We are on a QUEST to support migrants in their pursuit for a successful career in the German tech industry.

You are eligible if you:

• Have a migration history 

AND

• Are a member of a community that is underrepresented in the German tech sector

OR

• Are facing particular obstacles* that are preventing you from career success in Germany

*Barriers and obstacles are by nature personal; therefore, we don’t define specific barriers. Instead, we invite you in the application to tell us about your challenges and why you believe that you are a great fit for QUEST.

In addition to that you must have:

• A valid residency and work permit in Berlin*
• Conversational English skills
• 30hr/week on average depending on your skill level
• Basic tech literacy and preliminary skills in your field of interest. Whether acquired through work experience, self study, university, bootcamp, etc. doesn’t matter.

*If your are in the process of applying for your residency/work permit please apply anyway. We need you to have those two papers by the beginning of the semester in September 2023.

Yes. To participate you have to be in Berlin for the duration of the program. There is no remote option.

Yes. Basic tech literacy is required. And any previous experience in your field of interest is a plus (the more the better)! Whether acquired through work experience, self study, university, bootcamp, etc doesn’t matter.

No. But you should be able to understand and communicate in English without problems.

No. But you should be able to understand and communicate in English without problems.

If you are unsure about your level, we recommend just taking a chance and applying anyway. Your English doesn’t need to be perfect – we believe that you can improve your spoken and written language skills during the program. Bear in mind that the entire admissions process is in English and all communication with the QUEST team will be in English from the moment you apply to the moment to “graduate”.

During the application process we ask you to submit the following documents:

• Your CV
• A photo
• A scan/photo of your residency and work permit in Germany/Berlin

-> We do not ask for any school, university or language certificates.

Yes.

Although you get the full university experience at QUEST, we don’t actually enroll you at CODE University of Applied Sciences. Your status as a guest on campus means that you don’t have to have a higher education entrance qualification in order to participate at QUEST.

Well, I guess we should first talk a little more before we can answer your question. What do you want to achieve by participating in our program? Did you feel something was lacking in your previous education? We are up for anything, as long as we feel that QUEST can honestly help you learn something and get where you want to get in your career. Let’s have a cup of coffee or tea and talk it out.

Sure!  🙂 

The admission requirements are:

• A migration history
• Underrepresented in tech and/or facing particular obstacles
• Eligible for residency and work permit in Germany 
• Conversational English level
• Time commitment of 30hr/week on average depending on your skill level
• Basic tech literacy and preliminary skills in your field of interest. (Whether acquired through work experience, self study, university, bootcamp, etc. doesn’t matter.)
• Must be in Berlin for the duration of the program

Applications will be open from 15 March – 30 April 2023.

We only accept online applications that are submitted through the form we provide on our website.

Applications open in March 2023. You will then be able to apply online through this website. The first step is to answer a short questionnaire about your motivation, background, and professional goals.

QUEST is embedded in the structures of CODE University of Applied Sciences and therefore follows their curiosity-driven and project-based learning concept.

This learning style is probably very different from what you may know from your past experiences.

Please take a look at the website of CODE ↗ University of Applied Sciences to have an idea of what it means to learn curiosity-driven and project-based.

Hint: You must have a strong sense of discipline to learn on your own and the courage and motivation to reach out for help when you need it.

As you will be attending the same academic events as the regular students at CODE, you will also be taught by the same professors, researchers and lecturers who share CODE’s drive for excellence and support our educational approach.

You can see the academic team here!

Yes. Attendance is mandatory but there is flexibility depending on circumstances. You will need to speak to the professors of your study path if you have specific personal issues that interfere with your attendance.

Yes.

Your most important tool will be your notebook computer. It should be less than three years old and reasonably equipped for the tasks that await you.

If you won’t be able to afford a suitable computer, please get in touch with us. We can offer a limited number of notebooks for you to use (for free).

No.

Although you’ve got access to everything CODE offers, as QUEST participant you are not enrolled as a student but invited to learn at CODE as a guest.

We won’t tell you what the right tool is for the projects you are going to work on. Find out for yourself. You probably already have your favorite, don’t you? Then continue to use it.

Yes. Of course! No one can work 365 days a year, even if you love what you do. We take a break over Christmas and for the whole month of January.

Jobs & Opportunities

Access to CODE’s job slack channel where students, alumni, CODE partners, and team members post current job opportunities

Partner Day & Networking Event

Three times a year, CODE invites their partner companies to campus for an awesome Partner Day. This special event is designed to give you and our partners the chance to get to know each other better and to find out whether you might want to work together in the future.

Throughout the semester we organize a few company visits for QUEST participants. Each time, you’ll get a tour, an introduction and a Q&A session.

Job Application Tips & Career Events

Through a series of career-guiding events, you can get feedback and insights on how to improve your CV, interview skills, and cover letter.

We also offer 1:1 consulting sessions.

We organize workshops on CV writing and Job Search Strategy.

On top of that you have access to CODE’s workshops and events for example “How to Linkedin”, mock interviews, and presentation training.

There are no guarantees in life, you know that. But we are super confident about your prospects. At QUEST you will have ample opportunities to get in touch with tech companies in Berlin and Germany.

On top of that, all Questers become part of the CODE community and Factory Berlin upon admission. Being a member in these two networks really sets you up for finding lots of valuable opportunities, contacts, and future colleagues/employers.

Yes!  The tuition fees and program costs are covered by our funders.

However, during the program  you must still cover your costs of living (rent, public transport, etc.) by yourself.

Your tuition fees are covered by our funders. You don’t have to pay anything in order to attend our classes.

No.

We are fully transparent about this. No application fee, no admission fee, no examination fee. There are simply no fees.

No. Although you’ve got access to everything CODE offers, as QUEST participant you are not enrolled as a student but invited to learn at CODE as a guest.

Therefore, you don’t have an official student status and are not eligible for any discounts offered to students, including the BVG student ticket.

It depends. To become a working student you must be enrolled at a university.

As QUEST participant you are not enrolled as a student at CODE and therefore participating in our program is not sufficient to be eligible for a working student position.

In the past, however, some participants were enrolled at other universities at the same time that they were learning with us. If this is the case for you, then you are eligible to be a working student.

No. As much as we would love to hand out full scholarships we simply can’t afford to do that. You have to cover all your private expenses on your own, including your rent.