Admission in France

Most students enter the schools in the first year after a preparatory class. The schools admit students from the different options (biology, mathematics and physics, physics and engineering, physics and chemistry, physics and technology, biotechnology, computer science) but the number of places offered can vary greatly from one option to another.

In the second year of the preparatory class, students choose which competitive examinations they wish to take. The competitive exams to which the ParisTech schools belong are the following:

• Concours AgroVeto : AgroParisTech, Chimie ParisTech – PSL, ESPCI Paris – PSL,​​​
• Concours Centrale-Supélec : Arts et Métiers, Institut d’Optique Graduate School,
• Concours Commun Mines-Ponts : Chimie ParisTech – PSL, Mines Paris – PSL,
• Concours X-ESPCI-ENS : ESPCI Paris – PSL,
• Banque PT : Arts et Métiers,
• CCINP : Chimie ParisTech – PSL.

More information about the organisation of the national competitions are available on the website of Service de Concours Ecoles d’Ingénieurs (SCEI).

In order to best prepare for your entry into a preparatory class, or even a bachelor's degree, BTS or BUT, and subsequently your entry into a ParisTech school, it is recommended that you choose in your final year before « baccalauréat » :

• In the general track
  • specialty «mathematics
  • a second one : «physics-chemistry», « engineering », « computer science »,  or « Earth and life sciences » or « biology ecology », depending on your personal interest or what you want to study after « bac »,
  • eventually the elective course « mathematics - complement »
• In the track "Technology"
  • « Science and technology for industry and sustainability » (bac STI2D) or « Laboratory science and technology» (bac STL), or
  • « Laboratory science in physics and chemistry » (bac STL),
  • « Science and technology for agriculture and life (bac STAV)

Students with a BTS or BUT in science or technology can apply to engineering schools. They must have obtained excellent results and be highly motivated.

It is strongly recommended that they first go through an ATS class in order to strengthen their knowledge in science and technology, their skills in French and in a foreign language in order to meet the expectations of the schools.

Admission procedures are specific to each school.

Bachelor’s students, or eventually students in master (1st year) who wish to enroll in an engineering program can be admitted through the admission procedure organized by

• GEI-UNIV for Arts et Métiers, Chimie ParisTech – PSL, ESPCI Paris – PSL, Institut d’Optique Graduate School, Mines Paris – PSL.

There are no disciplinary restrictions. The application must be submitted between January and March each year. Candidates are required to take written tests and an interview. The examination of their application file and their motivation are also essential elements in the assessment of their application.

• SCAV for AgroParisTech. The application must be submitted between early December and early January. 

Each ParisTech school also admits students through double degrees with a lot of French higher education institutions.

All schools also admit each year a lot of international students through the ParisTech International Admission Program or their own selection process. More information on our dedicated website or in the FAQ.