42 Portugal / application guide
Applying to 42 in Portugal is simple to describe—and demanding to complete.
The published route at both Portuguese campuses is registration, online logic and memory tests, a campus check-in, a four-week Piscine, and entry to the common core if selected. You must be at least 18; neither a diploma nor previous programming experience is required.
- 18+
- Published minimum age
- 2 tests
- Logic and memory stage
- Check-in
- Meet the campus before the Piscine
- 26 days
- Published intensive Piscine period
The application in five steps
Choose Lisboa or Porto, create an account on that campus’s official application platform, complete the online tests, attend a check-in, and book an available Piscine. Completing the process does not create a guarantee of selection; the campus remains responsible for admission.
Step 1
Register with the campus you intend to attend.
Lisboa and Porto use separate application platforms. Start with the campus page, not a third-party form, and keep access to the email address used for registration.
If your location may change, ask the campus before duplicating or transferring an application. A guide cannot infer the current operational rule.
Step 2
Complete the online logic and memory tests in suitable conditions.
Both campuses currently describe two online tests: a short memory exercise and a longer logic exercise. They state that programming knowledge is not required.
Use a reliable computer, stable internet, and a quiet block of time. Do not turn forum speculation about scoring into a substitute for reading the official instructions.
Step 3
Use the check-in to test your practical assumptions.
The check-in introduces the campus, team, method, and other applicants. It is also the right moment to confirm current dates, equipment, attendance, credentials, access, and local support.
Travel the real route if possible. A timetable viewed from home does not reveal a missed connection or the energy cost of a late commute.
Step 4
Book a Piscine only when the month has somewhere to fit.
Official pages describe the Piscine as four intensive weeks, 26 days including weekends, with projects, peer evaluations, and weekly exams. Both recommend treating it as full time.
Before confirming a date, resolve work leave, care, housing, meals, transport, sleep, medication, and recovery. This is preparation for participation, not a way to influence selection.
Step 5
Enter the common core only after the campus confirms selection.
Candidates who complete the Piscine successfully may enter the campus’s common core. The campuses publish an average full-time duration and a maximum window, but actual pace depends on sustained project work.
Do not make employment or housing commitments based on an assumed result. Wait for the official decision and current onboarding information.
Comparison
The 42 Portugal application path and the decision at each stage
| Stage | What happens | Useful preparation | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | Create a campus application account | Choose the city and keep email access | Official campus platform |
| Online tests | Logic and memory exercises | Quiet time, reliable computer and internet | Instructions shown in the platform |
| Check-in | Meet the campus and method | Bring practical questions and test the commute | Local campus team |
| Piscine | Four intensive weeks of projects and peer work | Clear obligations, transport, food, sleep and recovery | Campus rules and staff |
| Selection | Campus communicates the outcome | Avoid promises and unofficial scoring formulas | Campus only |
| Common core | Begin the longer project curriculum | Plan consistent project and peer-review time | Current local onboarding |
Local preparation
The Piscine happens inside a campus and a real life.
Choose the campus where you plan to apply. Each page covers its local reality and my independent mindset and life-organisation support.
Common questions
Applying to 42 in Portugal is simple to describe—and demanding to complete.
What are the requirements for 42 Lisboa or 42 Porto?
Both campuses currently publish one fixed requirement: applicants must be at least 18. They do not require a diploma, grades, recommendations, or prior coding experience.
Do I need to speak Portuguese?
Check the current language expectations with the campus. Project resources and community communication can involve more than one language, but local participation still matters.
Can I prepare for the online tests?
Prepare the conditions: use a reliable device, stable connection, quiet room, and read the official instructions. This guide does not provide private test content or scoring predictions.
How long is the Piscine in Portugal?
Both Portuguese campus pages currently describe four weeks or 26 intensive days, including weekends.
Can I work during the Piscine?
Both campuses recommend treating it as a full-time experience. If work is unavoidable, calculate fixed hours, travel, sleep, meals, and peer-review availability before booking.
Does completing the Piscine guarantee admission?
No independent source can promise selection. The campus decides and communicates the result.
Where should I check the next dates?
Use the official 42 Lisboa or 42 Porto site and application platform. Dates and places can change after this page is published.
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.