We are a non-profit using peer-to-peer learning
to inspire tech for good 
42 Berlin is a free coding school in Berlin that trains software engineers up to masters level. Our peer-learning methods are revolutionising tech education.
Our campus is located in central Neukölln, open 24/7 and offers facilities to students free of charge.
As a non-profit, we are 100% free. As soon as you walk through our doors as a 42 student, you can begin your studies for 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.
Our peer-learning approach has no singular figure of authority or teacher offering solutions. Instead, each student must problem solve, work with others and, ultimately, fail a few times to find the answer. We provide you with the environment, support and community to find the answers for yourself.
Students take ownership of their learning experience through a practical curriculum. Surpassing oneself is the only way to move forward but you can always count on the strength of the group. This focus on collective intelligence helps students understand how an actual professional environment works.
Our gamified curriculum structures our program 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.
Our campus is open 24/7. We understand that everyone learns at their own pace and within their own timeframe, so we do not believe in schedules or timetables. Our campus is baby-friendly & dog friendly. We have nap & yoga rooms, showers, music rooms & high quality hardware.
We have been taught that failing is bad. However, at 42 Berlin we flip the script. We believe that failing is a vital part of any worthwhile learning journey as this is how we truly improve. You will not be penalised if you fail a project, we see this as a necessary step to levelling yourself up.
As an non-profit, we are 100% free. As soon as you walk through our doors as a 42 student, you can begin your studies for 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, with no red tape.
Our gamified curriculum structures our program 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.
Our peer-learning approach has no singular figure of authority offering solutions. Instead, each student must problem solve, work with others and, ultimately, fail a few times to find the answer. We provide you with the environment, support and community to find answers for yourself.
Students take ownership of their learning experience through a practical curriculum. Surpassing oneself is the only way to move forward but you can always count on the strength of the group. This collective intelligence helps students understand how an actual professional environment works.
Our campus is open 24/7. We understand that everyone learns at their own pace and within their own timeframe, so we do not believe in schedules or timetables. Our campus is baby-friendly & dog friendly. We have nap & yoga rooms, showers, music rooms & high quality hardware.
We have been taught that failing is bad. However, at 42 Berlin we flip the script. We believe that failing is a vital part of any worthwhile learning journey as this is how we truly improve. You will not be penalised if you fail a project, we see this as a necessary step to levelling yourself up.
Create a profile through our website and let the adventure begin!
Solve a series of logical problems to test your cognitive skills in our online game. Set aside about 2 hours here and take the test on a PC. No prior experience needed!
Attend an introduction, online or in person, to discover a whole lot more about our ethos and methodology. You will have the chance to ask questions and, if you attend onsite, meet some of the team and explore the campus.
A month-long immersion into the waters of the 42 method. No prior experience needed here, just a motivated and open approach so that you can decide if we're the right school for you, and we can decide if you're a good fit for our community.
If you pass through the Piscine, you will officially start your studies at 42 Berlin, kicking off with the core curriculum.
These events play a part in the Application Process. In order to attend them you need to play our online game first and sign up on our Application Platform.
January 3
1 – 2 PM
Join our online talk to discover how 42 Berlin’s tuition-free, hands-on coding program works. It’s the first step in your application process to the piscine—don’t miss out!
The other events happening on campus are hugely varied and open to the public!
Here’s an overview of what you will learn during your studies at 42 Berlin.
The 42 Berlin curriculum follows that of École 42 from Paris. The structure allows students to use their knowledge practically and alongside their peers. We have over 12,000 students thriving throughout 42 campuses the world over. Within this educational model, we help you learn coding from scratch. We accommodate students who have no prior coding knowledge, and strengthen the foundations of those that do. Of course, our peer-to-peer learning model is not for everyone, and our Piscine is the perfect place to dip your toes in before beginning official studies. From there, the core curriculum provides a solid base from which students can dive into their specialisations.
Your official studies at 42 Berlin will begin with the core curriculum once you have passed through the Piscine. All students take off from the same place and learn a foundation of soft and hard skills. The time this takes you to complete will depend on how much time you dedicate to your studies. In this first part of the program, you will learn a huge range of basics that will serve any future career path very well. These include: Unix C, Algorithms, Networks, System administration, Graphics programming, Object oriented coding and more.
Our gamified model will allow you to unlock new projects of increasing difficulty as you gain experience points and will not penalise you for failing. We structure our projects like a blossoming tree. Once a project is complete, you can move to the next branch until it splits. This allows you to discover multiple aspects of coding and IT. Each student’s journey will be unique, experimenting with different projects and specialisation paths.
The core curriculum takes an average of 18 months of full-time study to complete, however this varies depending on how much time one dedicates to it. The maximum amount of time that can be spent on the curriculum is 24 months. 42 accommodates flexibility in schedule and pace, however we strongly recommend prioritising your studies over other activities while you’re here, as a certain amount of momentum is needed to progress well.
Once you finish the core part of the curriculum, you will get the chance to put all your newfound knowledge and skills into professional practice. You will have direct access to the opportunities provided by our partner companies, including; Microsoft, VW, CARIAD, Capgemini, T-Systems, SAP, and Bayer. However, no student is under any obligation to work with any partner company if you do not wish to.
The second and main part of the 42 curriculum allows you to truly become an expert in a field of your choice. You will have the option to undertake this part of the program in any other 42 campus in the world. Specialisation options currently include: Advanced algorithms & AI, Game Development, Mobile & web, Cyber security, Advanced Unix & Networking, SEA:ME. However, our team is constantly adding new options to the program. Once you finish your specialisation, you will have the knowledge and skills of a senior-level software engineer. It is totally up to you when you stop to become a 42 Alumni.
All students will have the option to undertake a second paid internship after specialisation. However, by this point you will have the skills and more to start your career in software engineering.
No, it’s not too good to be true. Here’s the
answer to our most frequently asked question.
While this means that we are not yet classified as an officially accredited educational institution, it does mean that companies who believe in our method and mission can partner up with our school and help us provide our educational resources and campus facilities for free. Please note that we have no connection to the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit and we do not take (or need) any Bildungsgutschein. Studying at any 42 school all around the world is 100% free and will always be free. We are a non-profit organization that aims to provide accessible high-quality education to talented individuals from all walks of life.
Our partners include some of the biggest tech companies in Germany and we're really proud to have them by our side. Their donations mean that our education is accessible to all those coders who can make the tech world a better place. We are fighting to change the face of software engineering education so that the shortage of coders will be a thing of the past. Our partners include Volkswagen, Microsoft, SAP, T-Systems, Bayer, Capgemini and CARIAD. Find out more by clicking below.
What this means is that companies who believe in our method and mission can partner up with our school and provide donations to help us offer our educational resources and campus facilities for free. Please note that we have no connection to the Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit and we do not take (or need) any Bildungsgutschein. Studying at any 42 school all around the world is 100% free and will always be free. We are a non-profit organisation that aims to provide accessible high-quality education to talented individuals from all walks of life.
Our partners include some of the biggest tech companies in Germany and we're really proud to have them by our side. Their donations mean that our education is accessible to all those coders who can make the tech world a better place. We are fighting to change the face of software engineering education so that the shortage of coders will be a thing of the past. Our partners include Volkswagen, Microsoft, SAP, T-Systems, Bayer, Capgemini and CARIAD. Find out more by clicking below.
The 42 methodology, following that of the 42 Network, is worldwide and has proven success. Companies simply want to work with 42 students. In this way, our relationship with our partner companies is symbiotic, as our students will be the first to hear about internships or career opportunities available with them. Of course, our students are under zero obligation to work with any of our partners. However, should they be interested, our collaboration will make it much easier for them to gain industry opportunities.
After registration, you will need to pass a two-hour long online test, made up to to cognitive games. If you succeed, you will need to clear the last hurdle, the ‘Piscine’; our one-month-long selection process.
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. All students are required to complete the program with access to the campus. We’ve found that our peer-learning method is much more effective when done in person.
42 Berlin offers a program with a world-class curriculum that challenges students with projects of increased complexity. Every problem is unique, and it requires you to think outside of the box along with motivated peers. At 42, you will not just build on your hard skills of coding, but learn the soft skills necessary to thrive as a software programmer. Everyone, coder or not, can find a rewarding path.
We don’t provide our Pisciners/Students with accomodation or accomodation support. We can connect you with other Pisciners before you begin and send you some useful hints about finding a flat in Berlin though!
We are part of the 42 global network. Which means if you reach a certain level of our Curriculum you will be eligible to get a French Bachelor’s/Master’s degree from 42 Paris. However, we are not an Educational Institution in Germany yet.
If you want your questions answered by a 42 student, join our Reddit community!
Our Youtube Miniseries is the perfect way to learn about the most pressing topics for 42 Berlin and our community, as well as learning more about how we work and discovering our space and team.
42 Berlin 2023
English 
