Beginner · Hybrid

Front-End Web Development Foundations

A practical entry route into building responsive web experiences and understanding front-end fundamentals.

Starts 15 Jun 2026 · 12 weeks
8 hours a week
Free

Apply See the syllabus

Overview

Build confidence with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and modern interface thinking through practical, project-based sessions.

Topics

HTML; CSS; JavaScript; Responsive design

Skills and tools

HTML5
CSS3
Flexbox and Grid
Responsive design
JavaScript
The DOM
Fetching data from an API
Git and GitHub
Accessibility basics
VS Code

What you’ll learn

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Build accessible, well-structured web pages with semantic HTML
Style responsive layouts that work on phones and desktops with CSS Flexbox and Grid
Add interactivity with JavaScript, the DOM and events
Fetch and display live data from a web API
Manage your code with Git and publish a site with GitHub Pages
Plan, build and present a website from a real client brief

Who it’s for

School leavers, graduates and career-changers who want to build for the web and take a first step towards a role as a developer. No coding experience needed.

Before you start

Comfortable using a computer, files and the internet
No coding experience needed

What you’ll need

A laptop with 4 GB RAM or more (ask about our Laptop Bank if you do not have one)
Internet access for the online sessions
About 8 hours a week, including practice

Syllabus

8 modules · 96 hours of guided learning

Module 1How the web works and your first page12 h
From a web address to a page on your screen, and the tools you will use.
Topics
- How browsers, servers and URLs work
- Setting up VS Code
- HTML elements, headings, lists and links
- Images and accessibility (alt text)
You’ll produce: A first web page about yourself
Module 2Styling with CSS16 h
Making pages look the way you want, consistently.
Topics
- Selectors and the cascade
- The box model
- Colours, fonts and spacing
- Flexbox
You’ll produce: A styled profile page
Module 3Responsive layouts16 h
One site that works on every screen size.
Topics
- CSS Grid
- Media queries
- Mobile-first design
- Forms and inputs
You’ll produce: Portfolio site, first version
Module 4Version control and publishing8 h
Working like a developer: saving history and putting work online.
Topics
- Git: commits, branches, history
- GitHub and pull requests
- Publishing with GitHub Pages
You’ll produce: Portfolio site published online
Module 5JavaScript foundations16 h
The language of the browser.
Topics
- Variables, types and operators
- Conditions and loops
- Functions
- Arrays and objects
You’ll produce: A set of solved coding exercises
Module 6The DOM and events12 h
Pages that respond to people.
Topics
- Selecting and changing elements
- Click, input and submit events
- Saving to localStorage
You’ll produce: Interactive web app
Module 7Working with data and APIs8 h
Bringing live information into a page.
Topics
- JSON
- fetch and async/await
- Showing loading and error states
You’ll produce: A page showing live data from a public API
Module 8Capstone project8 h
A complete site for a real organisation, from brief to presentation.
Topics
- Reading a client brief
- Planning pages and content
- Testing on real devices
- Presenting your work
You’ll produce: Capstone website, presented to a panel

Projects

Work you build during the course and keep for your portfolio.

Personal portfolio site

A responsive site that presents you and your work, published online.

Interactive web app

A to-do list or quiz app in JavaScript that saves to the browser.

Capstone: a website for a real organisation

Built from a brief by a local business or NGO, presented to a panel in the final week.

How you’ll learn

Live sessions

Two sessions a week, in person or online, where each new idea is shown and then practised straight away.

Labs

Guided exercises with a facilitator on hand, building small pieces that add up to the projects.

Code review

Your work is reviewed by a facilitator and a peer each week, the way it is done in a real team.

Mentoring

A mentor checks in every two weeks on your progress and your plans after the course.

Assessment

Weekly exercises: 30%

Mid-course project (portfolio site): 20%

Capstone project, presented to a panel: 40%

Participation and code reviews: 10%

A pass is 60% overall with the capstone completed.

Certificate

A certificate of completion from IT For Youth Ghana for at least 80% attendance and a passed capstone project. Your projects stay on your GitHub as evidence of your skills.

Where it can lead

Junior front-end developer
Web developer
WordPress and website builder
Freelance web developer
Next step: our Python for Problem Solving course

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know how to code?

No. The course starts from the very beginning: what a web page is and how it reaches your screen.

Do I need my own laptop?

You need a laptop for practice between sessions. If you do not have one, ask about our Laptop Bank.

Is it really free?

Yes. This course is fully funded, so there is no fee.

What if I miss a session?

Session notes and recordings of the online sessions are shared, and labs can be caught up with a facilitator. Attendance of at least 80% is needed for the certificate.

What can I do after the course?

Apply for junior web roles and freelance work, or continue to Python for Problem Solving. Our careers desk helps graduates with CVs and interviews.