A free, onsite, world-class software engineering program powered by peer-to-peer methodology.
ARE YOU
BORN 2 CODE?
NEXT UP
INTRODUCTIONS
🏠 Open Doors and Onsite Introduction – July 31, 17:30. RSVP.
DISCOVERY PISCINE
🫧 3-Day AI Discovery Piscine for Women+ – July 14–16. Register.
PISCINES
🐟 September 1–26
🐠 October 6–31
STUDENT KICK-OFF
🎉 November 17
WEEKLY EVENTS
Board Game Night – Every Wednesday at 18:00
👉 Explore the complete schedule on our Events page.
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
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
THERE WAS A BUG IN THE SYSTEM
AND WE FIXED IT
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Students take ownership of their learning. 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 fail a few times to find the answer. We provide you with the environment, tools, support, and community to find the answers.
GAMIFIED CURRICULUM
Our learning program is structured like a tree. As you near the end of a branch, the branch splits and more projects are unlocked. This way, each student’s learning is unique.
CAMPUS OPEN 24/7
Everyone learns at their own pace. That's why the campus is open 24/7. It is also baby-friendly and dog-friendly. There are nap and yoga rooms, showers, and more.
WE CELEBRATE FAILURE
You will not be penalised if you fail a project. Instead, we see this as a necessary step to levelling up. Failing is a part of the learning journey, since this is how we truly improve.
NO TUITION FEES
Education at 42 Berlin is 100% free.
Thanks to donations from our partner companies, we provide tech education, without any red tape.
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.
42 at work
Jean Isserstedt
42 fundamentally changed how I approach problem-solving. As a game designer, I’m not usually required to dive into code — but learning to think like a programmer has helped me break down complex systems and challenges more logically and analytically.
On a practical level, having coding knowledge has made me a stronger collaborator. I can better communicate with programmers, understand technical constraints, and sometimes directly prototype or debug features myself, which sets me apart from other designers without programming experience.
Mariia Paraskun
Before starting my studies at the school, it was extremely difficult for me to begin something new and not abandon it halfway through once I realized it wasn’t turning out perfectly. As a result, projects either remained unstarted because I always felt I didn’t know enough yet, or I gave up on them halfway through.
School 42, with its schedule and supportive community, helped me break this habit and realize that it’s actually impossible to ever be 100% prepared for what might be required of me. The best and most valuable knowledge is truly acquired during the process of working on a project. And it really helps at work to take on complex tasks now!
Daniil Tolmacov
Game-changing experience. Before joining 42 I was on the crossroad choosing between university computer science degree and small independent school in Berlin. Choosing 42 definitely paid me back. I found a full-time job after only 9 months of studying. It gave me a solid foundation that helps to easily learn any language.
42 has helped me to realize that with the right approach any task is solvable. Although I was alone in Berlin, I did not feel so. I found many friends along the way. Programming bounded us together and we still keep in touch. Probably, the thing I enjoyed the most is to help, discuss and debug projects. I would never do it alone!
Elise Van Iterson
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!
Barra MacMahon
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!
Marie Darbois
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.
Tetiana Fedorenko
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.
Joseph Albers
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.
Max Schaub
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.
Pooneh Moghaddasi
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.
Théo Zanchi
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.
Kristiyana Milcheva
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.
Feras Hassouneh
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.
Lola Le
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.
Pietro Nuti
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.
Fedir Staryk
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
Santiago Tena Hernandez
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.
Vasileios Almpanis
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.
Yurii Arutiunov
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.
THE 42 CURRICULUM
1. Piscine
2. Core Curriculum
3. Internship
4. Specialisation
1. Core Curriculum
2. First Internship
3. Specialisation
4. 2nd Intersnship
Before you start studying with us, you need to complete the Piscine, a 26-day coding challenge. Once you pass it your coding journey begins.
The 42 Berlin curriculum, inspired by École 42 in Paris, focuses on hands-on learning and peer collaboration. 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. These will be evaluated both by our evaluation software and your peers. This learning process makes our graduates extremely adept at communication, as well as preparing them for an independent work environment.
1. The Piscine (26 days)
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.
2. Core Curriculum (12-18 months)
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.
3. First Internship (4-6 months)
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.
4. Specialisation (up to 5 years)
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.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Level 0
Languages: C
Learn basics: Linux, Git
Libft Project: Get a deep understanding of how standard C functions work by programming a simple C library from scratch.
Level 1
Languages: C
Printf Project: Create a custom implementation of the printf function in C.
GetNextLine Project: Implement a function in C that reads a line from a file descriptor.
Born2BeRoot Project: setting up and administering a Linux-based Virtual Machine.
Level 2
Languages: C
Push_swap Project: Develop efficient sorting algorithm.
Pipex Project: Simulate the behavior of a pipe in the terminal.
Minitalk Project: Develop a small communication program using Unix signals.
FractOl / Fdf / So_long Projects: Create a 2D graphical project usind a simplified graphics library.
Level 3
Languages: C
Minishell Project: Create a shell interpreter based on the Unix bash shell that can execute commands, manage environment variables, handle redirections and pipes, and respond to user signals.
Philosophers Project: Solve the commensal philosophers problem using concurrent and parallel programming.
Level 4
Languages: C, C++
Cub3D Project: Create a 3D maze game using raycasting and a simplified graphics library
MiniRT Project: Develop a rendering engine, allowing the creation of realistic threedimensional images.
NetPractice Project: Learn fundamental networking concepts, including IP addressing, subnet masks, and routing.
Level 5
Languages: C++, HTML, CSS
Webserv project: Build an HTTP server from scratch.
IRC project: Implement a chat server based on the IRC protocol.
Inception project: Set up a complete web development environment using Docker containers.
Level 6
Languages: Python or Ruby, HTML, CSS, Javascript
Transcendence project: Develop a complete single-page web application.
This project integrates multiple technologies and addresses both the frontend and the backend, providing a complete experience in fullstack web development.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Register online
Start your application process by registering on the Application Platform.
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!
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.
Learn more about our campus.
4. The Piscine
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?
5. Welcome aboard
If you pass the Piscine, you will officially start your studies at 42 Berlin, kicking off with the Core Curriculum.
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.
EVENTS AT 42 BERLIN
Discovery Piscine: AI Fundamentals | For Women+
July 14 – 16
Make AI work for you.
Learn practical AI skills in text, image & data at 42 Berlin’s 5-day women+ workshop.
No experience needed.
Online Introduction
July 8 at 17:00
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.
Open Doors & Onsite Introduction
July 31 at 17:30
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.
BEHIND THE SCENES
ABOUT THE 42 NETWORK
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 in learning more about other 42 schools, check out the 42 Network website.
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.
What do I need to do to get in?
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.
Do I need to know how to code to join?
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.
Can I study remotely?
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.
Does 42 Berlin provide accommodation?
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!
Will I get a Bachelor's/Master's degree?
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.
Do I need a Bildungsgutschein?
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.
