FAQ
Questions and answers
We added the frequently asked questions here in broad categories. If you feel like your question has not really been answered, please feel free to contact us.
Choose 1 of the categories below to jump to the subject of your choice.
General questions
Is Codam a bootcamp?
No, Codam is NOT a Bootcamp. It is a full-time study that requires at least 40 hours a week to complete and is a 2 years program.
How long does it take to complete the program?
Students can finalize the curriculum in two years. Some students can move at a faster pace when they can dedicate a lot of time to their studies or when they have expansive coding experience before Codam.
What is the course level?
Given our radically innovative approach to education, it is complicated to draw an exact comparison with traditional educational frameworks. To give you an idea, if you graduate from Codam Core your skills level can be compared with the level of a bachelor’s graduate in Computer Science. Codam Advanced can be compared with the skill level of a master’s graduate.
No teachers, semesters or classrooms - Is there any kind of structure?!
We want our students to succeed. That is why we have created an activity monitoring system to guide our students through their projects. This system works in three parts: - Building hour requirement - we expect our students to spend at least 24 hours per week in the building to ensure everyone works on their projects and contributes to the community. - Evaluation requirement - to make peer-to-peer learning work, we need all students to do or receive one evaluation every week. - Deadlines - we expect our students to finish certain projects by certain dates (deadlines are set based on maximum time needed to complete a project). This way, our students are set up for success and will complete Codam Core within two years time. As an added bonus, the organisational and planning skills obtained throughout are essential for a thriving career in software engineering.
Do students receive a certificate when they finish?
Yes, students receive a certificate when they graduate from Codam Core and later from Codam Advanced. Although these certificates are not officially recognized by the Dutch government, our high-quality curriculum, and our great reputation with companies, all Codam graduates have found a well-paid job (100%).
Is tuition completely free?
Yes! Students are not charged before, during, or after their studies. The Sofronie Foundation funds the school. This is a private foundation set up and financed by Corinne Vigreux. Codam students are not bound to any corporations upon graduating and are allowed to apply and work for any company they want.
Are there more schools like Codam?
Yes! Following the success of the first school 42 in Paris, which was elected 'Best coding school of 2017', sister schools have been set up in Brussels (Le 19), Tokyo (42 Tokyo), Seoul (42 Seou;l), Kuala Lumpur (42 KL), Helsinki (Hive), Madrid (42), Sao Paolo (42), and many more. There are currently 50+ campuses across 30+ countries.
What language do you use in general?
The entire curriculum is offered in different languages, including English. Due to our many international students, English is the most spoken language inside the building and on all official communication channels. It’s recommended that students have a basic mastery of English. We don't test you on your English skills to pass tests to join Codam.
Is it possible to attend Codam while fully remote?
No, Codam's curriculum contains learning and personal development elements that requires the phyiscal attendance of students on-location. It is not possible to follow our curriculum remotely.
Why is Codam open 24/7?
Codam strives to be available and accessible to all its students. Therefore students are encouraged to come and go as they please, be it in the morning or late at night. Security systems are in place 24/7 to keep the building secure.
Are students able to quit the curriculum halfway and return on a later date?
No, it is not possible to quit the curriculum and return at a later date. It is, however, possible to pause your curriculum in case of personal circumstances that require full attention. Students can always contact the educational staff to discuss their situation.
Is there a possibility to go and study in one of the sister schools?
Yes! Like Codam, our sister schools are tuition-free and offer the same curriculum. However, students need to begin the curriculum on the same campus where they did their Selection Piscine. It is possible to transfer between campuses after students graduate from Codam Core.
Admission Process
How does the appliation proces work?
The application starts with the online test at apply.codam.nl. The test can be done at any point in time. It takes 2 hours and 10 minutes and must be completed in one session. After passing the test, the next step is to attend a Check-In event. The events will be made public through the apply.codam.nl page and our social channels. After the check-in, it is possible to sign up for the final step: a Selection Piscine.
When is the next Check-in event?
The dates for the Check-In events will be made public through the apply.codam.nl page and our social channels. If there are no check-in dates available, then more will be announced soon.
When are the next Selection Piscines?
The dates for the Selection Piscines will be made public in our Calendar, through the apply.codam.nl page and our social channels.
When does the Curriculum start?
After passing the Selection Piscine in the summer, it is possible to join the curriculum in October. The exact start date per year will be made public through the apply.codam.nl page and our social channels.
Can Codam students get a Visa?
Unfortunately, Codam cannot provide (student) visas. Students cannot attend Codam without being allowed to stay in the Netherlands legally for at least 365 consecutive days from the Selection Piscine's first day. Codam cannot validate a candidate from outside the EU for a piscine at Codam without a visa.
Educational model
Why are there no teachers?
There are no teachers as Codam is based on peer-to-peer learning, which means students learn from and with each other. Students must work together to learn and discover new concepts, one step at a time. There is the educational staff who created the framework and curriculum. The staff is also available for all questions that are not coding related.
What does peer-to-peer learning mean?
Peer-to-peer learning is an education model where students learn from each other instead of an appointed teacher. Students learn through both explaining themselves to their peers and asking questions.
Who assesses the quality of the projects if there are no teachers?
Projects will be assessed by a student’s peers using a grading sheet and general guidelines provided by the educational staff. Students must be able to explain their code to the evaluator in such a way that the evaluator understands, even if they have no prior knowledge going into the evaluation. A student’s grade will be determined by how well their code works and how well they can explain it. If you can’t explain it, you don’t understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein.
How is the Curriculum structured?
Codam has two curriculums. The first curriculum, Codam Core, is shared with all the '42' schools worldwide. There are 24 projects and five exams laid out in circles to learn the fundamentals of programming. Graduating from Codam Core involves finishing the projects and the first internship. Codam Advanced consists of five different tracks, which are divided into an introduction, a minor and a major branch. Students select two or more tracks and specialise in the field of AI, security, web and mobile development, operating systems or graphics and video games. Graduating from Codam Advanced is done by completing two minors, one major, and finishing the final internship.
How do you make sure the Curriculum is up-to-date?
The original curriculum was created in 2013 and has evolved ever since with the help of students, various companies and the educational staff from different campuses.
Is it possible to study at Codam and have a (side)job?
Yes that is possible, but it is generally not advisable to work more than 2 days a week while studying at Codam.
Can the Curriculum be done part time?
No, Codam only offers a full-time curriculum which requires an average of 40 hours per week. There is no part-time option.
Will Codam help me find an internship?
Finding an internship is a key part of your learning process. Codam will provide you with a way to acquire knowledge, build confidence and access to professionals through conferences, hackathons and workshops, but in the end, it is up to you to make the call and to step up to the challenge.
Can I apply if I am not an EU/Schengen citizen or have a residence permit?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept applicants who do not have a valid visa to stay in The Netherlands. As Codam is not an accredited university, we require applicants to be citizens or have an existing valid visa for an EU and/or Schengen country to be eligible to apply. If you are an asylum seeker (a status holder) or a Ukrainian refugee, you can apply for our Selection Piscine and join our Curriculum.
Selection Piscine
What is the Selection Piscine?
The Selection Piscine, or just Piscine, is a 4-week-long trial period. During the Piscine, the candidate will discover the basics of programming from scratch. This period will be very intensive and requires commitment. Anyone who passes the Selection Piscine will be allowed to study at Codam.
Why is the Selection Month called 'Piscine'?
The word “Piscine” is the French word for “swimming pool”, meaning that everyone should jump in and learn to swim together while having fun. Similarly, during the Selection Piscine you will dive into programming together with others and learn about coding. The Selection Piscine is a group effort, there is no fixed number of students that can get in, so helping your peers will only increase your chances of studying together at the school. It is not a competition.
How many Selection Piscines are there per year?
Codam usually hosts three Selection Piscines a year during the summer. They take place in June, July and August.
Is there a fixed number of applicants to be selected?
The Selection Piscine is a group effort, there is no fixed number of students that can get in, so helping your peers will only increase your chances of studying together at the school. It is not a competition.
Is it possible to prepare for the Selection Piscine?
It is not necessary to prepare, just make sure to come well rested!
Is it required to be good at math or have coding experience to make it through the Selection Piscine?
No, candidates don’t need to have studied or be knowledgeable in maths or programming beforehand. The Selection Piscine is structured so that everyone has an equal chance of passing it, regardless of their previous background.
Can you try again if you don't make the Selection Piscine?
The Piscine is designed in a way that both the candidate and Codam can validate if this educational model is the right fit. If a candidate is not accepted into Codam after the Piscine, we advise them to try a different learning program. Codam is not the only way to learn to code!
Does passing Codam’s Selection Piscine allow entrance to study at any of the other 42 schools?
No, if a student passes the Selection Piscine at Codam they are required to study at Codam until they have completed the initial curriculum (Codam Core). After returning from an internship, a student can transfer to another 42 schools to participate in that school's advanced curriculum.
There are no check-in dates available. Why is that?
If no check-in dates are available, we will make sure to organise one shortly. Please keep an eye on the apply page or our socials to see when new check-in moments are available.
Job perspective
What type of companies are students able to apply for?
Students have been able to find jobs at all sorts of companies from worldwide leading tech companies such as TomTom, Adyen to corporates or startups. Some students even start their own company after graduating from Codam. The sky's the limit.
What kind of jobs can I apply for after graduating from Codam Core?
A position in tech is an incredibly rewarding career and highly in-demand capability! Some potential positions are: Mobile app developer, Web developer, Junior software engineer, Junior systems and networks administrator.
What kind of jobs can I apply for after graduating from Codam Advanced?
A position in tech is an incredibly rewarding career and highly in-demand capability! Some potential positions are: Medior Back-end Software Engineer, AI engineer, Data engineer, CTO, Project Manager, System and network administrator, Cyber security analyst, Video games / 3D developer.
Will Codam help me find a job?
Codam students can sign up for CV tips, technical interview training, and in-person meetings with companies. We also have a mentorship program that students can join. These initiatives boost our students' confidence before they enter the job market. After 5 years, Codam has gained a good reputation with many tech companies which is why our students sometimes even receive job offers before they graduate.
What are the salary expectations for a Codam alumni?
Codam graduates start their careers with a monthly gross salary between 3.000 EUR and 4.000 EUR.
Scholarships
Can Codam students apply for student scholarships (Studiefinanciering) with the Dutch government?
As Codam is not officially recognized by the Dutch government, Codam students cannot apply for student benefits which includes a financial scholarship (Studiefinanciering) and travel card (OV Studentenkaart).
How do students support themselves if they cannot apply for a scholarship?
Some students have saved up before they started or received help from relatives. Combining Codam with a part-time job two days a week is also possible. If this is not possible or not enough, Codam has set up an assistance program to provide students with extra financial support.
What kind of scholarships does Codam provide during the Piscine?
Piscine candidates who do not have access to sufficient resources for arranging transportation to Codam (for the 4-week duration of the Piscine) can apply for assistance. For more information about assistance during the Piscine and the application process, please consult: bit.ly/PiscineAssistance
What kind of scholarships does Codam provide during the curriculum?
Codam can help students who are in need (see: Who can apply for a scholarship?) with housing, travel cost reimbursement or student grants or loans. We look at the personal situation and needs of each student to find out what this student needs and if/how we can help. Go to the Curriculum page for more information about assistance.
Who can apply for a scholarship?
Codam offers scholarships to increase social mobility and is focused on students from low socio-economic backgrounds. The following eligibility criteria apply: individual and family financial capacity, previous degree(s), single-parent family, employment status, type of work parent(s), number of siblings, living situation, (mental) health situation, and possible informal care responsibilities.
Ready to learn?
Does zero tuition fees, zero teachers, zero classes, 100% coding sound good? Sign up and play the game to join Codam!
Ready to learn?
Does zero tuition fees, zero teachers, zero classes, 100% coding sound good? Sign up and play the game to join Codam!