42 Porto: Coding a New Chapter in the Country’s Core

Located in the heart of downtown Porto on Rua da Picaria, a few minutes away from the iconic Clérigos Tower and São Bento station, 42 Porto offers a unique experience at the crossroads of vibrant city life and innovation. Since its launch in July 2022, the campus has become a hub for accessible tech education in northern Portugal, supported by a wide array of corporate, public, and individual sponsors. With a strong focus on student life and community, 42 Porto has managed to fully incorporate itself in the city’s vibrant ecosystem where culture, entrepreneurship, and innovation coexist. From unique Piscines to diverse partnerships, 42 Porto encourages students to shape their own learning journey.

42 Porto officially opened in July 2022, following the successful launch of 42 Lisboa. As the second 42 campus in Portugal, “it was created to further expand access to high-quality, innovative tech education in the country, especially in the north, where Porto plays a vital role in the national ecosystem,” Beatriz Cardoso Fernandes, Chief Operating Officer of 42 Porto, tells us.

42 Porto was made possible through the support of more than 10 corporate, public, and individual sponsors who share the vision for accessible and forward-thinking education. Their collective commitment ensures that the program remains tuition-free and accessible to all, regardless of background or prior experience.​

Though the campus had a promising beginning, 42’s unconventional educational model naturally sparked a sentiment of curiosity but also skepticism in Portugal. However, what helped 42 Porto was the strong recognition and support it received from the Portuguese market and broader society. “Portugal has been incredibly welcoming to innovation in education, and 42’s mission aligned well with national efforts to build a future-ready workforce” — Beatriz Cardoso Fernandes highlights.

With only 2.5 years of existence, 42 Porto has also managed to develop a strong bond with local corporate partners. The campus maintains strong relations with companies from different sectors, not only in the software development field, but also in telecommunications or even the cork industries! This has helped open up new opportunities for students “to take on unique challenges outside the usual tech space and discover how programming can be applied across a wide range of industries,” Beatriz Cardoso Fernandes confirms.

Thanks to its vast network of partners, 42 Porto has developed different initiatives that support the growth of the entire community. From Tech Talks to employment programs, hackathons, and networking events, students have different opportunities to get to know the companies and the people that represent them and that believe in the 42 pedagogy.

In addition to its strong professional network, 42 Porto offers a part-time initiative called the ASTRA Program, designed to support students who need to work while studying. This program enables students to gain hands-on experience through internships while continuing their learning journey at 42. Furthermore, a dedicated Careers Team supports students in navigating the job market and facilitates professional opportunities through collaborations with sponsors and partners.

What’s next for 42 Porto? Now that the campus has reached a milestone of 500 students, it is turning its efforts towards enhancing the student journey, from the moment someone hears about 42 to their transition into the job market and beyond. This means investing more in mentorship, industry collaborations, career support, and creating spaces where students feel empowered to grow together.

42 Porto is also strengthening community-led initiatives, with students playing a key role in shaping campus culture. And above all, the team is committed to listening, as “the best ideas often come from the students themselves and from the market,” Beatriz Cardoso Fernandes concludes.