Happy New Year 2026
The entire ENSTA community wishes you all the best for 2026!
Understanding our education system
Since the 18th century, French Grandes Écoles have been training the leaders and senior executives of France's leading industrial companies. These institutions, which include ENSTA, are highly selective in their admissions. Small to medium in size, Grandes Écoles provide high-quality education and maintain close ties with the business world.
Graduates of France's “Grandes Écoles” enjoy a status similar to that of Oxbridge in the UK and Ivy League schools in the US. Naturally, they are highly sought after by many large companies around the world. There are around 250 different engineering schools in France. The most prestigious of these, such as ENSTA, are certified by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI). This body is responsible for accrediting French higher education institutions in the field of engineering.
Equivalency table to understand the French education system of grandes écoles:
Grading system
The French grading system is based on a scale of 20. Grades are awarded from 0 to 20, with “0” being the lowest grade.
Traditionally, grades above 16 are rarely awarded. The passing grade for a subject is generally 10/20, although grades of 8 or 9 may indicate satisfactory performance. The grading system in France is particularly demanding and can vary from one institution to another and from one course to another.
| French grading system | Letter equivalent | Grade GPA |
| 16-20 | A+ | 4,3 |
| 14-15,9 | A | 4 |
| 12-13,9 | A- | 3,7 |
| 11-11,9 | B+ | 3,3 |
| 10-10,9 | B | 3 |
| 8-8,9 | C | 2 |
| 6-7,9 | D | 1 |
| 0-5,9 | F | 0 |
ECTS distribution system
The table below shows how ECTS credits are distributed on average at ENSTA, taking into account the positive results awarded in each field of study.
| ECTS | % of students who passed | Definition | |
| A | 20% | Exceptional | |
| B | 30% | Very good | Above-average results, no significant errors |
| C | 30% | Good | Overall satisfactory work, contains errors |
| D | 15% | Satisfactory | Adequate: passable results, some shortcomings |
| E | 5% | Sufficient | The work meets basic requirements |
| FX | Fail | Additional work required before credit can be awarded | |
| F | Échec | Considerable work is required; implies repeating the course |
Our latest news
Happy New Year 2026
Institute | Innovation | Research
Four ENSTA researchers win IP Paris Prématuration call for projects
Four ENSTA researchers win IP Paris Prématuration call for projects
The sixth edition of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris Prématuration call for projects has selected three projects led by ENSTA researchers.
The sixth edition of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris Prématuration call for projects has selected three projects led by ENSTA researchers.
Institute | Student Life
Menstrual leave, a natural right at ENSTA
Menstrual leave, a natural right at ENSTA
Tested since September 2025 on the Paris-Saclay campus, menstrual leave is now a right that is gradually being extended to female students on both campuses. This is a major step forward for young women, placing ENSTA among the pioneers of engineering...
Tested since September 2025 on the Paris-Saclay campus, menstrual leave is now a right that is gradually being extended to female students on both campuses. This is a major step forward for young women, placing ENSTA among the pioneers of engineering...