Golad Academy
March 2027 cohort
- Starts Mon, 1 March 2027 · 12 weeks
- Live online
Fee: £99Apply now
Applications close 26 February 2027.
Golad Academy · Training Services
Software Testing & QA
The Software Testing & QA course provides essential knowledge and practical skills to ensure software quality and reliability. Learn testing principles, methodologies, automation tools, and quality assurance practices. Designed for beginners and professionals, this course equips you to identify bugs, improve performance, and deliver secure, high-quality software confidently.
- Duration:12 weeks
- Skill level:Beginner to Intermediate
- Next cohort:1 March 2027
- Course price:£99
Learning outcomes
What you will be able to do
- Plan and design tests using ISTQB techniques
- Write clear defect reports and manage defects in Jira
- Perform functional, regression, API and cross-browser testing
- Automate UI tests with Selenium or Playwright, and API tests with Postman
- Run automated tests in CI/CD pipelines
- Report QA metrics and quality risks to stakeholders
12 core modules
Curriculum
01Module 1Introduction to Software Testing & QA
- Overview of Software Testing and QA Roles
- Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and QA Involvement
- Testing Principles and Objectives
- Testing Levels and Types: Unit, Integration, System, Acceptance
02Module 2Testing Methodologies
- Manual vs Automated Testing
- Agile Testing Methodologies
- Risk-Based and Exploratory Testing
- Test Planning and Test Case Design
03Module 3Test Planning & Documentation
- Writing Test Plans and Defining Scope
- Test Strategy and Entry/Exit Criteria
- Traceability Matrices and Requirement Coverage
- Reporting Defects and QA Documentation Best Practices
04Module 4Functional Testing
- Understanding Functional Requirements
- Test Case Creation for Functional Scenarios
- Regression Testing and Retesting
- Integration Testing Techniques
05Module 5Non-Functional Testing
- Performance Testing: Load, Stress, Scalability
- Usability Testing: Accessibility, User Experience
- Security Testing Basics
- Compatibility and Cross-Browser Testing
06Module 6Automated Testing Fundamentals
- Introduction to Test Automation Benefits and Challenges
- Automation Frameworks: Keyword-Driven, Data-Driven, Hybrid
- Writing Automated Test Scripts
- Continuous Testing in CI/CD Pipelines
07Module 7Defect Management & Bug Tracking
- Bug Lifecycle and Defect Reporting Standards
- Prioritization and Severity Classification
- Tracking, Communicating, and Resolving Defects
- Using Dashboards for Defect Trends and Analytics
08Module 8Quality Assurance Metrics & Reporting
- QA KPIs: Test Coverage, Defect Density, Mean Time to Detect/Resolve
- QA Metrics Dashboards
- Monitoring Testing Effectiveness and Efficiency
- Continuous Improvement using QA Metrics
09Module 9Security & Compliance Testing
- Understanding Compliance Requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, ISO Standards)
- Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Basics
- Security Test Cases and Risk Assessment
- Auditing and Reporting Security Findings
10Module 10Mobile & Web Application Testing
- Mobile App Testing: Functional, Performance, Usability
- Web App Testing: Browser Compatibility, Responsiveness
- Automation for Mobile and Web Apps
- Cloud-Based Testing Environments
11Module 11Agile QA Practices
- Agile Testing Strategies and Principles
- Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)
- Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing
- Collaboration with Agile Teams for Quality Delivery
12Module 12Capstone Project & Career Workshop
- Capstone: Develop a Full QA Plan and Automated Test Suite for a Sample Application
- Execute Manual and Automated Tests, Generate Reports and Dashboards
- Present Test Results and Quality Improvement Recommendations
- Career Workshop: Resume Building, LinkedIn Branding, Interview Preparation
Industry extension
Optional advanced modules
Self-paced on GADLE alongside the core programme, so your skills keep pace with where the field is heading — including AI.
API & Performance Testing in Depth
- • REST API testing with Postman and Newman
- • Contract and schema validation
- • Load and stress testing with JMeter or k6
- • Analysing and reporting performance results
Accessibility & AI in Testing
- • WCAG 2.2 accessibility testing with axe and screen readers
- • Testing AI features and chatbots
- • AI-assisted test design, and its limits
- • Building a quality strategy for a product team
Benefits of Software Testing & QA
What you’ll gain from this course
- Improves Software Quality
- Reduces Costs
- Enhances Security
- Boosts User Satisfaction
Tools you’ll use
- Jira
- TestRail
- Zephyr
- Selenium WebDriver
- Playwright
- Cypress
- Postman
- JMeter
- BrowserStack
- GitHub Actions
Prepares you for
- ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL v4.0)
- ISTQB® Agile Tester
- ISTQB® Test Automation Engineer (next step)
Career paths
- QA Tester
- Software Test Analyst
- QA Engineer
- Test Automation Engineer
- UAT Analyst
- Quality Assurance Analyst
Certification exams are set and awarded by their own bodies; our curriculum covers their knowledge areas. Trademarks belong to their owners.
Open for applications
Choose your start date
Apply online in about five minutes. An advisor will review your application and contact you.
Questions
Can’t find your answer? Contact us.
When does the next cohort start?
The next cohort for every Golad Academy programme starts on 1 March 2027. Apply online and an advisor will confirm your place.
How much does the course cost?
The course price is £99. Employers can sponsor a place and ask us for an invoice.
Do I need experience?
No. Programmes are designed for beginners to intermediate learners. An advisor reviews every application and will recommend the right starting point.
How is the course delivered?
Through live, instructor-led online classes with real-world projects. Between classes you learn on GADLE, our learning platform, where you will find recordings, lessons and assignments.
What are the industry-extension modules?
Two optional advanced modules, completed on GADLE alongside the twelve core modules, that keep the programme aligned with how the field is changing — including AI.
Get in touch
Ready to Start Your Learning Journey?
Ask an advisor about the programme, fees and the next intake.