Overview

The Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) was officially founded on 31 May 2019, in response to the ambition expressed by the President of the French Republic to create a higher education and research cluster — an alliance of the Grandes Écoles located on the Saclay plateau — delivering all levels of degrees, deeply integrating curricula, pooling strengths and equipment, and evolving towards the model of an MIT, a Caltech, or a French EPFL. 

IP Paris is a public higher education and research institution comprising six prestigious French engineering schools — the Grandes Écoles: École Polytechnique, École nationale des ponts et chaussées (ENPC), ENSTA Paris, ENSAE Paris, Télécom Paris, and Télécom SudParis. Together, these schools bring over two centuries of expertise to pursue two major goals: to develop world-class training programs and cutting-edge research. Their alumni include Nobel Prize-winners and prominent figures in the worlds of politics, business, and research. 

The Institute welcomes 8,500 students each year — 35% of whom are international students — on its campus located near Paris, in one of the world's eight leading innovation clusters. Students are admitted through a very selective recruitment process and receive a high-quality education from a community of 1,000 faculty members and experts who are renowned in their fields.

The Institut Polytechnique de Paris contributes to and benefits from the dynamism of the Plateau de Saclay — a scientific and business hub sometimes referred to as the "French Silicon Valley" and one of the eight most powerful innovation clusters in the world. The campus offers an extensive network of scientific, educational and sports facilities. 

Research at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris is built on the recognised expertise of its Schools across ten major disciplines: Biology; Chemistry and Processes; Economics; Information, Communications and Electronics; Computer Science, Data, and AI; Mathematics; Mechanics and Energetics; Physics; Humanities, Arts, Literature and Languages; and Social Sciences and Management. The research programmes identify 12 key areas: Environment & Climate, Energy Transition, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Networks and IoT, Mathematics and Digital Simulation, Cybersecurity, Defence, Geopolitics and Strategy, Innovative Materials and Quantum Technologies, Lasers and Plasma Science, Robotics, and Bioengineering. 

Notable alumni include Nobel Laureates in Physics (Henri Becquerel) and Economics (Jean Tirole, Maurice Allais), three French Presidents, Fields Medal winners, and CEOs of global multinationals including TotalEnergies, Capgemini, and Dassault Aviation.

Intakes

IP Paris follows the French academic calendar, with a single primary intake per year for most programs:

• Autumn Intake (September) — Primary (and only) intake for all Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs
• No spring intake is available for most programs

Application Deadlines — Three Rounds for International Students:

At IP Paris, there are three rounds of application deadlines for international students, beginning in November. Each programme has its own specific deadlines, which must be verified on the official website. There is no open application policy at École Polytechnique, and no applications are accepted after the deadline. 

Note: Deadlines are program-specific across the six schools. Always check the official IP Paris portal (ip-paris.fr/en/education/programs) and the individual school websites. Non-EU students require a French long-stay student visa (VLS-TS).

Top Courses

IP Paris develops multidisciplinary education from Bachelor to PhD levels and research programs in ten disciplinary departments. Programs are taught in English and/or in French. 

Key programs by school include:

• École Polytechnique — Ingénieur Polytechnicien Program (elite 4-year flagship program), BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science, MSc in Applied Mathematics, MSc in Data Science for Business (with HEC Paris), MSc in Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Visual Computing, MSc in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, MSc in Energy Environment: Science Technology & Management, PhD Track Programs
• ENPC — École des Ponts ParisTech — MSc in Civil and Structural Engineering, MSc in Urban Environment and Mobility, MSc in Economic Analysis and Policy, MSc in Environmental Engineering, MSc in Transportation Science
• ENSTA Paris — MSc in Aerospace Engineering, MSc in Automotive Engineering, MSc in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Signal and Image Processing, MSc in Systems Design and Modelling
• ENSAE Paris — MSc in Statistics, Finance & Actuarial Science, MSc in Data Science, MSc in Economics and Public Policy, MSc in Quantitative Finance
• Télécom Paris — MSc in ICT Innovation (joint with European universities), MSc in Cybersecurity, MSc in Data & Artificial Intelligence, MSc in Networks and Digital Communications
• Télécom SudParis — MSc in Ubiquitous Networking and Computing, MSc in Security and Networking, MSc in Machine Learning for Data Science

All schools also offer PhD programs across all disciplines, jointly supervised by CNRS, INRIA, CEA, and other leading French research institutions.

Cost of Studying at Institut Polytechnique de Paris

Master's program course fees at IP Paris are typically slightly lower than undergraduate program tuition fees, with large variation between courses. For example, the postgraduate degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics has tuition fees of €4,243 per year (for EU students) and €6,243 per year (for non-EU students). The University estimates that the total monthly budget to live in suburban Paris is €600 to €900 — including accommodation, transport, food, personal items, recreation, and entertainment. Students must also pay the annual Campus Fee of approximately €92. 

For PhD Track admitted students, IP Paris subsidises tuition fees substantially: in Years 1 and 2 (Master's years), fees are reduced from approximately €7,000 per year to €243 per year; in Years 3, 4, and 5 (doctoral years), fees are set at €380 per year. 

Note: Tuition fees for non-EU students are significantly higher. Scholarship availability can dramatically reduce costs. Verify at ip-paris.fr before applying.

Scholarships

The Institut Polytechnique de Paris awards excellence scholarships each year to PhD Track students, covering their Master's years and doctoral funding commitments. Three types of scholarships are offered: Full Package (FP) — 5-year or 4-year funding including a Master's excellence scholarship of €10,000/year for 2 years and a doctoral funding commitment (minimum gross total of approximately €82,800 over 3 doctoral years); Master's Scholarship (BM) — 2-year funding including a Master's excellence scholarship of €10,000/year; and Doctoral Package (DP) — 3-year doctoral funding only.

Key scholarships for international students include:

Admissions

The Polytechnic Institute of Paris has an acceptance rate of approximately 10%, making it one of the most selective institutions in France and globally. All academic programs are designed for top-tier students with exceptional talent capable of completing a rigorous course load. 

For Bachelor Programs (BSc — École Polytechnique):

• Completion of 12 years of secondary education + strong STEM foundation
• Admission via competitive preparatory classes (Classes Préparatoires) for French students; for international students, equivalent of two completed years of university-level STEM or strong high school performance with top grades
• IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 90 for English-taught programs (B2–C1 CEFR)
• DELF/DALF B2 for French-taught programs
• Application through the individual school portals

For Postgraduate Programs (MSc / Master's):

• Bachelor's degree (minimum 3 years / 180 ECTS) in a relevant discipline
• Applicants may apply in the same year they obtain their degree
• GPA equivalent to 3.0–3.5/4.0 (highly competitive applicants typically 3.5+)
• IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 90+ for English programs
• GRE/GMAT may be required for certain programs (e.g., economics and finance)
• Motivational Letter / Statement of Purpose
• CV / Résumé
• 2–3 Letters of Recommendation
• Official academic transcripts translated into English or French

For PhD Programs:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
• Exceptional research record
• Research proposal aligned with IP Paris research priorities
• Interview with potential supervisor
• IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL iBT 90+

Placements

IP Paris ranks 14th worldwide for employer reputation and 25th for employment outcomes in the QS 2026 World University Rankings. École Polytechnique ranks first in terms of student employability in France's national rankings of engineering schools.

More than 95% of IP Paris graduates find a job within four months of graduation. Students benefit from a large community of over 60,000 alumni including CEOs, well-renowned researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors, and political leaders. The Institute offers a range of career services including recruitment forums, workshop sessions, and mentoring programs. 

In terms of career paths, approximately 47% of IP Paris graduates enter the corporate sector, 29% pursue a PhD, 15% opt for the public sector, and 3% establish their own startups. More than 65% of graduates find employment well before graduating. 

IP Paris graduates are among the most sought-after in France and globally — especially by France's top corporations (CAC 40), consulting firms, defence organisations, and technology companies. The Plateau de Saclay location provides direct proximity to major employers including CEA, CNRS, Thales, Airbus, Safran, and Sanofi.

Key career sectors for IP Paris graduates:

• Consulting & Strategy — McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Roland Berger, Kearney, Capgemini
• Finance & Banking — BNP Paribas, Société Générale, AXA, Natixis, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan (Paris)
• Aerospace & Defence — Airbus, Safran, Thales, Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Naval Group, CEA
• Energy & Climate — TotalEnergies, EDF, Engie, Schneider Electric, Veolia
• Technology & AI — Google DeepMind, Meta AI, Microsoft Research, NVIDIA, Palantir, startups on the Saclay plateau
• Research & Academia — CNRS, INRIA, INSERM, CEA, European research agencies, top universities worldwide

Jobs After Graduating from Institut Polytechnique de Paris

Note: Salary figures are indicative gross monthly values for first-job graduates in France. Actual salaries vary by school, program, employer, sector, and experience.

For personalised guidance on Institut Polytechnique de Paris admissions, scholarships, and the French student visa process, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.