Frequent questions

The Course includes two compulsory work placements in companies. Your first in-company experience, which you will do once you have passed the Common Core, can be in any type of company and in any position or job profile: 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 Course 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 Course by completing projects and earning "experience points". These points enable them to level up and unlock other projects and specialisation branches. Students can also master different skills, complete missions and achievements. With all this, and always free from competition, they can compare their level to determine their progress through the training.

After the success of the first 42 programming campus in Paris, which was voted "best programming school of 2017", a global network of campuses, called the 42 Network, has sprung up around the world, including 42 Madrid. In addition, following the warm reception of 42 Madrid and 42 Sao Paulo, Fundación Telefónica has decided to expand this model in Spain, rolling it out in other parts of the country along with other partners: Urduliz (Bizkaia), Malaga, Barcelona and Alicante.

The best thing about being part of the 42 Network is that the contents are constantly being updated as we detect changes or demands on the labour market. All the campuses in the network generate and update new content that they share with the entire 42 Network free of charge and open source. But there are also other advantages. For example, students can request a rotation to another campus for a minimum period of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months, as long as both campuses agree and the student is at the right level. In any case, all students can contact students from other campuses to share knowledge and learn from other cultures.

The content that students have access to is constantly being updated. The Course is growing and being renewed all the time to keep pace with demands on the labour market. The original Course was created in 2013 in Paris and has evolved since then as a result of the collaborative work of companies, the pedagogical team at each campus and the students themselves.

Visually, the methodology is made up of seven concentric circles, which represent the Common Core, surrounded by a multitude of satellites, which represent to the specialisations. 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 Course by selecting the specialisation that best matches your interests.

There are many branches to choose from! The curriculum includes object-oriented programming, mobile programming, functional programming, web security, reverse engineering, malicious code, kernel programming, network programming, artificial intelligence, 3D programming and much more.

The common core of the Course is available in Spanish but it is also available in other languages: English, French, German, Portuguese... Tip: although knowing English is not a pre-requisite, it's worth noting that most information out there on programming is in English. So, if you come to 42, there's no better time to pick it up again or even get started! And don't be nervous! There are many students on campus who speak English well and will be glad to help you!

Still not grasped the peer-to-peer learning concept? We explain everything in the question How do you learn in 42?

But just to confirm: the main evaluation at 42 is peer-to-peer. Peers are the main source of knowledge and peer-to-peer evaluations are the source of conversations and learning, not only from the evaluator to the evaluated but also the other way around. At the same time, the system also carries out evaluations and team projects are evaluated by the campus pedagogical team. In short, there are different evaluation methods and different ways of learning where the methodology's human value is key.

There are three stages to the learning plan at 42: The online skills tests, the Pool and the Course.

The online skills tests are tests last up to a maximum of two hours and ten minutes that anyone can take at any time. They are the gateway to our particular Galaxy, so it's smart to prepare well. All you need is a device, preferably a computer, a good internet connection and time. The first step is to register on our website. But watch out! Once you start the tests you won't be able to pause and finish them later, so make sure you have enough time available. We will let you know your test results within 48 hours. If you pass the tests, and we hope you will, you will then have to keep an eye out for a new Pool opening in order to secure your place. New Pools are announced on our Twitter and Instagram profiles and by email.

The Pool is a 26-day on-site pre-selection period when candidates, not yet students, complete individual projects, exams and teamwork. They face complex processes where they cannot allow frustration to get the better of them. They develop technical and transversal skills, interact with their peers and show that they have the attitude and spirit to win a place in the academy. The most important thing to remember is that it is not a competitive process. Instead, candidates have to work together to overcome the challenges.

You are only admitted to the Course after completing both preliminary pre-selection phases. That's what happens once a candidate passes a Pool and becomes a 42 student. The Course has a Common Core at all 42 Network campuses (currently more than 30 campuses around the globe and growing) as well as a technical specialisation part. The first part is called the Common Core and consists of 6 layers with projects and exams where, above all, you learn C and C++. Once a person passes the last layer, they have reached approximately level 9 and are eligible for an initial in-company experience. From this point on, it is up to the student to choose when they want to do their experience. The contents of the Course are updated regularly to reflect the needs of the labour market. Once the student has passed the last layer of the Common Core, they continue their studies by choosing their preferred technical branch or branches. Many branches of content are available: cybersecurity, web, programming, AI, blockchain, DevOps, etc. The best thing about 42 is that the existing content is constantly being updated and new content added thanks to the work of the entire 42 Network. Technology and the world at large are moving fast and 42 keeps pace.

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 (Pool Camp, 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 Course there are milestones to be overcome, 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.

Ideally, however, you should make sure that it is the right time for you to start 42. It is demanding, but the results and the reward are worth it.

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 Pool 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 lasting a maximum of two hours and ten minutes and then wait for a Pool to be opened in order to get a place.

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 iMacs 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!!

Not passing the Piscine means 42 might not be for you, at least at this time. The Piscine is designed so that both you and 42 can assess whether this educational model is right for both of us. If you are not selected after the Piscine, the current rule is you cannot apply again at any campus anywhere the world for 12 months because we want to give everyone an opportunity. So it's best to make the most of the Piscine because it is a great opportunity to get a place.

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.