Apply to WIATech.
Applications for our founding cohort open 1 July 2026 and close 31 August 2026. One universal application; six diplomas to choose from inside it. Every application is read by faculty. WIATech runs one annual intake — applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so earlier applicants may receive earlier decisions, but everyone admitted begins together on 2 November 2026.
From application
to first day in class.
A focused four-month cycle, from intake to your first day. Each step is designed to give us — and you — enough time to make the right call. Below is the full path, milestone by milestone.
- 1 July 2026Wednesday · 00:01 GMT01Next milestone
Applications open.
The application portal goes live. Create an account, pick a programme, and complete the form at your own pace. You can save and resume — no need to finish in one sitting.
- 31 August 2026Monday · 23:59 GMT02Hard deadline
Applications close.
All submissions must be received by midnight. Late applications are not considered for Cohort 01. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis— earlier applicants may receive earlier decisions, though everyone admitted starts together on 2 November — so don't wait until the last week.
- July – September 2026By invitation03By invitation
Assessment & interview.
Applicants who declare a technical background are invited to a short, supervised assessment, followed by a conversation with faculty. Both are about how you think, not what you've memorised.
- Late September 2026By 30 September04All applicants
Decisions sent.
Every applicant receives a written decision by email — admit, waitlist, or decline. Admitted applicants receive a personalised feedback note from faculty along with their offer.
- Early October 2026By 16 October05Admitted only
Enrollment confirmation & deposits.
Admitted applicants confirm their seat with a deposit — 10% of a diploma's tuition, or 20% of a Foundation Pathway— counted toward your balance, with the rest paid in monthly instalments. Travel and accommodation to reach the Waterloo campus are the student's own arrangement.
- October 2026The onboarding month06Pre-course
Onboarding & orientation.
A month to get ready before classes — set up your tools and environment, meet your cohort and faculty, and learn how WIATech works (shipping weekly, the oral defence). So Day 1 isn't lost to setup.
- 2 November 2026Monday · first day07Day 01
Cohort 01 begins.
First day in class. The founding cohort of WIATech starts work. You are part of an institute's first chapter — and the people building it alongside you.
Hungry, capable,
and ready to do the work.
WIATech accepts applicants from anywhere.Programmes are taught in person in Waterloo, and getting to campus each day is the student's own arrangement.
We're after capability, not credentials.
Secondary school completion — WASSCE, A-levels, or international equivalent — is the standard expectation. But the institute was founded on the conviction that exceptional ability shows up in many forms.
Applicants who can demonstrate equivalent capability without formal credentials are warmly invited to apply. A self-taught builder with a portfolio, a working professional making a career change, a researcher between programmes — all welcome. The technical assessment is designed to surface real ability, whatever path it came from.
Secondary school or equivalent capability.
WASSCE, A-levels, or international equivalent. Or — demonstrate the equivalent through assessment. No formal degree required.
Technical English, read & written.
All instruction is in English. You should be able to read, discuss, and write at a technical level. No formal test required.
No strict age minimum.
Programmes are designed for adult learners. Applicants under 18 require parental or guardian consent. The institute welcomes any age.
Waterloo, in person.
Programmes are taught in person at our Waterloo campus. Getting to campus is your own arrangement — commute in each day, or find a place nearer campus if you live far.
Your own computer.
This one is non-negotiable. WIATech is project-first and you ship work every week — a computer of your own is required to take part.
Different programmes,
different starting lines.
Every diploma sits on a Tier 1 foundations floor — cleared by the WIATech assessment or by completing the foundations themselves. The assessment is a gate, not a wall. Explore the foundations →
Six foundations: FND 25 Git, FND 30 Computer Systems, FND 35 DSA, FND 40 SQL, FND 45 Linux, FND 60 Python. WEB 35 recommended for those without web fluency. ENG 70 runs in parallel.
DiplomaFour foundations: FND 30 Computer Systems, FND 45 Linux, FND 55 Networking, FND 60 Python. Admitted character-led — the ethics interview is the gate. ENG 70 in parallel.
DiplomaThree foundations: FND 40 SQL, FND 60 Python, DAT 45 Analyst Foundations. No STEM background required. ENG 70 in parallel.
DiplomaSix foundations + the maths bridge: FND 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 60, plus MTH 85 Mathematics for Machine Learning. The most demanding floor in the catalogue. ENG 70 in parallel.
FlagshipSix foundations: FND 25 Git, FND 30 Computer Systems, FND 40 SQL, FND 45 Linux, FND 55 Networking, FND 60 Python. ENG 70 in parallel.
DiplomaFour foundations: FND 55 Networking, FND 45 Linux, FND 25 Git, FND 60 Python. FND 30 Computer Systems strongly recommended. ENG 70 in parallel.
DiplomaA clear picture
of who you are.
Six things to prepare before you open the application. Most of it you already have — the rest you can write in an evening. Set aside about 2 hours total.
Personal & contact details
Legal name, date of birth, nationality, current address, phone, email. One application per applicant — pick your strongest programme.
Academic & work history
Secondary school transcripts (WASSCE / A-levels / international equivalent), and a short summary of work, projects, or self-study to date.
Two short essays
~300 words each. The first: why this programme, why now. The second: describe a problem you'd want to work on after WIATech. We read every one.
Two honest acknowledgements
You confirm you're comfortable using a computer, and whether you already have a technical background. Declaring a background means a supervised assessment, by invitation.
Portfolio or work samples
A GitHub profile, a deployed project, a research write-up, a Kaggle notebook — anything that shows you build. One link is enough.
NLe 1,000 registration fee
Paid at the time you submit. Non-refundable, but separate from tuition. Covers application processing and assessment.
Clear, transparent,
and set in advance.
Every price is published in full. The diplomas are below; Foundation Pathways, deposits, and monthly payment plans are on the tuition & payment page.
Every application
read by faculty.
A four-stage process. No black box, no opaque scoring. Each stage is designed to give you a chance to show what you can do, and to give us the information we need to make the right decision.
One application, no test inside it.
You complete a single application and make two honest acknowledgements — that you're comfortable using a computer, and whether you already have a technical background. No first-pass automation, no AI screening.
A supervised assessment — by invitation.
Declare a technical background and we invite you to a short assessment held with us— it places you straight into the diploma, or into the exact foundations you still need. New to the field? You start with the foundations instead (digital-readiness first, if you're new to computers).
A short conversation with faculty.
A focused conversation about your application, your goals, and — if you sat one — your assessment. Held in person, at the Waterloo campus.
A written decision, with a note.
Every applicant receives a written decision by email — admit, waitlist, or decline. Admitted applicants get a note from faculty with their offer.
The most-asked,
plainly answered.
Don't see your question? Write to admissions — every email is read by a real person on our admissions team, and we usually reply within two business days.
01Can I apply if I don't live in Sierra Leone?
Yes — applications are open to anyone. But programmes are taught in person at our Waterloo campus, and attending is the student's own arrangement — you travel in each day, or find accommodation nearer campus if you live far.
WIATech does not arrange travel or accommodation. Plan to be in Waterloo, in person, for the duration of your programme.
02What if I don't have WASSCE or A-level credentials?
Apply anyway. Secondary completion is the standard expectation, not a strict requirement. Exceptional applicants who can demonstrate equivalent capability — through work, projects, self-study, or other paths — are warmly invited to apply.
The technical assessment and interview are designed to surface real ability, regardless of formal background. Several seats in every cohort are reserved for applicants without traditional credentials.
03Can I apply to more than one programme?
No — one application per applicant, one programme per application. Pick the one that fits your trajectory best. If your application is strong but the programme isn't quite right, faculty may suggest an alternative — we'll talk to you before making a final call.
04Will I have to sit a technical assessment?
Only if you tell us you already have a technical background.If you're new to the field, there's no assessment to pass — you start with the foundations instead. The assessment exists to let experienced applicants enter a diploma directly, or skip the foundations they already have.
If you are invited, it's a short, supervised assessment held with us. It varies by programme and is about how you think, not what you've memorised. We share the format in advance.
05Can I defer my admission to a later cohort?
Deferrals are considered on a case-by-case basis for serious life circumstances. Reach out to admissions before paying your enrollment deposit — once a deposit is paid, deferral is harder.
06Is the application fee refundable?
No. The NLe 1,000 registration fee is non-refundable — it covers application processing, assessment review, and faculty interview time. It is separate from tuition and from the enrollment deposit.
Want the full admissions process?
Download the official Founding Cohort 01 Admissions Guide for the complete timeline, eligibility requirements, placement routes, assessment process, enrolment steps, shift commitment, onboarding information, and applicant checklist.
Read it before you apply, share it with a parent or guardian, or keep it for reference during the admissions process.