Projects before theory
Concepts appear because a project demands them. Students search, test, fail and document what they learn.
42 School in Portugal · independent guide
42 School
in Portugal.
42 School in Portugal is a tuition-free programming programme based on projects and peer learning, with campuses in Lisboa and Porto. This independent guide explains how the model works, how to apply and which campus may fit your routine better.
- No traditional classesYou learn by researching, testing and explaining decisions.
- Peer-to-peer learningFeedback, reviews and collaboration are part of the work.
- Project-based curriculumEach skill is applied before it is validated.
Short answer
What is 42 School in Portugal?
42 School is an international network of tuition-free programming schools. Students progress through projects, peer learning and self-directed work. In Portugal, 42 Network lists two campuses: 42 Lisboa and 42 Porto.3 No academic background or prior programming experience is required.
The model tends to suit people who learn by doing, search for answers and accept direct feedback. It may not suit people who need sequential instruction, imposed timetables or a traditional degree.
Understand the model
How does the 42 School learning model work?
The 42 model replaces traditional classes with a cycle of projects, research, attempts, peer review and another attempt.
Peers as a mirror
You review other students’ work and defend your own decisions. Explaining code is part of the process.
Freedom with responsibility
Broad campus access creates flexibility. That same freedom makes it easy to lose momentum without a personal routine.
Failure is expected
Progress is gamified and projects can be repeated. The aim is not to get everything right first time, but to demonstrate learning.
Students at the 42 Lisboa campus. Image rights remain with the source.
View source ↗Official video · real context
How do students learn at 42 Lisboa?
Students describe peer learning, autonomy and project-based progression in their own words. Published by 42 Portugal on 9 March 2021.
Open on YouTube ↗Before you decide
Does this model fit how you learn?
There is no universal answer. Compare the autonomy 42 expects with the structure you need in order to learn well.
Take the full fit check →It may fit if…
- open-ended problems give you energy;
- you can ask for and give direct feedback;
- you create structure without an imposed timetable;
- you have real capacity for an intensive selection period.
Pause and assess if…
- you need frequent, sequential explanations;
- an academic degree is essential to your plan;
- you cannot attend the campus in person;
- work and caring responsibilities leave little energy.
Choose a campus
42 Lisboa or 42 Porto: which campus should you choose?
Choose the campus where you can sustain attendance, travel and a weekly routine. This guide has no factual basis for ranking Lisboa and Porto by prestige.
Campus 01
Lisboa
42 Lisboa
A campus on Avenida Infante Dom Henrique in Lisbon, with 24/7 access and its own application process.1 4
- Location
- Eastern Lisbon
- Critical decision
- Housing + travel
- Application
- Lisboa platform
Campus 02
Porto
42 Porto
A central Porto campus, also offering 24/7 access and a separate application process.2 5
- Location
- Central Porto
- Critical decision
- Routine + attendance
- Application
- Porto platform
Official logos are used only to identify the campuses. The marks and associated rights belong to their respective owners.
Before choosing
Calculate two things: how many hours you can protect each week and what it costs to reach campus for several months. Compare current dates, visit the space and speak to students at both campuses. Flexible hours do not remove the need for attendance.
Application
How to apply to 42 School in Portugal
The application has five general stages: registration, online tests, check-in, the Piscine and entry to the Common Core. Confirm current dates and details on your chosen campus’s official website.
Registration
Choose your campus first and create an account on its official platform. Lisboa and Porto run separate processes.
Online tests
The campuses describe logic and memory tests. Previous programming experience is not required.
Check-in
A session to visit the campus, meet the team, understand the model and confirm the next steps.
Piscine
Four intensive weeks of projects, peer reviews and exams. It is a selection stage, not a conventional introductory course.
Common Core
Successful candidates enter the main curriculum, progress through projects and manage their own pace on campus.
A note about the Piscine
Four weeks may require months of logistical preparation.
You do not need to study programming to gain an advantage. You do need to plan sleep, food, transport, responsibilities and a healthy response to pressure. The campuses describe the Piscine as intensive and recommend full-time availability.4 5
Tool / Decide with evidence
Before applying, test the real fit.
A private browser-based assessment and a practical checklist. No answer predicts admission or replaces a conversation with the campus.
Keep exploring
42 School guides for each important decision
These guides draw on my experience as a 42 Paris student, a member of the 42 Network team and part of the founding team at 42 Lisboa. They are independent from the campuses and answer practical questions.
Supporting research
The guide architecture was informed by a dated public assessment of Portuguese search demand and AI responses. It is editorial context, not a measurement of traffic, applications or teaching quality.6
View the study and limitations ↗About me · after 42
David Dacruz
42 was the foundation. It was not the finish line.
I entered as a 42 Paris student. What followed included product work, campus operations, Ethereum, Bitcoin and AI systems. This is one possible path — not a promise of what happens to every student.
David Dacruz with the 42 Lisboa founding team during the campus launch. Photograph from the personal archive of David Dacruz.
Pictured: David Dacruz, Raphael Sequoya Baum, Julien Lange, Pedro Mora.
View the launch case study ↗Team account · declared relationship
The 42 Paris team that came from France to launch Lisboa.
In 2020, Pedro Mora, Raphael Sequoya Baum, Julien Lange and I came from France to Portugal after 42 Paris to help launch 42 Lisboa. Between us, we worked across product, systems, infrastructure, pedagogy and campus operations. This is my first-hand account of the team — not an independent assessment of the education.
Product, systems and IT & Pedagogy
David Dacruz
42 Paris student, 42 Network engineer and member of the founding 42 Lisboa team.
Software engineering
Raphael Sequoya Baum
His profile records going through 42 and later returning to help open a campus; he now works from Portugal.
Infrastructure and pedagogy
Julien Lange
His profile records being recruited as an alumnus for the 42 Lisboa opening and technical and pedagogical work in 2020.
IT and campus operations
Pedro Mora
A 42 Paris alumnus who joined the group coming to Portugal and worked in IT and campus operations during the 42 Lisboa launch.
This section declares a relevant personal relationship. It is not independent testimony about educational outcomes. Portraits were retrieved from the public LinkedIn profiles on 10 August 2026; rights remain with the people shown and the original source.
42 Network
I moved from using the method to working as a full-stack engineer on the student intranet connecting projects, progress, skills and campus life.
See the product from inside ↗42 Lisboa
I joined the founding team and worked on systems, permissions, applications, the first Piscines and early campus operations.
Read the launch case study ↗Ethereum & Bitcoin
I built contracts and products involving real assets, irreversible operations and software permanently inscribed on Bitcoin.
Explore the Bitcoin work ↗AI & product
I work with teams on AI systems, custom software, integrations and products where someone remains accountable for the outcome.
See an AI system ↗What stayed with me from 42: learning quickly, explaining decisions, working with others and continuing when the answer does not yet exist.
The Fellowship
Independent mentoring · by David Dacruz
Technical talent grows through shared experience.
What is The Fellowship? An independent initiative for 42 students and early-career builders who want to turn technical ability into a stronger project, a more relevant network and clearer career direction.
The first format is being shaped now. Register your interest to receive the criteria, expected commitment and dates when they are set.
Explore The FellowshipUseful mentorship
Concrete decisions, direct feedback and support for the next step — not generic advice.
Intentional social capital
Relevant context, people and opportunities when there is merit, trust and a genuine fit.
Proof of work
Turn ability into something others can assess: a product, project, case study or credible professional signal.
Frequently asked questions
42 School Portugal: common questions
Is 42 School in Portugal free?
Yes. The official 42 Lisboa and 42 Porto websites describe the programme as tuition-free. Students still cover personal costs such as housing, transport, food and the time reserved for the Piscine and Common Core.
Do I need coding experience before joining 42?
No. Both Portuguese campuses state that previous programming experience is not required. Availability, autonomy and the way you approach problems without an immediate answer matter more at the start.
How does 42 School work without teachers or classes?
42 School replaces traditional classes with projects, independent research, peer reviews and exams. There are no teachers in the conventional format, but there are rules, campus teams, a student community and a learning infrastructure.
Does 42 School award a university degree?
No traditional university degree is awarded. The campus pages refer to a completion certificate; confirm the current certification directly with your campus before making an academic or professional decision.
Can I work while studying at 42 School?
Students can manage the pace of the Common Core, but the Piscine is presented as an intensive full-time stage. In practice, work, travel and personal responsibilities must leave regular time for campus attendance and project progress.
Editorial transparency
Visible independence, traceable sources.
What this site is
An independent editorial resource that explains choices and directs applicants to the appropriate official sources.
What this site is not
It is not a campus, does not accept applications and does not represent 42 Lisboa, 42 Porto, Associação 101010 Portugal or 42 Network.
How we verify
For processes, dates and rules, official pages take priority. Personal experience and independent research are identified separately, with dates and limitations.
How to request a correction
Send the statement, source and proposed correction. Material changes should be reflected in the page’s updated date.
Author and editor
David Dacruz
- Published
- 10 Aug 2026
- Updated
- 10 Aug 2026
Sources
Go to the source.
Piscine dates, places, addresses, requirements and curricula can change. For operational decisions, the campus website is the reference.
- 42 LisboaMethod, curriculum and current campus information ↗
- 42 PortoMethod, curriculum and current campus information ↗
- 42 NetworkOfficial directory of network campuses ↗
- Application · LisboaStages and Piscine on the official website ↗
- Application · PortoStages and Piscine on the official website ↗
- 42 Portugal Search VisibilityPublic study, methodology and limitations ↗
- Case study · 42 LisboaThe author’s experience on the founding team ↗
- Archived report · DOIPermanent Zenodo record, CC BY 4.0 licence ↗
- Launch archive · Julien LangeFirst-hand record of the 42 Lisboa launch ↗