Computing Foundations
This National University of Singapore (NUS) course is a part-time certification programme aimed at empowering working adults hoping to convert to the computing industry.
The course consists of one compulsory software development foundation module, and two modules selectable from computer systems and applications, data structures and algorithms and systems design.
The programme must be completed within 36 months from the point of admission. Graduates of the programme can apply for admission to the Master’s in Computing program at NUS.
Eligible students can receive subsidies on tuition fees under the ETSS or Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy Scheme.
Price: S$550 to S$4,900
Duration: 5 to 36 months
Website: National University of Singapore
Featured Image Credit: SG Code Campus
