University in France
Caen, Normandie, France
University profile
The École Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Caen (ENSICAEN) is a public engineering school and research centre in Caen, Normandy. It trains engineers in three fields: computer science (informatique), physical engineering and embedded systems (génie physique et systèmes embarqués), and materials and chemistry (matériaux-chimie). It has been an établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel (EPSCP) since 1 March 2017, administered by a board, a scientific council and a studies council, and led by a director.
The school has more than 900 learners, 300 partner companies and 110 partner institutions abroad. Its three engineering diplomas are Bac+5 degrees accredited by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI) and are described as equivalent to a Master of Science. Each is open to students and to apprentices, and each follows the same pattern: fundamentals in the first year, a chosen specialisation in the second and a third year of project work, industrial or research projects and a final-year placement.
Specialisations in year 2
Beyond the engineering diplomas, ENSICAEN offers an engineering diploma in industrial engineering through continuing education and VAE (with the ITII de Normandie), a Master in Cybersecurity co-accredited with the Université de Caen Normandie, a Master in nuclear engineering (M2) co-accredited with INSA Rouen Normandie, a Mastère Spécialisé accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, 'Expert(e) en monétique et transactions sécurisées', and doctoral studies through seven research laboratories.
Student life revolves around some fifty clubs and associations run through the student offices: BDE (student union), BDS (sport, nearly 20 sports clubs), BDA (arts), BDD (entertainment) and BDH (humanities, covering disability, gender equality and ecology). Events include the Normandie ENSICAEN Challenge, a sporting meeting for engineering schools. Next to the campus are university restaurants, cafeterias, a gymnasium and sports pitches, and CROUS Normandie residences.
About 15% of students are international. The school holds the 'Bienvenue en France' label awarded by Campus France for the quality of its welcome of international students, runs 21 double-degree agreements, and has an International Club of student engineers that supports new arrivals together with the International Relations Office.
The Contribution vie étudiante et de campus (CVEC) is paid separately before registration by all initial-education students (student and apprentice status): 105 euros for 2026-2027, via MesServices.Etudiant.gouv.fr. Grant holders are exempt but must obtain a CVEC certificate.
Engineering students under student status may request an exemption from tuition fees on personal grounds, decided by the Director; ceilings are 30% of students for French, EU/EEA and Swiss nationals and 30% for non-EU registrants. Students who receive grant notification after registration can request a refund of fees and of the CVEC.
ENSICAEN nominates candidates to the Eiffel programme of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Master-level diplomas and doctorates). Eligibility: foreign nationals aged 29 or under in 2026; dual nationals with French nationality are not eligible. Interested candidates email [email protected] before the 20 November 2026 deadline and receive a link to upload ID, recommendation letter, last diploma, transcripts for the last two years, CV and motivation letter. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by video; validated applications are submitted to Campus France in January 2027 and results are announced from March 2027. Details: international admissions page.
A number of rooms at the Cité Universitaire Côte de Nacre (CROUS Normandie), two minutes' walk from the school, are reserved for international students within quota; a partnership with Twenty Campus residences is also available to newly arrived students.
Bourse d'excellence France Excellence Eiffel à l'ENSICAEN (diplôme d'ingénieur et doctorat) →
Browse the scholarships listed for ENSICAEN and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for ENSICAEN →ENSICAEN recruits at Bac+2 nationally, either through the Concours Communs INP (CCINP) after classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles, or through admissions on file (admissions parallèles). Places by specialisation:
Admission on file is open in year 1 to holders of the relevant BUT3 (for example Computer science, Measurement physics, Networks and telecommunications, Chemistry, Materials science and engineering, Chemical engineering), L2 or L3 in a related discipline, ATS or CUPGE, and in year 2 to holders of a scientific Bac+4. Admissions-on-file deadlines for the 2027 intake: apprenticeship I3N 16 February 2027, other apprenticeship programmes 28 February 2027, student-status engineering 7 March 2027.
International students can enter as full students through the CCINP competition: successful candidates confirm by a final 'yes' to ENSICAEN's offer on the CCINP site, after which the studies and student-life directorate sends registration steps and CROUS housing information. Alternatively, students of partner universities may come on exchange (one or more semesters; no ENSICAEN diploma, ECTS recognised by the home university) or on a double-degree route.
Students must first be nominated by their home university's international office (by 30 April for the autumn semester, recommended, or 15 October for spring), then apply by 1 June (autumn) or 1 November (spring). Exchanges mainly take place in the autumn semester (September to February). Recommended levels: English B2 and French B1 for exchange; French B1 for double degrees. Double-degree students follow the full course, typically three semesters at ENSICAEN and a six-month end-of-studies project in industry. Partners include the University of Stuttgart, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, University of Salerno, ECUST (Shanghai) and several Brazilian universities. Contact: [email protected].
International students follow French as a foreign language (FLE) classes of two hours a week (56 hours in year 1 and 46 hours in year 2), and exchange and double-degree students have an intensive FLE course at the end of August.
Two-year, 120 ECTS programme for Bac+3 holders with knowledge of computer science or applied mathematics (recommended: Licence in Computer Science or Mathematics, BUT Computer Science or Networks and Telecommunications). Selection is on file (quality of previous course, motivation, CV). First-year applications in initial education are made on monmaster.gouv.fr; professional experience validation goes through eCandidat. Non-European applicants from countries covered by the 'Études en France' procedure apply on that platform; other non-European applicants must file a Campus France application, with a deadline stated as the end of March.
One-year programme (September to September) for Bac+5 or Bac+4 graduates, with an engineer-oriented pathway (maîtrise d'oeuvre) and a pathway open to non-engineers (maîtrise d'ouvrage). Application online; file deadline for the 2027 intake 15 May 2027 (non-EU 4 April 2027).
Admission requires a research project, a supervisor who is a researcher or academic holding an HDR, a host research unit and secured funding. Applicants need a national Master's degree or another degree conferring Master's grade, with limited exceptions for equivalent level or VAE. The project is attached to one of the doctoral schools ED 590 MIIS, ED 591 PSIME or ED 508 EDNC. Funding routes include the three-year doctoral contract, the CIFRE agreement with a company, and national, European or industrial projects. The application file contains the research project, CV and supporting documents. Doctoral registration runs from 9 July to 30 October 2026.
Administrative registration is online (inscription.ensicaen.fr). Documents include proof of CVEC payment, identity document, baccalauréat transcript, defence-and-citizenship certificate for under-25s, and a recent photo. Engineering first-year registration for 2026-27 runs from 9 July to 15 September 2026. Applicants with disabilities should contact the school as early as possible.
Both campuses are served by Vélolib' bike stations. A 360-degree virtual tour of the school is available.
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