Your questions about ENSTA and its programs

ENSTA is both the oldest engineering school in France and an institution undergoing significant transformation. Its history dates back to 1741, with the founding of the École des ingénieurs-constructeurs de vaisseaux royaux by Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau.

In 2025, the merger of ENSTA Paris and ENSTA Bretagne gave rise to a general engineering school with two campuses, offering nearly 20 specializations and four levels of engineering education. Historically linked to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, ENSTA has, over the centuries, trained top-level engineers for the defense and civilian sectors.

ENSTA combines a tradition of excellence, innovation, and a commitment to the future. It is also one of the six founding schools of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris.

Learn more about our history

ENSTA regularly ranks among the top 5 and 10 French engineering schools (out of more than 200 grandes écoles). In 2026, L’Étudiant ranked it as the 2nd best engineering school in France (for the second consecutive year), while Le Figaro Étudiant ranked it 7th.

Internationally, ENSTA is ranked under the banner of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris: 41st worldwide and 2nd in France in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, and 68th worldwide in the Times Higher Education rankings.

ENSTA is part of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris), alongside École Polytechnique, ENPC, ENSAE Paris, Télécom Paris, and Télécom SudParis.

The Institute brings together research, develops high-level programs (master’s and doctoral degrees), and enhances the international visibility of its schools.

For ENSTA students, IP Paris represents:

• a strong academic brand on their resume,
• priority access to dual degrees in research,
• extensive opportunities for international mobility,
• innovation and entrepreneurship programs,
• inter-school events and highlights.

ENSTA students are spread across two historic campuses:

• Paris-Saclay, in Palaiseau, within Europe’s largest scientific hub.
• Brest, on the western tip of France, in the heart of Brittany’s second-largest student city.

Each campus is home to just over a thousand students.

Both campuses are modern and spacious, designed to bring together education, research, and student life in one place.

They feature connected lecture halls, fully equipped classrooms, research centers and experimental facilities, student housing, comprehensive sports facilities, libraries, dining options, and spaces dedicated to student organizations.

Although both campuses have similar facilities, there are a few unique features worth noting:

Brest Campus

Served by the tram, the campus allows you to reach downtown and the train station in 10 to 20 minutes. Brest is a dynamic student city, known for its cultural, athletic, and social offerings, as well as its exceptional natural environment, nestled between the sea and preserved natural areas.

The campus also stands out for its unique research facilities in robotics, marine observation, and mechanical engineering (drones, air-water tank, Masmeca mechanical platforms).

The student residence offers numerous services, and the student union hosts a very active community life.

Brest is accessible by TGV (3.5–4 hours from Paris) and via several direct flights.

Paris-Saclay Campus

Located on the Saclay plateau, one of Europe’s largest science and technology hubs, the campus benefits from an academic and industrial ecosystem of excellence. Students have access to the facilities of ENSTA and its neighbor, École Polytechnique, as well as numerous inter-campus activities.

The School boasts state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment.

Easily accessible (15 minutes from Massy, less than an hour from Paris and Orly), the campus offers cutting-edge research centers shared with IP Paris and its partners.
 

The core curriculum of the generalist program is identical on both campuses. Some courses and lectures may even be offered simultaneously online. Specialization courses or certain program tracks are tied to a specific campus, which is always specified in official materials.

• General Engineer: The first year is common to both campuses. Campus preference (Brest or Paris-Saclay) must be specified when submitting your application preferences for the competitive entrance exam (SCEI). In the second and third years, the campus depends on your chosen areas of specialization and concentration. It is possible to change campuses depending on your academic path.
• Defense & Security Engineer: First year in Brest, followed by specialization in Brest, Paris-Saclay, or Toulouse depending on the chosen specialization track.
• Apprenticeship Engineer (Mechanical or Embedded Systems): Work-study program with a host company. All classes are held in Brest (3 years).

Student life is supported by over 130 clubs and associations—sports, cultural, technical, and artistic. A federation coordinates joint activities, while each campus is organized around its BDE, BDS, and BDA. New projects emerge every year.

To view the activities offered (non-exhaustive list), visit the Clubs and Associations section

A welcome program is in place on each campus to facilitate integration. The residence halls open before the start of the academic year, and students are assisted upon arrival.

• In Brest, if you have chosen to live on campus, the residence hall will be open the weekend before the start of the semester. At the campus reception desk, staff are available 24/7 and can provide you with your keys regardless of your arrival time.
• In Paris-Saclay, if you are staying in the ENSTA residence, a welcome session is scheduled for the Saturday before the start of the academic year. You will receive all the information via email.

Orientation week includes welcome sessions, “living together harmoniously” workshops, forums, and tours. It concludes with a joint orientation weekend for both campuses, organized by the student unions.

ENSTA’s general engineering program is built on a high-level multidisciplinary scientific foundation, covering mathematics, mechanics, computer science, the humanities, languages, and major contemporary issues.

It is organized in three phases:

• 1st year: a broad and demanding core curriculum,
• 2nd year: in-depth study of a discipline (math, mechanics, or computer science),
• 3rd year: specialization among 18 possible tracks and a professional profile.

Each track is progressive, personalized, and career-oriented.

Career opportunities are highly varied: R&D engineer, project manager, design office engineer, expert, analyst, research officer, in the defense, maritime, energy, digital, transportation, and healthcare sectors, among others.

Nearly a quarter of graduates go on to pursue a Ph.D. ENSTA engineers quickly advance to leadership positions, thanks to their ability to tackle complex problems and manage large-scale projects.

The first-year campus has no impact on the choice of second-year tracks, which are selected at the end of the first year, nor on the third-year specialization.

The choice of campus is made during the application process for the Mines-Ponts entrance exam. Assignments are made by the SCEI based on preferences, rankings, and available capacity.

No, the curriculum is identical on both campuses during the first year: the content will be the same, as will the number of class hours and the format (lecture halls, tutorials, etc.)...

Most courses are designed and taught by pairs of instructors (one based in Paris-Saclay, the other in Brest).

Local support teams are available on each campus to assist you throughout your studies.

Some core curriculum lectures may be offered simultaneously on both campuses via connected lecture halls. These inter-ENSTA dual-site courses account for less than 5% of the total. The delivery methods are based on feedback from large campuses and on adapted teaching practices and audiovisual tools.

Places are reserved in the Mines-Ponts entrance exam for students entering the general engineering program as apprentices (FISEA).

The first year is completed as a full-time student. The apprenticeship begins in the second year and continues into the third year.

Students who choose this track complete their studies on the Paris-Saclay campus during the first and second years.

This program is also open starting in the second year to students enrolled as regular students who began their studies at one of ENSTA’s two campuses. They may apply to join the FISEA program starting in the second year.

This is neither a dual degree nor a bridge program, but rather a joint engineering program, delivered jointly by the two schools across their three campuses depending on the chosen track. ENSTA and ISAE-SUPAERO jointly award the degree, which is accredited by the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieurs.

The entire curriculum was jointly defined by the two schools, which have pooled their expertise to offer this unique and highly multidisciplinary program, strongly focused on innovation across the various technical fields of defense and security.

The degrees awarded therefore bear the names, logos, and signatures of both schools. And all FIDS program graduates simultaneously join the alumni networks of both ENSTA and ISAE-SUPAÉRO.

It is the only engineering degree of its kind in France, accredited by the CTI and jointly awarded by two engineering schools. The program thus meets the strong and growing demand for engineers in these fields, complementing the other engineering programs (general and specialized) offered by both schools.

Watch the video presentation of the program on Campus Channel

This new multidisciplinary engineering program addresses the strong and growing needs of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, as well as the 4,500 companies (SMEs, mid-sized firms, startups) and 9 major groups* that make up the French and European defense industry and supply society with high-tech civilian and military systems (the “dual-use” industry). The training program is multidisciplinary, career-oriented, and features progressive specialization.

What all these graduates have in common—and what sets the program apart—is a deep understanding of the issues, challenges, and methods that make engineering in the defense and security sectors unique. This knowledge and these skills are transferable to many other fields of application in cutting-edge engineering and so-called “sensitive” technologies (complex systems, innovative sectors with intense international competition, consulting & expertise…).

Examples of jobs (civil or military engineers): research and development engineer, complex systems design engineer, testing/calculation engineer, program manager, technical expert, data scientist…

[The nine major groups of the BITD (defense industrial and technological base) are Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup, Arquus, Dassault Aviation, KNDS, MBDA, Naval Group, Safran, and Thales. The BITD accounts for more than 240,000 jobs in France. Other examples of partner companies: on page 4 of the FIDS brochure]

After a general core curriculum in the first year, students can choose from three specialization tracks for the second and third years:

• Naval/Land Systems in Brest,
• Cyber and AI in Paris-Saclay (Palaiseau)
• Aeronautical/Space Systems in Toulouse.

The process differs depending on status (civilian or military), but in both cases, choices regarding specializations will be reviewed and approved during the second semester of the first year

• For IETA students, the number of spots is set by the Directorate General of Armaments, and currently, ranking is the primary factor considered.
• For civilian students, placement is based primarily on the students’ stated preferences. Each student must rank the three options in order of preference. During the first phase, 60% of the spots are allocated based on the ranking, while the remaining 40% are selected by the program directors based on an evaluation of the student’s academic and career plans, as well as their academic performance in the first semester.

Engineering students who choose this track complete their first year of core curriculum on the Brest campus. Then, the second and third years take place on the campus of the chosen specialization (see previous question).

Note: Students with military status (see below) will first complete a year of military orientation (a “zero” year between the admissions exam and the start of their first year in Brest).

The choice of status (student/civilian or IETA/military) is indicated when submitting school preferences for the entrance exams on the SCEI website. Candidates may rank both options.

Choosing the status of Armament Studies and Technology Engineering Student (IETA) is a dual commitment—as an engineer and a military officer—to carry out technical and managerial missions within the DGA or on assignment within the Ministry of the Armed Forces or the defense industry.

Note: The status of Armament Studies and Technology Engineer (IETA) is accessible only through competitive exams: 90% after CPGE via the Mines-Télécom exam and Defense & Security engineering training (45 spots in 2026), 10% based on academic qualifications (engineering degree or final year of an engineering program, 5 spots in 2026).

Specific admission requirements must be met to become an IETA. You can find the list on our website

What are the career opportunities and specific features of the training program for IETA military cadets?

IETAs form the backbone of the Directorate General for Armaments (DGA).

These engineers lead complex, high-stakes projects across the broad technical expertise areas of the DGA and agencies within the Ministry of the Armed Forces (Shom, AMIAD, AID, the armed forces, etc.). IETAs therefore cover five major missions: equipping the armed forces, anticipating strategic needs and innovations, contributing to strategic international cooperation, guiding the 4,500 companies within the BITD (Defense Industrial and Technological Base), and developing deterrence capabilities (nuclear and cyber).

The commitment following admission to the competitive exam includes 1 year of personal and military training (Year 0), 3 years of engineering training, and a minimum of 8 years of service as an IETA officer.

In the training program, the main differences for military cadets are:

• The year of military discovery (“Year 0”): This follows admission to the competitive exam and precedes entry into the school. This year is shared with Polytechnique students and military engineering cadets from the Defense Infrastructure program. More info: XX
• Tuition is covered by the government, and IETA students receive a monthly stipend during their training, which increases over the four years from €1,560 to €1,950 (2026 pay scale). In return, the military student commits to beginning their engineering career at the DGA (Directorate General of Armaments).

Click this link to learn more about the specifics of the IETA program

The annual FIDS ENSTA/ISAE-SUPAÉRO class consists of just under 100 students.

In addition, each of the three campuses hosts 250 to 300 engineering students from other programs, alongside whom the FIDS cohort pursues its studies and with whom FIDS students lead the many extracurricular projects of student life. Each campus accommodates 1,000 to 2,000 students within its walls. In a dynamic and stimulating environment!

These engineering programs in mechanical engineering or embedded systems are intended for candidates in IUTs, ATS prep programs, L3, and CPGE programs in the fields of mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and more. We also welcome working professionals pursuing continuing education.

To be selected, you must have a particularly strong foundation in science subjects (mathematics and specialized courses at the two-year post-secondary level) as well as in English, in particular. This level is assessed based on grades and rankings on your academic transcripts

Each year, more than 400 applications are submitted online by mid-February for approximately 60 spots.

About 150 applications are then shortlisted based on the academic results submitted. These candidates are subsequently invited to an interview to assess their career plans by a panel of industry and academic representatives.

About 100 candidates are then declared “eligible.” Their final admission is contingent upon the submission of a 3-year apprenticeship contract with a company, the content of which must be approved by the school before final signature.

The first 60 candidates to submit a validated and signed contract will be able to enroll at ENSTA in early September.

Candidates manage their own application process (resume, cover letter, online applications, meetings with engineers and executives, etc.).

The school provides support to eligible students whose academic standing and motivation have been verified:

• Access to a web platform listing job offers from ENSTA’s partner companies.
• Access to the LinkedIn group tracking job offers for engineering apprentices and dates for job fairs related to the program fields.

The brochures for both programs also include lists of companies that currently host or have previously hosted ENSTA engineering apprentices.

Yes, it is a mandatory requirement and an important experience in all engineering programs. It is a requirement of the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur known as the “quitus international.”

Engineering students are encouraged to complete this program at the end of their first year of study. It lasts 12 weeks between June and August. The school provides a list of previous international experiences of students to facilitate the search. ENSTA faculty and researchers can also recommend international partners.

Yes, it’s a matter of motivation and organization! Thursday afternoons are set aside for sports and cultural activities. Every year, engineering apprentices get involved in clubs and associations. In 2026, the president of the Gala was an apprentice, as was the vice president of the Ingéni’elles association... Sports, ENSTA club activities, and most leadership roles in student organizations are compatible with an apprenticeship program.