ENS Paris-Saclay

Entry routes to the ENS Paris-Saclay diploma

The diploma lasts four years and confers the grade of master (minimum 300 ECTS). Entry to the first year is by concours or by dossier; entry to the second year is only by the student route (dossier), the second-year concours having been abolished on 1 September 2025.

Concours (first year, normalien élève)

Recruitment is at baccalauréat +2 level from classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE) and from IUT holders of a BUT. Competitions are organised by track: MP, MPI, PC, PSI, PT, TSI, B.U.T, BCPST and TB, BL Sciences sociales, Éco-Gestion options I and II, BEL Anglais and Design. Admitted candidates become normaliens élèves fonctionnaires stagiaires and join the department matching their track. Annales and competition regulations are published for each competition.

Admission on dossier (normalien étudiant)

Candidates must be at least in an L2 programme (or equivalent) for first-year entry, or L3 (or equivalent) for second-year entry. Two main first-year routes exist: CPGE (students currently in a CPGE) and non-CPGE (students in any other institution in France or abroad). Applications are made on the eCandidat platform, with the documents required by each department; incomplete files are not assessed and an oral interview may be held. Candidates may apply to several departments. For 2026 the periods were 1 to 28 April (non-CPGE first year), 12 May to 10 June (CPGE first year) and 11 March to 21 April (second year). An application fee of 40 euros applies, except for scholarship holders. Normaliens étudiants have the same training as normaliens élèves but are not civil-servant trainees, are not paid and are not subject to the ten-year commitment. Places are limited by department. Double-degree routes exist with ISAE-SUPAERO, Mines Paris-PSL, IOGS, ENSAE, AgroParisTech and HEC, and an equal-opportunity route for pupils of the Institut Villebon-Charpak and the Institut de l'engagement.

International students

Non-EU students who succeed in the concours obtain the status of normalien élève à titre étranger; the international page describes the concours as accessible at L3 level or equivalent. Students from countries associated with Campus France register on the Études en France platform once admitted. Exchange students need nomination by their home institution and apply on the MoveON platform with a learning agreement; Erasmus+ and exchange students pay no registration fees. Doctoral students and researchers need a convention d'accueil for the passeport talent (chercheur) visa, to be requested at least two months before arrival; visas are requested through France-Visas and residence permits through ANEF.

Master and other diplomas

Masters in fundamental sciences, engineering sciences and social sciences are offered with Université Paris-Saclay and other partners; applications are made on the eCandidat platform. The 12-month diplômes d'établissement ARÉco (ecological transitions), ARIA (artificial intelligence), ARTeQ (quantum technology), ARRC (research-creation) and the documentary diploma require a CV, motivation letter, transcripts of the first years and an identity document, with interviews.

Doctorate

About 300 doctoral students carry out their thesis in the School's laboratories, enrolled through the doctoral schools of Université Paris-Saclay.

Registration

Enrolment is done online each year (for 2026/2027 the deadline was 10 October 2026); new learners use the first-registration option.

• Gif-sur-Yvette (Moulon plateau): main and only campus, 4 avenue des Sciences, in the Renzo Piano building housing the 11 departments, laboratories, presidency and administration; 62,000 m2 including 10,000 m2 of laboratories; nearly 800 m2 of student work spaces; closed garden open to the public.
• Scène de recherche: professional theatre and research-creation platform with workshops, conferences and teaching units for students.
• Restaurant and cafés: university restaurant and Café Labs where meals can be heated; La Kokarde student venue (east building) with bar, lunch and BDE evenings.
• Sport: Moulon sports complex, 15 chemin de Moulon, ten minutes' walk, with a 9,500 m2 sports centre (basketball, handball, tennis, badminton, climbing, weights, dance) shared by Université Paris-Saclay establishments and five adjacent pitches.
• Library: the Lumen library, 8 avenue des Sciences, 300 metres from the School.
• Health: Maison de la santé of Université Paris-Saclay (health centre, mental health, sexual health and prevention units); a psychologist and a student prevention relay at the School's health and wellbeing area, east building.