A non-profit Coding School with peer-to-peer, gamified learning to inspire tech for good 
Thu, 12th September @ 17:00
26th August – 20th September
30th September – 25th October
Open Doors – Thu, 12th September @ 17:00 Register here
Expressive Arts – Tue, 24th September @ 18:30 Register here
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.
Each student must problem solve, work with others and, ultimately, fail a few times to find the answer. Seeing that the school provides you with the environment, tools, projects, support and community to find the answers for yourself.
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.
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. In this way, each student’s learning journey will be unique and truly engaging.
We understand that everyone learns at their own pace and within their own timeframe, 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; consequently, we see this as a necessary step to leveling yourself up, and we believe that failing is 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. Currently there are 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, we are independent of Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit
and do not accept or require Bildungsgutscheins
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. We are fighting to change the face of software engineering education so that the shortage of coders will be a thing of the past.
Find out more about 42 Berlin partners here.
Structure and content of your studies with us
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 will start.
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.
A 26 day long intensive programming bootcamp – part of the application process at 42. Designed as a 7d/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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Please, make sure you play the game on your laptop or PC — the mobile experience is not that great (yet!).
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, of course meet some of the team and explore the campus.
Watch & learn more about our campus here.
Piscine is a month-long immersion into the waters of the 42 method. By the way, no prior experience is needed! Just bring a motivated and open approach so that you can decide if we're the right school for you, and we can determine if you're a good fit for our community.
What is the Piscine? Click here.
If you pass through 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.
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 organizations that hired our graduates.
Youtube Miniseries is the perfect way to learn about the school and our community.
Some our of most frequently asked questions that may be on the tip of your tongue. Check 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.
42 Berlin 2023
Wed, 12th September @ 17:00 
Tues 27th July 2024 @ 18:30 CET
English 
German 
