University in France
Nanterre, Île-de-France, France
University profile
CESI École d'Ingénieurs is a private, non-profit higher-education institution (an association under the 1901 law) that trains engineers and technical and management professionals from bac+2 to bac+8. It was founded in 1958 on the initiative of five large French industrial groups to promote technicians to engineer posts, and it has stayed close to industry since: its board brings together six professional federations (UIMM, FFB, FNTP, FFIE, NUMEUM and UTPF), and learning is built around projects, work-based learning and company partnerships.
The school operates 26 campuses across France, grouped by region (East, Île-de-France – Centre, West, South-East, South-West and North-West). The Nanterre campus, listed as Paris (La Défense – Nanterre), sits about 6 km from Paris at the edge of the La Défense business district and is served by RER A (Nanterre-Ville station). It offers engineer training under student status and by work-study, along with programmes in five fields: Industry & Innovation, Computing & Digital, Construction & Civil Engineering, Quality-Safety-Environment & Sustainable Development, and HR & Management.
The offer includes the five-year engineering route (two years of integrated preparatory cycle then a three-year engineering cycle), the engineering cycle taught in French or, on some campuses, in English (general engineering with Industry & Services or Civil Engineering majors; computing with Data Science & AI, Embedded Systems & IoT, and Networks, Systems & Cybersecurity majors), Bachelors in science and engineering, specialist Bachelors, professional Masters (RNCP level 7 titles), Mastères Spécialisés® labelled by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, an MSc (Smart Information Systems and Cyber Leadership), executive programmes and a doctoral programme.
CESI reports more than 8,000 graduates each year, 45 diplomas and titles, 1,600 staff, an alumni network of over 120,000, 170 partner universities and 8,000 host companies. Student life is organised through elected student associations (BDE) on each campus, sport, cultural and sustainability initiatives, and a campus-life representative on every campus. The school holds the HappyIndex®AtSchool label (2026) awarded on certified student reviews.
International students can enter at undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate level, or come on exchange for a semester or a year. The Erasmus+ charter (ECHE) runs 2021-2027, and CESI holds the Bienvenue en France label. Engineering diplomas are accredited by the CTI (habilitated since 1978), titles are registered in the RNCP up to level 7, and the school is a member of the CGE, CDEFI and UGEI and of the CDIO international network.
International candidates pay no application fee, except the EUR 50 fee for the integrated preparatory cycle for candidates in the EEA (waived outside the EEA, who may pay the local operator's fees for organising tests).
A scholarship awarded by a national jury to the best international candidates joining CESI programmes under student status; it can reach EUR 2,000. It requires a separate application file.
A CESI funding guide is available from the incoming international students page. Doctoral students are mainly funded through doctoral contracts financed by research programmes, ANRT CIFRE contracts, company contracts, CESI research allowances and industrial chairs. Fees are set in each case on the admissions pages.
Bourse d'excellence CESI pour candidats internationaux →
Browse the scholarships listed for CESI École d'ingénieurs and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for CESI École d'ingénieurs →Open to holders of a general baccalauréat with scientific specialisms, a technological baccalauréat (STI2D) or an equivalent secondary diploma such as the International Baccalaureate. French level B1 is required for international applicants. Candidates in the French baccalauréat system apply through Parcoursup® (file review, oral test, offer published on Parcoursup®). Non-French, non-EEA first-time arrivals apply through the Études en France platform and on cesi.fr (file review, oral test, offer from the school); applicants from other countries, including EU countries, apply on the CESI portal (file review, motivation interview). Application deadline for international candidates: 15 June 2027. Application fee: EUR 50, waived for international candidates outside the EEA.
Open after three years of scientific or technical higher education (bachelor or equivalent), or after bac+2 under specific conditions; routes under student status include CPGE (CESI concours through SCEI), ATS prep, preparatory cycle, L3, BUT or bachelor in science and engineering, and work-study routes also admit BTS, BUT2, L2 or professional licence profiles under conditions. French level B1 is required. Admission is by file review and a video motivation interview. Non-European applicants can enter only under student status, via Études en France. Students from CPGE in Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Casablanca, Senegal, Togo, Guinea or Gabon apply through the EG@ concours. The engineering cycle is also offered in English on some campuses.
Entry with a secondary diploma equivalent to the French baccalauréat (general or STI2D for the engineering sciences Bachelors; STMG for specialist Bachelors) or the IB. French and English level B1 recommended. Routes: Parcoursup® for the French system; Études en France plus the CESI portal for countries in that procedure; the CESI portal otherwise. File review then motivation interview. Deadline: 15 June 2027. No application fee for international candidates.
Preparatory year for the engineering cycle: for French-speaking international students with two years of scientific or technical higher education abroad (French B1), admitted on academic results and a motivation interview, deadline 15 June 2027. Pre-Master's pathway with the n+i network: for holders of a bachelor in industry or IT (French A2), who must already hold an offer from a network engineering school.
For holders of a bachelor or equivalent in a scientific or technical field. French A2 recommended; English B1 (refresher courses may be offered). The file contains a motivation letter, transcripts for current and previous years, diplomas and a certificate for the current year, followed by a video interview. Deadline 15 June 2027.
English C1; a diploma equivalent to the first year of a master or 240 ECTS credits. File review, interview and an admissions committee; deadline 31 July 2027; the decision takes about one month.
A 12-month programme (11 curricula, 22 pathways). Requires French B2 and a master-level diploma or equivalent (engineer, master, RNCP level 7 title), or a first-year master equivalent with 3 years of professional experience. File and prerequisites check, a professional questionnaire and positioning interview, then an admissions committee; deadline 31 July 2027. Final enrolment follows a signed internship agreement for the company mission. Applicants from Études en France countries also apply on that platform.
Three years of research leading to a thesis defence, within the ED SMI (ED 432) doctoral school, with research carried out in CESI LINEACT. Requires a research master or equivalent proving research aptitude (holders of other master-grade or foreign diplomas can request a recruitment opinion). Selection: file review, test and interview at CESI and enrolment in the ED SMI. Doctoral tuition is managed by the ED SMI; most doctoral students are CESI employees on private-law doctoral contracts.
For French-taught programmes, non-French-speaking applicants provide a certificate such as DELF or TCF showing French B1 unless a programme sets another level. For English-taught programmes, the minimum is French A2 and English B1, proven by a certificate such as IELTS, TOEIC or Cambridge, whatever the applicant's mother tongue. A certificate missing at application can be supplied before the start of the course, otherwise the admission can be withdrawn. Applicants can ask ENIC-NARIC for a certificate of the French value of a foreign diploma if needed.
CESI teaches on 26 campuses in France:
Nanterre (Paris – La Défense): engineer training under student status and by work-study, plus work-study programmes in Quality-Safety-Environment & Sustainable Development, Construction & Civil Engineering, Industry & Innovation, Computing & Digital, and HR & Management. Facilities include a student dining room with cafeteria in building 1, an outdoor seating area, and a 250-seat coworking space with cafeteria in building 2, all fitted with microwaves and drinks machines. The campus is a 6-minute walk from RER A Nanterre-Ville and is reached by road via the A86 and the D986 (exit 36, Nanterre-Centre). Housing is not provided by the school; Studapart is the accommodation partner.
Shared learning spaces across the school include the Lab'CESI research laboratory, the VR Lab (HTC Vive Pro and Oculus Quest headsets, Unity and Unreal Engine), the BIM room (Revit, ArchiCAD, Navisworks), the Créativ'Lab (3D printers, laser cutters, digital milling machines) and teaching workshops.
Study programmes offered at CESI École d'ingénieurs.
Experiences shared by students of CESI École d'ingénieurs.
Studied here? Share your experience to help other applicants.
Book a free consultation with our expert counsellors and take the first step towards your dream university.
Copyrights © 2026 StudyMapped. All rights reserved.
Enter your credentials to continue.
Join us and start your study abroad journey.
