Frequently asked questions

Stutern is a skills development and job placement platform. We train and connect young African talents with long-term employment. We offer training classes that help you learn valuable skills that are relevant for the 21st century. We also work with employers who want to hire candidates with digital skills.

We have the following courses:

• UI/UX Design
• Frontend Development
• Backend Development
• Data Science
• Mobile Development

While all the courses lead to great careers, you should choose a track that aligns with your strengths, goals and aspirations. Each program is immersive, so having a strong reason will help you see it through. A few hints from us:

If you have an interest in design (graphic, fashion, etc.), possess any type of artistic skill (writing, photography, etc.), or love to interact with people, our UI/UX Design course might be ideal for you. UI/UX Designers are important in the product development phase because their work is what makes a user love a product. It borrows a lot from psychology, even though the design aspect is more pronounced.

If you have some interest in design and programming but would rather spend more time on your computer than with your prospective users, then Frontend Development might be for you. As a Frontend Developer, your core role is to write HTML, CSS and JavaScript that turns (renders, you will hear that a lot) user-centric, beautiful designs, ideally from a UI/UX designer, into a web page.

Backend Development suits you if you are interested in creating functional software products and are comfortable dealing with abstract and theoretical things: much of your work shows up in logs rather than on a web page. It gives you the chance to create software that can be used by an unlimited number of people. Only a few professions give you that opportunity.

If you are interested in building mobile applications rather than web applications, our Mobile Development course might be the best option for you.

If you like Sherlock Holmes, Data Science might be it for you. While that sounds like a joke, it’s not far from reality: if you have an interest in research and numbers, you might do well in Data Science. You should also be open to learning how to code. The course will teach you the core programming language you need.

The program runs for 16 to 24 weeks. Group classes hold twice a week.

There are four steps to the application process:

1. Fill in the application form. This is where you tell us about your interest and motivation for the program.
2. Respond to our soft skills questions in writing and video. We might request further interviews if we need more information from you.
3. Respond to technical questions specific to the course you have chosen.
4. Based on your responses, you will be notified of your admission status.

Yes, it does. The task submission is mandatory to enroll. We point you to learning resources that help you complete the task. Beyond the task, the other responses you give during the application process also determine your admission.

No. As the applicant, you should attempt the task yourself. It helps you get familiar with the course and decide if it is right for you.

Yes, you can. Anyone interested in learning new digital skills is welcome to apply for any of our tracks. To be considered for admission, you will complete an application task as part of the application process. However, the ISA payment option is only open to graduates who have completed the mandatory NYSC program and are resident in Nigeria.

No. We’ve had applicants from countries like Kenya and Ghana, and we have graduates working in other countries beyond Nigeria. We believe knowledge and opportunities can be equally distributed.

We have three payment options to help you start your journey to your dream job:

• Full payment: pay the total fees at the beginning of the classes.
• Instalment payment: pay the fees over a couple of months, worked out between you and the team.
• Income sharing agreement (ISA): launch your career with upfront tuition covered, then pay back a percentage of your income under an income sharing agreement.

If you choose our ISA payment option, you don’t need to worry about paying Stutern back immediately. Some of us wait a little before our dream is realised. You have a five-year window before your financial obligation with Stutern ends for good. We expect you to keep improving your skills while you wait, and we will be around to help.

We are not solely responsible for your employment after the program. Your zeal is also measured by how consistently you apply to jobs outside the Stutern platform. We provide career support, and we expect our learners to be driven and tenacious about their careers.

We have different payment arrangements for graduates in this situation. It mainly depends on how long after graduation you propose to pay. Our accounts team is always ready to help.

Of course you can. We do not control what the universe has in store for us.

If you’re not happy with the course within the first week of class (after the pre-course), you will receive a refund of the amount paid, less the application processing fee.

24 months might seem like a big deal. For those of us who can’t wait, our accounts team can agree a payment plan customised just for you, depending on a number of factors.

Our classes are 100% online, so you can be part of the class wherever you are. We also have a workspace in Gbagada, Lagos, available to enrolled learners who need internet access, power or the company of other learners.

Once you enroll, we give you an additional 25 hours of online, guided preparatory lessons to set you up for success. You dive into the fundamentals of your chosen program and get help from our teaching assistants. The pre-course is mandatory: it gives you a common vocabulary to start collaborating with classmates from day one.

No. The program is instructor-led and learners attend live classes online. Learners also work on assignments, submit them on time and collaborate with other learners.

Classes hold twice a week. The specific days depend on the course you are enrolled in.

Since our classes are online, it is somewhat flexible. However, there are clear schedules: classes hold twice a week, and other activities take about 1–2 hours on non-class days. The class is focused on hands-on learning, so you will actively work on projects on non-class days. Bottom line: it is a very immersive program.

The program isn’t self-paced, but we have recordings of live sessions to help you catch up. We do ask learners to attend at least 95% of live sessions, so you can ask your tutor questions and get answers in real time.

Yes. Aside from the online classes, we hold team-building exercises that learners are free to join in a physical space. Depending on where you are, we help fellow learners organise meetups. Your instructors, teaching assistants or guest instructors might also suggest offline sessions to foster collaboration when necessary.

If you can’t make it to the physical space, you can still join offline sessions virtually.

Yes. A learner must attend at least 95% of live sessions (including guest sessions and peer presentations) and complete 100% of class tasks and projects.

Our focus is to work with you to build a portfolio of projects that attracts employers. However, we can issue your certificate if the need arises before you get a job.

We wish we could give you a definite yes, but we don’t promise our learners jobs. Our promise is to make you employable and connect you with employers. We will work with you to build a great portfolio that gives you the confidence to apply for your dream job, and provide career advisory services including resume review, online profile review, interview preparation and job negotiation insights.

We can’t force an employer on a Stutern graduate, and we can’t force a Stutern graduate on an employer. We will be there to give insights while you weigh offers. What matters most is that you prioritise offers with room for career growth. Since salary raises are relatively quick in this field, we recommend you don’t drag out your job search.

If you opt for the ISA payment option, your obligation doesn’t start until you get a job (see the Tuition & ISA questions above). Whatever your payment option, we will set your status to “Actively searching” on the Stutern hire page and include your profile in placement campaigns until that changes. We will work with you to improve your portfolio if needed, and we expect you to keep improving it on your end too.

Yes. Toward the end of the program there is typically a one-month client project, also known as an internship. You will be grouped in teams with learners from your track or other tracks, and employers select teams to intern with them on real-life projects.

This isn’t where the big bucks come in. Employers typically provide stipends to cover transport and feeding for physical engagements, or data for remote ones.