ENS Courses in Computer Science – Admission

There are three paths to enter the computer science department of ENS:

• through the entrance competitions of the Classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CGPE) (15 places per year in the Info competition; entering the computer science department is also possible from other competitions, notably the MP one) joint with the other three écoles normales supérieures (Lyon, Paris-Saclay, Rennes) — students are paid as civil servants (or receive a stipend if not EU citizens) throughout their studies; the curriculum is four years
• through the international selection (0 to 2 places per year for the computer science department, 10 places in total being offered for all scientific departments) — students receive a stipend throughout their studies; the curriculum is three years
• through the admission process of Concours Normalien Étudiant, based on the student’s record and oral interviews (6 places per year) — students are usually not paid, though the department sometimes offers a limited number of scholarships; the curriculum is three years

In all three cases, admission is in the first year (L3 level) and not at the Master 's level, even when students recruited through the international selection or the Concours Normalien Étudiant already hold a Bachelor's.This is usually not an issue, as the originality and (research-oriented) positioning of the curriculum already in the first year makes it of interest for most students holding a Bachelor 's.

Students interested in a Master's programme in Computer Science within PSL are invited to consult information about the Master 's Degree in Computer Science in PSL, with tracks managed by Université Paris-Dauphine. See also the information related to the Graduate Program in Computer Science of PSL, which includes information about PhD studies. In particular, a special five-year PhD track fully-funded program, including both Master's and PhD studies at PSL, is offered.

More information on admission into the 4 Écoles normales supérieures (in French).