Comparison of Common Methods to Learn Software Engineering in Singapore

learning methods

Do you dream of becoming a programmer? Or perhaps you are planning a career switch to fulfill a lifelong goal of being a software developer. Regardless, anyone can learn software engineering and achieve a rewarding career in the field.

Obtaining a degree in Computer Science is one way, but there are other methods to learn software engineering even after tertiary education. The three most common ones are: self-learning, bootcamps, and postgraduate programmes like diplomas and Master’s degrees.

Gain insight into the tertiary and post-tertiary ways of learning software engineering at a glance, and review each method in detail below.

Method	Cost	Duration	Curriculum Reputation	Typical Perception of Graduates
Computer Science degree	High (~S$14,000)	~4 years	Structured learning Good theoretical foundation Relatively less practical exposure	Good theoretical foundation, may not have practical software experience. Read more about the pros and cons of undertaking a computer science degree.
Self-learning	Low	Flexible	Learning at your own pace Focus on practical skills Lack of learning structure, mentors, and fellow peers for can make this method challenging	No strong signal about level of proficiency Thinking of self-learning software engineering? Here are some resources.
Postgraduate Program	High (~S$10,000)	1-2 years	Structured learning Students need to gain practical exposure in their own time	Good theoretical foundation, unlikely to have practical software experience See more information about postgraduate programmes here.
Bootcamp	Moderate (~$5000)	3-6 months	Structured learning Typically focused on practical skills, with little Computer Science knowledge being taught	Less theoretical foundation, decent practical software experience through building applications. Interested in software engineering bootcamps in Singapore? Here are three reasons why they might be the choice for you.