Study software development online

Software is all around us. Across the many devices that power our lives, software is what makes them work. Whether it’s your smartphone, computer, appliances, or car, each of these relies on software development. That’s why data suggests that there were 18.9 million software developers in the world in 2019, and why this number is expected to reach 45 million by 2030.

Here, you’ll find an array of different courses, focusing on many different areas related to software development. Whether you’re a total newcomer to the industry or hoping to build on your existing skills, you can choose from a variety of learning opportunities.

Each of our courses is entirely online, giving you the opportunity to learn whenever and wherever you want. Whether it’s with our free online courses or our ExpertTrack learning subscriptions, you can start building your knowledge today.

Gain software development certifications

For those looking to gain recognition in your software development studies, you’ll find that our courses offer the chance to earn digital certificates upon completion. We also have many ExpertTracks that provide a detailed exploration of software development.

Whether you’re totally new to the subject or want to improve your existing skills and CV, you have plenty of options to impress potential employers. You can also share your digital certificates in software development with your professional network.

Explore our collection of online software engineering degrees from top universities. Transform your career and earn a degree at your own pace with FutureLearn.

Build your career in software development

If you’re hoping to get a job as a software developer, our courses can be a great way to work on some of the essential skills you’ll need. Whether you want to focus on learning programming languages, understanding the role of cyber security in the software development lifecycle, or getting to grips with development fundamentals, you can find a course to suit your needs.

A career in software development could mean a lot of job security. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 22 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

What’s more, software development is an often fast-paced and exciting area to work in, and one that will provide opportunities across many different sectors. It’s also a thriving industry, currently worth around $34.4 billion in the UK when measured by revenue.

Learn the principles of software development

Our courses cover a wide range of software development subjects, giving you the chance to explore the core principles and specialist areas. Start by exploring and understanding why developers use Agile vs Waterfall processes, or learn about key coding languages such as Python, Java, C#, R, and PHP.

Whether you’re interested in programming languages, cyber security, project management, or other areas of development, you’ll find courses that can help you work on these skills and more.

These skills will help you develop your career in the industry. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, you can find opportunities to enhance your existing knowledge.

Your options for studying software development

If you’re eager to learn software development, we have several options for you to choose from. For example, one of our free short courses gives you the opportunity to study some of the fundamentals of development over two to ten weeks. Alternatively, for a more in-depth view of a particular subject, one of our ExpertTrack subscriptions could be just the thing.

You’ll also find several microcredentials and degree courses that cover elements of software development. These can help enhance your existing knowledge and give academic credit in some of the key areas you’ll need for a career in the industry.

Software Development FAQs

What is software development?

Software development focuses on the various processes involved in creating and maintaining software and applications. This includes things like planning, designing, programming, testing, and bug-fixing software. It’s a vast and varied field with many different applications.

What is agile software development?

The term ‘agile’ is used in software development to refer to a way of working centred around self-organising and cross-functional teams that come up with requirements and solutions. This iterative development, as it is known, is a popular way of working, with methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban being particularly widely used.

What is the software development lifecycle?

The software development lifecycle, or SDLC for short, is the process of planning, creating, testing, and deploying apps and software. It’s a clearly defined process that helps ensure projects are delivered on time and to the right specification.

How do you learn software development?

There are many ways in which you can learn software development. You’ll need to understand the key principles of computer science, as well as know how to code in a few different languages. With our online courses and ExpertTracks, you can start building your knowledge in these key areas.

What kind of education is required to be a software developer?

Although a degree in computer science is a useful qualification to have, it’s not the only route into software engineering or development. Provided you have the necessary skills, you can gain experience by working on your own projects or doing apprenticeships, internships, or similarly hands-on opportunities. Our online certificates can help you demonstrate the key competencies you’ll need to get started.