The Campus 42 Lausanne
42 Lausanne is the French-speaking Swiss campus of the global 42 network.
Based in Renens, in the heart of the technology park in western Lausanne, it opened its doors in 2021 as Switzerland’s first 42 campus. Since then, more than 12,000 applicants have tried their luck in the hope of joining this exceptional programme.
The course is completely free. No registration fees. No lessons to attend. No lecturers to listen to.
The driving force behind learning is you and your peers. Welcome to peer-to-peer learning.
The 42 Lausanne community
The campus is a place for teamwork and collaboration. It’s where you’ll experience the strength of the 42 community
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
No set timetable. You work when you’re at your most productive or available – whether that’s in the morning, at night or at the weekend. The campus adapts to your schedule, not the other way round.
Clusters
Self-service rooms with networked workstations. No assigned seats: you can log in to your session on any computer.
Le Bocal: the team’s headquarters
This is the operational heart of the campus. Behind this door, you’ll find the director, the academic leads and the whole 42 Lausanne team. No hotline, no support tickets: a real team, right at your fingertips, 42 days a month.
Team 42 Lausanne
The team at 42 Lausanne is multidisciplinary and comprises experts dedicated to key areas: fundraising, partnership development, academic leadership, communications, event organisation and student support.
The campus in pictures
How to get to the campus
Access by public transport:
The 42 Lausanne campus is very well served by public transport, and we strongly recommend using this method of travel. From Lausanne station, there are several possible routes: take the train to Prilly-Malley then bus 17 or 19, or take the M2 metro followed by bus 17. From Renens station, simply take a bus (17 or 19) to the Renens Village stop, located right next to the campus. From December 2026, the new tram is scheduled to stop in front of the school.
Access by car:
Access by car is possible but not recommended due to roadworks and a lack of parking spaces in the area. There are several pay-and-display car parks nearby (Rue de Lausanne, Hôtel de Ville, Coop, etc.), but these often require a few minutes’ walk. There are also a very limited number of visitor spaces near the building, which can make organising parking difficult at times.
Come and explore the campus at the next Open Day
Campus 42 Lausanne
Campus 42 Lausanne
Students talk about 42 Lausanne
« After just one month at La Piscine, I already knew how to do the front roll La Piscine at 42 Paris was a real eye-opener for me. I gave it a go just to tease my brother, but I got hooked. After four weeks, I felt like I could do loads of things, and that was just the start of my learning journey. Today, I’m a developer at a video game company and I’m having a blast! »
Susie .
Student, 42 Lausanne
« It’s more dynamic than university. After completing my Master’s in architecture at university, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that job for the rest of my life. I’d learnt a bit of coding, so I thought, why not? What I particularly like about 42 is that we’re all different and we respect one another. I meet people there I would never have come across otherwise, and that makes me stronger, more open-minded and more adaptable too. I’m looking forward to starting my work placement so I can put my new skills into practice. »
Luke .
student, 42 Lausanne
« An incredible experience! Being both a student and a teacher is quite amazing. 42 Lausanne provides us with such a positive working environment, where we can learn and teach others. It’s something that, for me personally, is helping me progress at a pace I could never have imagined. On top of that, 42 Lausanne indirectly instils self-discipline in us. If we manage ourselves properly, the pace of life we can adopt is tailored to what we enjoy, and that’s priceless. Being able to get up without the stress of being on time, etc. It’s very pleasant on a day-to-day basis. »
Tanguy .
Student, 42 Lausanne
« I’ve discovered a real passion When I arrived, I knew very little, and I thought the way we all helped each other right from the start was brilliant. The atmosphere in the pool is incredible; it’s an experience I’d really recommend. For me, it’s the best way to learn programming. I pushed myself beyond my limits and did things I didn’t think I was capable of; I discovered a real passion. »
Gabriela .
Student, 42 Lausanne