Ranked #61 among top universities worldwide by QS, Ecole Polytechnique is regarded as one of the most prestigious public institutions for world class teaching and research excellence. The renowned university enrolls 2700 students in its 3 UG programs and 8 PG programs across 12 academic areas. Presently the university is home to 800 international students belonging to over 60 countries across the globe, making it one of the most diverse and multicultural institutions in all over France.
The institution invites applications from all over the world thrice a year. Admissions to Ecole Polytechnique is quite competitive as its UG and PG programs are specially designed for the highly competent students. Ecole adopts a holistic approach while assessing the applicants. The admissions committee considers not only the candidate’s academic achievements but also their extracurricular accomplishments, internships, community involvement and leadership skills while granting admission. In addition to that, international students must submit IELTS, TOEFL scores to demonstrate English proficiency.
In 2020, Ecole Polytechnique Graduates received offers from top educational institutions like Caltech, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, TU Delft, University of Oxford, Princeton University, Stanford, Massachusetts for continuing their further education. On an average, an Indian student must be prepared to spend an amount of 25 lakhs to 30 lakhs annually to study in France.
Ecole Polytechnique Rankings 2021
Ecole Polytechnique is a highly reputed university for higher education ranked in various noticeable positions by various ranking surveys both on a national and global scale. Some of the popular ranks achieved by the university in 2021 are:
- US News and World Report- #342 in Best Global Universities, #148 in Best Global Universities in Europe, #11 in Best Global Universities in France.
- Times Higher Education- #87 in World University Rankings, #81-90 in World Reputation Rankings, #101-125 in Engineering and Technology.
- QS Top Universities- #61 in World University Rankings, #24 in WUR Ranking by subject, #18 in Graduate Employability Ranking.
- L’Usine Nouvelle, L’Etudiant- #1 in Best French Grandes Ecoles in Science and Technology.
The institute is ranked among the top 40 in four subjects worldwide in Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Engineering and Physics & Astronomy as per QS Rankings 2021. Additionally, it qualifies in the top 75 in three disciplines- Engineering & Technology, Computer Science & Information Systems and Economics & Econometrics.
Ecole Polytechnique Highlights
| Type of university | Public |
| Campus setting | Urban |
| Faculty population | 1,100 |
| Number of students | 2,700+ |
| Percentage of international students | 30% |
| Acceptance rate | 5-10% |
| Test scores accepted | IELTS and TOEFL iBT. |
| Number of research laboratories | 22 |
| Employment rate | 99% |
| Number of classrooms | 50 |
| Application fees | 95 euros |
| Official website | https://www.polytechnique.edu/en |
Ecole Polytechnique Campus and Accomodation
Ecole Polytechnique campus, located just 20 km south of Paris, is a vibrant campus comprising 8000 square metres of indoor sports facilities including 2 swimming pools, 2 gymnasiums, 1 fencing room, 1 climbing wall and 1 martial arts dojo. Also, there are 8 hectares of outdoor sports facilities with 1 equestrian centre and 1 artificial lake.
- The institution has a well equipped library stacked with all the necessary academic documents/books at the heart of the campus.
- 16 sporting activities are offered on campus by the CXS (X sports club) four to six hours a week taught by 45 full and part time professors.
- There are 250 clubs and associations managed by the student body and three quarters of the polytechniciens take part in them.
- Ecole has a hotel with fifty rooms reserved for short stay visitors or staff members apart from the housing for students. There are dining services including a restaurant and a cafeteria.
- Places in the campus are available for rent in case of meetings and conferences under contract.
Accommodation
Ecole Polytechnique offers 1,500 student apartments and a hotel with fifty rooms exclusively for short term visitors or staff members.
- Students arriving in France for the first time, students with low income, polytechnic students, and international students are given priority while seeking accommodation.
- Master’s and doctoral students are supposed to submit a request to be considered for housing since accommodation is usually limited and are handed to them on a first come first serve basis.
- Students can choose from a wide array of accommodation options including dorm rooms and studio apartments
- Accommodation facilities include internet access, common kitchen, lounge area et cetera
The general accommodation costs are tabulated below:
| Program | Accomodation cost per month | Meal cost per month | Total per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 550 euros | 250-350 euros | 800-900 euros |
| Master’s | 600 euros | 350 euros | 950 euros |
Ecole Polytechnique Programs
Ecole offers a wide range of degree programs that specialize around science and technology. The bachelor of science program, an intense program specially designed for students with high potential offers 3 double major options including mathematics and physics, mathematics and computer science, mathematics and economics
There are a total of eight Masters degree programmes offered by Ecole Polytechnique in different academic fields. Top programmes offered by institution and their respective fees are given below:
| Programs | Annual Course fees in EUR |
|---|---|
| M.Sc in IoT: Innovation and Management | 12,500 |
| M.Sc in Economics, Data Analytics & Corporate Finance | 12,500 |
| M.Sc in Data Science for Business | 20,800 |
| M.Sc in Cybersecurity: Threats and Defenses | 15,600 |
| B.Sc in Mathematics and Computer Science | 15,600 |
| B.Sc in Mathematics and Economics | 15,600 |
| B.Sc in Mathematics and Physics | 15,600 |
| Engineering Polytechnic | 15,500 |
Ecole Polytechnique Application Process
Ecole Polytechnique enrols over 800 students from 60+ diverse nations worldwide. Given below are the admission guidelines that are to be followed by the international students while making an application to the university.
Application portal- Bachelor’s application portal, Master’s application portal, exchange program portal, and phD portal.
Application fee- 95 EUR for UG courses, 80 EUR for PG programs.
Supporting documents:
- Copy of passport.
- Passport size photo
- Academic transcripts of the last three years in school, translated in English or French.
- IELTS-6.5 and TOEFL-90
- Secondary school leaving certificate.
- Post-secondary school transcripts, if applicable.
- Personal statement.
- CV/Resume
- 2 letters of recommendation.
- SAT and ACT scores are optional.
Application deadlines for master’s courses reviewed thrice a year. For an entry into the program starting from 22nd September, important application deadlines for the Master’s courses are given.
| Round | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| First | November 3- December 2, 2021 |
| Second | January 12- March 10, 2022 |
| Third | March 23- April 21, 2022 |
Ecole Polytechnique Cost of Attendance
The annual living costs of an Ecole international student depends heavily on the type of housing, course and personal expenses. The rough estimation of the living costs can be rounded at about 12,000 EUR per year. The annual costs for different courses (excluding tuition fees) can be summed up as follows:
| Type of expense | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 15600 per year | 12500 per year |
| Housing | 550 euros/ month | 600 euros/ month |
| Meals | 250-350 euros/ month | 350 euros/ month |
| Transport/supplies/leisure/cell phone plan | 150-300 EUR/ month | 60 euros EUR/ month |
| Telecommunications | - | 20-40 euros/ month |
| Total | 950-1200 euros | 1,030 euros-1,050 euros |
Ecole Polytechnique Scholarships
Ecole Polytechnique provides a limited range of financial grants to incoming international students. Financial assistance is offered both on merit basis and need basis None of the scholarships or financial grants cover the full amount of tuition fees and living costs.
The financial grants awarded to undergraduate students are:
| Name of the scholarship | Scholarship amount in EUR | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Merit based scholarship | ||
| Excellence Scholarship | 4,000 | Students who have received outstanding academic achievement. |
| Women in Science Scholarship | 4,000 | Female students with excellent merit. |
| Need based scholarship | ||
| Name of the scholarship | Scholarship Amount in EUR | Eligibility |
| Tuition fee waivers | 1,000-11,000/14,200. | Students admitted with honours and financially needy. |
| Interest fee loan supported by Ecole Polytechnique Foundation | 12,000 | Students needing financial support. |
Students studying the polytechnic program are eligible for partial tuition fee waivers. The scholarships are:
- International excellence scholarships- For 36 months-during the first 3 years.
- Ecole polytechnique foundation- 11-12 months for 4th years only.
- Subsidized loans from Ecole Polytechnique foundation- First 4 years.
Students can also explore other external financial aid options offered in France for assistance in paying their tuition fees and living costs.
Ecole Polytechnique Alumni
Ecole has a strong alumni network of more than 20,000 alumni from over 60 countries around the world.
Notable alumni:
The institute has produced many successful alumni which includes a Former President of France, 3 Nobel laureates, several scholars, entrepreneurs and entertainers. Some of the notable alumni are:
- Valery Giscard d’estaing- Former French president
- Maurice Allais- Physicist, Nobel prize winner
- Bernard Arnault- Chairman and Chief Executive of Louis Vuitton
- Jacques Attali- Famous writer
Ecole Polytechnique Placements
The institute is mostly research based so a lot of graduates prefer pursuing higher studies compared to other institutes. However, most graduates choose to dive right into employment upon completion of their degree. About 47% students enter into the corporate field, 29% go on to pursue a phD, 15% choose the public sector and 3% create their own startup. According to emolument, some of the top graduate salaries along with their work fields are:
| Sector | Average Salary in EUR |
|---|---|
| Compliance, AML, KYC and monitoring | 144062.90 |
| Executive management and change | 123961.10 |
| Financial services | 117260.50 |
| Sales and business development | 78732.05 |
| Finance control and strategy | 76219.32 |
With 13,500 research papers produced every year, the cutting edge technology, commendable research outputs, buzzing campus activities and world class facilities, the university has bagged its well deserved reputation. Ranked #15 among top universities in Europe, Ecole Polytechnique is among the top choices in science and technology for international students. Ecole is rightfully called one of the best research institutes in the world and is witnessing more and more academic successes with every passing year.
FAQs
Ques. When are admission decisions made for MSc applications?
Ans. Admission decisions are released 4 to 6 weeks after each application deadline.
Ques. What is the minimum level of English required for polytechnic students?
Ans. As the program's modules are international, and as the faculty is international, the international component is essential in the Executive Master. A minimum level of English B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is therefore expected. Admissions team can validate your language level through an interview or invite you to take a language test, depending on your background.
Ques. Is there a minimum/maximum age limit to apply for a polytechnic program?
Ans. Given the expected levels of professional and managerial seniority, the minimum age to apply is 30 years old. However, there is no maximum age limit. For your information, the participants have an average of 18 years of professional experience.
Ques. Do I need to speak French to apply for the programs?
Ans. There is no required minimum level in French to be able to apply, but depending on your level (less than B2 according to the CEFRL), you will have to take French classes during the year.
Does Ecole Polytechnique offer financial aid to international students?
Ecole Polytechnique offers Financial assistance in the form of merit based and need based scholarships. The scholarship award value ranges between 1000-4000 EUR.
Does ecole polytechnique provide accommodation facilities to international students?
Housing facilities are offered by the university in 1500 student apartments. A commendation priority is given to the international students and students with low income who are arriving in France for the first time.
How hard is it to get into Ecole Polytechnique?
All the courses at the University are specially designed for exceptionally talented students. Hence, only the brightest and academically outstanding students will get accepted in the university.
