We don’t require any prior coding experience – the only prerequisites are that you are at least 18 years old (at the time of the Piscine), want to grow and are motivated to really challenge yourself during your 2-year journey at grit:lab. Our program runs entirely in English, and effective collaboration in our peer-to-peer model requires being conversational.

The next application period opens December 15th, 2025.

The application process consists of three phases: online cognitive games, online check-in and on-location Piscine.

The top-performing candidates from both Piscines will be accepted to grit:lab. After the Piscines have concluded, we will contact all candidates who qualify for the September program start via email to confirm their enrolment.

The Piscine (“Swimming pool” in French) is the intensive 3.5-week full-time selection experience on site at our grit:lab campus. During this phase up to 150 participants will be introduced to the 01 Edu System, our peer-to-peer learning platform containing all of the program’s study content. The learning process is based around completing various Quests in the program. There will be a checkpoint each week based on the previous week’s learnings. During the Piscine, you will participate in teamwork exercises (Raids) to solidify what you’ve learned so far.

If you’re among the group of candidates invited to the Piscine, prepare yourself for 3.5 intense but awesome weeks. You will get to know inspiring people, learn a lot in a short amount of time and challenge yourself to push your limits beyond what you thought possible. There will be two Piscines per application period taking place at the grit:lab campus on the Åland Islands. Accommodation is provided in shared (2 people) rooms completely for free for all Piscine participants.

The Online Cognitive Games consist of two games that will test your memory, problem solving skills, and logical thinking. No preparation needed, just make sure to set aside 2 hours of your time and that you are in a quiet place with good internet connection. We strongly recommend that you use a computer and not your mobile device. Remember: The games cannot be paused! You may close the tab and later reopen it but the timer will keep running in the background. If you don’t pass the first time, don’t give up – You have up to three chances. Persistence is key.

Yes, the program is officially recognized by Ålands yrkesgymnasium and its participants may be eligible for student grants.

After you’ve been accepted to grit:lab you can apply for student grants the same way you would for other officially recognized schools. For example from KELA/FPA in Finland and from CSN in Sweden. Eligibility is evaluated on individual basis.

No tuition, studying at grit:lab is completely free! At the campus you will be working with the latest technology and get comfy in our modern facilities where we offer free coffee, tea, fruits and more. During the Piscine the accommodation will also be free of charge.

The program is 24 months and our current session takes place from September 2024 until August 2026. The next program takes place from September 2026 until August 2028!

The grit:lab program takes 24 months to complete. There are no planned breaks and the studies are full-time on campus on the Åland Islands.

You will follow a peer-to-peer learning methodology using the 01 Edu System and collaborate with and learn from your peers. The study platform is designed to help you learn coding from scratch. Additionally, you are encouraged to form self-initiated study groups and student chats where you can work together on tasks and help each other grow.

At grit:lab, you’ll go from coding rookie to full stack web developer. During the foundational 18 months of the program you’ll learn to code in any programming environment by completing 50+ projects using Javascript, Go and Rust/Java. You may also choose to learn C, C++, Ruby-on-Rails, PHP and Python. This is followed by an additional 6 months of specialization.

The grit:lab program is conducted in English to ensure an inclusive learning environment for a diverse, international group of students. You don’t need to be at an expert level of English to succeed in the program, however it’s very important that you have conversational English skills as this will be essential in collaborating with your peers.

At grit:lab we also offer an opportunity to learn Swedish which is the local language on the Åland Islands.

Our campus is located at Lövdalsvägen 8 on the Åland Islands, Finland. Come say hi!

YES! The grit:lab program will be held at our Åland Islands campus. Since our philosophy is deeply rooted in creative collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, you can’t study remotely and will have to be physically present on location during the entirety of your studies.

Nope! Our innovative grit:lab campus is equipped with iMacs in the vibrant Åland colors red, blue and yellow. Pretty cool stuff if you ask us! You may of course bring your own laptop to use as an additional tool.

You’ll have various assignments you’ll need to complete until a fixed deadline in order to move on to the next level in the program. This means that your progress will be highly dependent on your time management skills – essentially, you will be your own project manager and fully responsible for making sure that you keep up with the general timeline. You’ll have no official breaks during the 2 years at grit:lab but you may complete assignments in advance if you are planning to take some time off.

The program is full-time and intensive, with a typical study day of around 8 hours. While the choice is yours, we encourage you to consider carefully before taking on work alongside your studies, as it can be challenging to keep up with the pace. Experience from other schools using the 01 Edu methodology shows that students who can focus fully on their studies tend to have the best experience. Please keep in mind that work commitments cannot be used as a reason for not completing modules within the deadlines set for the program.

At grit:lab, you’ll learn everything you need to succeed in today’s (and tomorrow’s) tech industry. Additionally, a large part of the program is our partner network, through which you will meet and work with local tech businesses to make sure you stay ahead of the curve in terms of connections and relevant skills.

Endless seascapes and untouched nature – the Åland Islands truly are a peaceful Mecca for anyone looking to get away from the noise and just focus. But don’t take our word for it, see what our supporters over at Åland Living are saying!

During the Piscine you’ll be sharing a room completely free of charge with one other student at Strandnäs Hotel.

Zero tuition, free accommodation, shared iMac computers on campus – at grit:lab we want to make sure that everyone gets a shot. You will only need to pay for your trip to Åland, your insurance, food and other personal expenses.

To Pre-order a Taxi you can download Mariehamns Taxi app from App Store or Google Play

You will have access to kitchen facilities both at the hotel and on the grit:lab campus, making it easy to prepare your own meals. If you prefer to eat out, there are plenty of lunch and dinner options available across Åland. You can explore the daily lunch menus from more than 25 restaurants here.

For the full program starting in September 2026, you are responsible for arranging and covering your own accommodation, and you are free to choose any housing option that suits you. The Åland Living website provides useful tips and information about housing and rentals on Åland. grit:lab will, of course, share all recommendations and insights we have to help you in your search.