Admission process

The competitive examination covers the French Preparatory Classes courses for scientific graduate schools (“Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles”). The minimum level corresponds to two years of Preparatory Classes after the Baccalaureate. Separate examinations will be offered according to the course the candidate has completed (Maths and Physics, Physics and Chemistry, Physical and Engineering Science, Technology and Industrial Science). Specific papers are proposed according to the candidates' background (Mathematics, Physics, Physical Chemistry, Engineering Science).
For each course, a brochure provides instructions about competitive entrance, conditions and the online registration process, (type of exam, dates, times and exam weighting), as well as written and oral presentation exam centres.

Candidates from Maths and Physics, Physics and Chemistry, Technology and Industrial Science

Mathematics, Physics, Physics and Chemistry, Engineering Science, Technology and Industrial Science candidates can read and download the brochure fromCentraleSupélec competitive entrance website. They will also find there the subjects of the written examinations and the jury reports of the previous sessions.

For information on registration (brochure request, online registration process) or competitive entrance requirements, candidates should send an e-mail to CentraleSupélec Competitive Entrance Examination

Secretariat: contact@concours-centrale-supelec.fr

Candidates from Physics/Technology

The competitive entrance examination conditions are available on Physics/Technology discipline website. Candidates can read and download the specific brochure.

For information about registration (brochure request, online registration process) or competitive entrance examination requirements, candidates should send an email to the CentraleSupélec Competitive entrance office.

Secretariat: contact@concours-centrale-supelec.fr

Secretariat du Service des concours banque filière PT
24 rue Pinel
75013 PARIS
Phone: +33 1 44 06 93 31
Fax: +33 1 44 06 93 39
Email: contact@banquept.com

International candidates

Besides admission via the same routes as French candidates, foreign candidates may be able to apply through other specific admission routes: the “international student” competitive entrance exam for Maths and Physics, Physics and Chemistry and Physical and Engineering Sciences is the special “international program” competitive entrance exam for Maths and Physics and Physics and Chemistry.

The “international student” competitive entrance examinations take place in France. They are similar to the CentraleSupélec competitive entrance examinations, except for the language test and the writing test coefficient. This competitive entrance is reserved and open to non-French candidates who have passed the French Baccalaureate (or a foreign diploma recognised as equivalent thereto for the purposes of their university studies) and who have been educated in French Grandes Écoles Preparatory Classes.

The specific "international cycle" competitive entrance is exclusively for non-French students who have not completed higher education in France. The written science exams are held abroad, in countries (Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia) where courses are available and cover the Grandes Écoles Preparatory Classes programme. The oral science exams are held at CentraleSupélec.

For information concerning the registration (brochure request, online registration process) or the organization of these competitive examinations, candidates should contact the CentraleSupélec competitive entrance exam office.

You graduated from a French university or have a bachelor's degree from a non-French university in science (Mathematics, Physics or Mechanics) or engineering? You can become a CentraleSupélec engineer without competing in the Preparatory Classes.

CentraleSupélec organizes a competitive entrance examination to recruit University students who have the capacity to acquire within three years required skills to graduate as CentraleSupélec engineers. There are 30 places offered in 2018 through this competitive entrance route.

Candidates must excel in one or more scientific fields. A high level in mathematics is especially important for competitive entrance examinations and for the CentraleSupélec engineering curriculum.

Eligibility and qualifications required to apply:

Candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree from a French university or a bachelor's degree from a non-French university in science (Mathematics, Physics or Mechanics) or Engineering.

Candidates working to complete the required qualifications may apply during their final year of training. Possible admission will then be made on condition of having completed the required degree, at the first examination session in which the candidate can apply. In addition, the eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Candidates may not apply more than once.
• Candidates must not have completed the required two-year scientific French Preparatory Classes (CPGE). Every student who has enrolled in a special mathematics class is considered as having completed a two-year “CPGE” as defined here, even if they left before the end of this second year.
• Candidates must not have completed a study period for the purposes of an engineering degree. Every student who has enrolled in a training course leading to an engineering degree (engineering school, preparatory university program, etc.) is considered as having completed a preparatory program at an engineering school, as defined in here, even if they have not completed the second year of the program.
• Candidates must not have been enrolled in final year of a master's degree or in a Doctoral program.
• Candidates with French citizenship must have legal status in compliance with Articles L113-1 and following of the French National Service Code, which stipulates that young French citizens must register and attend the Defence and Citizenship Day.

Please note that citizenship is not an eligibility criterion. Proficiency in French is not a prerequisite to apply. The whole application process and the competitive entrance examination can be carried out in English. Candidates suffering from disabilities or chronic illness may request specific facilities arrangements. They must make themselves known when they register.

Registration process

Candidates must apply online no later than April 30, 2018.

Incomplete applications, or applications for which fees have not been paid, will not be examined. According to their academic background, registered candidates must choose one of three possible paths in the competitive entrance:

• Mathematics

• Physics

• Mechanics

Eligibility

Candidates are allowed to take both the written and oral examinations according to the information provided in their application file. Selection is based on the candidate’s academic performance, cover letter and letters of recommendation from University professors.

The selected candidates will be notified by e-mail before May 16, 2018. They must provide a reliable email address, which does not change during the application process and ensure that no filters block incoming emails from CentraleSupélec.

Written and oral science exams

The admission exams are conducted in three categories, according to the candidates' choice when registering: Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics.

Examination schedules will be available very shortly on a dedicated website

Written science exam

The written science examinations will be held on Monday, June 11, 2018. Candidates must be present in the examination room no less than 15 minutes before the beginning of the exams.

The first two-hour written exam comprises exercises in Mathematics, Physics or Mechanics. The objective is to assess the candidate’s scientific level in line with their bachelor’s degree level. The candidate is marked between 0 and 20.

The MCQ test is a set of questions designed to assess knowledge level in Physics (for the Mathematics track) or Mathematics (for the Physics and Mechanics tracks). The candidate is marked between 0 and 20. Candidates will not be allowed to leave the examination room during exams except for medical reasons.

During the written exams no material is allowed except a French or English paper dictionary. Electronic devices are forbidden, including calculators, laptops, tablet computers, mobile phones, and smart watches (non-exhaustive list). Mobile phones must be switched off (not just in silent mode), put away and out of the candidate's reach.

Candidates only need a blue or black ink pen. Scripts and rough copy papers are provided by the examination centre.

For more information on the Competitive Entrance Examination, click on following links:

• Mathematics
• Mechanics
• Physics

Oral examinations and interview

Oral examinations will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 and on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

At every 30-minute oral examination, the examiner assigns a test to the candidate.

The assessment is based on the candidate's ability to address a problem whose solution is likely to be unknown to them. The examiner can give guidance throughout the assessment.

The candidate is marked between 0 and 20.

Through a 30-minute interview, the candidate's motivation to complete the CentraleSupélec engineering curriculum will be assessed. The test results will be given as a letter: A (excellent), B (good), C (insufficient).

Admission process

A total mark will be calculated by applying the following coefficients to the marks awarded in the different exams:

• Two-hour written test: 20

• One-hour MCQ: 14
• Oral exam 1: 33
• Oral exam 2: 33

Candidates will be ranked according to their mark at the scientific examinations and interview. Candidates whose marks are deemed insufficient will not be ranked.

The list of ranked candidates will be available on June 15, 2018. The jury is allowed to rank fewer candidates than the number of places offered.

The candidates’ admission will be decided by CentraleSupélec Director, according to ranking and provided they hold the required qualifications. Candidate admission will be final once the registration process has been completed, the candidate has provided the formal documents relating to their bachelor's degree or equivalent and has also paid the tuition fees.

Competitive entrance and examination office

Contact:

Email: admissions@centralesupelec.fr

Phone: + 33 1 75 31 63 23

CentraleSupélec - Gif-sur-Yvette Campus
Plateau du Moulon
3 rue Joliot-Curie
F-91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex

Examination centre: Gif-sur-Yvette

CentraleSupélec accepts the Recognition of Prior Learning as a degree:

You have acquired professional experience as well as levels of knowledge, skills and responsibilities equivalent to an engineer level, but you have not completed the engineering degree? You may consider applying for the engineering degree through the RPL which enables the recognition of prior learning and skills acquired as a result of your professional experience through a degree.

Please note that this process is time-consuming and requires high personal and financial involvement. In particular, it is very important for us to understand both your personal project and your motivation to enrol in a RPL process. The Recognition of Prior Learning is therefore not a mere equivalence but rather a process to achieve a degree matching your professional experience and prior learning.

More information on the process is available on this website.

RPL: what is it and who is it for?

Implemented by the French social law No. 2002-73, January 17, 2002, RPL offers a path to graduation, and undergraduate levels, continuing education and apprenticeship training. Recognition of prior learning gives candidates with one year of professional experience (employed, self-employed or volunteer) directly related to the targeted degree the chance to apply for recognition of all or part of the prerequisites for degree completion.

RPL at CentraleSupélec

RPL will be available for CentraleSupélec graduate engineers within the new curriculum.

RPL steps  

RPL process at CentraleSupélec is based on three consecutive verification steps:

• Step 1: administrative and educational eligibility (Booklet 1)

This first step that follows the candidate’s decision to start a RPL process is a fundamental diagnosis step that evaluates administrative candidate eligibility, i.e. makes sure the professional experience conditions match those provided for in legal requirements, and educational eligibility and RPL project feasibility, i.e. the candidate’s capacity to demonstrate, through successfully implemented professional experience, the skills required by the CentraleSupelec engineering degree, and that the candidate’s situation is favourable for completing their RPL project

• Step 2: compilation of the file (Booklet 2) providing justification of required professional experience in line with the targeted degree

This step is essential for file completion (Booklet 2): written proof of background and acquired professional experience. The candidate must demonstrate by their professional experience that they have acquired the skillset needed as defined in the degree's reference document together with the expected performance level. If the candidate does not take tests, they must, however, collect the supporting proof to justify their statements. For this stage the candidate may ask for methodological support from a VAE tutor.

• Step 3: file review and presentation to a multidisciplinary RPL jury made up of professionals and academic staff

This is the final step in the process: the candidate's written file is sent to the jury. The candidate is then invited to an oral presentation of his background and to proof that he has successfully achieved the skills required to graduate. The objective is to assess the match between the professional experience acquired and the skills required by the targeted degree. The jury will pay specific attention to the background, achievements and methodology implemented, and to knowledge and skills deployed in action.

• See detailed steps for the RPL process
• RPL process at CentraleSupélec

Fees

• Step 1 - Administrative processing and administrative admissibility examination: €200
• Step 1 - Feasibility review (analysis "Booklet 1"): €800
• Step 2 - Proof file completion "Booklet 2": €1,500
• Step 2 - Degree registration fees: €3,500
• Step 2 - Support in the file compilation process (optional): €2,000
• Step 3 - RPL jury convening: €2,000
• Step 3 - 2nd RPL Jury (if incomplete approval) €2,000

Resumption of RPL processes and studies may be funded as lifelong learning from an employer or various organisations.

Schedule

Two RPL sessions are planned each year, according to the following schedule:

In 2017, the RPL process “launch” year, a collective information meeting will take place on November 8, 2017 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, on the Gif-sur-Yvette campus.

If you are interested in RPL, your attendance at this meeting is mandatory.

Please check and confirm your participation with:

Marion Taupin, RPL Administrative Manager, marion.taupin@centralesupelec.fr

Contacts: 

• Christophe Gallon, Education organization Director

christophe.gallon@centralesupelec.fr

• Patrick Aldebert, RPL Head Teacher

Patrick.aldebert@centralesupelec.fr

• Marion Taupin, RPL Administrative Manager

Marion.Taupin@centralesupelec.fr