How it works

The Master the Mainframe Learning System is available year-round to anyone wanting to learn and earn IBM Digital Badges. From September through December, academic students ages 13 and up can compete in the Master the Mainframe Global Virtual Contest to earn prizes and IBM Digital Badges. Master the Mainframe is a three-part learning journey.

Part 1

Learn the basics

Meet the mainframe and complete step-by-step instructions to become familiar with the user interface, basic concepts and data structures.

Part 2

Practice
Learn and develop on the mainframe using program commands, programming languages (C, JAVA, COBOL, assembler and REXX) and get familiar with the z/OS operating system.

Part 3

Gain expertise
Dive deeper using scenarios to solve challenges encountered by experienced mainframe programmers at companies that rely on mainframe technologies.

Get started

Use the Learning System


Anyone can register year-round to use the Learning System and earn IBM Digital Badges. No prizes are awarded.


System open:

Sept 9, 2019 to Aug 31, 2020

Register now

Register for the contest

Students can register for the 2019 Master the Mainframe global virtual contest and compete to win prizes and earn badges.


Contest registration open:

Aug 15 - Dec 31, 2019

Contest runs:
Sept 9 - Dec 31, 2019


Register now