>_ Frequently asked questions

No! Of course, mathematical skills can be useful in programming, but the most important skill you need is logic.

There are over a hundred projects arranged like a tree. When you complete a project, you can move on to the next branch until the branches separate, allowing you to discover many different aspects of coding and computing. Your experience will be unique as you experiment with projects and choose to follow different specialisation paths in the programme.

As much time as you need! We firmly believe that every student is unique and should be allowed to learn at their own pace. The course takes an average of 3 years full-time, including two 4-6 month placements. But it's up to you. Some students will complete the course in less than two years; others will need five. It all depends on how easy you find it and how much time you can invest. The important thing is that you continue to make steady progress.

Yes. Level 21 students are high-level programmers suited to high-level positions and responsibilities. They can join the most selective software publishers. However, we strongly recommend that students pursue career paths that they are passionate about. We support this by offering excellent training and regular opportunities to meet companies (hackathons, speakers, workshops, etc.).

In project-based learning, students gain in-depth knowledge of a subject by exploring real-world challenges and problems. They learn by doing and thinking critically, rather than by following instructions and memorising.

Yes, you can transfer to another school in the 42 network! You have to do the first part of the course up to the first internship on the same campus where you did your swimming pool. You can choose to do your internships anywhere in the world. After your first internship, you can move on to any other campus in the 42 network in the world.

Yes, once you're a 42 student in Lausanne, our doors will always be open to you! Alumni can return to continue their studies at any time. We want you to stay in the community and share your new knowledge of the real world with other students.

Yes, the start of your studies is a continuation of the Pool, so it would be better if you didn't interrupt the learning process. If you know that you won't be able to enrol in school straight after the Pool, it would be fair to make room for someone who wants to start.

Your peers will assess the quality of your projects on the basis of grading scales defined by the teaching team. Many projects will also be assessed by the 'moulinette', which carries out a large number of automated tests.

Applicants are free to leave the admissions process at any time. You can just walk out, no strings attached. However, the 42 Lausanne team would really appreciate hearing the reasons why. Who knows, maybe talking to someone might change your mind!

The Pools normally take place in June, July and September at 42 Lausanne. Specific dates for the Piscine and check-ins will always be available on our website and social networks.

Not being accepted at 42 Lausanne after the Piscine means that the school may not be right for you. La Piscine is designed so that we can see if the 42 Lausanne educational model is right for you. If you are not accepted after the Piscine, we advise you to try a different learning programme. The schools in the 42 network are not the only way to learn to program!

There are over a hundred projects arranged like a tree. When you complete a project, you can move on to the next branch until the branches separate, allowing you to discover many different aspects of coding and computing. Your experience will be unique as you experiment with projects and choose to follow different specialisation paths in the programme.

42 Lausanne is the only school in Switzerland offering 100% hands-on higher education, focused on programming, on projects and relevant to the real world. Students write code every day. A study by Stackoverflow showed that 54% of IT graduates say that the content of their training is outdated, requiring additional self-study to qualify for a job in their field. Graduates of the 42 network do not face these problems because the content is updated every month and students put their skills into practice for an average of 8 hours a day during their studies.

The Pool is a four-week trial period during which you discover the basics of programming from scratch. There are no prerequisites of any kind: no previous qualifications, no programming experience. This period will be very intensive and will require a high level of commitment. Don't expect relaxed weekends. There is no fixed number of candidates to select - there is no competition between candidates, and anyone can be selected as long as they can swim!

All you have to do is create an account and take a two-hour online test. If you pass the test, you'll have to overcome the final obstacle, the "Pool".

Peer learning is an educational model in which students learn from each other rather than listening to a teacher. It emphasises critical thinking, teamwork and communication. Students evaluate each other and learn by explaining their approach to their peers.

Would you like to? If so, it's possible. But it's more likely that you'll develop new skills and interests and find other digital-related jobs. Businesses and organisations across all sectors are being affected by technology and digital transformation. More often than not, these roles are multidisciplinary and require you to work as part of a team.

The tried and tested 42 network programme includes a large number of projects arranged like a tree. When you finish one project, you move on to the next until you can choose from different paths and discover multiple aspects of programming and computing. Each student's experience is unique, as they experiment with projects and decide to follow different paths of specialisation within the programme.

Yes, it is. We won't charge you anything before, during or after your studies. Our main mission is to make education accessible to everyone, whatever your previous experience, economic background or financial situation. Money shouldn't be a barrier to your passion or your dreams!

We believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to develop their potential and realise their dreams, whatever their background and resources. For this reason, 42 Lausanne covers your tuition fees thanks to the support of its business partners who invest in training the resources that the Swiss digital economy needs.

Yes, it is. So try to understand what your problem was and how to solve it; the self-learning starts now. But there's no point cheating, because it's your ability we want to test, not someone else's.

You start with the basics of programming with the C language and the fundamental concepts. As you progress towards your first placement, you can broaden your knowledge with introductory modules on UNIX, user interfaces and web programming. After your first placement, the curriculum will include more in-depth projects in many areas of computing: object-oriented programming, mobile programming, functional programming, web security, malicious code, kernel programming, network programming, artificial intelligence, 3D programming, and many other areas of programming and computing. Your second and final placement will complete your studies.

Yes, the development of social skills, peer learning and peer correction are at the heart of our learning philosophy, so students need to be on campus in person.

42 Lausanne offers a world-class curriculum that challenges students with increasingly complex projects. Each problem is unique and forces you to think outside the box with motivated peers. Everyone, developer or not, can benefit from our training.

For the moment, all 42 Lausanne content and projects are available in French and English. But many other languages are available, for all or part of the curriculum, due to the large number of 42 campuses around the world.

The only requirement is that you must be at least 18 years old on the day of your Piscine; there is no maximum age or additional requirements. Instead of specific training or qualifications, all we ask is your motivation and commitment to the three-year study programme.

You'll need to be able to adapt and overcome difficulties, be proactive, curious, creative, meticulous and collaborative.

During your studies at 42 Lausanne, you'll have to cover the cost of living (for example, accommodation, food and anything else you might need). You'll need money that you can't earn by having a full-time job while you study, because we strongly recommend that you devote all your energy and time to studying. The solution could be to save some money before you start your studies or to ask your parents for financial help.

During your Piscine, it's virtually impossible to work. Candidates spend an average of 60 hours a week in the Pool to progress and learn to program. During the course, we generally advise against working part-time alongside your studies. However, we understand that you have to support yourself and therefore need an income. If you need to work for a few days on top of your studies, we recommend that you invest at least 30 hours a week in your studies. The remaining hours can be used for a part-time job. However, bear in mind that the more hours you devote to your studies, the faster you learn and progress!

You don't need a laptop during the swimming pool. The school is equipped with 220 iMacs, which is more than enough to serve all the students. You can use your own laptop during studies for certain team projects, but this is not compulsory, as you will have to submit your work on the school's iMacs anyway.

It is possible to work on certain elements of your projects from a personal computer. However, you will not have access to the school's servers. Because students need to work as a team, the school remains the best environment in which to work together.

Students progress through the programme by completing projects and earning points. With these points, students move up to the next level and unlock more projects and specialist areas. Students can also master different skills, take on challenges and achieve achievements. Students can compare their levels to see how far along they are in the programme. At level 16, after your first internship you can reach junior developer level (comparable to a Bachelor's degree). At level 21, you will reach the final diploma of the 42 Lausanne course, which will take you to a level comparable to a Master's degree.

42 Lausanne is a school based on peer learning, where students learn and discover on their own and with their peers, and with a teaching team that ensures that the learning environment works and that students progress. The fact that there are no teachers makes this education system scalable. It allows many students to be educated in parallel, while ensuring a high level of personalisation and collaboration.

At 42 Lausanne, you will not receive a state-recognised diploma, but a diploma or certificate from the school. But that's not a problem! Companies are keen to take on quality programmers. Our programme allows you to gain the level of experience demanded by the market, by completing your projects, by building your own portfolio of essential skills for a career in tech'. The strong international reputation of the 42 network and the 100% employment rate of our students are proof of this. We issue a certificate of completion at the end of our programme.

We are in the process of taking steps to be able to support visa applications from our applicants from countries outside the Schengen area. Citizens from outside the EU, UK, Norway and Switzerland are encouraged to enquire about any visa requirements. As 42 Lausanne is not an accredited institution at this stage - due to our non-traditional teaching approach - you may not be able to receive student visas.

Not at all! You don't need programming skills to join and succeed at 42 Lausanne. There is no evidence to suggest that students with programming skills do better at the Piscine de 42 Lausanne than those without. 50% of students who have completed the 42 network curriculum had never done any programming before joining one of our schools.

Finding the two internships you need to complete the course is a crucial part of your learning process. 42 Lausanne will offer you a way to gain knowledge, build confidence and gain access to professionals through conferences, hackathons and workshops. However, it's up to you to make the call and rise to the challenge at the end.

At 42 Lausanne, you come whenever you want. We recognise that students may have unique life situations or experience a peak in productivity at different times. Because the programme is strongly team-based, students learn to self-organise.

Swimming pool means that everyone dives into the depths of the programme and learns to swim together.

Although we don't recommend it, you can stop at any time. Bear in mind that training at 42 Lausanne is full-time and requires a major commitment. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, but instead of giving up, contact the educational staff to take stock of your situation. If you need a break, that's possible. You will then be invited to pick up where you left off when you return.

2 hours and 10 minutes.

The original programme was created in 2013 by the 42 Paris team, based on work carried out at the Epitech engineering school since the 1990s. It has continued to evolve ever since. The 42 teaching team, in cooperation with the teaching teams on the various campuses, partner companies and students, update the programme every month.

42 Lausanne is a tuition-free IT school, the first of which was founded in Paris in 2013. With a disruptive peer-to-peer education model and philosophy, the schools in the 42 network have achieved excellent results: 100% of graduates have a job, 80% of employment contracts are signed before graduation, 30% of our students start their own business, and 50% had never coded before coming to 42. As a result of its success, the 42 network now has more than 20 campuses around the world. 42 Lausanne is the first Swiss campus. P.S. 42 is also the answer to the ultimate question about life, the universe and everything else. If you have no idea what we're talking about, check out Douglas Adams' The Galactic Traveller's Guide.

The online test can be taken from anywhere in the world. The purpose of the check-in session is to meet us face-to-face. Given the current health situation, it could be held online. However, your presence is required a few days before the start of the Pool for the ID-Check, which enables us to create your account, give you an access card to the building and, above all, ensure that your place in the Pool is occupied. If not, we'll free it up to give another candidate a chance.

As much time as you need! We firmly believe that every student is unique and should be allowed to learn at their own pace. The course takes an average of 3 years full-time, including two 4-6 month placements. But it's up to you. Some students will complete the course in less than two years; others will need five. It all depends on how easy you find it and how much time you can invest. The important thing is that you continue to make steady progress.

Yes, the best way to prepare students for the world of business is to organise regular events with speakers and other forms of collaboration with companies and organisations, such as labs, hackathons and workshops.