Foundation Track · Year 2
Build the foundations real engineers stand on.
Twelve weeks of fundamentals, code reviews, and shipping your first real feature — guided by AI mentors and senior engineers.
Apply to FoundationWho it's for
You're a second-year student who's past the basics — you can write a function, you understand loops and conditionals — but the gap between coursework and "real engineering" feels wide. The Foundation Track closes that gap. No prior internship experience required. No prior production code required. Just curiosity and ten honest hours a week.
What you'll learn
Git & GitHub workflows
Branches, pull requests, code review, and what 'merge conflict' actually means in a team setting.
Modern web fundamentals
HTML semantics, CSS layout, JavaScript runtime model, and how a browser turns code into pixels.
Component thinking
Break down UIs into reusable React components. Props, state, and when to lift things up.
Reading code
The most underrated skill — how to understand a codebase you didn't write without panicking.
Debugging like a pro
Console logs, the DevTools network tab, breakpoints, and binary search through your own assumptions.
Shipping a feature
End-to-end: ticket → branch → code → review → merge → deploy. Your first real engineering loop.
The 12-week curriculum
Weeks 1–3 · Tooling & terminal fluency
Set up your machine like an engineer. Master the terminal, learn Git, configure your editor. Pair with an AI mentor on your first ten commits.
Weeks 4–7 · Build the muscle
Daily small builds: a calculator, a todo app, a weather widget. Each one with code review. By week 7 you'll be reading and writing JavaScript without flinching.
Weeks 8–10 · Your first real feature
Pick a real open-source project from our partner list. Pick an issue. Ship a fix. Get it merged. This is the moment "I'm a developer" stops feeling like a costume.
Weeks 11–12 · Portfolio & presentation
Polish three projects into a portfolio. Practice talking about your work. Mock interviews with senior engineers. Demo Day.
What you walk away with
- A polished GitHub profile with real, reviewed code
- Three portfolio projects that demonstrate range
- At least one open-source contribution merged into a real codebase
- A reference letter from your mentor
- Eligibility to apply for the Professional Track in Year 3
Costs & financial support
TechTalk is free for accepted students. We're funded by partner companies who hire from our alumni network. Need-based stipends are available for students whose schedules require giving up paid work hours — apply during the standard application.
How to apply
Submit your application in about five minutes. You'll need your university details, a sense of when you can commit the hours, and a few sentences about why you want in. We review weekly and respond within 14 days.