Admissions & Tuition
Who can join, how placement works, time expectations—and Tuition: $0 for everyone.
Here’s a clean, paste-ready Admissions & Tuition page with a logical flow and all the updates (rolling admissions, Talent Network, capacity limits, quarterly cohorts with a recency check, and non-commercial use). I used clear headings, anchors, and concise copy so it’s easy to scan and publish.
Admissions & Tuition
Who can join, how placement works, time expectations — and Tuition: $0 for everyone. Last updated: {Month YYYY}
At a Glance
Tuition: $0 (Dev Launchers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit)
Admissions: Rolling — we review weekly and place as capacity opens
Time: ~5–10 hours/week (2 live + 3–8 async)
Sessions: Central Time (CT), with global participation
Cohorts: Quarterly (Q1–Q4) for reporting; see how we count learners below
Who Can Apply
We welcome learners worldwide who are interested in design, technology, and creative collaboration — from beginners and career changers to experienced professionals seeking real, project-based growth. Note: We cannot sponsor visas for international members; international participants are welcome to join remotely.
Two Ways to Get Started
Apply to an open opportunity — If there’s a role that fits, apply on our Open Opportunities page.
Join the Talent Network — If nothing fits (or teams are full), join our Talent Network to be considered for future roles that match your skills and goals.
Capacity note: Mentor bandwidth limits how many members we can onboard at a time. Placement isn’t guaranteed, even for strong applicants.
Admissions (Rolling) & Placement
Rolling admissions: We accept applications year-round, based on mentor availability and team capacity.
Review cadence: Applications are reviewed weekly.
Placement timing: Most placements align to the start of the next 4-week sprint; we may place mid-sprint if it won’t disrupt the team.
Placement factors: Skills, goals, time commitment, and open roles on product teams.
If teams are full: We’ll offer the next sprint start or add you to a short waitlist and keep you updated.
What happens after you apply
We review your materials against current openings and near-term needs.
If there’s a match, we place you on a product team and share onboarding steps.
If not, we keep you in the Talent Network for future roles (you can update your info anytime).
Participation Requirements
Time commitment: Minimum 5–10 hours/week
Synchronous sessions: Attend weekly mentor-led collaboration sessions (scheduled in Central Time; recordings/notes shared when possible)
Asynchronous communication: Maintain regular updates and check-ins via our team channels (Discord, GitHub)
Collaboration standards: Contribute respectfully in a diverse, global community and align to shared goals
Cohorts (How We Count Learners)
We report enrollment using quarterly cohorts aligned to calendar quarters — Q1 (Jan–Mar), Q2 (Apr–Jun), Q3 (Jul–Sep), Q4 (Oct–Dec).
A learner is counted as active in a quarter if they meet all three:
Synchronous participation: attended ≥2 live collaboration sessions during the quarter.
Async participation: in at least one sprint during the quarter, posted ≥2 meaningful async updates in official channels (Discord/GitHub) — e.g., standups/progress notes, review comments, or blockers.
Sprint progress vs. estimate: at a sprint retrospective within the quarter, demonstrated progress toward completing at least one assigned issue in line with the estimate defined at sprint planning (e.g., issue completed within the estimated effort, or carries over with an updated estimate and documented blockers).
Typical cohort size: 10–25 learners.
Current cohort: Total Cohort Count Q3 : 22 ?
Tuition & Fees {#tuition}
Tuition: $0 — our programs are free for all participants.
Funding: Supported by donations, grants, and volunteer contributions.
Included: Mentorship, curriculum, access to our design/development tools, and real-world project opportunities.
Non-commercial use: We use Figma and related tools strictly for education and portfolio projects — no client/agency services and no revenue-generating work.
What’s Included
Weekly mentor-led collaboration sessions (Design Collaboration, Cross-Department Collaboration)
Project-based assignments in GitHub with clear acceptance criteria
Access to our design system and component libraries
Code/design reviews, research readouts, and sprint retrospectives
Portfolio-ready artifacts (PRs, prototypes, research reports, component stories)
How to Apply
Review the Curriculum and this page.
Choose your path: Apply to Open Roles or Join the Talent Network.
We’ll place you based on your goals, skills, and team capacity.
Start with a well-scoped issue, meet your mentor, and join the sprint cadence.
Questions? Check our FAQ or contact us at
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