Admission

The admission to the predoctoral ENS formation and to the preparation of the ENS diploma (DENS) is exclusively done by contest. Three contests exist, with their modalities down below. It is totally possible to candidate for multiple of those contests.

Normaliens and normaliennes are selected on the quality of their prior formation, on the seriousness of their knowledge and on the disposition to creativity and innovation. The ENS is looking for brilliant and innovative spirits, and delivers to normaliens a diploma of the establishment, the ENS diploma(DENS). The ENS is also a member of PSL who delivers national diplomas (masters and PhDs).

Whatever the contest you’re preparing for, it is possible to ask for a housing inside the ENS dorms during the tests that take place at the ENS : see here for more information.

1. The competitive examination for the Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles (CPGE)

The normalien.nes are recruited by a contest after two or three years of higher education, generally followed in preparatory classes for the grandes ecoles. The winners of European nationality acquire the probationary official status and are remunerated for 4 years (around €1250 per month). The other winners receive a scholarship.

For more information : concours sciences

Studying chemistry at the ENS chemistry department : “a great freedom and a higher lever research around highly competent and open-minded people”

2.The normalien student contest

The school also welcomes students off all nationality with an acceptance on file to prepare for the ENS diploma; the integration is done in DENS1. Coming from preparatory classes, French or foreign universities, those students are selected at a third-year level or equivalent. They do not benefit from the probationary official status, therefore are not obliged to the ten-year engagement and do not receive a remuneration. Besides this stats difference, they receive the same formation as the normalien.nes (same classes, same teachers, same exams, same exigence and same diploma), benefit from the same international sponsors of the ENS and the same rights regarding their ENS schooling, student life, housing allocation, etc.

For more general information on the ENS student contest : Concours normalien étudiant

The selection process consists of two phases:

 (i) Eligibility determined by a study of the application and, if necessary, a telephone interview. The eligibility panel will take place at the end of May. Eligible candidates will be invited to the admission tests which will take place during the month of June.

 (ii) Admission tests consisting of a written chemistry test of approximately 60 minutes and an interview of approximately 30 minutes. Both tests will be conducted in French. The written test and the interview will take place in June.

The results will be posted on the School’s competition website after the admission jury, which will take place in early July.

Application deadline: March 15 – April 29, 2022

The application is made in two steps:

Administrative pre-registration for the ENS Diploma in Chemistry here .

Sending of the file in the form of a single pdf file to the address : candidature.chimie@ens.psl.eu Important : the subject of the mail will be ” Name-First Name ” (those of the candidate).

The file will consist of the following documents:

– The signed information form (form from the administrative pre-registration),

– A curriculum vitae,

– A motivation letter,

– A photocopy of diplomas (Baccalaureate and university diplomas),

Photocopies of results obtained in the last few years: transcript of grades from the baccalaureate, semester transcripts (universities) and quarterly transcripts (CPGE), photocopies of official results from competitive exams if applicable.

Letters of recommendation can be sent until the deadline for applications (April 29, 2022) by teachers and internship supervisors in pdf format to the following address: candidature.chimie@ens.psl.eu Important: the subject of the e-mail will be “Name-First name-Recommendation” (those of the candidate).

For any question regarding the applications, please send a letter to the following address: cne.chimie@ens.psl.eu

 

 

3. Recruitment of foreign students by the international selection

The international selection is a high-level contest intended for students who are registered to a foreign university : around ten foreign students are recruited every year and dispatched between the different science departments after their first university cycle. They do not possess the probationary official status but receive a scholarship of about €1000 per month.

Why studying chemistry at the Department of Chemistry of ENS ? “I recommend this Department because it is much more personal; you can always ask for help… you are not just a number…”

For more information : Foreign Students at the chemistry department of ENS