A crucial step in building a career in tech is to acquire the relevant skills. Bootcamps are an ideal option if you’re looking to develop tech skills within a short amount of time. They also offer great networking opportunities, you can build meaningful relationships with peers and even get connected to future employers.
Unsurprisingly, for such a bustling tech hub, there are many Hamburg coding bootcamps available that allow learners to master the basics, get critical feedback on their work, and network. We offer a top-rated Web Development Program here at CareerFoundry, feel free to check it out.
In this article, I’ll look at the best bootcamps the city has to offer, why Germany’s second-largest city could be a great place to build a tech career, and even some of the companies that you can work for in Hamburg.
Table of contents:
- Is Hamburg a good place to learn to code?
- Top coding bootcamps to take in Hamburg
- How to choose the right bootcamp in Hamburg for you
- What’s the average starting salary after graduating from a bootcamp?
- Final thoughts
- Coding bootcamp Hamburg FAQs
1. Is Hamburg a good place to learn to code?
Hamburg has been lauded as Germany’s most beautiful city. The Elbe River flows through it, and the city’s architecture takes advantage of this.
There’s a lot to explore, from the Speicherstadt, a collection of early 20th-century warehouses, to the Elbe River’s sandy beaches, to parks like the Planten un Blomen.
Hamburg’s tech scene has been growing steadily over the years, making it a great city to kickstart your career in tech.
A thriving tech scene on the water
Hamburg’s tech scene is upcoming and quite vibrant. According to the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, the European Commission recognized the city as an Innovation Leader.
Tech-based startups account for 14% of startups in Hamburg, with FinTech and gaming startups, accounting for 9%.
Hamburg has a very supportive startup environment, from founder communities to funding and awards, which contribute to startup success.
There are also several AI startups in Hamburg, ranging from musicube, ExpressSteuer, Cauliflower, and WARGdrones.
As well as that, notable global companies like Airbnb, Airbus, SAP, IBM, Bosch, Google, Statista, Meta, and Microsoft all have offices in Hamburg.
According to Glassdoor’s list of the top companies in Hamburg hiring for software engineer jobs, some of the businesses may not be tech companies, but they’d still hire software engineers.
The Bildungsgutschein—a game-changer for switching careers in Germany
If you’re a career changer or have lost your job or income in the recent past, then you might be interested in the Bildungsgutschein.
The federal employment agency of Germany issues the Bildungsgutschein, an education voucher that entitles qualified individuals to free job training, such as coding bootcamps.
You’re eligible for the education voucher if you:
- are unemployed,
- are at risk of becoming unemployed,
- want to further your education,
- are an employee looking to upskill with your current employer.
To receive the voucher, you’ll need proof of German residency.
The Bildungsgutschein specifies the training goal, location, and duration. It must be redeemed within three months at an approved institution.
You can use the voucher to sign up for CareerFoundry programs to help you embark on your tech career based on your interests. You can undertake courses in UX Design, UI Design, Full-Stack Web Development, Data Analytics, Product Management, and Product Design.
Learn more about the Bildungsgutschein, including how to apply for it, in our guide on how to take a bootcamp for free in Germany.
2. Top coding bootcamps to take in Hamburg
If you want to move to Hamburg so that you can focus on learning to code, what are the bootcamps to consider?
I’ve compared the top coding bootcamps based on factors like cost, time requirements, length of courses, mode of delivery, and even the programming languages you can learn.
CareerFoundry
Tuition fee: $8075 (upfront, full-time), $575 per month (with $1600 upfront)
Duration: 5 months full-time, or 10 months part-time
CareerFoundry is one of the leading coding bootcamps in Germany. Even though we don’t have offices in Hamburg, it’s still a great option if you’re looking to set your tech career in motion, as it’s 100% online.
We offer a full-stack web development program with a five-month commitment of 30-40 hours per week, or 15-20 hours per week for a 10-month program.
You spend the first month learning frontend development. You then do a full-stack deep dive for seven months. Finally, spend the final two months honing your technical skills by studying Python or cloud computing.
Some of the technologies and programming languages that you learn include HTML, CSS, version control, testing, hosting, JavaScript, jQuery, and Python.
You also build projects that you can use to build your portfolio, as CareerFoundry is focused on ensuring that its graduates leave having acquired real-world skills.
There are learner perks like subscriptions to industry tools, including a free GitHub education account.
Not sure whether coding is for you? Try the free coding short course and see whether it’s a career path you might like. It’s also important to note that the coursework is in English. Your written and spoken English skills should be at level B2 or higher.
Hamburg Coding School
Tuition fee: 8.500€ (upfront), 6 month installments
Duration: 6 months, evening classes
Hamburg Coding School is designed for people who work full-time jobs or prefer evening classes.
Though the school doesn’t define itself as a bootcamp, it’s very specific about its target audience.
The classes are held in the evening, in person, on their Hamburg campus and in the Die Diele coworking space.
There are three hours of class, three days a week, which equals nine hours of learning. There’s also homework to help you practice the concepts you’re studying.
Hamburg Coding School is also strict on its class size. They have a limit of eight students per class.
They have trainers who work in the software industry, so they’ll teach you the ropes and industry best practices that they use in their day-to-day jobs.
You’ll learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, databases, Node.js, and Vue.js. They also have workshops where you learn other vital skills like network technologies, SEO, design fundamentals, Git and GitHub, testing, security, and continuous integration and delivery.
You get to work on two projects as well.
Neue Fische
Tuition fee: 8.500€ to 9.500€ (upfront), except for the IT Project Management course (2.833€)
Duration: 12 weeks full-time, or 26 weeks part-time
Neue Fische (New Fish) is a great option if you prefer to learn in person. They have a campus in Hamburg and a remote option too.
You have a variety of courses to choose from, depending on your interests, including web development, Java development, data science, data analytics, AWS cloud computing, UX/UI design, IT project management, and first-level IT support.
The web development track covers JavaScript, UX, agile, HTML, CSS, React, pair programming, Node.js, NoSQL, REST, and the shell.
Neue Fische takes on a project-based learning approach, and you get to do a capstone project before graduation.
They also promise career coaching and access to a MacBook if you don’t have one.
Ironhack
Tuition fee: 8.000€ (upfront)
Duration: 9 weeks full-time, or 24 weeks part-time
Ironhack has no campus in Hamburg, but their courses are available online. You can pursue a range of courses like web development, data analytics, UX/UI design, cybersecurity, data science and machine learning, AI engineering, DevOps, and cloud engineering.
The web development course begins with a 50-hour bootcamp preparation period to help you cover some basic concepts. You then proceed to learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive web design, backend development with Node.js, the MERN stack, and React.
You also get to be part of the Ironhack Career Week, where you learn crucial job-searching skills. There are several financing options available, including an income-share agreement (ISA).
Le Wagon
Tuition fee: 7.400€ (upfront and full-time), 7.400€ upfront, part-time
Duration: 2 months full-time, 7 months part-time
Le Wagon doesn’t have a campus in Hamburg, but it has an online option. You can choose from several courses, ranging from web development, data science and AI, data analytics, and data engineering.
A 40-hour preparation course where you learn the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Git comes before the web development track.
You then begin your web development journey, where you learn Ruby, the shell, SQL, relational databases, responsive design, and front-end frameworks (Vue.js, React, and Stimulus.js).
You’ll build projects with every module you learn, helping you put your newly earned skills into practice.
Additionally, learners get to practice job searching and interviewing skills during the Le Wagon career week.
3. How to choose the right bootcamp in Hamburg for you
Now that you know some of the available options for you in Hamburg, how do you go about choosing the right bootcamp for you?
Let’s explore the aspects that point to a good bootcamp.
The appearance of the school’s website
The school’s site should be one of the pointers that you can use when choosing a bootcamp in Hamburg. Look at its design. Is it appealing? Are there things that are broken or don’t function as they’re supposed to?
A school that teaches web development should set a great example on their own site. They should practice what they preach.
The website design should be intuitive, making it easy to find information and navigate. It should also work well on different devices.
A well-defined curriculum
A good coding bootcamp needs to have a well-defined curriculum. It should clearly outline program details, like the modules to be covered and the length of time required.
The curriculum should have a breakdown of the different program modes. For example, if a bootcamp has both part-time and full-time options, then the modules should be classified based on the specific mode.
If the coursework is done in phases, the curriculum should indicate the topics covered in each phase, technologies or skills acquired, time requirements, and any projects as well.
A good curriculum should be project-focused and include career development modules or events like resume building and portfolio building.
Some bootcamps have prerequisite modules. This should be clearly stated as well.
Trainers with real-world experience
Who are the people teaching the modules? A bootcamp whose trainers actually work in the tech industry or have prior experience will offer more value to its learners.
This is because the trainers would have had first-hand experience with the technologies and programming languages in the “real world,” solving problems and creating products for users and customers.
They’d know what works and what doesn’t, and even techniques that would help you become a better developer.
Principles of good code design
While the main reason that you’re joining the coding bootcamp in Hamburg is to learn how to code, you’d leave a better developer if you knew not only how to write code but also how to build a good architecture around it.
The bootcamp should teach you how to set up your folders and modules, for example, and even how to work with aspects of design like wireframes, testing, and refactoring.
Portfolio projects
The bootcamp should emphasize learning by doing. Will you build projects frequently as you learn? Are there both personal and group projects? How about a final project that brings together all the things you’ll have learned over the training period?
Doing projects throughout your bootcamp will help you understand what’s being taught better, but you’ll also be building a portfolio that you can use to showcase your skills to future employers or clients.
Help with getting opportunities after graduation
Does the bootcamp help you get opportunities after graduation? Do they have a career department that teaches you skills like crafting your resume?
Events where you have opportunities to meet and interview with potential employers? Relationships with companies that can result in jobs, internships, or even apprenticeships?
You’re better off choosing a bootcamp that will make the job hunting experience better after graduation.
Alumni experiences
You may want to find some alumni of the particular bootcamp and ask about their experience. This might provide you with some insights into how things really work and whether you’ll reap the benefits that the bootcamps promise.
Try to speak to several of them so that you can have different perspectives.
There are several ways to get in touch with alumni. Some bootcamps will have an alumni database where they share alumni profiles. They may also organize alumni events.
You can find alumni among your own LinkedIn connections. Moreover, you can access the alumni via the bootcamp’s LinkedIn page.
Search for the bootcamp on LinkedIn and visit their official LinkedIn page. The alumni should be accessible when you click the alumni link (preceded by a number, for example, 10K alumni).
4. What’s the average starting salary after graduating from a bootcamp?
You might be wondering what awaits you after graduation. Will you get a job? How long would it take? How much will you earn? Are there transferable skills from other industries if you’re changing careers?
The good news is that according to Forbes, 46% of coding bootcamp graduates get a salary increase to the tune of $10,000 to $20,000 after completing the program. Better still, 31% get jobs within three months of graduation.
There’s also research to suggest that US bootcamps might have better employment rates than the most renowned universities in the world.
While this data may not be specific to Hamburg, it’s still great news since you can work from anywhere in the world, for companies all around the world, thanks to remote work and work-from-home options.
Better still, in 2023, 76.88% of recruiters stated that they were looking to hire up to 50 developers.
According to Glassdoor, the starting salary for an entry-level engineer in Germany is between €41K and €50K annually, and €45K to €60K in Hamburg if you have around a year’s experience.
That said, it’s important to note that factors like previous experience, transferable skills, whether you have a degree, and the area of tech you specialize in will determine how much you make after graduating from a bootcamp.
5. Final thoughts
Beautiful Hamburg’s burgeoning tech scene makes it a great place to kickstart your tech career. There are a variety of bootcamps to choose from. You can choose to study full-time, part-time, in-person, or online.
Better still, after graduation, you have the opportunity to work with Hamburg-based startups or even illustrious multi-nationals.
Check out our web development course and begin your tech journey today.
6. Coding bootcamp Hamburg FAQs
What are the benefits of attending a coding bootcamp?
Coding bootcamps are a great way to focus on acquiring tech skills within a very short period of time. They’re also structured, which helps you learn with increasing levels of complexity.
They keep you accountable as you have fellow learners and trainers to ensure that you do your assignments and projects, for example.
You also get to learn from peers and get prepared for the job search via a portfolio of projects, a resume, interviewing skills, and even access to employers and opportunities to work in the real world.
How many hours should I expect to put in during a coding bootcamp?
Coding bootcamp hours vary from school to school. Some bootcamps offer full-time courses, which require 30 to 40 hours per week.
Others are part-time, which equals 15 to 20 hours a week. Some schools have evening classes, which could last for three hours, three days a week, totaling nine hours a week.
It’s also important to plan for some personal study time as well as time for assignments or projects.