Press Release: 42 Zurich opens new campus offering free tech education

Zurich, July 14, 2026 – 42 Zurich is opening a new campus in Zurich-Oerlikon. Starting in January 2027, the nonprofit organization will offer tuition-free education in software development and AI systems. The first selection programs begin in mid-September.

42 Zurich is currently moving into its new premises at SPACES Z.One in Oerlikon, marking the launch of a new tuition-free technology education program in German-speaking Switzerland. The campus is open to anyone aged 18 or older, regardless of their educational background, qualifications, or origin.

Opening Access to Technology Careers

The practice-based program follows a peer-to-peer learning model without traditional teachers. Through a gamified curriculum, students learn by completing projects, exchanging feedback, and supporting one another.

The learning journey takes between 12 and 24 months and covers programming fundamentals, computer systems, and software development. It includes an internship with a partner company and progresses to advanced topics such as the architecture of autonomous systems. Students can later choose areas of specialization, including cybersecurity. Artificial intelligence is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Students seeking a formal qualification may, subject to the relevant requirements, pursue a Swiss Federal Diploma of Higher Education or an RNCP qualification registered in France’s National Directory of Professional Certifications.

Registration for the Selection Process Is Now Open

The first four-week selection program, known as the Piscine, begins on September 14. Piscine means “swimming pool” in French and refers to the experience of being thrown in at the deep end and learning by doing.

Registration and information sessions are available at: https://42zurich.ch/en/events/

Developing Tech Talent for Zurich’s Economy

Cristina Bucher, CEO of 42 Zurich, expects between 100 and 150 students to begin the program in January 2027. “We are bringing 42 to Zurich because, in the age of artificial intelligence, understanding the systems behind technology is becoming one of the most important skills for the future. Zurich is a leading center of innovation, and its economy needs skilled technology professionals. 42 Zurich creates opportunities for people who are often overlooked by traditional education: career changers, motivated people with an aptitude for technology who do not hold a Swiss Matura, and people with caregiving responsibilities. We are committed to cultural diversity and are actively working toward strong representation of women among our students.”

Experience across the 42 Network shows that this approach delivers results. At the Lausanne campus alone, more than 80 percent of companies having worked with 42 interns would like to continue employing them after their internship.

Quotes available for publication:

“We need developers and systems engineers to accelerate the development of our proprietary technologies, and we have been partnering with various Swiss universities for several years now. We have already had excellent experiences with graduates from the first Ecole 42, and this has strengthened our confidence in the ability of the Campus 42 Lausanne to train students with skills that complement those offered by universities, with a more practice-oriented curriculum.“
Marc Oehler, CEO of Infomaniak

„I am 25 and completed a commercial apprenticeship. I currently work in property management, but I believe technology could be the right path for me. A traditional degree program is not a realistic option because I need to support myself financially. 42 Zürich is ideal for me: it is tuition-free, does not require a Matura, and allows me to learn at my own pace. Passing the online tests on my first attempt gave me the confidence that I have the potential to succeed. I am especially looking forward to becoming part of the community. As a career changer, being able to learn alongside others without the pressure of grades is particularly valuable.“
Anna Maria Häfner, Property Management Administrator,
Future 42 Zurich Student

„We are proud to partner with 42 Zurich and support their unique model of peer learning in one of Europe’s leading AI and technology hubs,” says Cyrill Schuler, CEO of IWG Switzerland, Monaco & Gibraltar. “When 42 approached us, their requirements were unlike anything standard workspace design anticipates—no classrooms, no hierarchy, just students learning from and with each other around the clock. Together we created more than a space for students to work—we built the conditions for 42 Zurich’s purpose to come to life. There is no better city than Zurich for 42—and at Spaces Z.One, we are honoured to host them.”
Cyrill Schuler, CEO of IWG Switzerland, Monaco & Gibraltar – Spaces Z.One

About 42 Zurich

42 Zurich is the new German-speaking Swiss campus of 42 Switzerland and part of the international 42 Network. The nonprofit campus offers adults aged 18 and older a tuition-free, project-based technology education program without requiring formal academic qualifications. Students learn through real-world projects, collaboration with peers, gamification, and self-directed progression. 42 Zurich aims to create new pathways into technology careers, strengthen Switzerland’s local talent base, and advance diversity and inclusion across the technology sector.