IPSA: Courses, Fees & Admissions

University profile

About IPSA

IPSA (Institut polytechnique des sciences avancées) is a private French school of aeronautics and space, teaching from the baccalauréat to Bac+5 and based in Paris-Ivry (Ivry-sur-Seine), Toulouse and Lyon. Founded in 1961, it describes itself as the school of air, space and sustainable mobility, and has been a société à mission since 2021. It belongs to IONIS Education Group.

The core programme is a five-year engineering course leading to a diplôme d'ingénieur accredited by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI) and carrying the EUR-ACE label. It begins with a two-year integrated preparatory cycle (prépa intégrée aéronautique et spatial, available in French and in an English-taught section), followed by a three-year engineering cycle with nine specialisation majors: aircraft structures (cellules aéronautiques), aerospace propulsion, cyber, data and AI, embedded systems and telecommunications, space systems, autonomous aeronautical systems, space launchers and satellites, integrated logistics management and industrial project management. Engineering studies can be followed in initial form or, from the third year, by apprenticeship.

Beyond the engineering degree, IPSA runs a three-year Bachelor aéronautique (with Drone and Artificial Intelligence specialisations in the third year), MSc programmes (Aerospace Propulsion, Aéro IA & Cyber, Space Data & Engineering, Autonomous Aerospace Systems, Space Systems Engineering, Space Launchers and Satellite Engineering) and MBA programmes, including an MBA Ingénieur d'Affaires en aéronautique et spatial.

Student life centres on more than 90 student associations and clubs covering rocketry, drones, astronomy, sport, culture and solidarity, plus the IPSTARTUP scheme for student entrepreneurs and the Éveil points system, which converts association, cultural or sporting commitment into ECTS credits. Each campus has a cafeteria area; housing is arranged through partner platforms and university residences via the national Adele platform. Psychological support (in French and English), a disability officer and the Be Signal reporting platform are available.

The school is international in outlook: more than 125 partner universities, a compulsory international mobility period (2 to 10 months depending on programme), around 70 double degrees, membership of the n+i network, and the Campus France 'Bienvenue en France' label. IPSA is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (since 2023), the CDEFI and the UGEI, and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification.

University information

Tuition fees 2026-2027 (EUR per year)

Engineering cycle, initial, years 1 to 5 (Paris, Toulouse, Lyon and the English-taught section in Paris): 11,640. Delayed-start year 1: 6,270. Apprenticeship, years 3 to 5: 13,390 (paid by the employer).
Bachelor years 1 and 2 (initial): 7,700. Bachelor year 3 (apprenticeship or initial): 11,500.
MSc and MBA (apprenticeship): 12,400. MSc CGE (initial): 12,990.
All programmes: a 105 contribution for the student bureau (BDE) and IPSA Alumni. The 5-year programme for international applicants is quoted at 12,990 per year.
Instalments: once (15 September; 15 March for delayed start), four times (15 September, 15 December, 15 February, 15 April) or ten times (15th of each month, September to June), with extra charges for spreading.

Fees may change each year. These are IPSA's own tuition fees; the CVEC (contribution vie étudiante et de campus) is a separate national charge handled through student administration.

Funding and financial aid

Apprenticeship: from the third year of the engineering cycle and in MSc and MBA programmes, tuition is paid by the employer and students are salaried according to age and level.
CROUS state grants: IPSA is authorised to accept state-grant students on the engineering and Bachelor programmes. The Dossier social étudiant, covering grant and housing requests, can be filled in from 15 January to 15 May.
Paid internal activities and projects: tutoring, coaching and event organisation beyond normal student life, and applied laboratory projects for companies, can be remunerated.
Bachelor year 3: funding by the host company or internal grants (bourses internes) is possible.
Student loans: through partner banks at preferential rates, from 0 to 75,000 EUR, paid out yearly up to a ceiling.
Erasmus+: grants support internships abroad, encouraged from the second year.
Other aid: students may apply to regional and departmental councils, Caisses d'Allocations Familiales and employer or pension funds.

Details: IPSA fees and financing.

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Engineering cycle: first year (post-baccalauréat)

French-system applicants apply through Parcoursup and the Concours Advance (shared with EPITA, ESME and SupBiotech): a mathematics multiple-choice test, an English multiple-choice test and a motivation interview, held over half a day from April. Recommended: Mathematics with Physics-Chemistry and Engineering Sciences in Première; Mathematics plus Physics-Chemistry or Engineering Sciences in Terminale; the Mathématiques expertes option is strongly advised. Choices are Paris, Toulouse, Lyon or the English-taught section in Paris.

Direct applications (admissions parallèles)

Open to scientific Terminale students in foreign schools (outside French and AEFE lycées), scientific baccalauréat holders and Bac+1 scientific students for year 1; Bac+1 and Bac+2 (validated first-year CPGE or integrated prépa, Licence, BUT) for year 2; Bac+3 (Licence, BUT, prépa ATS, validated second-year integrated prépa) for year 3, for French students or international students with one year of residence in France; and Master 1, Master 2 or engineering graduates with a vehicle or systems specialisation for year 4. Assessment is by file review, subject tests (mathematics, physics, English or logic depending on the year) and a synthesis and motivation interview, in person or by video. The application fee is 40 EUR for the IPSA form, or 40 EUR through the shared Advance Parallèle portal covering IPSA, EPITA, ESME and SupBiotech. English-taught section: year 1 in Paris and Toulouse; years 2 and 3 in Paris only. After a classe préparatoire, third-year entry is through the Concours CPGE on the SCEI portal.

International applicants to the 5-year programme

Open to candidates who have completed or are completing the final year of secondary school with a scientific option (Mathematics, Physics). Documents sent as one PDF: application form, CV, official transcripts, copy of any degree, two letters of recommendation, passport copy, English proficiency certificate (TOEFL 79, TOEIC 785, IELTS 5.5 or Cambridge Linguaskill) or a medium-of-instruction certificate, ID photo, statement of purpose, and proof of payment of the 110 EUR application fee (via Flywire). An admission committee reviews the file, followed by an online interview, with results one to three days later. The published deadline is 30 May 2027, and applicants needing a visa must apply before 30 April 2027.

Master's in Aeronautical Engineering (international)

Open to holders of a three-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in aerospace, mechanical, electrical and electronic or mechatronic engineering or related fields. The documents, English requirements, application fee, interview process and deadline (30 May 2027) are the same as for the 5-year programme; visa applicants apply before April 2027.

Bachelor aéronautique

Open to scientific baccalauréat holders, and to Bac+1 and Bac+2 scientific students (BUT, Licence, BTS) for later entry. Years 1 and 2 are in initial form on all three campuses; year 3 may be by apprenticeship or initial.

MSc and MBA

For students continuing their studies, engineers, technical managers and IT professionals. Application is online, followed by an interview. Programmes: MSc Aéro IA & Cyber, MSc Space Data & Engineering, MSc Aerospace Propulsion, MSc Autonomous Aerospace Systems, and the MBA Ingénieur d'Affaires Aéronautique et Spatial.

Delayed start and high-level athletes

A delayed entry (rentrée décalée, from February) is available for students re-orienting after a first semester or returning to study, and an adapted route exists for high-level athletes.

Paris-Ivry, 63 boulevard de Brandebourg, 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine (Métro line 7 Mairie d'Ivry, RER C Ivry-sur-Seine): integrated preparatory cycle in French and English, engineering cycle in French and English, the nine specialisation majors, Bachelor aéronautique, MSc and MBA programmes. Student associations include BDE, AERO IPSA, IPSA Flight, IPSA Space System and IPSA ONE. A cafeteria area is on campus.
Toulouse (Cartoucherie), 81 avenue de Grande Bretagne, 31300 Toulouse (Métro A Patte d'Oie, tram T1 Zénith): a multi-school campus shared with EPITA, opened 1 July 2024. Preparatory cycle, engineering cycle (including an English-taught section), majors in aerospace propulsion, embedded systems and telecommunications, space systems and space launchers and satellites, Bachelor aéronautique and the MSc Space Data & Engineering. Associations include BDE, IPS'Airclub, Stud'Act Toulouse, IPSA Rugby and IPSA Retro.
Lyon Vaise, 16 rue Jean-Marie Leclair, 69009 Lyon (Métro D Gorge de Loup): integrated preparatory cycle, first engineering year and the first two Bachelor years, in a new building opened for the 2025 intake.

Each campus has a cafeteria area, a psychologist (Paris and Toulouse) and a disability officer. Housing is arranged through partner platforms (Studapart, Baya Immo) and university residences listed on the Adele platform.

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