Introduction to Programming

Start your journey
Our Introduction to Programming course will give you a basic understanding of JavaScript - one of the most popular programming languages of today, getting you started on your journey towards a Software Engineer.
Curriculum
What is programming?
Learn what programming is and how it differs from programmatic thinking. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of computers vs. humans, and why computers need more specific instructions.
Get started with JavaScript
Get hands-on experience with JavaScript - one of the most popular programming languages - learning about different data types, how to perform calculations, and how to make decisions in code.
Functions and loops
Go further with JavaScript, using functions to store pieces of code so it can be reused, and loops to repeat tasks over without having to write instructions over and over.
Objects and arrays
Discover how to deal with more complex data in JavaScript, using arrays to keep collections of similar data, and using objects to group related pieces of data together.
Frequently asked questions
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes, this course was designed with beginners in mind.
How much is this course?
This course is completely free of charge.
What equipment do I need?
For this course you just need a computer with an Internet connection, and a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge.
What can I do after this course?
This course is designed to give you a taste of what programming is and whether it is right for you.
Following this course, we'd recommend moving onto our Software Engineer FastTrack course, which covers programming in a much greater depth and prepares you for a career in the field.
When does this course take place?
There are no lectures or classes for this course, so you can study it whenever is convenient for you. We'd recommend spending at least 1-2 hours a day working through the content so you don't forget it!
Join our online community
Don't go it alone. If you need help, or just want to chat, then make use of the Manchester Codes Community of staff, students, alumni and other learners. You'll receive an invite as soon as your start the course.
Learn by doing
Using our bespoke learning materials, you'll be able to follow along with the code examples on our learning platform as you go along. We'll quiz you along the way to reinforce what you've learnt.
Start your coding journey now with 25 hours of introductory material
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Meet the team: Daniel Cross
Daniel is one of our tutors at Manchester Codes. Read more about how he defied his Careers Adviser in this blog post
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Meet the team: Romy Greenfield
Romy is one of our tutors at Manchester Codes. Find out what she loves most about technology in this post!
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Meet the team: Rui Miguel Correia
Rui is a tutor at Manchester Codes. Find out what he loves most about working for us in this post!