Full Program Details
Most coding bootcamps ask for thousands of dollars before the first lesson. Per Scholas asks for 20 hours of free homework. The nonprofit's AI Native Software Development course teaches you to build software with AI tools at your side, costs nothing to attend, and its next listed cohort starts on 11 January 2027.
This course is for people in the United States. Per Scholas requires learners to be legally authorized to work in the US.
The course is no-cost, runs 15 weeks full time, and comes with the GitHub Copilot Fundamentals badge and the Introduction to Generative AI badge at no charge to you.
Details at a glance:
- Provider: Per Scholas (nonprofit tech training)
- Course: AI Native Software Development
- Length: 15 weeks, remote and instructor-led
- Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time, about 35 hours a week plus 10 to 20 hours of outside study
- Cost: no cost to learners
- Next listed cohort (Atlanta and Columbus listings): application deadline 28 December 2026, starts 11 January 2027, ends 27 April 2027
- Prior experience: none required
- Eligibility: United States only (see below)
What It Covers
- Software development training built around AI tools, delivered live by instructors
- GitHub Copilot Fundamentals Badge, at no cost
- Introduction to Generative AI Badge, at no cost
- 20 hours of free online Tech Prep Work before class begins
Per Scholas's page does not mention a stipend, so do not plan on one.
Who Can Apply
- You must be at least 18 by the required date for your chosen programme.
- You must be legally authorized to work in the United States and provide documents that meet Per Scholas's work authorization policy.
- You need a high school diploma or an equivalent such as a GED.
- You need to be comfortable using a computer and meet Per Scholas's minimum eligibility requirements. No previous coding experience is required.
- Training is offered at specific US campuses and remotely, and availability can be limited by state rules and programme capacity.
Readers outside the United States cannot use this one. If you are in Africa, look at the funded study routes in our Full Ride Scholarships for International Students list instead.
How to Apply
- Open the course page on the official Per Scholas site and choose the cohort that suits you. The cohort shown on the page lists Atlanta and Columbus, and the course is also offered remotely, so check the dates for your preferred format.
- Create your Per Scholas application and upload your work authorization documents.
- Complete the 20 hours of free online Tech Prep Work before class begins.
- Apply before the deadline listed for your cohort. The January 2027 cohort on the page closes on 28 December 2026.
Timeline
- 28 December 2026: application deadline for the listed cohort
- 11 January 2027: classes begin
- 27 April 2027: classes end
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: US residents with work authorization who want a free, structured route into software work and prefer live instruction to self-study.
Who should pause: Anyone outside the US, anyone who cannot commit to full-time weekday hours for 15 weeks, and anyone hoping for a paid stipend.
One tip to stand out: Start the Tech Prep Work early and finish it well before class. Per Scholas expects it done before day one, and arriving prepared is the easiest way to keep up with a full-time schedule.
Per Scholas runs other free courses too. See our posts on Cybersecurity with AI Tools and the AWS re/Start cloud bootcamp.
Read the full details and apply on the official Per Scholas course page.
