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Absolutely! Having existing IT knowledge will certainly come in handy. However, the main value of our bootcamps comes from the holistic cyber training we offer, and the hands-on problem solving you’ll be doing in class, so there's still plenty to learn!

The course also includes careers guidance, coaching, mentoring and some cyber certifications, so it’s like an all-in-one package to upskill in cyber, helping to make the transition from IT to cyber nice and efficient.

And remember, it's a common misconception that cyber is all about tech. Technological understanding is important, but other skills such as business understanding, strong communication skills, and being able to work effectively in a team are vitally important, too. We cover all this and more on the CAPSLOCK Certified Cyber Security Practitioner course.

This is probably the most common question we're asked by prospective learners, and the answer is "Yes!" A thousand times yes! You absolutely do not need a background in IT to excel in cyber security.

CAPSLOCK exists to help adults switch careers and become cyber security professionals, with the intention of bringing fresh perspectives and greater diversity into the industry. Many of our learners have no cyber or IT experience at all. Cyber is a far more holistic and varied discipline than a lot of people think - it isn't all about tech!

People come to CAPSLOCK from all kinds of industries and backgrounds. We've helped dancers, teachers, chefs, marketing consultants, military veterans, driving instructors, police officers, full-time parents, DJs, midwives, people out of work, jewellers, baristas and many, many more people of all kinds of professions become Certified Cyber Security Practitioners. 

So, no matter your background, you will already have lots of transferable skills which will carry you far in this industry, and we can help you learn the cyber skills you need to launch an exciting new career...

Learners must attend at least 90% of the live classes to pass the CAPSLOCK course.

You will be asked if you can attend 90% of the live classes during your application. You must be able to answer 'yes' to this question for your application to proceed.

If a few classes are missed due to illness, emergencies etc, learners can catch up with missed work with help from their tutors and teammates. However, this wouldn't be possible on a regular basis. Only a small percentage of each class is filmed and available to rewatch, as the majority of the work on the course is completed in small teams and involves live collaboration on projects, so attending as much as possible is vital.

So, for example, if you have a 2-week holiday booked which would fall in the middle of a 16-week Full Time course, realistically you wouldn't be able to join as you would miss too much of the course. 

The same principal applies if you have current lifestyle or working arrangements which would regularly prevent you from attending certain sessions on the schedule.

Full support is available on the course to help you deal with changes in circumstance. If you're still unsure, feel free to reach out to the CAPSLOCK team at admissions@capslock.ac.

To apply to study with CAPSLOCK, simply click the 'Apply Now' button on our website. This will ask you to register with us, and from there you can begin your full application.

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by our Admissions Team. If your application is successful, you will receive, via email, a Conditional Offer to study with CAPSLOCK.

Upon receiving your Conditional Offer, you will then have some mandatory Pre-course Work to complete.

You will also need to arrange and confirm your chosen method of tuition payment at this time, whether you're paying up front or setting up a financial agreement with a 3rd party provider.

If you complete the Pre-course Work and have confirmed your method of tuition payment, you will be invited to begin the enrolment process and start preparing for your first day in the virtual classroom.

Part of the admissions process at CAPSLOCK includes our mandatory Pre-course work, which applicants must complete in order to enrol with us. 

If you need help with any part of the pre-course work, our staff are happy to help. Simply visit the CAPSLOCK Slack workspace (you will receive an invitation to join our Slack workspace when you apply) and ask for help in the dedicated "pre-course_help" channel.

Members of staff, and occasionally CAPSLOCK alumni, are able to offer you hints and tips to help out with your pre-course work.

Republic of Ireland - Yes! You are welcome to join CAPSLOCK.

Europe - Yes! We are able to offer spaces to learners within the EU, but please be aware this might impact your ability to access our Shared Income Agreement or other 3rd party tuition loans.

Outside of the EU - Yes! We are able to offer spaces to learners outside of the EU, but please be aware you will not be able to access our Shared Income Agreement or other 3rd party tuition loans, meaning you would need to pay for the course up-front (£9,500).

At CAPSLOCK, we aim to keep all communication about the admissions process email-based for the purposes of continuity and audit trails.

However, if you have a disability, are neurodiverse, or have extenuating circumstances, and would prefer to speak to us face-to-face, you can request a call by emailing admissions@capslock.ac.

You have to be 18 or above to apply to study with CAPSLOCK.

Above that, the sky is really the limit!

Prospective learners often worry that they are "too old" for cyber or to switch careers. Our incredible alumni have proven time and again that this is simply not true.

We see a wide spectrum of ages at CAPSLOCK, from early 20s to late 50s and beyond. The whole point of our bootcamps is to help people switch careers, and by definition this means that the majority of our learners have worked in other industries in the past, and already hold many years experience from their previous roles.

From a careers perspective, many cyber security employers highly value the maturity, experience and transferable skills that older candidates can offer.

A few examples:

• We recently had a learner in her mid-50s who'd previously worked as a consultant in the education sector. She'd been out of work for 10 years, and is now a cyber security consultant.
  
  
• A recent CAPSLOCK graduate was in such high demand that she was able to pick and choose from a number of employers who wanted to hire her. She's also in her 50s, and is now a Governance, Risk and Compliance Analyst.
  
  
• A recent learner in his 60s graduated from CAPSLOCK in 2021. He was a marketing manager previously, and is now a Cyber Security Consultant.

So, if you want to re-skill in cyber and switch careers to this exciting industry, we can help you get there, regardless of your age.

The only factor to consider about age is that some of our financial lending partners might able unable to provide you with a tuition finance arrangement if you above or approaching retirement age. However, if that situation arises, you will still have the option to join CAPSLOCK if you pay your tuition fees up-front.

Due to increasing demand, we have recently added a number of new bootcamps to our schedule. For the most up-to-date information around bootcamp start dates, end dates, application deadlines, please visit: https://capslock.ac/the-course#Schedules

Please note that cohorts that run over December will have a 2-week winter break over the festive period.

First and foremost: honesty! Please take the time to go through the application form and answer all questions honestly and to the best of your ability.

We don't mind if you never did your A levels, if you know nothing about cyber yet, if you've been out of work for years, or anything else you might be worrying about. Just tell us about you.

In the 'Personal Statements' section of the application form, we're looking to get a sense of your reasons for wanting to switch careers, your background, your decision to join CAPSLOCK, and who you are as a person. 

There's no set word count on the personal statements, but please take this opportunity to really tell us about yourself - a one-sentence answer probably won't do. 

Please note that some negative answers to mandatory aspects of the course (for example, if you tell us that you would not be able to attend at least 90% of classes) will result in your application immediately being unsuccessful.