Can you build a career in tech without a degree?

Whether tech requires a degree remains one of the most hotly debated questions in the industry. Many people wonder whether they should spend several years at university before starting a career, or whether they can skip that and dive straight into technology. There is a view that succeeding in tech demands a university diploma and a mountain of experience — and it is simply not so. Here we tell the real stories of people who proved otherwise, and share a chance to join the free lessons at Programming Academy in Silicon Valley, where you can try tech for yourself and start programming from scratch.

A degree: foundation or formality?

Let's be honest: not every university graduate becomes an excellent specialist straight away. A university generally gives you the foundation; the real skills come with practice. On the other hand, a degree can open doors at companies that value formal education, particularly if you are considering work abroad.

Why do people leave university?

Plenty of students drop out without finishing. The reasons vary, from disappointment with the curriculum to wanting to start working sooner. Tech moves so fast that universities often simply cannot update their programmes in time. As a result many graduates find they have to teach themselves and upgrade their skills after finishing.

University: more than just knowledge

One of a university's main advantages is the people around you. It is a place where you can meet future colleagues, find like-minded people and build useful connections. At the top universities the chance of meeting a future Bill Gates is considerably higher. A university also smooths the transition from school life to adult life. It is the time when you learn to make your own decisions and set your own priorities.

How do you build a tech career without a degree?

The real stories of people who succeeded without one confirm that the idea that a tech career requires a diploma from a prestigious university went out of date long ago.

Anna's story: from barista to developer

Anna was working as a barista in a cafe when she first thought about changing profession. With no technical education but a real interest in technology, she started studying web development on our free beginner courses at PASV. She soon went deeper on the intensive Full Stack Developer course, and within six months had her first paid commission building a website.

Alexey's story: from logistics to testing

Alexey worked in logistics for a long time, but tech always drew him. He took our online QA testing courses, despite how hard it was to fit study around a job. Today Alexey is a Senior QA Engineer — proof that persistence and drive can lead to success without a diploma.

Anna and Alexey are only two examples of successful tech careers without a university degree. The essentials are a passion for the work, a willingness to learn and develop, and persistence in pursuing your goals.

1. Choose a direction. Look at the different tech professions and pick the one that interests you.
2. Study. Use the resources available: online courses, video lectures, textbooks.
3. Practise. Start with simple projects, take part in hackathons, build a portfolio.
4. Network. Meeting and talking to professionals will help you find your first offers.
5. Do not give up. Mistakes and setbacks are part of the road. Persistence and a willingness to learn will get you past any of them.

Start your road into tech with the free lessons at PASV

If these stories inspired you and you want to try tech for yourself, we have good news. PASV, led by Darina Bogutskaya and Viktor Bogutskii, has built learning materials and courses for anyone who wants to give the field a try. Together they work to make sure PASV students get a good education and can start or advance a career in tech.

PASV runs free online lessons for beginners. This is your chance to learn more about the different directions in tech and work out which suits you.

What you get from the lessons

A chance to try the roles of tester and developer. The fundamentals of programming and your first experience of writing code. Advice on choosing a direction to start your career in. What actually works when looking for a job after a course.

These lessons are for you if

You want to change profession and start earning in tech. You are interested in tech but do not yet have the knowledge or the experience. You are a student or a graduate looking for a promising direction. You have tried to start a tech career before and something went wrong.

In closing: diploma or practice?

So, do you need a degree to go far in tech? The answer depends on your goals and preferences. If you want structured knowledge and value an academic environment, university can be a good start. But if your goal is to start working as soon as possible, build practical skills and gain experience, teaching yourself may well be your road.