5 Differences Learners Need to Know About Vertical Institute and Heicoders’ Generative AI Courses

Vertical Institute or Heicoders Academy?

Generative AI is no longer just a buzzword, it’s reshaping how professionals work, create and make decisions. In Singapore, demand for Generative AI training has soared, and two names frequently come up: Vertical Institute and Heicoders Academy.

Both providers offer beginner-friendly Generative AI courses designed to help professionals understand and apply AI. However, there is a fundamental difference in focus:

• Vertical Institute’s Generative AI course is heavily centred on ChatGPT, guiding learners through prompt engineering and the various applications of ChatGPT.
• Heicoders Academy’s GA100 builds lasting AI capability, not just tool skills: Beyond ChatGPT, learners progress through three levels; mastering prompt engineering across platforms, designing AI workflows to automate processes, and applying next-gen AI agents like Manus AI. This equips professionals to solve problems across business functions, not just use a single tool.

If you are deciding between the two, this guide breaks down five key differences that matter most.

Overview of Vertical Institute’s Generative AI Course

The Vertical Institute WSQ Generative AI Course is a bootcamp aimed at giving learners a structured introduction to ChatGPT and also ways to apply ChatGPT in various scenarios.

• Duration & Format: 21 hours delivered over 7 lessons (3 hours each), conducted fully online via Zoom.
  
• Course Fee: SGD 1,798.50 (incl. GST). After subsidies: SGD 643.50 (≥40 yrs) or SGD 973.50 (<40 yrs/PR). Eligible for additional support via SkillsFuture, PSEA, UTAP, and EIS.
  
• Curriculum Highlights:
• Generative AI fundamentals and how ChatGPT works.
  
• Step-by-step prompting: beginner to advanced techniques.
  
• ChatGPT automation and OpenAI API basics.
  
• Security, ethics, and responsible AI use.
  
• Final written and practical assessment to consolidate learning.
• Instructors: Tech practitioners and trainers outsourced from other companies
  
• Credentials: WSQ Certificate + Vertical Institute Certificate of Completion.

Vertical Institute’s course is designed as an intensive bootcamp to help learners quickly become familiar with ChatGPT and its applications.

Overview of Heicoders Academy’s Generative AI Course (GA100)

Heicoders Academy’s Generative AI Course (GA100) is a WSQ-accredited programme created for professionals who want to go beyond theory and build AI-driven solutions they can use at work.

• Duration & Format: 6 lessons, part-time in evenings or weekends. Learners can choose between in-person or live online classes.
  
• Course Fee: SGD 1,798.50 (incl. GST). After subsidies: SGD 643.50 (≥40 yrs) or SGD 973.50 (<40 yrs/PR). Eligible for additional support via SkillsFuture, PSEA, UTAP, and EIS.
  
• Curriculum Highlights:
• Prompt engineering and advanced prompting (chain-of-thought, tree-of-thought).
  
• AI Workflows and AI agents (e.g. Manus AI) that act autonomously.
  
• Automation with no-code tools like n8n.
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to connect AI with business data.
  
• Expanding the capability of Generative AI tools with  Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Risk Management of Generative AI Solutions
  
• Portfolio of hands-on projects showcasing real-world AI applications.
• Instructors: Active AI experts and practitioners working at leading tech firms  (Grab, Shopee, Gojek, Meta, GovTech).
  
• Credentials: WSQ Certificate + Heicoders Certificate of Completion + Project Portfolio.

Heicoders’ programme is a beginner-to-mastery syllabus that equips learners with the ability to design, integrate, and apply AI directly in business contexts.

5 Key Differences: Vertical Institute vs Heicoders Academy

When comparing Vertical Institute and Heicoders Academy, both courses are designed to help beginners get started with Generative AI. However, the approach, depth, and outcomes differ significantly. Below, we outline the five most important differences to consider before you make your decision.

1. Learning Format

• Vertical Institute: Delivered fully online across 7 sessions. While this provides structure, it limits learners to a virtual-only experience.
• Heicoders Academy: Runs over 6 part-time sessions, with the choice of in-person classes or live online delivery. This hybrid approach is designed for busy professionals who may prefer face-to-face interaction, online convenience, or a mix of both.

Heicoders’ hybrid flexibility ensures learners can choose the format that best fits their schedule and learning style, making the course more accessible and engaging.

2. Curriculum Comparison

Generative AI capability can be thought of in three levels:

• Level 1 – Prompting: Learning to communicate effectively with tools like ChatGPT.
  Level 2 – Workflows: Connecting prompts and tools into repeatable processes that save time.
• Level 3 – AI Agents: Using next-generation agents that can plan, act, and execute tasks autonomously.

Vertical Institute’s course provides strong grounding at Level 1, which is essential for beginners and helps professionals build confidence in using AI tools day-to-day.

Heicoders Academy, however, structures GA100 to gradually move learners beyond Level 1 into Levels 2 and 3, where the broader business value of AI is realised — automating workflows, integrating with business data, and applying AI agents to real-world work.

Both approaches are useful depending on your goals: if you want to get started with prompting and practical ChatGPT use, Vertical Institute is a solid entry point. If your aim is to explore the deeper potential of AI in workflows and agents, Heicoders provides a pathway to those higher levels.

3. Instructor Profile

• Vertical Institute: Trainers include tech practitioners, as well as trainers from training institutions like Gain Lab and Cutting Edge Learning Hub.

• Heicoders Academy: Instructors are not only practitioners but also actively applying AI in Singapore’s top tech firms, including Grab, Shopee, Gojek, Meta, and GovTech.

Heicoders’ teaching is hyper-local and grounded in the Singapore business context, ensuring learners gain skills they can apply immediately in their own workplaces.

4. Credentials & Outcomes

• Vertical Institute: Learners graduate with a WSQ Statement of Attainment plus a Vertical Institute Certificate of Completion.
  
• Heicoders Academy: Learners receive a WSQ certificate, a Heicoders certificate, and most importantly, a portfolio of hands-on projects that demonstrate their ability to apply AI in real-world scenarios.

The project portfolio is a major differentiator, providing tangible proof of skill that goes beyond a certificate.

5. Career Readiness

• Vertical Institute: Suitable for learners who want quick exposure to AI and prompting. Good for those testing the waters.
  
• Heicoders Academy: Designed for learners who want to build mastery, from prompting to full automation, and walk away with job-ready skills. If your goal is career advancement or to integrate AI meaningfully into your work, Heicoders provides better depth and career readiness.

Both Vertical Institute and Heicoders Academy offer valuable ways to begin your Generative AI journey. Vertical Institute provides a solid online introduction, while Heicoders delivers a more comprehensive, project-driven pathway for learners serious about applying AI at work. 

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your goals, but if you are aiming for long-term career impact, Heicoders Academy gives you a clear advantage.

A Quick Note on Fees & Subsidies

Both the Vertical Institute and Heicoders Academy Generative AI courses are priced at SGD 1,798.50 (incl. GST) before subsidies. For eligible learners, subsidies bring the fees down to:

• SGD 643.50 for Singaporeans aged 40 and above.
  
• SGD 973.50 for Singaporeans under 40 or PRs.
  

Both courses are eligible for SkillsFuture Credit, and learners can also make use of other available schemes such as UTAP, PSEA, and EIS depending on their profile.

The difference between Heicoders and Vertical Institute therefore does not lie in pricing or subsidies, but rather in their learning format, curriculum depth, and outcomes, which we’ve outlined above.

Comparison at a Glance

Conclusion: Making Your Choice

When comparing Vertical Institute vs Heicoders Academy, the decision ultimately comes down to your goals and how you plan to use AI in your career.

• Vertical Institute offers a structured introduction to Generative AI with a clear focus on ChatGPT. For learners who want to build confidence in prompting and understand how this technology can support productivity and automation, it provides a solid pathway.

• Heicoders Academy takes a broader approach, helping learners explore not just tools but also AI agents, workflows, and automation systems that extend beyond individual platforms. With a WSQ certificate, a Heicoders certificate, and a portfolio of applied projects, learners graduate with credentials plus practical evidence of what they can build.
  

Both programmes offer valuable ways to start learning Generative AI. The distinction lies in focus: Vertical Institute emphasises ChatGPT mastery, while Heicoders equips you with multi-tool, workflow-driven skills that are directly relevant for building end-to-end AI solutions in the workplace.

If your aim is to gain career-ready skills that show both technical capability and applied outcomes, Heicoders Academy’s Generative AI Course provides a more comprehensive foundation to build on.

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