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the piscine

Over four intensive weeks, you'll dive into the fundamentals of programming. No matter your starting level, this immersive trial is your gateway to 42 Berlin.

selection_phase

dive into the deep end.

The Piscine is the ultimate test before admission. Over 4 intensive weeks, you’ll learn programming through 100% hands-on immersion. Designed to strech your capabilities, this selection phase tests your grit & teamwork to see if you can thrive in our peer-driven model. Expect to write code daily, collaborate relentlessly, and live the true 42 experience.

26 Days
Immersive Sprint
C Language &
Shell
P2P Peer
Evaluations
0 Coding Experience
Required
immersion

intensive & immersive.

For four weeks, you're invited to go all in. Seven days a week, fully immersed in learning to code and working through real challenges with your peers. By the end, you'll know if this way of learning is right for you.

Group of smiling students
zero_to_hero

beginner friendly.

No experience? That's not a problem. The Piscine starts from scratch but doesn't slow down. It's built to stretch your limits and teach you fast, regardless of your background.

system_checks

exams & evals.

Once a week, a machine exam is proposed to test your level under time pressure. Additionally, all daily modules must be evaluated peer-to-peer to discover different programming approaches.

weekend_rush

mandatory group projects.

During weekends, mandatory work groups let students collaborate on complex projects called "Rushes." The architectural feedback you receive during these massive, intense collaborations is invaluable.

Students collaborating in yellow hoodie
culture

self-development & community.

You won't just learn to code—you'll learn about yourself. You'll face both technical and interpersonal challenges. Events are set up for candidates to meet and decompress. Nobody knows one another in the beginning, but more often than not, work groups turn into tight-knit friend groups.

social_events

more than work.

The Piscine is an unforgettable experience. Beyond the code, social events are built in to help candidates bond and decompress. You arrive as strangers, but you leave as a unified cohort.

Students collaborating around a computer
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how to join us.

01

online registration

Create your profile on our application platform. It takes less than 2 minutes to register and start your journey into the system.

02

introduction

Attend an Introduction Session (Online or On-Campus). Meet the team, explore the lab, and get a grasp of our peer-to-peer methodology.

03

the piscine

The final selection. A 26-day immersive coding sprint. This is where you prove you belong in the next generation of tech leaders.

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inside 42 berlin.