Singapore’s 42 SG: Two Pioneers Achieve Top Coding Certifications in Unconventional Program
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Singapore is bolstering its tech talent pipeline through innovative educational models,and two individuals – Brian Young and Jeffrey Goh – have demonstrated the potential of one such program.In October, Young and goh became the first Singaporeans to attain the highest certification levels offered by 42 Singapore (42 SG), a tuition-free, peer-learning coding school known for its demanding curriculum and significant attrition rate.
A Rigorous Path to Certification
The 42 SG program, modeled after Ecole 42 in Paris, eschews conventional teaching methods. It relies on hands-on, project-based learning in a gamified surroundings, with no teachers, structured lessons, or formal academic prerequisites for enrollment.Students are initially assessed through a memory and logic test,followed by a challenging evaluation known as “The Piscine,” a five-day intensive coding bootcamp. Those who pass are admitted to the program.
young’s achievement was highlighted in The Straits Times on June 9.
Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Lifelong Learning
Young’s journey with the 42 network began in 2014 when he enrolled at Ecole 42 in Paris, after leaving a computer science program at the National University of Singapore after just six months. Despite failing 15 projects, he completed all 21 levels in four years – a feat accomplished by less than 2% of Ecole 42 students globally. He returned to the 42 network through SUTD in 2024 to fulfill the requirements for the RNCP level 7 certification.
“It was a way to close the chapter properly and honor the many people who helped me along the way. It’s a personal milestone rather than a career move,” Young explained. He also holds a Master of Science in cybersecurity management from the University of Warwick at the Singapore Institute of Management, obtained in 2023. He believes the two qualifications are complementary, with the 42 program focusing on building systems from the ground up and his postgraduate studies refining his understanding of system management. Currently,Young works as a cybersecurity engineer at the Defense Science and Technology Agency.
A Fast Track for a New Generation of Coders
Goh’s path, while shorter, was equally demanding. As part of the first intake of 190 students at 42 SG, he quickly distinguished himself. In July 2024, he was among the fastest students worldwide to complete the program’s core curriculum, earning a diploma-level certification. He completed the first nine levels in just 10 months, placing him among the top 50 students globally to reach that stage in under a year.
Balancing a full-time job as an internet-of-things engineer at a water monitoring start-up with the rigorous demands of 42 SG required significant discipline. “I often spent two to four hours each evening on coursework after regular working hours, making personal sacrifices,” Goh said. He appreciated the program’s focus on demonstrable skills rather than traditional grades, noting that students are allowed to re-attempt projects until they succeed.
Expanding Access to Tech Education
According to Koh Chye Soon, head of 42 SG, the program is not intended to replace traditional universities but to complement Singapore’s broader push for lifelong learning. He described the model as “non-traditional” due to its free and flexible nature, allowing students to exit once they achieve their personal goals, which often include securing employment.
Nearly half of 42 SG’s students already possess a degree,with another 14% holding postgraduate certificates. Notably, approximately 20% of students are over 40 years old, resulting in an average age of around 30 – older than the global average of 25 across all Ecole 42 campuses. The school now offers two intakes per year, in November and the first half of the year, and increased its intake to 173 students in 2025, up from around 130 in 2024. 42 SG is actively seeking to attract mid-career professionals looking to reskill and individuals who may not have thrived in traditional educational settings.
“We are looking for outliers,” koh stated. “These are like the gems, the diamonds in carbon form, who have not found success or their footing yet. On a day-to-day basis, this program grinds, shapes and sharpens you. Under pressure, if the carbon is indeed a diamond, you will be shaped beautifully.”
