Frequent questions

The curriculum includes two compulsory work placements with companies. Your first in-company experience, which you will do once you have completed the Common Core, can be in any type of company and across a wide range of roles, from technology companies to start-ups. The second work placement must be in a position/profile related to technology and to what you are studying at 42. The important thing to note is that each student can decide for themself in what company and when to do their work placement. At 42 we will support you with the process and help put you in contact with the business world. We will give you all the tools you need to get a job, but, in the end, it will be up to you to find one. The role of 42 Madrid is to create connections. On our side, you can count on conferences, workshops and other events that give you the opportunity to meet potential employers, as well as a job platform featuring many offers.

The job you want. At 42 you learn how to learn in order to tackle any challenge the labour market throws at you. By completing the curriculum you will be able to apply for many different jobs, but you will also be able to improve your digital skills for your current job and achieve everything you set your mind to. Try typing "jobs in the digital world" into your favourite search engine and take a look at all the options. And just thing, there are many other career opportunities in the sector that don't even exist yet! But you will be ready for them, because you learn how to learn at 42. Will you spend your career programming behind a computer? Would you like to? If that's what you want, you'll be able to. But you may develop new skills and interests and find other positions related to the digital world that you may not have known about or considered before. Finally, we are often asked if students have to work at Telefónica when they finish our training. The answer is no, but maybe you'd like to?

The 42 project is part of Fundación Telefónica's social action strategy, which has been working on educational innovation and employability projects for more than 20 years. Our aim is to help people improve their employability skills in this digital society.

You will need a place to sleep and money for your daily expenses (transport, meals, etc.). All expenditure is at your own expense except for your studies at 42 which, as you know, is 100% free for students.

42's mission is to train for employment, that is, to train people with the digital skills that companies are looking for and thus contribute to the digital transformation that the world is undergoing. Everyone deserves a chance to achieve their dreams, regardless of their skills and resources. You will not be charged anything before, during or after your studies. 42 Madrid is possible thanks to full financing from Fundación Telefónica, through its social action.

Students progress through the curriculum by completing projects and earning "experience points". These points enable them to level up and unlock other projects and developing skills. It will allow them to level up to unlock other projects and specialization branches. Students can also complete quests and achievements.

Today, 42 counts 50+ campuses in 30+ countries around the world. In Spain, 42 is active in Urduliz (Bizkaia), Malaga, and Barcelona. After they complete the Common Core, students can request a transfer to another campus for 3 to 6 months, subject to approval from both campuses. At any time, they can also connect with students from other campuses to share knowledge and discover new cultures.

The curriculum is continuously updated to reflect changes in the job market.

Within the Common Core you learn fundamental notions of programming through basic training projects. Once you pass it, you will be able to do your in-company experience at a time of your choosing. Furthermore, you will be able to pick your path within the curriculum by selecting the specialization that best matches your interests. There are many branches to choose from object-oriented programming, mobile programming, functional programming, web security, reverse engineering, malicious code, kernel programming, network programming, artificial intelligence, 3D programming and many more.

The Common Core is available in Spanish and in English, French, German, Portuguese... Tip: although knowing English is not a prerequisite, it's worth noting that most programming information is in English. Joining 42 is the perfect time to start or brush up - don’t worry! Many students on campus speak English well and will be happy to help.

Peers are the main source of knowledge and peer-to-peer evaluations spark conversations and learning, from the evaluator to the evaluated and vice versa. Tools and the pedagogical team also carry out evaluations. In short, there are different evaluation methods and different ways of learning where the methodology's human value is key.

The learning plan at 42 consists of three stages: the online skills tests, the Piscine, and the curriculum. The online tests last up to two hours and ten minutes and can be taken at any time once a candidate registers on the website. They cannot be paused, so proper preparation is essential. Results arrive within 48 hours, and successful candidates must watch for new Piscine openings announced via social media and email. The Piscine is a 26-day, on-site pre-selection period focused on individual projects, exams, teamwork, and resilience. Candidates develop both technical and transversal skills while demonstrating their readiness for the campus. Importantly, the process is not competitive; collaboration is key.

Admission to the curriculum occurs only after completing both pre-selection stages. The curriculum includes a global Common Core followed by technical specialisations. The Common Core, shared across all 42 campuses, consists  projects and exams centered primarily on C and Python. Upon finishing the final layer, students may begin an initial in-company experience at a time of their choosing. After the Common Core, they pursue their preferred specialisation paths, such as cybersecurity, web, programming, AI, blockchain, or DevOps. The curriculum is continuously updated to align with evolving industry needs.

42 is a "peer-to-peer learning" approach, where most value is placed on learning from your feel students. Peer-to-peer learning is an educational model where students learn from each other through collaborative work, overcoming, sharing challenges and, above all, evaluating each other. Don't worry if you don't know anything about programming, this training is equally valid for those with prior knowledge and beginners alike. That's one of the keys to 42's success: it works for everyone and everyone learns, whether you know the most or the least. The most important thing in this process is that students do not compete among themselves. Instead, with this method, they cooperate and work together to make progress.

Moreover, 42 is project-based learning. Through it, students gain a deeper understanding of technology via active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. They learn by doing and thinking critically rather than by following instructions and learning by heart.

Furthermore, at 42 students are the protagonist of their learning, deciding what to study, at what pace and even when to take the exam. That is why there are no timetables and the campus is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except when this is not possible. There are no classes, no books, nor a teacher in the usual sense. Instead there is a pedagogical team/staff that supports the student in their learning and "empowers" them to make their own decisions, mistakes, to try thoughts out and learn.

42 offers a range of partnership options for companies. Here are just a few of them... but there are many more that we can come up with together, tailored to business needs. - Talento 42: at 42 we are the link between students and the world of work/business, we help you find the ideal candidate based on your organisation's needs. - Experimenta 42: 42 cannot be explained, you have to live the experience for yourself. That's why we offer many types of activities for your organisation to really experience the 42 philosophy based on your needs (Discovery Piscines, Bootcamps, Apprentice Observer, Events...). - Construye con 42: at 42 we invite you to be part of developing tomorrow's digital profiles. Through the co-creation of new training content, you can help ensure that our students acquire the digital and transferable skills that companies really need in the digital age.

Fundación Telefónica has rolled the 42 project out in Spain via agreements with different public administrations, through co-financing models that lead to a scalable and sustainable project.

42 Madrid promotes initiatives to motivate the enrolment and participation of women in academia and to encourage technology professions to close the digital gender gap. In addition to reserving a quota of places in the annual Pools, specific activities are organised to give a voice to women in the STEM sector.

How much time do I need? We firmly believe that each student is unique and should be allowed to learn at their own pace. Consequently, the student is at the heart of all decisions: they decide what to study and when. UP TO YOU is the claim at the 42 Madrid campus: freedom with responsibility, respecting the campus rules and the methodology.

Once a person decides to start the curriculum there are milestones to reach, but these are made known in good time. They are explained once you enter 42, but the clock is ticking and you have to make the most of it. Still, you can rest assured that the time given is more than adequate and is flexible. They are part of the methodology and the game…

At 42 Madrid there are spaces to relax and disconnect from the digital world, but you have to find off-campus accommodation. Do you have any special needs in this regard? We recommend using social media like Twitter, Instagram and Telegram, where the 42 community is active, to get in touch with other people who could help you find accommodation. Our hashtag is #42MadridFTef.

42 Madrid is designed to get the most out of on-site learning, but allows you to manage your time and study at your own pace. The campus is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (whenever possible). Therefore, there is no assumption that it cannot be combined with studies or work. The Piscine period is the most demanding in terms of time and dedication. It requires you to spend many hours programming and working with other students, so we do not advise combining it with other obligations. The work-life balance becomes simpler once you're a 42 Madrid student.

In 42 you do not receive an official certificate because it is not a regulated training course. Once you have finished the compulsory Common Core, you will receive a diploma of completion indicating the level you achieved. At the same time, the profile of each student at 42 can be made public and visible and it specifies their skills development, the projects done, any projects that the student wants to share and even the evaluations achieved in the work experiences. Considering how the labour market works, we think this is the best letter of introduction to companies you could wish for.

You need to be able to adapt and overcome difficulties, be a proactive, curious, creative and thorough person, be able to cooperate and work in a team.

Absolutely not! Just enthusiasm, curiosity, patience and a lot of perseverance. Leave your fear and "I can't" at home and dive into the Piscine. What about mathematics? You don't need that either! Everyone is welcome whether they are good at mathematics or not because no prior knowledge is required. It may sound strange at first, but the 42 methodology has been tried and tested over the years.

42 Madrid offers first-class training that challenges all students with its highly complex projects. Each problem is unique and requires you to think outside the box with motivated and passionate coding partners. The campus offers something for everyone, whether they are a programmer already or not. What's more, the variety of profiles that coexist in the academy include many professionals from the sector who have found in 42 a way of upskilling to face new challenges.

You must be over 18 years old and be eager to learn. Register at 42madrid.com, pass two online tests and then wait for a Piscine to open in order to get a spot.

To be admitted to the Piscine at a campus you must register and then pass the online skills tests for that specific campus. Once you have passed the online tests, you should keep an eye out for announcements of Piscines, where you will be able to apply for your place. In short, each campus requires all candidates to go through their own enrolment process.

It is not necessary in either case. The campus is equipped with more than enough 300 work stations to cater for all candidates and students. If you wish, you can use your own portable equipment, but we do not recommend it, especially during the Piscine.

Although you manage your time once you are a 42 Madrid student, the Piscine is a unique period. It is demanding and takes many hours of programming and working with your fellow students over its 26 consecutive days. While it is not impossible to complete the Piscine while also working, we recommend making it your priority while it lasts.

There are 2 tests, the first lasts 10 minutes and the second lasts a maximum of 2 hours. You haven't registered to do them yet? Let us take you there!!

Yes, but you’ll need to wait 300 days to try again. A maximum of two attempts per person is allowed, as we aim to give everyone a fair chance. Keep in mind that not passing the Piscine may indicate that 42 and its educational model might not be the right fit for you, at least for now. The Piscine is designed so that both you and 42 can evaluate that. That’s why it’s best to make the most of it: getting a spot in the Piscine is already a great opportunity.

The on-site selection period is a 26-day long immersion in 42 and where you have to "dive into the Piscine". In other words, you have to dare. It implies total immersion in the world of code where those who know how to swim the best teach those who know the least and between them they all try to reach the finish line. It is not necessary to know how to programme, all you need is the courage to try.