[ikthius]

well they are a bit..... I class them very expensive.
starting at £3500 per course, they teach you
Programming: java, C, C++, C#, VB, VB.NET, Javascript (ok not technically an all powerful language) and the likes
Datbases: oracle, sql
Windows: 2003 server
Networking
CIW: for webdesign
etc

well they put you where they think you will be strongest, but a lot of students are complaining that they are very weak in some courses and would be stronger in other courses, if you want to change your course you may haver to pay extra, up to another £2000.
You have to finish the course within 2-3 years otherwise you will incur penalties, e.g. you pay 5% of the current fees per quarter, so can be expensive.

Your course material is sent out to you so that you can work at your own pace, if you have any queries you can contact them either by phone or email, email is best you can describe your problems, and get a good answer to help explain why you are not understanding it, so that it helps you to help yourself.

there are normally 5 stages, stage 1 is IT fundamentals, e.g. how a computer works.
Stage 2 is starting you off in your chosen field, in my case Pascal to teach me programming
Stage 3 is the start of your chosen field, in my case Java
Stage 4 is more in depth of your chosen field.
Stage 5 is added extras, in my case HTML, Javascript & CSS

you have to go to the computeach head office for exams, which can be expensive, because it is in Dudley, in the west midlands.

if you fail an exam, you pay for another exam, but then you verify with receipts that you did the exam and they will re-emburse you.

I found that they help very well when you understand it, but if you really cannot get something they tend to not help as much. with teh exception of my last stage the tutor for Javascript & Css was brill, and at the 5 day course, I got a new lease of life for it.

I would only recommend it if you are seriously needing to get taught, if you can teach yourself then you can do the courses for much cheapness (as in free) from the net, and buy your exams yourself, you could save yourself lots of money, but if you want an institution to tech you then I would recommend them.

once you have goot to stage 4 you have the opportunaty to speak to Software profesionals, who end up helping you get a job, they are not a job agency but close to one, they do a CV for you, help you prepare for interviews etc.

I have finished my course, and to be honest I am glad to see the back of it, but I would learn something again, but I want to play with what I have learned and make up a portfolio, so I am currently re-doing my clubs website.

if I could afford to leave work and start afresh I would go to normal uni, but I can't.

ik

copied from my post a while back

Sorry Shaun should you already, thanks dude