WeThinkCode_ Tuition-Free Software Development Programme
WeThinkCode_
WeThinkCode_ runs a tuition-free, two-year software development programme: 16 months of full-time, on-campus training followed by a work placement with a host employer. No prior coding experience or degree is needed; applicants aged 17 to 35 are selected through an online assessment, a selection bootcamp and an interview. Places are funded by corporate sponsors, and the academy reports placing 91% of its graduates in permanent jobs.
- Amount
- 100% tuition-free (places funded by corporate sponsors); students receive a stipend, but WeThinkCode_ does not publish the amount on its official site
- Deadline
- To be announced
- Renewable
- No
Eligible Fields of Study
WeThinkCode_ supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ Aged between 17 and 35 when applying
- ✓ Able to study full-time for two years at a WeThinkCode_ campus: Johannesburg, Cape Town or a partner TVET college campus (Central Johannesburg TVET Parktown, Ekurhuleni East TVET Springs, South West Gauteng TVET George Tabor in Soweto, or South Cape TVET George)
- ✓ Hold a valid South African ID, OR a valid passport with work permit, OR a valid asylum-seeker permit / permanent residency covering the full three-year period (two years study plus one year work placement)
- ✓ Not employed or studying elsewhere while enrolled (the programme is full-time)
- ✓ Access to a smartphone or computer with a stable internet connection, an email address and a South African mobile number
- ✓ No prior coding experience or university degree required
What's Included
- ✓ Fully tuition-free training (no fees, no student debt)
- ✓ A stipend while studying (amount not published on the official site)
- ✓ NQF Level 6 Occupational Certificate in Software Engineering for students with the relevant prerequisite accreditation
- ✓ 16 months of training in Python and Java, brownfield development and electives such as automation QA, mobile development and systems integration
- ✓ Work placement with a host employer after the training
- ✓ Strong employment outcomes (WeThinkCode_ reports placing 91% of graduates in permanent employment)
Work Commitment
After 16 months of training, WeThinkCode_ places students in a work placement with a host employer. Foreign applicants' permits must cover two years of study plus one year of work placement.
How to Apply
Steps to complete your WeThinkCode_ bursary application
- 1
Optionally attend an open day session to learn how the programme works
- 2
Complete the online application form on the official portal at apply.wethinkcode.co.za when applications are open
- 3
Complete the one-hour online entrance assessment (the link is emailed to you), or book a campus assessment day
- 4
If you pass, attend a selection bootcamp, a practical multi-day assessment of how you learn and solve problems
- 5
If you complete the bootcamp successfully, you may be invited to a final selection interview
- 6
Successful applicants are invited to complete enrolment, which includes signing the relevant contracts
Required Documents
- 📄 Valid South African ID, OR a valid passport with work permit, OR a valid asylum seeker's permit / proof of permanent residency
- 📄 Proof of age (to confirm you are between 17 and 35)
- 📄 A working email address and a South African mobile number for the online application
- 📄 Any supporting information requested during the online application and selection process
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need coding experience or a university degree to apply?
- No. WeThinkCode_ is open to applicants with no prior coding experience and does not require a university degree. The selection process tests your aptitude and ability to learn, not what you already know.
- Is the programme really free, and is there any financial support?
- Yes. The programme is tuition-free, with places funded by corporate sponsors, so you leave with no student debt. Students also receive a stipend, but WeThinkCode_ does not publish the amount on its official site.
- How long is the programme and what do I get at the end?
- It is a two-year, full-time programme: 16 months of on-campus training followed by a work placement with a host employer. Students with the relevant prerequisite accreditation earn an NQF Level 6 Occupational Certificate in Software Engineering, and WeThinkCode_ reports placing 91% of graduates in permanent jobs.
- How do I apply and when do applications open for 2027?
- Apply on the official portal at apply.wethinkcode.co.za. As of 12 October 2026 the main-programme application page read "Not open just yet" and no 2027 dates had been announced. Selection runs through an online application, an entrance assessment, a selection bootcamp and a final interview.
When do 2027 applications open?
WeThinkCode_ has not yet announced dates for the 2027 intake.
WeThinkCode_ does not publish fixed closing dates; it runs selection rounds (online assessment, bootcamp, interview) while its application portal is open. The official portal counted down to 2 July 2026 for its 2026 applications, but as of 12 October 2026 its main-programme application page still read "Not open just yet", and no 2027 dates had been announced.
Check WeThinkCode_'s official siteNeed help? Contact WeThinkCode_:
Information verified 2026-10-12. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
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