Career Switcher Guide

# Do You Need a CS Degree to Be a Full Stack Developer in Bangalore?

"I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Can I still get an IT job?"
"I graduated with a B.Com, but I want to build software. Am I too late?"

Every week at our Bangalore counseling center, we meet brilliant, motivated people who suffer from massive imposter syndrome simply because they don't have a B.Tech in Computer Science. They look at tech salaries and wonder, is it possible to be a full stack developer without the "right" educational background?

The tech industry has drastically changed. Let's look at why top companies in 2026 are completely ignoring your college degree, what they are actually testing for, and how you can bridge the gap in just 6 months.

## 1. The Academic Myth: CS vs. CE

Many students stress over university choices, constantly Googling "which is harder CS or CE?" (Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering). Here is the industry secret: It doesn't matter for web development.

- Computer Engineering (CE) is hard because it focuses heavily on hardware, microprocessors, and physics.
- Computer Science (CS) is hard because it focuses on complex mathematics, cryptography, and deep algorithmic theory.
- The Reality Check: Building a scalable E-commerce app using React, Node.js, and MongoDB (Full Stack Development) requires almost zero hardware knowledge and very little theoretical math. Universities teach theory; companies pay for practical application.

## 2. Is Full Stack Developer an IT Job?

If you are coming from a non-tech background, you might be confused by the terminology. So, is full stack developer an IT job? Yes, it is the absolute core of the modern Information Technology sector.

However, it is not an "IT Support" job where you fix printers or manage office WiFi. Full Stack Developers are Product Engineers. You are the architect and the builder of the digital products that companies sell. Because it is highly creative and impacts the company's revenue directly, it commands a significantly higher salary than traditional IT infrastructure roles.

## 3. Why Bangalore Startups Hire Portfolios, Not Paper

If you don't have a CS degree, how do you prove you can code? You build a portfolio. A hiring manager at a Koramangala tech startup does not care about your GPA. They care about your GitHub link.

### 📄 The "Paper" Approach

A candidate submits a resume stating they have a B.Tech in CS. The recruiter has no idea if they actually know how to code, or if they just memorized textbook answers to pass their written exams. They require 3 rounds of intense technical interviews just to verify basic skills.

The Winner

### 💻 The "Portfolio" Approach

A non-CS candidate submits a link to a live, working Swiggy-clone app they built themselves. The recruiter clicks the link, sees the flawless UI, logs into the working database, and instantly knows: "This person can do the job." They get the interview immediately.