École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon) Summary
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon or ENS de Lyon is one of the most selective and prestigious grandes écoles of France. Located in Lyon, it is known for its high level training in sciences, humanities and social sciences, languages, arts, education, research and teacher-researcher training. ENS de Lyon is particularly well-suited to academically strong students who want a rigorous French institution focused on advanced study, research training, intellectual development and preparation for academic, scientific, public-sector or high-level professional careers.
ENS de Lyon is not like a broad public university, because it is selective and academically demanding. It's not like a big general university with thousands of open-admission undergraduate programs. Instead, it offers highly structured programs, master's degrees, research training, international admissions, competitive tracks and preparation for advanced academic or research careers. ENS de Lyon students are usually selected on the basis of their strong academic records, research interest and the ability to study in a demanding intellectual environment.
ENS de Lyon is not a standard university for direct post-school admission in the same way as a regular licence-based institution, at undergraduate or early-cycle level. Its core strength is at advanced undergraduate, masters and research levels and many students come in after preparatory classes or previous university study. It does however support progression through first cycle and second cycle by its ENS diploma structure, degree preparation and international admission routes. The promotion of the ENS de Lyon as a selective grande école with a strong master and PhD activity and not as a broad bachelor provider for a production-safe profile.
The ENS de Lyon awards master’s degrees in the sciences, humanities, social sciences, languages, arts and education-related fields at the postgraduate level. For the 2022-2026 cycle, its official master’s catalog encompasses programs in exact sciences, life sciences, humanities and social sciences. Students may study in the areas of mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, education, history, literature, languages, philosophy, social sciences, arts and related areas of research. The Master’s at ENS de Lyon is closely linked to research, laboratories, seminars and preparation for doctoral studies.
ENS de Lyon is a major research institution at PhD level. Doctoral research is offered by doctoral schools and research laboratories in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, humanities, social sciences, education, languages, literature, philosophy and interdisciplinary fields. ENS de Lyon is particularly relevant for students who wish to become researchers, teachers, academics, scientific professionals, policy researchers or intellectual leaders.
Fees are in line with the French public higher education model. On ENS de Lyon’s official international fee page, it is stated that the French state covers most of the costs of training in public institutions, with master’s tuition fees at around €250 per year. The CVEC is also mandatory for students at ENS de Lyon and is approximately €105 per year. ENS de Lyon also publishes information on scholarships such as the Cécile De Witt-Morette Scholarship, which can offer €1,000 per month for the duration of study for the ENS de Lyon degree, subject to certain conditions.
ENS de Lyon is best overall for academically excellent students who want a selective French grande école focused on advanced study and research. It holds particular relevance for students wishing to undertake master’s and PhD study in sciences, humanities, social sciences, languages, education, arts and interdisciplinary research.
ENS de Lyon is not like a broad public university, because it is selective and academically demanding. It's not like a big general university with thousands of open-admission undergraduate programs. Instead, it offers highly structured programs, master's degrees, research training, international admissions, competitive tracks and preparation for advanced academic or research careers. ENS de Lyon students are usually selected on the basis of their strong academic records, research interest and the ability to study in a demanding intellectual environment.
ENS de Lyon is not a standard university for direct post-school admission in the same way as a regular licence-based institution, at undergraduate or early-cycle level. Its core strength is at advanced undergraduate, masters and research levels and many students come in after preparatory classes or previous university study. It does however support progression through first cycle and second cycle by its ENS diploma structure, degree preparation and international admission routes. The promotion of the ENS de Lyon as a selective grande école with a strong master and PhD activity and not as a broad bachelor provider for a production-safe profile.
The ENS de Lyon awards master’s degrees in the sciences, humanities, social sciences, languages, arts and education-related fields at the postgraduate level. For the 2022-2026 cycle, its official master’s catalog encompasses programs in exact sciences, life sciences, humanities and social sciences. Students may study in the areas of mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, education, history, literature, languages, philosophy, social sciences, arts and related areas of research. The Master’s at ENS de Lyon is closely linked to research, laboratories, seminars and preparation for doctoral studies.
ENS de Lyon is a major research institution at PhD level. Doctoral research is offered by doctoral schools and research laboratories in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, humanities, social sciences, education, languages, literature, philosophy and interdisciplinary fields. ENS de Lyon is particularly relevant for students who wish to become researchers, teachers, academics, scientific professionals, policy researchers or intellectual leaders.
Fees are in line with the French public higher education model. On ENS de Lyon’s official international fee page, it is stated that the French state covers most of the costs of training in public institutions, with master’s tuition fees at around €250 per year. The CVEC is also mandatory for students at ENS de Lyon and is approximately €105 per year. ENS de Lyon also publishes information on scholarships such as the Cécile De Witt-Morette Scholarship, which can offer €1,000 per month for the duration of study for the ENS de Lyon degree, subject to certain conditions.
ENS de Lyon is best overall for academically excellent students who want a selective French grande école focused on advanced study and research. It holds particular relevance for students wishing to undertake master’s and PhD study in sciences, humanities, social sciences, languages, education, arts and interdisciplinary research.
College Facilities
📚
Library
💻
Computer Lab
🏀
Sports Complex
🛏️
Hostel
☕
Cafeteria
🚌
Transport

