Live mentored depth, evenings that fit around work, and a stackable path to real work experience.
School of UX runs well-regarded live UX courses in London and online, including a free funded bootcamp for eligible residents. UX Academy is a different shape: an 8-week live cohort on Wednesday evenings, max 15 students, built for people in full-time jobs who want weekly tutor-led feedback, a real client project, and a clear path to stack the 12-week Career Track - including real work experience at a start-up - when they are ready. Here is an honest side-by-side.
UX Academy vs School of UX.
| UX Academy | School of UX | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Live online, small groups (max 15), real-time tutors | Live, instructor-led; London (Canada Water) and online |
| Schedule | Part-time Wednesday evenings (fits around full-time work) | Daytime weekdays; 5-day intensive or modular days |
| Length | 8-wk foundation, stackable to ~20-wk full career programme | 5 days intensive (or individual modular days) |
| Price | GBP 1,500, GBP 99 deposit, price-match guarantee on comparable live courses | Approx GBP 999 online / GBP 1,499 in person (5-day); funded bootcamp free if eligible |
| Class size / support | Max 15; free weekly mentorship sessions ongoing | Not published |
| Certificate | UX Academy certificate with a real client project case study | Certificate of completion |
| Client project | Real client project, portfolio-ready case study | Not standard on the 5-day course |
| Based | London, UK (live online) | London (Canada Water) + online |
School of UX details from schoolofux.com, captured June 2026 (course and funded bootcamp pages). Verify current pricing and eligibility criteria on their site before relying on this.
What you get with us.
Live mentored learning with time to absorb it - plus a stackable path to real work experience
A 5-day course is a strong introduction, but UX design is learned through iteration and feedback over time. Our 8-week cohort gives you weekly live tutor sessions, space to apply concepts, revise your work, and build a genuine portfolio piece. Then you can stack the 12-week UX Career Track (a further GBP 1,500) for a full ~20-week programme including real work experience embedded at a start-up - the kind of credential that sets you apart in a job search.
Built around a full-time schedule
School of UX runs daytime weekday sessions, which means you need time off work or to be between roles. UX Academy classes run on Wednesday evenings (6:00 to 8:30pm UK) so you can keep earning while you retrain. No career gap, no financial pressure.
Weekly feedback from working designers
You get real-time critique every week in a small group capped at 15, plus ongoing free mentorship sessions after the course ends. A 5-day sprint cannot replicate the accountability of a structured cohort where a named tutor has seen your work develop from week one.
Before you decide.
Which is cheaper - School of UX or UX Academy?
It depends. School of UX offers a free government-funded (GLA) Skills Bootcamp for eligible London residents - that is genuinely free and a strong option if you qualify. The paid 5-day course is approx GBP 999 (online) to GBP 1,499 (in person), which is less than UX Academy's GBP 1,500. If price is the primary factor and you are eligible for the funded bootcamp, School of UX is worth investigating first. We compete on depth, evening flexibility, cohort structure and the client project, not on price.
Should I choose School of UX or UX Academy?
School of UX is a solid choice if you want a short, intensive introduction, or if you qualify for their free funded bootcamp. Choose UX Academy if you want live, weekly mentored learning you can fit around full-time work, a real client project, a portfolio case study, ongoing mentorship, and a stackable path to a full ~20-week programme with real work experience at a start-up. Different formats for different needs - be honest about which suits you.
Do both schools award a certificate?
Both schools award a certificate on completion. The UX Academy certificate is backed by a real client project case study you can show to employers, which is what most hiring managers actually want to see.
Can I join UX Academy if I am based outside London?
Yes. UX Academy is 100% live online so you can join from anywhere in the UK or abroad. School of UX has a London (Canada Water) campus for in-person sessions and also offers online attendance.