1. Do I need a BS to participate in this program?NO! You do NOT need a Bachelor’s degree to participate or apply to the Master’s of Computer Science program.
If you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree, you will need to do “conditional admissions” or “performance-based admissions”. For more information, please visit our admissions page.
‍2. How long does it take to complete the Master’s program?For those in the full-time program, the Master’s degree takes 13 months to complete.
For those in the part-time program, the degree takes 24 months to complete.
‍3. Does the program accept international students?Yes, but you must live in a time zone that allows you to actively and consistently participate in program meetings. Attendance at program meetings is a required part of the program - more so than traditional lecture-based programs.
We do not provide scholarships at this time.
‍4. What materials are required for this program?You will need a working computer, a reliable and consistent internet connection, as well as a working webcam. You are expected to attend meetings with your camera on, and to participate as if you were an engineer on a team of software engineers at work.
You should have up-to-date browsers, and if you’re in the machine learning program, we recommend a computer with good-enough hardware.
‍5. Does Qwasar offer scholarships, financial aid, or FAFSA?Currently, Qwasar does not offer scholarships or financial aid.
Since our accreditation is not in the United States of America, FAFSA loans are not possible for Qwasar programs.
‍6. When are courses offered?Courses are offered on a rolling basis, and are not tied to specific dates. Since our programs are project-based and competency-based, they are offered on an ongoing basis.
‍7. What are the admission requirements for the Master’s program?Admissions is based on competency and skills. We’re looking for a minimum proficiency in at least one programming language (not HTML/CSS), the ability to use development tools, and some previous programming experience.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you can be admitted unconditionally, as long as you pass the technical take home assignment, and the admissions interview (which is in part a technical interview).
‍8. How can I check the status of my application?Admissions runs fairly quickly at Qwasar. We move you swiftly through the admissions process, onto the take home, and into the technical interview. From there, we tend to make admissions decisions within 1-2 weeks.
‍9. How are applications reviewed?Applications are reviewed as a committee. Following interviews and take home assignments, the admissions committee reviews a candidate holistically, and determines if they will be admitted or not.
‍10. When are applications accepted?Applications are accepted year-round! You can apply now: https://learn.qwasar.io/qwasar-masters-in-computer-science-application
‍11. What is the application deadline?Applications are due at least 2 weeks before the cohort start date.
‍12. Who do I contact with application questions?If you have questions about your application or before you submit an application, you can contact us directly. Form submissions are distributed to multiple Qwasar team members. Here is our contact form: https://learn.qwasar.io/contact-qwasar-silicon-valley
‍13. Is there an admission interview?Yes: we generally schedule 2 interviews. The first interview is to meet you, review your application, and ask more “behavioral” questions. The second interview is a technical interview based on your take home assignment, and other technical questions.
‍14. Is an admission deposit required?A deposit for the program is required when you enroll, but this is part of tuition.
There is no fee to apply, and no admissions fee applies.
‍15. Is there an orientation for new students?Yes! Each cohort, we start with Orientation. As with any new program, it takes a while to get the wheels rolling and get used to how things operate and which tools to use. Expect it to take 1-2 weeks to fully onboard to the program.
‍16. How do I register for classes?Starting new learning tracks, projects, and courses is all done in our learning platform. Qwasar uses a proprietary learning platform which houses our curriculum, learning tools, and more.
‍17. Are there opportunities for networking?Yes, but we ALWAYS encourage our students to network locally. Students who attend local meetups, events, or conferences are the ones who tend to find jobs faster and build a larger network.
‍18. What if I work full-time? Or part-time?If you work part-time, you can apply and enroll in our full-time or part-time Master’s cohort.
If you work full-time, you are ineligible to apply or enroll in our full-time Master’s cohort,. You can apply and enroll in our part-time cohort, however.
‍19. Are applications accepted after the deadline?On rare occasion, we consider applications after the deadline. We will not consider applications if the cohort has already started, however. Applications will be pushed to the next cohort start date.