Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about 42.
The 42 program is 100% free. It teaches the foundations of coding, and does not focus on a specific language or operating system. Above all, you will learn how to learn in a completely different way. This will help you find solutions for any kind of challenge even beyond 42.
42 Vienna offers a program that is 100% practical and focused on coding. You’ll work in teams and write code every day. At 42, students immediately learn the principles of coding, with content updated regularly. During the specialization phase of your studies, you are exposed to fresh, practical projects (such as AI, app development, operating systems, and security), which allows you to build a portfolio of your work in advance of a job interview.
All of 42’s content and projects are available in English. English is an important language to be able to thrive in the digital world and we want our students to think globally. At 42 Vienna we use English as our common basic language to enable non-German speakers to participate and contribute and to empower German-speakers to work internationally.
The projects will be evaluated by your fellow students using the evaluation guidelines from 42 Vienna. You will learn how to deliver and receive ‘code reviews’ and feedback on the software that you develop.
In project-based learning, students gain a deeper knowledge of a subject through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. They learn by doing & thinking critically, rather than by following instructions and memorizing.
42 Vienna uses a project-based learning approach, in which you develop your own solutions, supported by your peers. 42 provides the learning environment, and ensures that you are making progress along the curriculum.
The non-profit, innovative Campus 42 Vienna is part of the international 42 education network, recognized for advancing digital excellence through a unique project-based, peer-to-peer learning model. At 42, there are no teachers, textbooks, or traditional lectures – learning is entirely driven by student collaboration and hands-on projects.
This free and inclusive program, open to all students aged 18 and over regardless of background, personal circumstances, or prior academic qualifications, emphasizes logical thinking, creativity, and teamwork.
At 42 Vienna, students develop as independent, solution-oriented future IT experts. They benefit from a practice-focused, flexible learning approach comparable to university standards, tailored to meet the demands of the modern job market.
As a non-profit organization (NGO), 42 Vienna is funded solely by partners.
Yes! The best way to prepare our students for a job is by organizing regular events with guest speakers and other forms of collaborations with companies and organizations, such as hackathons and workshops. 42 Vienna organizes activities, such as sports sessions, yoga, meditation, arts & crafts.
The admission includes several steps:
1. Register at apply.42vienna.com (5 Min)
2. Play two logic games (2 hours)
3. Meet us in an introduction meeting, online or on-site (1 hour)
4. Attend the Piscine (4-weeks)
Join the on-campus Your Path to 42 session and complete all three steps in one go. Simply register via Eventbrite.
The word Piscine is French for swimming pool: dive into the deep end of coding, and learn how to swim – together with your peers. The Piscine is a four week long trial period. During the Piscine, you will discover the basics of coding from scratch. No prerequisites of any kind are needed: no previous degrees, no coding experience. This period will be very intensive and requires commitment. There is no competition between applicants and anyone can be selected.
During your Piscine, we highly discourage you from working or spending a lot of time on other commitments. You will spend an average of 8 hours per day (weekends included!) learning and working on exercises.
No. If you need support finding accommodation, write an email to hello@42vienna.com with the subject: Accomodation Help Needed.
We do not reveal the selection criteria, but we can tell you this: candidates who work hard, make progress, work well in a team and never give up are the ones that are most likely to be successful.
We announce the results of the Piscine 2 weeks after the end of each Piscine. Each candidate gets an email with their results.
After you pass the Piscine, you will start at the next kick-off date. You can find the kick-off date on our Homepage. It is also possible to start at a later kick-off date, if you have other commitments.
You can take part in up to 2 Piscines in your lifetime on any of the 42 campuses. A minimum of 300 days between the 2 Piscines must be respected.
You start building a base in the C programming language, the UNIX operating system and fundamental programming concepts. As you progress towards your first internship, you will explore introductory branches in UNIX, graphics and web programming. After the first internship, the curriculum will include deeper projects in many fields of software engineering: mobile development, web security, kernel design, network architecture, game development, artificial intelligence, data engineering, and many other areas of coding and IT.
All 42 Network campuses worldwide share the proven curriculum of École 42 in Paris. When you complete a project, you will move to the next one, until you can choose from different paths and discover multiple aspects of programming and IT. Each student’s experience is unique, as you will experiment with projects and choose to follow different specialization paths in the curriculum.
You progress in the curriculum by completing projects and getting points. With these points you level up and unlock more projects and specialization branches. You can also master different skills, complete quests and achievements.
The original curriculum was created in 2013 by École 42’s team in Paris, which consisted of veterans in the computer science educational field in France. It has evolved since then by the educational staff in Paris and other schools, cooperation with companies and even students.
No, 42 Vienna is an on-site program. It is an essential component of the peer-to-peer learning model of 42.
Students must study at the campus where they completed the Piscine. If a campus transfer is needed before the Piscine, please contact us as soon as possible so that we migrate you into the Vienna application system. If you have passed the games, you won’t have to play them again.
After you complete the first part of the curriculum (the Common Core), you will have the opportunity to change campus if you decide to move.
Yes, the program is on-site. Living in Vienna or close to Vienna may be helpful. We can support you with information on housing. Just write us an email to hello@42vienna.com and we will send you some possible accommodations.
Yes, 100% free. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to develop their talents and fulfill their dreams, regardless of their background and resources. We will not charge you anything before, during, or after your journey at 42 Vienna. This is possible thanks to the generous support of our partners.
At 42, there are no scheduled classes. You organize your work and your schedule. The school is open 24 hours a day throughout the year, and you can expect to spend most of your working time on campus – 40 hours per week on average (during the Selection Piscine more than sixty hours per week). We recommend seeing the program as a full-time activity, however, there are students who study and work part-time.
You will have a maximum of 2 years to finish the Core Curriculum, which is the first part of the program. Depending on your own pace, you may already finish after about 8 months. After that, you will be a 42 student for life, and you can continue to learn and specialize in the areas that interest you during the Mastery. It is more flexible and allows you to choose your own path. If you choose to get the RNCP6 certificate, it will take you on average about 2 years to complete the necessary projects.
42 won’t teach you how to solve a specific problem, or how to use a tool. 42 will teach you how to learn, and how to use the tools that are available. After 42 you will have the ability to solve hard problems. You will be able to quickly learn new coding languages, thinking creatively, seeking and sharing knowledge.
Yes, developing soft skills, peer learning, and peer correcting are central to our learning philosophy, so students need to be at the campus in person.
There is only a minimum age limit of 18, and no maximum age limit.
The 42 educational model is new in Austria, and it does not correspond to any established certification model. However, we do not believe this to be a problem in the tech sector, given that many companies tend to focus on your skills, your ability to solve problems and work in a team. Moreover, during your studies at 42 Vienna, you will build your own coding portfolio. Lastly, we want to add that in a tech role, you will never stop learning. Technology is constantly evolving, and so will you!
The RNCP6 and RNCP7 certificates will be available only for students carrying out certain projects and requirements. RNCP6 and RNCP7 are part of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and therefore recognized across Europe. The EQF is a common reference framework that describes the qualification levels across the European Union. It has eight levels, from 1 (low) to 8 (high).
RNCP6 certificates are equivalent to EQF level 6, which is the level of a bachelor’s degree or a higher professional qualification, more info can be found here.
RNCP7 certificates are equivalent to EQF level 7, which is the level of a master’s degree or a higher professional qualification, more info can be found here.
In Austria, EQF level 6 is equivalent to the “Bachelor” grade, and EQF level 7 is equivalent to the “Master” grade. It is important to note that the equivalence between the RNCP levels, EQF levels, and Austrian grades is general. There may be some cases where a specific RNCP certificate is not recognized in Austria, or where it is recognized at a different level than the general equivalence table suggests.
No, not at all! It is not necessary to have any knowledge in programming to join and succeed at 42.
You can pre-register for the Piscine after passing the online games and attending an Introduction Meeting on campus or online.
At present, 42 Vienna cannot help with visas. Citizens that are not part of the EU, UK, Norway, or Switzerland are encouraged to inquire about possible visa requirements. As 42 Vienna is currently not an accredited institution – due to our nontraditional hands-on education approach – you may not be able to receive a student visa.
We offer a certificate of enrollment but we cannot guarantee that it will get you a visa.
During your studies at 42 Vienna, you will have to cover the cost of living (e.g., accommodation, food, and anything else you might need).
Unfortunately, we do not provide students with accommodation, however there are a variety of housing websites accessible to those moving to Vienna for finding an apartment or shared flat.
AI is woven into the 42 curriculum through a progressive and hands-on approach: from foundational exposure during the core program to more advanced and specialized projects. Students tackle real-world challenges where AI plays a central role, encouraging both technical mastery and critical thinking.
Rather than focusing on a fixed set of tools, our curriculum emphasizes deep understanding of the principles behind artificial intelligence, ensuring students can adapt to new technologies, innovate responsibly, and contribute meaningfully in a fast-moving digital world.
The content evolves continuously to stay aligned with the latest developments in AI and industry needs, giving our students both a strong foundation and the agility to thrive in emerging fields.
In a world increasingly shaped by AI, learning to code from the ground up is more relevant than ever. It allows future developers to truly understand how systems function, identify errors or biases in AI-generated content, and move beyond simply using tools to being able to design and improve them.
AI can assist and accelerate the creative process, but it cannot replace the logic, precision, and problem-solving skills that come from writing code independently. These are the foundations where critical thinking and real innovation take root.
At 42, we believe that mastering the fundamentals provides students with the autonomy to adapt, the clarity to question what they build, and the skills to actively shape the future of technology.
Yes. The 42 curriculum provides a solid foundation in programming and algorithmic thinking, along with practical experience through real-world projects. This combination equips students to contribute effectively in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning.
The project-based and peer-driven model encourages autonomy, adaptability, and critical thinking. These are qualities that employers in AI and emerging technologies consistently look for.
Many graduates go on to join AI teams, build intelligent systems, or work in research and innovation. Their success in international hackathons and competitions reflects the strong preparation they receive at 42.
AI is changing how developers work, not making them obsolete. At 42, we believe that as technology evolves, the value of strong foundational skills becomes even more important.
By learning to code from the ground up and solving real-world problems, students gain the technical depth and critical thinking needed to understand, guide, and improve AI systems, not just use them.
Rather than replacing developers, AI creates new opportunities for innovation. 42’s hands-on, project-based model prepares students to adapt, lead, and shape the future of technology in a world increasingly powered by AI.