Almost all French educational institutions offer their students opportunities to stay abroad (mainly in Europe, Canada, USA) for internships lasting several months, or courses lasting one or more years leading sometimes to double degrees when partnerships with European or American universities allow them. Student population interested in such programs ranges between 10 % and 50 %, up to 60 % in some schools (ESIEE, UTC).
What about foreign student registration in French engineering schools ?
Generally speaking, most engineering schools wish to strengthen their international relationships. Thus new, more appropriate structures develop : first European cycle EURINSA, programs reorganization with the introduction of credit hours in institutions such as UTC, ESIEE, INSA (under E.C.T.S. standards), increased flexibility in students' curricula, agreements for double degrees or reciprocal validation of courses, international courses in English and introductory French classes for foreigners.
We give hereafter a few non-exhaustive indications to foreign students who are interested in a French engineering education.
Some schools have made particular efforts for admitting foreign students; here are some significant examples :
Some schools (ex.: Centrale, SupElec) organize a special competition for foreign students having a high school degree and having followed preparatory studies for French or foreign engineering schools. This competition leads to entering the first year as a foreign intern student and later passing into the second year if satisfying the conditions. It is however easier to get admitted "sur titres" (without examination) directly in the second study year. This usually concerns students who already graduated from another school or from a foreign university.
The most important of these programs is the TIME network (Top Industrial Managers for Europe) developed by Ecole Centrale de Paris and extended to 23 European institutions ; it produced since 1989 about 100 double degreed European graduates. Contact : Prof. Elinor Sigler, Ecole Centrale de Paris, Bureau des Formations Internationales, Grande Voie des Vignes, 92295 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
Tél : +33-1-41 13 14 19 - Fax : +33-1- 41 13 15 04 or 41 13 14 36.
The EPF Foundation introduced studies with double degrees in partnership with Fachhochschule of Muenchen and Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Based on perfectly integrated curricula which are no longer than normal studies (1rst, 3rd and 5th year in France, 2nd and 4th year in Canada or in Germany); they enroll every year classes of around 30 students (15 from each country).
Also with double degrees, ENSAM intends to initiate a French-German Center in Metz (opening in September 1996) with Technical University of Karlsruhe : students from both countries will study together, alternating between France and Germany. In the same spirit, ENSAM opens a French-Iberian Center in Bordeaux in September 1995, with 5 engineering schools of Northern Spain and the Engineering College of Porto University. Contacts : ENSAM Paris, Odile Jacquemin, Tél : + 33-1-44 24 62 04 - Universität Karlsruhe, Isabelle Hornick, Tél + 49-0721-608 28 94 - Centre ENSAM Bordeaux : Tél : +33- 56 84 53 33, Fax : +33-56 84 53 53
Another original idea led to the Diplome Tripartite of ESIEE (so called because of the program tricultural profile ), created in agreement with the universities of Karlsruhe (Germany) and Southampton (U.K.) and ICAI of Madrid (Spain). Students spend their 4th and 5th years abroad, each year in another partner country, and get at the same time the ESIEE degree and the Diplome Tripartite. About 200 European students have followed this course.
Prerequisites :
This program leads to the Diplome d'Agronomie Tropicale (DAT) at the end of the first year, and to the CNEARC engineering degree, Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'Agronomie Tropicale (DIAT) at the end of the 2nd year . Almost half of the graduates are foreigners.
French or foreign candidates should hold an engineering or university degree of bac+5 level. Bac +4 level candidates with professional experience may also apply in some MSs.
Some of these programs were organized within international partnerships : French-polish Mastères in industrial engineering and paraseismic engineering (ECL, ECP, ENSMSE with the polytechnical schools of Wroclaw and Scezin) or in Telecommunication Network Management (ENSTBr and Ecole Franco-polonaise of Poznan).
Get more information in the chapter dealing with "Mastères Spécialisés».
An engineering degree or a university degree at the bac+4 level is required. Selection is organized using the student's resume and interviews (usually in June/July and again in September). Candidates should enquire about admission formalities in May.
The list of these programs is available :
Candidate selection and admission are under the responsibility of a committee which usually meets twice, in June and September.
Admission may occur at two levels :
There is no automatic equivalence system for recognizing foreign degrees. The admission committees, when deciding the admission of students in DEA or thesis studies, take into account all previous studies of the candidates, their grades, personal projects ... and their ability to follow the French doctoral studies. Therefore, a good foreign engineering degree does not guarantee exemption from the DEA.
Before worrying about administrative procedures for registering in doctoral studies, the candidate should get in touch with the faculty member in charge of the program, in order to tell him about his ideas and motivation.
These thesis are being alternatively prepared within both institutions under the supervision of both advisers. The thesis has to be written in one of the national languages of both countries, and a summary has to be written in the other language. The thesis is submitted only once to a jury including the same number of scientific representatives of both countries.
The list of the DEA programs is available :
These partnerships tend to get priority because the schools know the involved colleges of foreign students and their professors, and because they can get some reciprocal priority for foreign trips of French students and financial advantages (for instance, internships for students and mutual remittance of candidates fees within European ERASMUS networks).
Through the ERASMUS European program, many higher institutions networks now increase student mobility ; each college validates studies accomplished in a foreign college. More than 2/3 of French engineering schools abide by this principle and offer to European students 6 to 12-month courses, in their 2nd or 3rd study year (often the students may choose between courses of different years). Most double-degree partnerships were built within these networks.
Some networks later tried to structure relationships in order to increase exchanges (the following list is of course not exhaustive) :
16 european institutions are part of the network : EPFL Lausanne., ESIEE Paris, ESIM Marseille, ICAI Madrid, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, T.U. Delft. , TU Dresden, TU Karslruhe, Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Essex, University of Heriot-Watt Edinburgh, Southampton University, National Technical University of Athens, Universidad de Valladolid.
Apart from these very structured European exchange programs, numerous partnerships have been developed with other countries' institutions, e.g. North-American universities.
Foreign students wishing to study or pursue research in a French engineering school should join partnership programs of the college of origin, which will certainly ease their stay in France.
Applications to be sent before September 15 to Institut Français du Pétrole/ENSPM, IRM Coordinator, BP 311, 92506 Rueil-Malmaison cedex France - Tél : +33-1- 47 52 60 96 - Fax : +33-1- 47 52 67 65.
Registration fees : 31,000 FF per student. Applications before April 15. Information : CESELEC, 8 Avenue des Minimes, 94300 Vincennes,France. Tel. : +33-1-43 98 38 44 - Fax : +33-1-43 98 12 06
Registration fees : 34,000 FF per student. Applications before September 1. Information : CESMECA, 8 Avenue des Minimes, 94300 Vincennes, France. Tel. : +33-1-43 98 29 92 - Fax : +33-1-43 98 12 06
Contact : ECATA Executive Office, 2 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31055 Toulouse Cedex, France, Tél :+33-61557183
Registration fees : 100.000 FF per student. Information : ENPC, Mrs ERERA, Tél : + 33-1.- 44 58 28 52.
Registration Fees : 62.800 FF per student. Information : UTC, Mrs Céline FERAMUS, Tél : +33-44 23 45 75
The different courses are the following :
Information : Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechnique, 29 Place des Corolles, La Défense 2, 92400 Courbevoie - Tél : + 33-1- 47 75 89 00 - Fax : + 33-1- 46 98 92 29
For any information : Mme LUCIUS, I.N.P.L. - S.R.I. - 2 Avenue de la Forêt de Haye - BP 3 - 54501 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex - Tél : +33- 83 59 59 36 - Fax : +33- 83 59 59 55
COPERNIC was created in 1990 jointly by Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris and Collège des Ingénieurs. It offers an intensive 7 month training in the field of management and a 5 month internship in a partner or associated company. The internship prepares the students to future responsibility duties in a French company in Central and Eastern Europe..
The Copernicians follow about 500 compulsory training hours from october to april in the 4 partner institutions. The training intends to give high level undergraduates additional tools in the field of management. The program is centered on economics and political life, financing and accountancy, strategy and marketing, communication and administration of human resources. The internship (may to september) aims at breaking cultural barriers in order to allow a successful professional integration in the French firms present in Central and Eastern Europe.
For any information , contact the COPERNIC Office : 49 rue de l'Université - 75007 Paris - Tél : + 33-1- 49 54 72 81 - Fax : + 33-1- 49 54 72 68. - e-mail : Knut@cdi.cdi.Fr
Want to see a picture of the list ?
Some indications for foreign students wishing to pursue engineering studies in France
Preparing an engineering degree
Because of the selective French engineering schools admission system, students need a very good high school level in mathematics and physics, which generally makes it difficult for foreign students to prepare French engineering degrees. However, there are some possible ways which could be interesting to explore.
See the list of double degrees of engineering schools.
Following specialized engineering studies leading to a degree
These are graduate studies, thus much easier to enter for foreign students than undergraduate studies.
Specialization Schools giving an Engineering Degree
These 21 schools (see list) offer one or two years of specialization studies for candidates who usually have already graduated from an engineering school. Foreign candidates may enter with an engineering degree with the same level as French degrees (bac+5 level). Foreign candidates having got up to the level of the French "maîtrise" (bac+4 level) may also enter, but they have to study two years in this case. Some schools take a high percentage of foreign students, and have even developed specialization studies in English :
Applications should be sent before May 15 to CNEARC, 1101 Avenue Agropolis, BP 5098, 34033 Montpellier Cedex 01, France - Tél + 33-1-67 61 70 00 - Fax : + 33-1- 67 41 03 23
«Mastères Spécialisés» (MS) organized by Engineering Schools
About 60 engineering schools (and also some management schools) organize these high-level business oriented specialization programs, usually 12 to 15 months long including personal work leading to the submission of a professional thesis. These are around 140 of these programs in science and engineering.
A list of Mastère programs is distributed by the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles, 60 Bd Saint-Michel, 75272 Paris Cedex 06 - Tél : 33-1-43 26 25 57 - Fax : 33-1-46 34 56 70.
Diplômes d'Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées in Engineering Sciences (DESS)
organized in partnerships between Universities and Engineering Schools
More than 200 specialized graduate programs lead to a DESS. Those are organized by universities, often in partnership with one or many engineering colleges. These programs last one year.
Preparing a Doctoral Degree in Engineering Sciences
Obviously, doctoral studies are the most important scientific exchange programs of engineering schools or universities (percentage of foreign doctoral students in ENPC : more than 50 %, in ENST : 43 %, in INSA, the Institut National Polytechnique, UTC... : 40 % ).
Theses under joint sponsorship by French and foreign higher education institutions
In January, 1994, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research decided to authorize French higher education institutions to give doctor titles jointly with their foreign equivalent. This aims at developing scientific cooperation between French and foreign research teams by easing mobility of Ph.D. students.
Staying in an engineering school in the framework of an exchange network to study or pursue research
Engineering schools most often examine applications coming under the guidance of existing exchange programs with foreign partner institutions, though individual applications are also welcome.
International Courses and Programs
Some engineering schools have developed specific courses corresponding to priority needs of foreign candidates. Here are some examples :
Short continuing education courses
It is also important to know that a great number of engineering schools offer in the framework of continuous education a large series of short courses and seminars (a few days long) for professionals, centered on very specialized fields. Foreign students coming to France to follow a long study program may so have the possibility to complete their training in a specific subject through this type of short course. The catalogues and programs of theses courses are available in the continuing education departments of the different engineering schools.
Information : CESMAT, 60 boulevard Saint. Michel, 75272 Paris Cedex 06 - Tél : + 33-1-46347618, Fax : + 33-1- 43 25 17 99
Other types of training courses or programs designed for foreign students
«Jean Monnet Program» of «Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechnique»
Thanks to "Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechnique", this program could be offered to students of the best American or Japanese universities. Its aim is to give a European cultural, scientific and industrial vision. The program extends for one year with courses and seminars (4 months), internships in companies (5 months) and study travels. Selected students can get a scholarship of the Fondation.
Summer Program of Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL)
INPL entered a cooperation and student exchange agreement with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Kansas State University, and University of Wisconsin at Madison. Thus, INPL has been admitting since 1991 French speaking engineering students from these universities in a Summer Program which starts mid-May and lasts for 10 weeks. Language training and cultural education by INPL's "Centre d'Accueil et de Formation Linguistique" last 6 weeks. 4 other weeks are oriented towards a scientific activity in a lab, in the student's major field, with factory visits. Students write reports about these activities, in French. These reports are validated by the initial American university and give credits to students. This "à la carte" program encounters an increasing popularity among students, and managers of INPL are looking for other American university partnerships.
or Miss Kimberley THOMPSON - College of Engineering - Study Abroad Office - 115 International Studies Bldg. - 910 S. Fifth Street - CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820 - Fax (217) 244-0249 - e-mail : kthompsn@uiuc.edu
COPERNIC - a management program for engineers and economists from Central and Eastern Europe
COPERNIC recruits young economists and engineers, all French-speaking,, graduated from the most important Central and Eastern European Universities. A minimum level of 4 to 5 years higher education is required, a first professional experience is recommended. The recruitment phase starts every year in February.
Institutions partnerships leading to double engineering degrees
(this list is not exhaustive)
French Institution(s) Foreign Institution(s)
TIME Network RWTH Aachen, TH Darmstadt, Fr.Alex U.
(Top Industrial Managers for Europe) : Erlangen-Nürnberg, TU München, Univ.
ECP + EC Lyon, ECLille, ECNantes, Stuttgart, TU Wien, FP Mons, U Cat.Louvain,
ENSAE, ENSTA, SUPELEC U.L. Bruxelles, DTH Copenhagen, ETSII
Barcelone, ETSII Madrid, ICAI Madrid,
EMPol. Athènes, TU Eindhoven, Politecnico
50 students graduated in 1993 Milan, Politecnico Torino, IST Lisboa, KTH
100 graduated since the beginning of the program Stockholm
EMN Nancy Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de
Minas de Madrid (U.P.M.)
ENSMP Paris (acces through usual Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de
procedure «sur titres»in the 2nd yr) Minas de Madrid (U.P.M.)
ENPC Paris ETSI de Caminos Madrid, TU Münich, TU
Berlin, Politecnico Torino
ENSAM Paris-French-German center in Metz T.U. Karlsruhe
(opening in september 1996)
ENSAM Paris - French-Iberian center in U. Bilbao, U. San Sebastian, U. Valencia, U.
Bordeaux (opening in september 1995) Valladolid, U. Zaragossa, FEUP Porto
ENST Paris U. Stuttgart, Politecnico of Torino, ETSIT
Madrid, ETSIT Barcelone
EMSE St. Etienne T.U. Berlin
o
ENSERG Grenoble Politecnico of Torino
ENSPG Grenoble TU Karlsruhe, Politecnico of Torino
EPF Sceaux (Production and Automation FH Münich, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal
Engineering Degree)
ESIM Marseille ETSII Madrid, Cranfield Institute of Technology
ESITI - INP Lorraine FH Mannheim
INSA Rennes - «Two degrees program in Strathclyde University in Glasgow
Electrical Engineering» (MEng with European Studies)
ISTG Grenoble T.U. Karlsruhe
UTC Compiègne Cranfield Institute of Technology
Other partnership types
E.E.I.G.M. Ecole Européenne en Génie des U. Sarrebrück, U.P. Barcelone, U. Lulea
Matériaux de Nancy
ESIEE, Diplôme Tripartite (training T.U. Karlsruhe, U. Southampton, ICAI Madrid
divided among 3 european institutions),
exists since 1980,
around 200 former graduates).
