A non-profit coding school with peer-to-peer, gamified learning to inspire tech for good.

Learn to Code 👩🏻‍🚀
for free in Berlin

Next up

Introductions

💻 October 17, 2024

Piscines 

🐟 February 17 – March 14, 2025

🐠 March 24 – April 17, 2025

Student Kick-off

👩‍🏫 November 4, 2024

Other events 

🎲  Board Game Night – Wednesdays 

A computer academy 
that defies conventional wisdom
42 Berlin is an important
contribution to counteracting
the shortage of skilled workers
Die Welt logo
For the tech leaders 
of tomorrow
Business Insider logo

There was a bug in the education
and we fixed it 🐛

No tuition fees

Education at 42 Berlin is 100% free.
Thanks to donations from our partner companies who share our vision, we're able to provide our educational resources and campus facilities for free, without any red tape.

Project-based learning

Students take ownership of their learning experience through a practical curriculum. Most importantly, surpassing oneself is the only way to move forward, yet you can always count on the strength of the group.

Peer-to-peer pedagogy

Each student must problem solve, work with others and, ultimately, fail a few times to find the answer. The school provides you with the environment, tools, projects, support, and community to find the answers for yourself.

Gamified curriculum

Our learning program is structured like a tree. As you near the end of a branch and gain experience points, the branch splits and more projects are unlocked. This way, each student’s learning journey is unique and truly engaging.

Campus open 24/7

Everyone learns at their own pace, so we do not believe in schedules or timetables. That's why the campus is open 24/7. In addition, it is baby-friendly and dog-friendly. There are nap and yoga rooms, showers, music rooms and high-quality hardware.

We celebrate failure

You will not be penalised if you fail a project. Instead, we see this as a necessary step to levelling up. We see failing as a vital part of any worthwhile learning journey, since this is how we truly improve.

42 Berlin Free Programming School

42 NETWORK

We are part of the 42 Network of Software Engineering Schools. The first 42 school opened in 2013 in Paris. There are currentlz over 20.000 active students around the world with 50+ schools open worldwide.

All 42 schools are using peer2peer gamified methodology and are completely tuition free for students. 42 is a brand well known by employers in many countries as one of the most rigorous educational methodologies. If you are interested to learn more about other 42 schools check out the 42 Network website.

FREE CODING EDUCATION

Studying at any 42 school worldwide is completely free and always will be, reflecting our commitment as a non-profit organization to offer high-quality education to talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Although the school is not yet classified as an officially accredited educational institution, companies who believe in our method and mission can partner up with us and help us provide educational resources and campus facilities for free.

Please note, we are independent of Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit
and do not accept or require Bildungsgutscheins

Our Partners

We’re proud to have some of Germany’s largest tech companies by our side. Thanks to their donations and support, our education is accessible to all aspiring coders. Find out more about 42 Berlin partners here.

Volkswagen, partner of 42 Berlin coding school
SAP logo
Capgemini logo
Microsoft logo
T-Systems logo
Cariad logo
Bayer logo

The 42 Curriculum

Structure and content of your studies with us.

1. Piscine

2. Core Curriculum

3. Internship

4. Specialisation

1. Core Curriculum

2. First Internship

3. Specialisation

4. 2nd Intersnship

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

Before you start studying with us, you need to complete the Piscine, a 26-day coding challenge.  Once you pass it your 12-18 month coding journey begins. 

The 42 Berlin curriculum, inspired by École 42 in Paris, focuses on hands-on learning and peer collaboration. Furthermore, with 12,000+ global students, it teaches coding from scratch, supporting beginners and advancing those with prior knowledge. 

You advance your knowledge by completing practical projects which then need to be evaluated both by our evaluation software and your peers. This learning process makes our graduates extremely good at communication as well as prepares them for an independent work environment. 

The 26-day long intensive programming bootcamp is part of the application process at 42. Designed as a 7 days/week experience, it allows applicants to learn the basics of Shell and C programming language from scratch. Those who successfully complete the Piscine become 42 students. 

Starting Point

Your official studies at 42 Berlin begin with the core curriculum after passing the Piscine. Initially, all students start from the same point, learning essential soft and hard skills. Completion time varies based on your study dedication.

Core Subjects

The initial program covers a broad range of basics valuable for any career path, including Unix C, algorithms, networks, system administration, graphics programming, object-oriented coding, and more.

Gamified Learning

Our gamified model lets you unlock progressively harder projects as you earn experience points. Moreover, without penalties for failure, projects are structured like a tree, branching into different paths, allowing you to explore various aspects of coding and IT. This unique approach means each student’s journey is personalized, experimenting with different projects and specializations.

Time Commitment

The core curriculum typically takes 18 months of full-time study. While 42 offers flexibility, the maximum completion time is two years. However, although some students may take side jobs, we recommend focusing full-time on 42 studies due to the program’s challenging nature and the need for steady progress.

After completing the core curriculum, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your new skills in a professional setting. Students gain direct access to opportunities with renowned partner companies such as Microsoft, VW, CARIAD, Capgemini, T-Systems, SAP, and Bayer. Nonetheless, you’re not obligated to work with these partners if you prefer alternative options.

The main part of the 42 curriculum allows you to specialize in various fields at any 42 campus globally. Specializations include advanced algorithms and AI, game development, mobile and web development, cybersecurity, advanced Unix and networking, and SEA:ME.

In addition, our team regularly regularly introduces new options. Upon completing your specialization, you’ll possess senior software engineer skills, ready to decide when to become a 42 Alumni.

Meet our Alumni

How To Apply

Coding school: registration process at 42 Berlin

1. Register online

Start your application process by registering on the Application Platform.

Coding school: Solve a series of logical problems and test your cognitive skills in our non-coding online game

2. Logic test

You will have 2.5 hours to solve a series of logical problems and test your cognitive skills in our online game. Make sure you play the game on your laptop or PC — we're working on making the mobile experience great!

Coding school: Attend an introduction, online or in person, to discover a whole lot more about our ethos and methodology

3. Introduction Talk

Attend an Introduction, online or in person, to discover a whole lot more about our ethos and methodology. You will also have the chance to ask questions and, if you attend onsite, meet some of the team and explore the campus.

Watch & learn more about our campus here.

Coding school in Berlin: Piscine is a month-long immersion into the waters of the 42 coding method

4. Code away: Piscine

Piscine is a month-long immersion into the waters of the 42 method. No prior experience is needed! All you need is motivation and an open mind, so you can decide if we're the right school for you. Then, we'll determine if you're a good fit for our community.

What is the Piscine? Click here.

Coding school: Start your studies at 42 Berlin

5. Welcome aboard - Studying @ 42

If you pass the Piscine, you will officially start your studies at 42 Berlin, kicking off with the core curriculum.

42 Berlin Impact reports: code the future

Impact Reports

Despite having opened it’s doors only in 2021 our coding schools –  42 Berlin & 42 Wolfsburg  have already left a significant footprint not only on the lives of our students but also on the organisations that hired our graduates. 

42 Berlin Impact reports: code the future

Impact Reports

Since opening our doors in 2021, 42 Berlin and 42 Wolfsburg have already made a significant impact—not only on the lives of our students but also on the organisations that have hired our graduates.

Watch Our Stories

Youtube Miniseries is the perfect way to learn about the school and our community. 

Our videos are the perfect way to learn about the school and our community.

Events @ 42 Berlin

Frequently asked questions

Some our of most frequently asked questions that may be on the tip of your tongue. Check out the full FAQ page for a more cohesive list.

After registration, you will need to pass a two-hour long online test, composed of cognitive games.

If you succeed, you will need to clear the last hurdle, the ‘Piscine’; our one-month-long selection process. During this intensive month, you will be immersed in our method to evaluate your potential. Successful completion of the Piscine ensures eligibility for our full curriculum.

Nope! We welcome in beginners and advanced coders alike. Of course, the programme might be initially more challenging if you’re never coded before, however it is designed to be completed by any level of experience.

No, we do not provide any online or remote study options. As a result, all students are required to complete the program with access to the campus. Most importantly, we’ve found that our peer-learning method is much more effective when done in person.

42 Berlin offers a rigorous curriculum with diverse, complex projects, fostering creative thinking and collaboration. In other words at 42, you’ll enhance coding skills and develop crucial soft skills for software development success. That’s why it’s an inclusive journey, welcoming all, regardless of coding background.

Even though we don’t provide our pisciners or students with accommodation or accommodation support, we can connect you with other pisciners before you begin and send you some useful hints about finding a flat in Berlin!

We are part of the 42 global network. At the moment we are in progress of getting licensed to allow our students  get a French Bachelor’s/Master’s degree from 42 Paris based on the level they reach in their curriculum ETA TBD.  However, we are not an Educational Institution in Germany yet. 

No. In order to start your Core Curriculum, you need to be in the same city where you completed your Piscine. Each person is allowed to attempt the Piscine only twice in their lifetime. If you don’t pass it the first time, you will need to wait 300 days before you can attempt it again.

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