A free, onsite, world-class software engineering program powered by a unique peer-to-peer methodology.
🔈 Onsite Introduction & Open Day – April 22nd @ 17:30 RSVP here
💻 Online Introduction – April 30th @ 17:00
🐠 September 1st – September 26th
🐟 October 6th – October 31st
🎲 Board Game Night – Wednesdays, 6 PM
*Visit our Events page for more details.
A computer academy
that defies conventional wisdom
42 Berlin is an important
contribution to counteracting
the shortage of skilled workers
For the tech leaders
of tomorrow
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We are part of the 42 Network of Software Engineering Schools. The first 42 school opened in 2013 in Paris. There are currently 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.
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: Studying with us is free for everyone. As of 2025 we collaborate with Agentur für Arbeit and accept Bildungsgutschein. Find more information here
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I found an internship at a software development agency in Amsterdam. They build websites and apps for other companies, like the Rijksmuseum. I’ll be their backend development intern and hopefully a junior backend developer after 😉. I had such a great time at 42 Berlin, studying in a very welcoming, diverse community and having the freedom to schedule my time.
A completely different type of education after university. I would definitely recommend this school if you’re interested in software engineering and open to have a peer to peer learning experience!
Hi, I’m Barra, a 42 Berlin student since Nov 2022. Alongside 42, I work full-time at SAP in the BTP Innovation team, developing AI features. With no prior coding experience, 42’s curriculum gave me the tools to thrive. After 2 years, I’m nostalgic yet excited for new challenges. Embrace 42—it’s a treasure!
I started my swimming lessons at 42 Berlin more or less exactly two years ago. Little did I know it would lead me to completely switch careers. What a ride it has been, and believe me, life can be greener once you transcend!
I got a full-time position at Amazon as a software engineer, but I still hope to be around campus, grizzling in the pool or working on advanced curriculum projects. C you.
After experimenting with various IT roles and even venturing into the art world, nothing quite clicked until I joined 42. The hands-on peer-learning approach helped me make valuable connections and learn a lot from others.
Above all 42 ingrained a desire to learn within me. After all, at my job I am constantly forced to learn new languages, frameworks and tools. I believe that appreciating this journey will make the difference in the long run.
Even though I am not coding I work with software every day. Did 42 help me with that? A lot! From basics like using the command line, what a merge request is and all the other important software engineering principles out there. These skills are the basics when it comes to software and therefore play a huge role in my job.
The very first day I walked into the school, in the big cluster of computers, there was a red sign hanging on top: “Don’t Panic.” That message is the essence of what I learned at 42 and has stayed with me whenever I face something unfamiliar.
When moving to Germany, working for Deutsche Bahn was my objective because I am passionate by this industry and I had the chance to meet DB executives on campus to discuss about our pedagogy, and this is how I managed to have an internship at DB Cargo.
Some of the ways 42 really prepared me for the working world was teaching me the ability to communicate and to take on projects I have no idea how to approach.
42 enabled me to understand the needs of students and now help them to achieve their goals and dreams. I enjoyed the most the openminded community and the work with my peers. For me 42 became a mindset, that i can learn and achieve anything.
The greatest value in 42 for me is that every day I have the opportunity to network with many talented, motivated, and kind people from all over the world. Every student, pisciner, and staff member is always eager to help with coding or life-related problems, support one another, and share their language and culture. In this school, you can find friends and gain inspiration.
One of the things I loved the most about 42 is that the learning curve is constantly steep but the projects are still approachable, which forces you to learn how to learn; a very valuable takeaway both for possible specialisations and/or my everyday job.
Firstly 42 helped me getting into the job, thanks to hard and soft skills I earned during my studies. But the most helpful skill during the job, was to quickly learn and adapt to new topics and challenges, as the world of software is more than one person could know so you need to be able to work with stuff you never even heard of before
The skills for independent and collaborative work that I acquired while working on my projects at 42 have allowed me to deliver and build great working relationships.
42 taught me to be a self-starter, problem-solver, and above all self organized person, all of which are essential in my current role. It gave me with the confidence to tackle challenges and groups and independently and to lose the fear of failing but embrace it.
42 school is more than just a place to learn coding — it’s a place of growth and personal development. I carry the lessons of resilience, innovation, and community into every challenge I face. It’s a school that doesn’t just prepare you for a job, it prepares you for a lifetime of learning.
Start your application process by registering on the Application Platform.
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!
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.
The Piscine is a month-long immersion into the waters of 42. 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.
If you pass the Piscine, you will officially start your studies at 42 Berlin, kicking off with the Core Curriculum.
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.
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.
TBA
Tour our campus, meet the students, and discover how 42 Berlin’s works.
It’s the essential step in your application process to the Piscine, so don’t miss out.
TBA
Join our online Introduction to discover how 42 Berlin’s tuition-free, hands-on coding program works.
It’s the essential step in your application process to the Piscine, so don’t miss out.
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.
No, studying with us is free for everyone, regardless of whether you are registered as unemployed. However, if you are eligible for a Bildungsgutschein (AZAV) in Germany, you can receive funding from AfA while studying with us. More information here.
42 Berlin 2023
