Are you passionate about tech and interested in mixing up your work life? Enter Ironhack, an innovative tech school and launchpad for talent in the tech industry. With campuses worldwide, including one right here in Barcelona, they’re giving tech students a forward-thinking educational experience like no other.

Ironhack was founded in 2013 by Gonzalo Manrique and Ariel Quiñones. Since then, more than 1,500 students have graduated from eight campuses around the world and have gone on to work for the likes of Google, Visa and Xing. Today, Ironhack has earnt its ranking as a top 3 global tech school.

Project-based learning

Ironhack’s aim is to transform the traditional education model. Their courses in web development, UX/UI design and data analytics are highly interactive. Students learn by working on projects that simulate a real-life work environment, using the tools and workflows they’ll encounter during their careers. They shape their own experience, based on personal goals. Ironhack courses are also flexible and can be adapted to individual students’ lifestyles. This means students can choose from 9-week full-time intensive bootcamp courses or 24-week part-time courses.

By going beyond simply learning skills and knowledge, Ironhack gives students the chance to learn collaboratively. Alice Chou, who studied UX/UI Design, says ‘the opportunity to connect with others who are also looking to break into the field, share ideas and learnings with them, and build a portfolio alongside them, was invaluable.’  

Connecting with others is a key part of the Ironhack philosophy. Learning in an international environment gives students the chance to work with, and learn from, peers from different cultures and backgrounds. And with 46 different nationalities on campus in Barcelona, the experience of interacting with such a diverse peer base is richly rewarding. ‘My classmates were incredible,’ says Alberto De Las Heras, who specialised in UX/UI design. ‘They were people from other countries with different ways of thinking and different solutions.’

Career support and a global network

Ironhack’s goal is to raise the next generation of young tech talent, so they’re ready to enter the jobs market after just 9 weeks of education. Not only do graduates receive personalized career coaching, job preparation and the opportunity to attend networking and alumni events, they are also introduced to Ironhack’s global network of hiring partners. Ironhack’s Hiring Week, held during the final week of every bootcamp and organised by Ironhack’s Outcomes Manager, is a dynamic event that gives students the chance to meet top tech recruiters in Barcelona. During Hiring Week, Ironhackers hone their interview skills and learn about the attributes, skills and knowledge top tech recruiters look for when hiring new talent.

An impressive 89% of students at Ironhack Barcelona are hired within 3 months of graduation – a testament to Ironhack’s passion for helping students find their true vocation. Web development graduate Ross Gravitte highlights the dedication of Ironhack’s outcomes team. ‘Where Ironhack excels the most is the most important part of joining an extensive program – job assistance. They go above and beyond assisting students in the job hunt after graduation … I was able to find a job within two weeks of our hiring fair.’

With a network of 3,000 alumni from more than 70 countries around the world, Ironhack graduates benefit from a strong global network. From entrepreneurs to key team members of top tech companies, Ironhackers are going on to use their skills and experience to shape their own careers. Once they’ve graduated, they’re given the platform to stay connected, share stories and continue to learn from peers.

Taught by industry leaders

Students learn from experts in their field. All Ironhack teachers have backgrounds in UX/UI design, data analytics and web development and are all excellent educators with innovative teaching methods. They are dedicated to giving students an immersive style of education, which is underpinned by a solid support structure.

Not only do they gain the fundamental knowledge and tools of the tech trade, but students also graduate with the mindset to adapt and evolve – one which will become vital in a constantly changing technological landscape. And with a student/teacher ratio of 1:8, students are able to access the expertise of their teachers in a close-knit environment.

State of the art campus in Barcelona

With one of the most lively tech ecosystems in Europe, Barcelona is undoubtedly the place to be if you want to get involved and launch a career in technology. Home to huge international events like the Mobile World Congress and a buzzing startup scene, as well as renowned startups such as Typeform and Wallapop, this sunny city offers endless opportunities for budding tech talent. Then there’s the fact that Barcelona is without a doubt one of the world’s most livable cities: stunning architecture, great food, beaches, amazing weather, incredible hiking routes… the list goes on!

So what better place to base an innovative campus than the 22@ District – the startup hub of Barcelona? An old cookie factory renovated into a state of the art technology hub, Ironhack’s Barcelona campus gives students huge natural-lit study areas and open classrooms. The campus is specially designed to create an environment for students to feel at home and interact as much as possible. Alice Guan, who studied web development, says ‘the camaraderie of learning so intensely with 20 other people is something very unique and special.’ For Ironhackers in Barcelona, a campus close to the beach is perfect for unwinding after intensive study periods.  

For Eddie, a full-time web development student, the Ironhack experience was life-changing. ‘They help you shift the way you think – the way you think of code logic and help you grow as a person. I went in as a stranger and left with a sense of family with my whole class.’

If you’re not ready to take a course at Ironhack, but you want to be a part of this forward-thinking community, there are other ways of getting involved. With a meetup group comprising over 6,000 members as well as weekly seminars and workshops, you can become part of Barcelona’s fastest growing tech network.