42 Madrid_en

Beyond The Code

Don't just learn technology. Create it

Looking for an education at the cutting edge of technology, designed to shape the people who will shape the future? You’re in the right place.

Innovating in the present.

What is 42?

Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software development, data, the cloud and quantum computing are transforming the way we live and work. At 42, you don’t just come to learn how to code: you come to discover how the technology that will shape the future works, how it is designed, trained and developed.

Here, you don’t just memorise theory or sit through traditional lessons. Youlearn by doing, solving real-world challenges and working in teams with other students, through an innovative model based on peer learning that develops both technical skills and key abilities for any professional career: independence, creativity, resilience, adaptability to change and collaboration.

What’s more, the course is 100% free, thanks to the support of the Telefónica Foundation, and is open to anyone of legal age, with no prior experience in programming or computing required.

It’s not just us saying this. In 2026, 42 was recognised as Europe’s most innovative university by the WURI ranking, an international accolade for an educational model that breaks with convention to train the professionals needed by the digital economy.

If you’re looking for a different kind of education—one that’s connected to cutting-edge technologies and designed to prepare those who will shape the future—then 42 Madrid Fundación Telefónica is the place for you.

Find out more about how we learn at our campus in the Program.

Fancy finding out more about the campus before making a decision? There are various ways to do so…

LEARN MORE ABOUT 42
Person with purple hair smiles at a computer screen while a colleague in teal leans in to help.
Estudiantes colaboran resolviendo un reto de programación en grupo mediante aprendizaje peer-to-peer en 42 Madrid Fundación Telefónica.
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EDUCATIONAL experience without limits

A unique concept

Group of students discusses math problems at a large whiteboard covered with grids and equations; one person gestures while explaining to peers
Female student works on a programming project during the 42 Madrid Fundación Telefónica Piscine.
Two coworkers collaborate at a white desk, the woman typing on a keyboard while the man watches in a bright office.
Students collaborate on a programming project in the 42 Madrid Fundación Telefónica cluster, working together through the campus's peer-to-peer learning methodology.
Remote work area at 42 Madrid Fundación Telefónica where students can work independently, collaborate online, or attend virtual meetings.
01
NO TEACHERS
PEER-TO-PEER
NO CLASSES

42 breaks away from every convention of traditional education. We embrace the future with a unique peer-to-peer learning methodology.

02
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

At 42, learning happens through real-world projects where everyone develops their skills through hands-on experience and teamwork. Who says learning to code has to be conventional?

03
FAILING IS LEARNING

Fasten your seatbelt for a collaborative learning journey where experience is your greatest teacher, trial and error is part of the process, and practical learning comes first.

04
42 IS MORE THAN CODE

You’ll develop essential skills such as resilience, adaptability, creativity, teamwork, and the ability to overcome challenges—qualities that are just as valuable as technical expertise.

05
READY FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW

A 42 education does more than help you find a job—it prepares you for the careers of the future. You’ll learn how to learn, giving you the ability to adapt, keep growing, and stay ahead in an ever-changing job market.

Frequently asked questions

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We’ve compiled some doubts, questions, and existential crises on a handy FAQ page.

Not at all. You don’t need to have any programming skills to join us and succeed at 42.

At 42 we offer a study methodology that challenges our students with projects with increasing complexity. Each problem is unique and requires you to think differently alongside the other people studying on the campus.

Once you’ve passed both of the online tests, you’ll be able to pre-register for the piscine, the 26-day immersive selection period on the campus.

The dates will be announced throughout the year by email and on our social media.

This is the last step before you become a student at 42 and you reach it after you’ve passed the two previous online tests. This is an in-person challenge lasting 26 days in a row during which you’ll undertake daily projects giving you the chance to gain solid foundations in C language while you learn to work alongside the other candidates.

We don’t have any selection quotas at 42. There’s no fixed number of applicants for selection. However, we temporarily reserve 30% of the places to allow women to register throughout a longer period of time.

No, it isn’t necessary either during the piscine or after you become a student. We have 300 iMacs, which are more than enough to cater for the candidates and students. Although you can use your own laptop, it’s advisable to use the ones on the campus, particularly during the Piscine.

The Piscine is demanding and requires spending numerous hours programming and working with the other candidates throughout the 26 consecutive days that it lasts. Although it isn’t impossible to complete it while you work, we recommend making this period a priority.

Not getting through the Piscine stage means that 42 might not be for you, at least for the time being. The Piscine is designed to enable you and 42 to find out whether this educational model is right for both of us. You’ll have to wait for 300 days to re-apply for the Piscine if you don’t get through it the first time.

The start of the studies is a continuation of the Piscine; we always recommend not interrupting this learning process. If you know that you aren’t going to enrol on the campus after the selection process, it would be advisable to give your place to someone who’s eager to start.