École Normale Superieure - The International Selection of ENS

The International Selection of ENS

You will receive 1,000 EUR per month for 3 years as well as a furnished room on one of the ENS campuses in Paris (rent approx. 315 EUR/month). On completion, you will graduate with a Master’s degree in your field of specialisation and the ENS diploma. You will not pay any tuition fees, only registration fees amounting to a few hundred euros. The degree is awarded by the École normale supérieure (ENS-PSL), which is ranked as France’s best university in many rankings. Each year, around 10 places are offered in the natural sciences and 10 in the humanities.

Who can apply

• Study level: You are starting the third year of a Bachelor’s degree (Licence 3) or the first year of a Master’s degree. Before you apply, you must have completed at least one year of a Bachelor’s degree at a university outside France. By the start of the academic year in September, you must have completed at least two years of study.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.
• Field of study: One subject either from the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, earth sciences, computer science, mathematics, physics, cognitive science) or from the humanities (history, philosophy, literary studies, sociology, economics, linguistics, art history and others).
• Age: You are currently at 26 in the application process.
• Time in France: You have not lived in France for more than 10 months during the year of application or the previous year. For science subjects, there is an upper limit of 6 months during which you were enrolled at a French school or university.
• First attempt: You have never applied for this selection process before. You are only permitted to apply once.
• Language (Arts & Humanities): Your knowledge of French is roughly equivalent to level B1; a certificate is not required. No knowledge of French is required for science subjects, and you may sit the examinations in either French or English.
• Grades: You are one of the top pupils in your year group and achieve marks that are well above average.

How to apply

You start by completing the online form on the ENS application platform and then upload your documents: academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, letters of reference and – for the Humanities – a research proposal. The application deadline is 3. December for the humanities and on 15 December for the natural sciences. If you are shortlisted, you will sit written and oral examinations in early 2026 and take part in an interview via video conference.

How realistic are your chances?

The selection process is extremely rigorous, as there are only around 10 places available per department. Good grades are a basic requirement; the exams and the interview are the deciding factors, and for the humanities, practical knowledge of French is also required. If you fit the profile, have good marks and have prepared a well-thought-out project, you have a genuine chance of success. Treat the process as a genuine competition.