42 Network / campuses
One learning model, more than 50 local campuses.
42 Network currently describes more than 50 campuses across more than 30 countries. They share a learning model and common foundations, but applying to a campus means entering a local institution with its own dates, team, city, funding, credentials, and student life.
- 50+
- Current network description of campuses
- 30+
- Countries in the network
- Paris
- The original campus, opened in 2013
- Global
- Mobility after foundational progress
Think network first, then campus
A 42 campus is not a franchise storefront with only a shared logo. Partner campuses commit to the network’s educational practices and values, including tuition-free access, peer learning, project work, and common foundations. Local teams then make the model work within a specific city and legal environment.
Shared layer
The network creates a common educational reference point.
42 Network says partner campuses use the same selection process and a common core of fundamental knowledge. That shared layer makes collaboration and later mobility possible.
It also explains why students from distant campuses recognise the same vocabulary: Piscine, peer evaluation, projects, levels, and the expectation of self-direction.
Local layer
The campus controls the part you live every day.
Application openings, Piscine dates, languages, staff support, building access, events, partners, credential routes, and cost of living are local. Even when two campuses publish similar methodology pages, the practical experience of attending them can differ.
Choose with ordinary life in mind. A campus that is technically available but financially or logistically impossible is not the same opportunity as one you can attend consistently.
Three reference points
Paris, Lisboa, and Porto answer different questions on this site.
Paris is where I trained and where the original campus publishes detailed explanations of the method, admissions, curriculum, and French credential paths.
Lisboa is where I worked on the launch and first cohorts. Porto is a separate Portuguese campus with its own application process and local life. I have direct staff experience at Lisboa, not Porto; Porto-specific facts on this site are sourced from the campus.
Choosing
Start with eligibility, then test the life around the school.
Confirm the current application path, age rules, language, dates, and credential position. Then calculate transport, housing, work, family commitments, and the time you can genuinely spend on campus.
Visit if you can. A campus tour or check-in tells you more about commute, atmosphere, and practical questions than a ranking page written from another country.
Comparison
Paris, Lisboa, and Porto — a practical comparison checked in July 2026
| Campus | Why it matters here | Published local detail | Use this source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 Paris | David’s student experience and the original campus | Detailed admissions, programme, French credentials, Paris dates | 42.fr |
| 42 Lisboa | David’s staff and campus-launch experience | Lisboa application, 26-day Piscine, curriculum, local campus life | 42lisboa.com |
| 42 Porto | Separate Portuguese preparation intent | Porto application, 24/7 campus, local dates and city information | 42porto.com |
| Wider network | Mobility and shared educational foundation | Current campus directory and partner-campus profiles | 42network.org |
Common questions
One learning model, more than 50 local campuses.
How many 42 campuses are there?
The official network currently states 50+ campuses across 30+ countries. Because the network grows and changes, use the official directory for the live list.
Which countries have a 42 school?
The network spans Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Australia. The official campus directory is more reliable than reproducing a list that will become stale.
Can students move between campuses?
42 promotes international mobility after foundational progress. Actual eligibility, project compatibility, timing, and places must be checked with the campuses involved.
Are all campuses tuition-free?
Tuition-free access is a network value and official network requirement. Living, travel, visa, and opportunity costs remain personal.
Are admissions dates shared?
No. Each campus publishes and manages its own meetings, check-ins, Piscines, and available places.
Which campus should I choose?
Choose the campus whose admissions you can complete and whose city, language, costs, schedule, and support make sustained participation realistic.
Sources and boundaries
Check the details that can change.
This is an independent guide. The network and each campus remain the authority for admissions, dates, curriculum, credentials, and rules.