Frequently asked questions

Please find below the most frequently asked questions.

For any further question, please contact engineer-admission@ip-paris.fr.

Admission criteria
Are there any requirements about my grades in my home university?

No. Scores vary from one university to another, from one course to another. It is therefore difficult
to define universal criteria. Nonetheless, remember that this is a highly selective worldwide
admission program and that chances of admission are higher for students at the top of their class.
Is it necessary to prove fluency in French, like DELF or DALF?
No minimum level in French is required to take the exams. If admitted, you will have a semester to
learn French and satisfy the French proficiency requirement determined by your school of
admission. A B1 level acquired in French before the entrance is usually required.
To sit the entrance exam, what is the minimum duration of undergraduate studies required?
Admitted students must have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate studies at the time of
entry to the school. It is then possible to apply before having completed the 2d year of
undergraduate studies.
However, a minimum of 3 years of higher education is recommended at the time of entry to the
school.
If you apply in the frame of an agreement and especially a double-degree agreement between the
program you are enrolled in, or between your university and one or several schools of IP Paris, the
agreement defines the minimum conditions to apply.
If you apply before the final year of Bachelor’s programme and if you are admitted, you will have to
resign from your current course of study.
Is the number of admission attempts restricted?

There is no limit to the number of times you may sit the entrance examination. However, for
admission to Ecole Polytechnique, applicants may only sit the exam once.

I have a passport from a European country / I have a second European nationality: does it
changes anything in the process?
Admission is open to candidates of all nationality, including to dual nationals, except for Ecole
Polytechnique that does not allow application of students with French nationality through this
 international admission program (dual citizenship included), they have to apply through the
procedure of the French university track.
What are the most important criteria of the application file?

All the elements of the application file are important. It is not possible to define a priority. The
academic quality of your dossier is, of course, essential.
Are the exams oral or written?
The exams are oral only and will be held through video-conference. The subjects examinated are:
Physics, Mathematics, General Scientific Knowledge. These are followed by an interview during
which you will be able to explain your motivations.
Where can I find previous admission exam papers?
Previous entrance exam papers and syllabuses are available on:
https://www.ip-paris.fr/en/ingenieur-programs/ and
https://dca-concours.polytechnique.fr/fui/welcome/cand.php
Are the oral exams in English or French?
Both languages are possible. Your preference is requested when submitting your application.
What is the profile of those students most often admitted?
Students coming from a wide range of scientific studies may apply: Applied Mathematics, Computer
Science, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, statistics. It is important to point out that
strong basics in mathematics are required whatever the course prepared.
Are there fees associated with this admission program?
There is no fee to sit the international admission examinations.

Tuition fees and financial support

What are the tuition fees of the IP Paris schools?

Ecole Telecom
polytechnique ENSAE Paris ENSTA Paris Telecom Paris SudParis
Nationality (*)
EU nationals 19,000€ 1,850€/year 2,650€/year 2,900€/year 2,900€/year
Non EU nationals
38,000€ 1,850€/year 4,650€/year 4,550€/year 4,550€/year
national
(*) Information given for the first 3 years program at Ecole Polytechnique.
Fees are revised every year by each school and can be subject to modification. Please check fees
with the school upon admission.
All students must also pay annually the "Contribution à la Vie Etudiante et de Campus" (CVEC)
which currently amounts to 100 euros. The CVEC is valid for affiliation to the Sécurité Sociale
(CPAM), the mandatory health insurance in France.
Tuition fee reductions or exemptions are possible. Each school has its own policy. According to the
school policy, tuition fees reductions or exemptions can be granted
- either according to the terms of an agreement, such as a double-degree agreement,
- or according to your social situation.
Are there opportunities of scholarships or financial support?

Grants, scholarships or loans are also possible based on academic excellence or social criteria. Once
admitted, the school you have been admitted to will provide you with all the information and help
necessary to identify sources of funding.
What is an Eiffel scholarship and who can apply for?
Eiffel Excellence Scholarships are granted by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs to
attract the best foreign students into French Master and PhD programs. The Eiffel scholarship
program is a very competitive program. Students awarded the Eiffel scholarship are usually in the
top 2% of their class. Students do not apply directly. The host institution in France selects the
international students admitted and submits their scholarship application directly to the Ministry.
The IP Paris success rate to the Eiffel program is among the best in France.

Is it possible to have a part-time job during studies at IP Paris?

We advise against this. It is extremely hard to manage even a part-time job in parallel to
engineering studies at IP Paris. The curricula are very dense, demanding and time-consuming.
Once admitted to an IP Paris school, will I be guaranteed student accommodation in one of the
halls of residence?
Upon arrival, International Engineering students are given priority to on-site or nearby student
accommodation.
The students admitted at Ecole Polytechnique will have a room in the dormitories of Ecole
Polytechnique, on our campus.

“Diplôme d’ingénieur” programs

Can I simultaneously be awarded a Diplôme d’ingénieur from an IP Paris school and a diploma
from my home university?
Yes, through this admission program, only for Ecole Polytechnique, if there is a double-degree
agreement between the two institutions. The credits you obtain will then allow you to validate both
degrees.
With a Diplôme d’ingénieur, will I be recognized as a “general engineer” or as an engineer
specialized in a particular field?
A Diplôme d’Ingénieur does not specify your speciality. IP Paris schools have pluridisciplinary
programs. You will study disciplines beyond the domain of your speciality and will be offered
courses in economics, management, soft skills, languages and cross-cultural skills.
An extra document associated with the diploma, labelled as “le supplément au diplôme”, details all
the subjects covered. Moreover, each school is clearly identified by employers according to its
specialties.
The table below presents an overview of the main scientific areas covered by the IP Paris schools.

Which programs are taught entirely in English?

At Telecom Paris and Telecom SudParis it is possible to take the Diplôme d’ingénieur curriculum
entirely in English by choosing certain tracks. In this particular case, no minimum level in French is
required upon entrance. French as a Foreign Language courses are however mandatory as a
minimum B1 acquired level in French is required to be awarded a Diplôme d’ingénieur where
courses are mainly taken in English.

The other schools propose certain courses taught in English, but the language of teaching is usually
French. French as a Foreign Language courses will be mandatory during the whole curriculum, as a
minimum B2 level in French is required to be awarded any Diplôme d’ingénieur.

During my studies in an IP Paris engineering school, will I be given the opportunity to spend one
semester or two abroad?

To obtain a Diplôme d’ingénieur, it is necessary to study at least 3 semesters within the school and
to do a 6-month internship validated and supervised by the school. If you are admitted in the first
year of the engineering cycle it is therefore possible to spend one or two semesters outside France.
If you are admitted in the second year, only your internship can take place outside France, if the
school's rules allow it.
At Ecole Polytechnique, as the duration of studies is longer, several opportunities of international
mobility are possible: during the business internship of 2nd year, during the research internship of
3rd year, or during the 4th year for the specialization.

Ph.D., Ph.D. track programs

What is the process for applying for a Ph.D.?
Ph.D. application is a fully different process. Please, consult https://www.ip-paris.fr/en/home-
en/education/phd-programs/
What is a Ph.D. track?

The Ph.D. track is a 5-year program combining personalized master studies, early immersion in
research labs and a progressive development of the thesis studies. Please consult https://www.ip-
paris.fr/en/education/phd-track

Are international students offered administrative assistance?

Once admitted, international students are contacted by their IP Paris school and provided with
assistance for all administrative procedures (Visa, accommodation, mandatory health insurance,
banking, etc.).

Miscellaneous
Will the IP Paris PowerPoint presentation be available afterwards?
Yes. The presentation is available from https://www.ip-paris.fr/ingenieur-programs/.

Ecole Polytechnique
Are the additional requirements mentioned for Ecole Polytechnique on the program page
flexible?

The additional requirements mentioned for Ecole Polytechnique Cycle Ingénieur Polytechnicien
Program are not flexible.

Questions concerning a double degree existing between your institution and the Ecole
Polytechnique:
We invite you to contact the relevant office in your institution.
More information about the Cycle Ingénieur Polytechnicien:
https://programmes.polytechnique.edu/cycle-ingenieur-polytechnicien/cycle-ingenieur-
polytechnicien