Institute of Data

I enrolled in the Cyber Security Program with the Institute of Data in partnership with UTS. The program was advertised as providing strong career networking and employer-introduction support, which was a major factor in my decision to enrol. In my… Read more

experience, those aspects were not delivered, support was limited to general coaching and job listings. After raising the issue formally, nothing was done but offer some “coaching ie make your resume class” This review reflects my personal experience and ongoing complaint.

If you are considering enrolling with the Institute of Data (IOD), particularly their Cyber Security Full-Time program partnered with UTS, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere. My experience with this organisation has been nothing short of a nightmare marked by administrative chaos and deceptive behaviour. Shortly into the course, our main… Read more

facilitator was suddenly removed. We were left in the dark with no official communication. When management finally addressed it, they provided written assurances that the quality of our learning would not be compromised and that stable replacements were in place. This was completely false. The cohort was subjected to a rotation of fill-in trainers, and the cohesive 12-week programme I paid for was entirely derailed. When I attempted to withdraw due to their failure to maintain a stable learning environment and their breach of contract, IOD intentionally dragged the complaints process out. Instead of taking accountability for their operational failures, they tried to charge me thousands of dollars for the severely compromised modules, refused to refund my upfront deposit, and had the audacity to tack on a $500 "administrative fee" on the way out. To make matters worse, their proposed "resolution" was entirely conditional on me signing a Withdrawal Agreement, essentially attempting to gag me from speaking out about their conduct. They take zero responsibility for their internal disruptions and will use every excuse in the book to keep your money. I am now escalating my case to NSW Fair Trading, ASQA, and NCAT. Do not make the same mistake I did. Avoid IOD at all costs.

Hello there, I'm a recent Software Engineering course graduate. Here are some of my thoughts and views about the course overall: - Having some background knowledge about coding would be a great advantage, however the pre-course work is a great entry way to learning about coding. Do put in effort into learning it and doing some further research can… Read more

help tremendously in keeping up with the lessons. - Determination is crucial in the learning process as the course duration is quite short and there are a vast amount of information to learn. I would highly recommend to set aside a schedule to prioritize self-learning and research in order to benefit much better from the course. - AI assistance: If you find yourself struggling with code, that's alright! It is recommended to use AI to assist in coding but fundamentally you will need to understand what the code does in order to maintain and debug the project. - Not everything is about coding: Designing the application, identifying the problems, analyzing the customer's request and usage of different software/libraries are also part of being a Software Engineer. Having a business mindset can help bring the project a clearer motive and profitable future, which will be something to work on and develop throughout the course. - Projects: There will be mini-projects and a final Capstone Project which carries a lot of weight in the grading for the course. While it is thrilling to try out new ideas, I highly recommend to spend much time and depth in coming up with the Capstone Project idea as it can potentially be something amazing to display on a portfolio and resume to impress future employers. - Personalized trainers: I'm grateful to have Mr. Jason as my trainer for the course. From coding practices to analyzing business cases, Mr. Jason has provided many valuable resources and links for us to learn more during our own time and pace. As someone who has many years of experience in the industry, Mr. Jason often shares his insights on how the common problems faced in the industry can be solved. The most important factor is that "there is no right or perfect answers", there are multiple ways to come up with a solution, whether that solution is good enough will depend on the scenario and requirements, so I highly recommend sharing own thoughts and solutions to find out what others would think and done differently and learn from it. - Dedicated support team: Other than the trainers, there are also catered student services to help you on your learning journey throughout the course. Having a dilemma and have trouble deciding on how to manage your studies? Feel free to reach out to the student services for advice! Their friendly check-in messages has kept me feeling positive throughout the course and I know I can rely on them for any concerns regarding administrative and progress for the course. - Overall the pace and difficulty feels just right for me (personally have experience with an Object-Oriented Programming(OOP) coding language). Needless to say there will be struggles in learning a new topic from scratch, but with commitment and the resources provided, I am sure everybody can succeed in getting the certificate!(•̀ᴗ•́ )و

tl;dr : Learning is a two-way process, information can be found and provided, but will only become effective when you process and apply it. And as Mr. Jason would say: "Don't just be a coding monkey, make something that has actual value to it". Thank you for reading and all the best for future students enrolling to the course.

As a recent graduate of the Cybersecurity Cohort there was a lot of good information .My instructors were great ,took time to answer any questions both during class and after hours even when class was not in session. This is a great course that I would recommend for anyone green to the field. My job outcomes rep was great she really tuned and… Read more

tweaked my linked in and resume to grab the most attention. While I recognize my experience may be different from other I do see value in it. I do suggest to help with the cost IOD should implement a scholarship program for those who really excel with capstone and coursework. While there is no letter grade your training plan as well as capstone should be used to leverage yourself via LinkedIn and GitHub . There is a fair amount of work you should put in in order to get this done on the outside of class but sets up a great foundation. One of my classmates passed Sec+ just 6 days after class and I’m taking mine in a week. Put in the extra work use labs for GitHub portfolio and apply like mad this is not a great time for entry-level hires so set yourself apart.

I had a great time with IoD's full-time cybersecurity course. The Teachers were engaging, and I really loved the hands-on learning offered by the labs. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to get into cybersecurity.

I am in the process of changing fields and have to learn a new skills. IoD's program has been been what I was looking for. I found the program a great way to transition into Data Science and Python. Not only did I found the online sessions easy, but the practical lab work was a great way to get a hands-on practice. With a full time work, IoD was… Read more

also supportive in helping me navigate the workload and manage my deliverables. Both the teaching and the non-teaching staff have been great and I am looking forward to their on-going support which extends beyond the course time-frame.

I recently completed the Cyber Security program at the Institute of Data, and the experience was excellent. Luke and Michelle were extremely knowledgeable, approachable and consistently supportive throughout the course. Their teaching style made complex topics clear and manageable. The structure of the program helped me build practical skills that… Read more

I can apply immediately in real security work. I felt guided every step of the way, and the learning environment was positive and engaging. This program has been a strong investment in my career and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to enter the cyber security field.

Don’t recommend it at all! I work full time and and I’ve been told by them that I could handle it but it’s really difficult cause I couldn’t dedicate. It’s a lot of exercises and projects to submit. Also the classes weren’t great. It’s too much content and explanations weren’t clear. The support for students is very poor as well. It’s bloody expensive for what you get being super honest. It’s a waste of money and I regret it! Show details

They wont really help you to get into Data, but they do polish your Data skills but very very expensive, you can learn the same skills in pess than half of the amount, the o ly reason O paid them because they mentioned on their website 97% job success rate but its a lie..

Software Engineering The pre course work where I learnt a lot of information was a free resource. This was a little disappointing. Same with the exercises we do in class - they are available online. The teacher I had, Aaron, was very good. I felt like we did learn a lot. He was always changing his pace and adapting to the class. He also gave many… Read more

examples. Our assistant teacher was okay. My classmates were quite introverted which made it challenging for the teachers. Sometimes classes were cancelled last minute which became a little frustrating. The feedback on our work was sometimes a little vague. At times I was given useful resources. The job outcomes program was okay. I did get many useful tips which I applied to my Seek and LinkedIn. It helped maintain momentum by checking in with Farisha. I emailed many of the contacts we were given, I would say 75% of those bounced back and were no longer valid, which was a huge waste of my time. I took the lessons very seriously, used my coursework to build a portfolio, applied for 200 + jobs then finally got employed. My work was pretty good, I practiced a lot outside of the course. I hoped we would have had a bigger celebration on the last day but not many turned up.

Overall, if you apply yourself, engage, practice, use the tools and resources available - you will get a lot out of it. I was extremely grateful for this opportunity which allowed me to completely change the course of my career. I am not sure if it was worth 15k + I would happily do another course with the IOD for 8k.

Took the part time 6 month course. Though it was full on, I got to learn what the current industry practice is and am now able to build a full application with confidence. From a non IT background to a confident developer, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here with fellow students and a great trainer Mirza who guided me along the way.

I had a really good experience with the Institute of Data. The Software Engineering course was clear, practical, and easy to follow. I liked that the content was to the point and helped me understand topics properly. The support, check-ins, and resources throughout the program were also very helpful. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience and I’d recommend it to others interested in software engineering.

The Institute of Data Cyber Security Bootcamp programme was a fantastic experience. The trainers were very knowledgeable, engaged and made the whole experience very enjoyable. I had initial concerns about the workload, but found it very manageable as a full-time employee.

The Data and AI course was packed full of information, but structured in a such a way that we were stacking skills until we could tackle the more complex concepts. I enjoyed the camaraderie and support of my cohort, and really appreciated the helpful and extremely knowledgeable staff. This course has me keen to keep tackling machine learning programs even after finishing, just because it's so interesting!

I recently completed the Data Science and AI program at the Institute of Data, and it has been a truly transformative experience. Most importantly, the support I received throughout the journey made all the difference. My trainer patiently clarified concepts and provided valuable insights from their professional experience. My tutor was… Read more

incredibly responsive and encouraging, helping me navigate challenges and stay motivated. I highly recommend the Institute of Data to anyone looking to upskill or transition into data science or AI.

I had no experience before joining the Data Science and Machine Learning course. I had a lot of trouble understanding the content at the beginning to the point that I was very close to dropping out. With guidance from my teachers and a lot of support I stuck with it and I am so glad I did. I felt as if I have grown so much throughout the course and so thankful that I finished it.

I wish to express my profound satisfaction with the Institute of Data's training team, specifically the Lead Trainer and Co-Trainer. As a Cybersecurity student here at IOD, the experience has been fundamentally transformative due to their brilliant and dedicated approach. Their methodology effectively contextualizes the material, ensuring rapid… Read more

comprehension.

The Lead Trainer is an exceptional expert in penetration testing, web development, and diverse cybersecurity concepts. They consistently integrate the curriculum with cutting-edge, industry-relevant content and provided essential guidance on the responsible utilization of AI tools.

Most significantly, the Lead Trainer facilitated the recognition of my genuine professional potential. This capability is the program's most valuable outcome. I am now fully committed to developing my capstone project. I highly recommend this team to any professional seeking to enter the Cyber field.

I recently completed the Bootstrap course at UC Online Institute of Data Software Engineering, and it was a very valuable experience. The course structure was clear, starting from the basics and gradually moving to advanced concepts. I appreciated the hands-on projects and real-world examples that helped me understand how to apply Bootstrap in… Read more

actual web development scenarios. The instructors were knowledgeable and responsive, providing helpful guidance whenever I faced challenges. The online format was flexible and well-organized, allowing me to learn at my own pace while still having access to support. Overall, this course gave me practical skills and confidence to build responsive, professional-looking websites. I would recommend it to anyone looking to strengthen their frontend development toolkit.

I recently completed the Software Engineering Bootcamp at IOD/UTS, and it has been a truly valuable experience in my journey as a student. The program is well-structured and covers a wide range of industry-relevant topics within a short timeframe. While the pace can be intensive, the instructor was very supportive—always willing to provide… Read more

detailed explanations and approachable whenever I needed guidance, even outside class hours.

Overall, I would highly recommend the IOD/UTS Software Engineering Bootcamp to anyone serious about breaking into the tech industry. It’s a challenging, practical, and career-focused program that makes for a strong investment in both technical skills and future opportunities.

I found the IOD Data Science and AI course very good. I have inquired various universities and glad I made the decision to pursue IOD/UTS program. Our professor had impressive experience in the field, very hands-on, the class size was not that big that we all were able to participate, ask questions and learn. Though I was not active in the job… Read more

outcomes program, I can see the initiative IOD program has which I see is very helpful and added value in the program, Overall, I came from 0 knowledge to be able to use what we studied in our daily work and add immense value in my skillset for my career.

During this three-month course, we have learned a great deal in such a short time. At the beginning, it felt overwhelming, but later I became grateful for everything we achieved. We gained many useful skills and experiences that I hadn’t expected at the start. I would like to thank our trainers for continuously encouraging and supporting us, and the entire IOD team for providing such valuable opportunities.

I thoroughly enjoyed the data science and AI cohort. Learnt a lot of new things about machine learning, SQL, NLP and neural networks and many other things. The teaching team were great and always available to answer questions and provide feedback. Although you can learn some things online or through a short course it is the fact that you learn from another person who is in the industry makes it more engaging.

I recently completed the Cyber Security course at the Institute of Data and had a great experience. The course was well-structured, and the instructors were knowledgeable and helpful throughout. I’d like to especially acknowledge the support from the student services team, who were always responsive, approachable, and committed to helping students succeed. Their assistance made a big difference in my learning journey.

Ive immensely enjoyed my time learning with the Institute of data. The course material was extremely informative,I have gained so many new skills. My teaching team were amazing and they helped every step of the way.

I completed the part time Cyber Security course in 2022 and was able to transition into the industry shortly after finishing. The course was highly informational and taught the many aspects of cyber security in a practical way. The capstone project really help to get hands on experience that I was able to refer to when transitioning my career.… Read more

Our lead trainer and assistant trainer were very knowledgeable and kind, always willing to go the extra mile. All the staff at IOD were supportive and lovely, even years later.

I have completed the 12-week full-time Software Engineering program with the Institute of Data in collaboration with Curtin University in July 2025, and it was an excellent experience. As a web developer with work experience, I took this course to up-skill and stay current with evolving technologies. The program delivered a fast-paced, hands-on… Read more

curriculum that was both practical and aligned with industry needs, making it valuable even for experienced professionals. From structured pre-work to industry certification and a career outcomes program, every component was thoughtfully designed to support real-world success. The remote learning format was another standout feature—engaging, interactive, and well-supported.

The partnership with Curtin University added a strong academic credibility. Whether you're entering the tech field or advancing your career, this course offers an excellent path to build or refresh the skills today’s job market demands.

Despite initial challenges, I did learn alot from the course and I am now proud to say Data Science and AI are no longer as daunting. It has been a beautiful journey and I hope to keep growing in the area.