BrainStation
Average Rating4.66
2295 Reviews
33 Courses
BrainStation is a global digital skills training and workforce transformation provider that offers bootcamps and courses in data, design, development, digital marketing, product, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and leadership both online and at state-of-the-art campuses in New York, London, Miami, Toronto, and Vancouver. Established in 2012, BrainStation has worked with over 500 instructors from the most innovative brands to develop cutting-edge, real-world digital education. Whether students are looking for career transformation or professional development, BrainStation has a learning option, with full-time diploma programs, part-time certificate courses, and specialized skills training.
BrainStation’s courses and bootcamps offer a collaborative, project-based learning experience, with regularly updated curriculum to ensure professionals gain the most relevant skills in their field. The class structure combines engaging, live instruction with interactive sessions and a hands-on, project-based curriculum. BrainStation also provides a variety of flexible learning options, including a proprietary online classroom and learning environment. This environment lets students attend live lectures, collaborate with fellow professionals, and receive immediate, real-time feedback from instructors – from anywhere in the world.
BrainStation has trained more than 30,000 alumni in over 100 countries across the world. BrainStation’s bootcamps offer personalized career services, including career coaching to help learners meet their career goals. Networking and career-oriented events are also available at BrainStation.
2,295 BrainStation Reviews
Schools can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Course Report never suppresses negative reviews
Sort by
Filter by
AnonymousGraduate • Full-Time Web Development Bootcamp Online • OnlineApr 27, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceWeb Development Diploma
I came onto the course with very little prior experience in web dev, I had touched on html and css. The course is well structured but very fast-paced, given it being a bootcamp that was to be expected! The educators and teaching assistants were very knowledgable and provided plenty of relevant resources for us to refer to. We had a lot of support throughout the course and one-on-one time every day if needed.
I wasn't expecting there to be much career support but I was pleasantly ...I came onto the course with very little prior experience in web dev, I had touched on html and css. The course is well structured but very fast-paced, given it being a bootcamp that was to be expected! The educators and teaching assistants were very knowledgable and provided plenty of relevant resources for us to refer to. We had a lot of support throughout the course and one-on-one time every day if needed.
I wasn't expecting there to be much career support but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of content and support they did provide in helping us to revamp our resumes, LinkedIn profiles, discover our 'stories' and prep for interviews. We had one-on-one feedback on our resumes and excellent tips on how to edit to appeal to the tech field.
There were several guest speakers from various companies and disciplines which were good for motivation and inspiration. My only negative comment is that there was no one who had a similar journey of doing a bootcamp and entering into the tech field. I feel this would have been more relevant for us.
One thing I would recommend if deciding to enrol in the web dev bootcamp is to cover the topics as much as you can beforehand. There is very little time to review and go over the content throughout the course, so this prior knowledge will be very beneficial.
The only thing I felt I missed out on was not getting to interact with my peers and other cohorts as much as the in-person courses. But, I still made some valuable connections through the online bootcamp.- AnonymousGraduate • User Experience Design Bootcamp • TorontoApr 21, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Rich learning experience
I made the transition into UX from engineering and really thankful that I found the team at Brainstation. The curriculum is intense but equips you with all you need to make the switch into UX. There is support from the educators throughout the program and there is plenty of practical learning experience to be harnessed. The career support is available well after the program ends. Be ready to learn on the fly and take in a lot of material. You will save yourself time by c...I made the transition into UX from engineering and really thankful that I found the team at Brainstation. The curriculum is intense but equips you with all you need to make the switch into UX. There is support from the educators throughout the program and there is plenty of practical learning experience to be harnessed. The career support is available well after the program ends. Be ready to learn on the fly and take in a lot of material. You will save yourself time by covering the Figma basics prior to the bootcamp. All in all, you will be well-supported in the program and there are lot of resources available to make use of. Be mentally prepared to dive right in, this program will deliver what you make out of it. Be mindful that class sizes are readily increasing which can limit the amount of time spent per student but I found that educators and TAs were always willing to make time. With the right amount of work and discipline, you will be well-equipped for a career change. - AnonymousGraduate • Part-Time User Experience Design Bootcamp Online • OnlineApr 20, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
User Experience Design Diploma
Even though the class was online our Educators did a really great job of creating an engaging classroom environment. There was able opportunity to meet fellow students during labs. It would have been nice if there was an opportunity built in to have more social interactions and get to know the other students on a smaller scale. Overall though, with the coffee and conversations, group work, industry projects, labs etc there was time to meet other students.
Obviously, a very intens...Even though the class was online our Educators did a really great job of creating an engaging classroom environment. There was able opportunity to meet fellow students during labs. It would have been nice if there was an opportunity built in to have more social interactions and get to know the other students on a smaller scale. Overall though, with the coffee and conversations, group work, industry projects, labs etc there was time to meet other students.
Obviously, a very intense program - more thank you think, but that is also dependent on your worth ethic and what you want to put into your projects. Great educators and Teaching Assistance. Course material felt relevant and I appreciated using current industry tools and prinicples. - AnonymousGraduate • Full-Time Data Science Bootcamp Online • OnlineApr 13, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Graduate
My experience as a graduate from BrainStation's Data Science online bootcamp surpassed my expectations.
First and foremost, I found that the curriculum was well structured and well organized. The educators and teaching assistants always had the time either during class or office hours to address any questions or concerns. With ample amount of time dedicated to applying and practicing the materials in conjunction with project based deliverables; the curriculum provides a robust st...My experience as a graduate from BrainStation's Data Science online bootcamp surpassed my expectations.
First and foremost, I found that the curriculum was well structured and well organized. The educators and teaching assistants always had the time either during class or office hours to address any questions or concerns. With ample amount of time dedicated to applying and practicing the materials in conjunction with project based deliverables; the curriculum provides a robust structure in helping to assimilate the concepts covered in each section.
Outside of the program, BrainStation also provides students with the opportunity of gaining industry exposure through guest speakers and an Industry Project to showcase your learnings since the start of the program.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Data Science online bootcamp to anyone who ultimately wishes to pursue a career in this domain. - AnonymousUX Designer • Student • User Experience Design Bootcamp • TorontoApr 09, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Ux design
A really valuable course! I almost didn’t take it due to the cost but I believe the networking and industry experience makes it worth it. I’ve taken other ux courses and while they gave the fundamentals, the brainstation bootcamp really let’s you apply the fundamentals you learn on the go. Really fast paced but rewarding - AnonymousProject Manager • Graduate • Product Management Course • TorontoApr 04, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Product Management - Online Course
The instructors were amazing and incredibly helpful. It is a great way to dip a toe in the world of Product Management. - AnonymousGraduate • Product Management Course Online • OnlineMar 23, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Great high level overview of PM fundamentals
I took Product Management with Brainstation in Winter 2022. The teachers were experienced business professionals working within the field that were able to bring their relevant experiences to the course forum.
This course would be well suited to someone looking for a strong introduction to the frameworks of product management, and would be a great course for someone looking to improve their business sense. This course may be less relevant for students already with a strong busine...I took Product Management with Brainstation in Winter 2022. The teachers were experienced business professionals working within the field that were able to bring their relevant experiences to the course forum.
This course would be well suited to someone looking for a strong introduction to the frameworks of product management, and would be a great course for someone looking to improve their business sense. This course may be less relevant for students already with a strong business background, as some concepts do indeed stay on the higher level.
I was impressed by the students that participated in the course! Overall, there were a wide variety of professionals from different backgrounds, that brought good discussion and questions to the table.
I would recommend BrainStation! - AnonymousGraduate • Full-Time Web Development Bootcamp Online • OnlineMar 22, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Graduate
BrainStation's online web development bootcamp was a good start to begin and accelerate my developer journey. I learned a lot of the fundamentals needed to enter the job market.
The instructors and TAs made the experience amazing. They were super helpful and would go the extra mile to answer any questions you may have which made it easy to learn a lot in a short period of time.
The syllabus and content was great as well as it covers fr...BrainStation's online web development bootcamp was a good start to begin and accelerate my developer journey. I learned a lot of the fundamentals needed to enter the job market.
The instructors and TAs made the experience amazing. They were super helpful and would go the extra mile to answer any questions you may have which made it easy to learn a lot in a short period of time.
The syllabus and content was great as well as it covers front-end and back-end materials to help you build full stack applications. However, you do have to learn a lot outside of the bootcamp as well to keep your skills sharp and be job ready. It would be great if the program incorporated practicing coding interviews and coding assessments as well as this was used for screening for a lot of jobs out there.
I found the job support a bit lacking. A lot of the jobs advertised to us were above entry level and out of our expertise. Having a strong referral network and a mentorship system in place for Brainstation alumni and new graduates would make this process much easier. The entry level market for junior developers will only get more competitive and more support will be necessary to ensure that graduates are prepared. - AnonymousGraduate • User Experience Design Course • TorontoMar 17, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
User Experience Design Course
I took the Saturday course and it was an intense 7 hour class every week for 5 weeks. If you have more time during the week I would recommend taking the course in a longer amount of time. The teachers were amazingly helpful and knowledgeable. Any time I felt lost or confused I would not hesitate to ask and would always get a very detailed answer from Jessica!
The only low rating I left was Job Assistance because there were a few slides about how to get a job and what to put and desig...I took the Saturday course and it was an intense 7 hour class every week for 5 weeks. If you have more time during the week I would recommend taking the course in a longer amount of time. The teachers were amazingly helpful and knowledgeable. Any time I felt lost or confused I would not hesitate to ask and would always get a very detailed answer from Jessica!
The only low rating I left was Job Assistance because there were a few slides about how to get a job and what to put and design a portfolio. Unfortunately from what I could tell there was no special database of jobs available for graduates as with many Colleges and Universities. - AnonymousGraduate • User Experience Design Bootcamp • VancouverMar 17, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Mixed Feelings
An ok course overall! I'm half and half on my experience. And if you were like me, incessantly wondering and contemplating on your career path, hopefully my anecdotes help!
TLDR; As with anything, there are pros and cons to any experience, a lot of it I was honestly disappointed, but I put in a lot of the work and effort during and after the course which led me to a great job I have now and am very satisfied with. Bits of what I learned in the course, I use today at my job. You g...An ok course overall! I'm half and half on my experience. And if you were like me, incessantly wondering and contemplating on your career path, hopefully my anecdotes help!
TLDR; As with anything, there are pros and cons to any experience, a lot of it I was honestly disappointed, but I put in a lot of the work and effort during and after the course which led me to a great job I have now and am very satisfied with. Bits of what I learned in the course, I use today at my job. You get what you put in!
Personally, I already have design experience (both from university and work), so a lot of lectures felt repetitive for me. I can see the course being very helpful for those without such experience yet. But for myself, it was a bit frustrating.
Pros
It's been a few months now since I've finished the course, and I did luckily get it from the grant so I may have certain biases overall.- One important thing I got out of the program is boosting my confidence especially when it came to presenting and group work. They did a good job in exposing everyone with that, which again, is a big part of being a UX/Product Designer. It was tricky to manage virtual group work, but it definitely helped me with being 'comfortable with being uncomfortable'. A big part also helped train me to be left to my own resources and figure things out as I go, which honestly is a big part of real world work.
- The people! The people I met were amazing. Obviously a select few I really worked well with, but you do sometimes end up struggling with varying levels of expertise which was honestly a bit frustrating. Half of me wished we were grouped specifically in certain pods with equal levels of expertise to push each other. I was there to learn and push myself. Not necessarily have to feel like I'd do a lot of the leg work. But overall, I made great connections from the course, who I occasionally still reach out to.
- I networked like crazy and was able to reach out someone in the industry who was very helpful in my job hunt phase. For the Hackathon, we presented our work to their company and I was able to connect with someone there and even remain friends with them to this day! Guess a good thing is that Brainstation seems to have such a niche group of people with a shared experience so it's quite easy to reach out to others who went through the same thing.
Cons- Most course work and grading of projects I felt skewed more on 'Product Design' and the visual side. A lot of the feedback I got was also more on visual improvement (I really didn't care much about it visuals...). I personally wanted to learn more about user research, strategy and working with devs. All of those, you get exposed to probably just 10% of each.
- The grading system was questionable. I was surprised previous TA's, who were probably almost the same level of knowledge as us in the cohort, were the ones grading the course. Again, as an already working professional, I cared very little about my numerical grades. I needed output to add into my portfolio, but didn't feel like I really produced the right type of work to present. If you're straight out of university from a more rigorous grading system, don't sweat Brainstation's system of grading.
- Hackathon was laughable.. I was honestly excited to be part of a hackathon, sadly just felt like a a bunch of wild dogs placed in a room left to chew on the same bone. Little to no guidance there despite having some help from TA's. There were also SO many groups presenting, that it felt useless to present to industry professionals. Again, it may vary on the type of groups and cohort, but mine was definitely very frustrating, dealing with so many groups and varying levels and experience.
- The career side of it all was also questionable. I personally put in more effort networking online (ADP List, cold emails and reach outs, etc.) I did not find any of the career success efforts useful. If anything, a confidence booster "You're doing all the right things! Keep going!" Having gone through so much job hunting, do NOT follow their resume template. Just submit it as a requirement, sure, but to stand out, focus on your own branding and how you want to present yourself as a designer. Tips in terms of resume content was somewhat useful, but still felt very rushed to balance this with course requirements. Kind of wish the resume/career success side more came after all course work.
- The resume and final requirements you submit, I found were only to market THEM as a bootcamp for potential new students. I didn't create the video at all, and put in minimum effort to my final requirements for the 'Demo Day' page. Honestly, what kind of recruiter would even look at EACH student profile? And watch a 10 min video for EACH student? It made zero sense to make a video at all.
All in all, Brainstation did help me get to where I am now, which I'm grateful for. But I (clearly) still have certain feelings about it. I would be quite frustrated if I had to pay the full tuition fee... - AnonymousStudent • Product Management Course • VancouverFeb 09, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
Ms.
the course was precise, equipped me with relevant tools that have broadened my knowledge and I'm looking forward to sending out resumes for my future path. - AnonymousGraduate • User Experience Design Bootcamp • VancouverFeb 08, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
BrainStation just cares about their stats
I signed up for one of the UX bootcamps in 2021 and slowly since graduating the program I have realized that BrainStation is just into the stats.
Firstly, I will say that you only get what you want out of the program. The program is very hectic, fast paced and it can be tough but if you want to take it all in, you have to be present at every lab and lecture to get the most of it. You will be equipped with the foundational skills required to get a job but my recommendation would b...I signed up for one of the UX bootcamps in 2021 and slowly since graduating the program I have realized that BrainStation is just into the stats.
Firstly, I will say that you only get what you want out of the program. The program is very hectic, fast paced and it can be tough but if you want to take it all in, you have to be present at every lab and lecture to get the most of it. You will be equipped with the foundational skills required to get a job but my recommendation would be to keep learning more after the program because it doesn't cover everything. The instructors are amazing, I will give you that. They're supportive and have great background experience in the industry and are happy to share their stories.
BrainStation really sells their programs well. You graduate with massive cohorts and then they bring in other students and pump those grads out too. They do make it clear that you aren't promised a job or anything after graduation but they do offer assistance post grad. You are put into a slack channel where they share job postings from Indeed for example... we can do that ourselves. The "job assistance" is a joke. Throughout the program, you do attend workshops for resume writing and cover letter writing and interviewing, however, UX interviews are very different. They don't have any specific teachings for that so you go into these interviews blindly. BrainStation will take full credit for you getting a job, meanwhile, it was all of your hard work. I got a job quickly after but that's because I worked really hard to expand on my skills and learnings and changed my portfolio entirely. Yes, they provide you with the curriculum but not everyone is suited for the industry even if they graduate. Some take ages to get a job and they're not getting hired just because they have BrainStation on their resume. BrainStation hardly supports start up businesses, you will notice they mostly partner with large companies. You think BrainStation could appreciate a startup more as they once were a small business too.
Would I recommend BrainStation for its curriculum and instructors? Yes. But if I were asked about job assistance and just the overall experience, I wouldn't. The cost is far too much too.
I would consider other bootcamps.
BrainStation Alumni Outcomes
Recent BrainStation News
Jess Feldman
Updated August 05, 2024
This month, we’re celebrating 10 years of coding bootcamps and a big announcement from our own team here at Course Report! We’ll also let you know about new funding for the federal apprenticeship system and “climatetech” jobs, the status of skills-based hiring, and the career outcomes of two coding bootcamp graduates in the news. Plus, learn more about the 10 coding bootcamps we added to the ...
Jess Feldman
Updated July 01, 2024
Happy Summer! This month at Course Report, we released our Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps list for 2024 — check it out if you are looking to launch an in-demand career this year! This June, five coding bootcamps announced cohorts that will be fully or partially funded through grants (read: FREE to you)! A Southern coding bootcamp landed a one-million dollar fundraise, and two interesting partne...
Jess Feldman
Updated May 31, 2024
This May, training programs and nonprofits helping women, people of color, low-wage workers, and nonbinary folks make career changes into tech received extra support from investors, philanthropists, and regional government organizations. Numerous grants are now available to Canadians looking to gain technical skills, and a cybersecurity bootcamp announced it is now offering college credit. At...
Jess Feldman
Updated May 30, 2024
Hackathons are exhilarating (albeit sometimes stressful!) events where technologists come together to innovate and build projects within a limited timeframe. We’re delving into four reasons to participate in hackathon events, and insights on what you can expect once you’re signed up. Find out where to find your next in-person or online hackathon, plus learn from the hackathon experiences of t...
Jess Feldman
Updated May 01, 2024
As we kicked off Spring, the international coding bootcamp space saw $34 million in fundraises to help expand their technical skills training efforts. The federal government issued three new bills to expand workforce development and skills-based hiring, and Big Tech banded together in a new AI consortium with the focus of reskilling 100 million workers. We celebrated Earth Day with a roundup ...
Jess Feldman
Updated March 27, 2024
Toronto is an important epicenter for tech and commerce in Canada, which makes it a perfect place to launch a tech career! With its modern classroom layouts and world-class amenities, take a virtual tour of BrainStation’s enhanced campus situated in The Well, Toronto’s ambitious new development. Find out what students can expect from learning in person at BrainStation’s Toronto campus, and ho...
Jess Feldman
Updated January 22, 2024
Wendy, a graduate of BrainStation’s Data Analytics bootcamp, wrote a Verified review of her bootcamp experience and won our latest sweepstakes competition! Over 1,500 tech bootcamp graduates wrote a Verified review for their school on Course Report and went into the draw to win a $500 Amazon gift card. We caught up with Wendy to hear about her bootcamp experience!
Want to win $500 in our nex...
Jess Feldman
Updated December 29, 2023
2023 was a bit of a rollercoaster year! We’re rounding up the most impactful news we saw about coding bootcamps in 2023. Follow along as we highlight 2023’s top trends and break down the year’s biggest coding bootcamp acquisition, fundraises, and initiatives. Plus, we’re sharing our predictions for 2024 — from tech hiring to AI skills to bootcamp tuition financing!
Course Report · 2023: T...
Jess Feldman
Updated November 03, 2023
Four years ago, a simple coding project at work ignited Aveen Pattni’s desire to code full-time. After completing the Software Engineering Bootcamp full-time at BrainStation, Aveen went on to work in full stack and front end development roles at Walmart, Loblaw Digital, and now Intuit. Aveen shares what it took to kickstart a new career in software engineering through an immersive bootcamp,...
Nat Davis
Updated September 30, 2024
Canada is a leading tech country with data science bootcamps in its five major tech cities: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa. Learning data science in Canada means having many opportunities of working at large, respected companies or cutting-edge tech startups. Whether you’re looking for a full-time or part-time program, we’ve rounded up all of the in-person data science boot...
Jess Feldman
Updated October 02, 2023
Happy Fall! AI was all everyone wanted to talk about this September, and rather than reading more doomsday headlines, we saw more nuanced (and longer!) articles on how AI integration will actually improve and create more jobs. We saw two tech training programs receive sizable gifts from MacKenzie Scott’s charitable foundation, and a new coding bootcamp merger in south Florida. We’ll let you k...
Liz Eggleston
Updated June 01, 2023
As Miami evolves as a tech epicenter, BrainStation Miami is geared up to offer digital skills training at its Wynwood campus and live online. We caught up with the BrainStation team to learn what students can expect from the in-person campus (hint: modern classrooms and an inspirational mural in the courtyard!). Learn how to code in Miami with BrainStation to take advantage of their expansive...
BrainStation Alumni Reviews Summary
Based on 2,000+ BrainStation alumni reviews on Course Report, students often highlight the quality of the curriculum, experienced instructors, and effective career support services. Particularly, the Full-Time Software Engineering and Data Science Bootcamps are frequently commended. One reviewer says, "The program was challenging but extremely rewarding, offering real-world projects that truly enhanced my skills." However, some students noted the high cost of courses as a consideration.
Overall Experience
4.7
Instructors
4.8
Curriculum
4.5
Job Assistance
4.2
More Information
Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
Licensing
PBSS - New York, United States, CIE - Florida, United States, PCC - Ontario, Canada, PTIB - British Columbia, Canada
Awards
Recent BrainStation News
By Jess Feldman
By Jess Feldman
By Jess Feldman
FAQs
How much does BrainStation cost?
BrainStation costs around $16,500. On the lower end, some BrainStation courses like Social Media Marketing Course cost $2,450.
What courses does BrainStation teach?
BrainStation offers courses like Artificial Intelligence Course Online, Cybersecurity Bootcamp Online, Cybersecurity Course Online, Data Analytics Course and 29 more.
Where does BrainStation have campuses?
BrainStation has in-person campuses in London, Miami, New York City, Toronto, and Vancouver. BrainStation also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.
Is BrainStation worth it?
BrainStation hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 2,295 BrainStation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed BrainStation on Course Report - you should start there!
Is BrainStation legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 2,295 BrainStation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed BrainStation and rate their overall experience a 4.66 out of 5.
Does BrainStation offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like BrainStation offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.
Can I read BrainStation reviews?
You can read 2,295 reviews of BrainStation on Course Report! BrainStation alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed BrainStation and rate their overall experience a 4.66 out of 5.
Is BrainStation accredited?
PBSS - New York, United States, CIE - Florida, United States, PCC - Ontario, Canada, PTIB - British Columbia, Canada