It is possible to complete the full DER in Mechanical Engineering program to earn a degree from ENS Paris-Saclay. This can be done under two different statuses:
- as a paid civil service trainee, recruited through a civil service competitive exam (10-year commitment)
- as a student, eligible for a stipend starting in the 2026 academic year, through application-based admission
See the curriculum structure for the DER in Mechanical Engineering.
It is also possible to design a “customized” track by taking one or more of the courses offered by the DER in Mechanical Engineering. This type of track does not lead to a degree from ENS Paris-Saclay.
Admission by competitive examination
Students admitted through this process are ENS students and have the status of probationary civil servants. They are preparing for the ENS Paris-Saclay diploma. They receive a stipend (approximately €1,500 net per month) during the four years of their program in exchange for a ten-year commitment to serve the French government.
Students in the Mechanical Engineering DER program are primarily selected through the following competitive exams:
- PT Entrance Exam (2 years after high school)
- PSI Entrance Exam (2 years after high school)
- TSI Exam (2 years of post-high-school education)
- BUT Entrance Exam (2 or 3 years after high school)
Admission Based on Application Materials
Students admitted through this pathway to the DER in Mechanical Engineering come from preparatory classes (PSI, PT, TSI) as well as from university programs, including the BUT in Mechanical Engineering. They follow exactly the same curriculum as students who entered in the first year through the competitive entrance exam, and as such, they also prepare for the ENS Paris-Saclay degree with the status of a “normalien” student receiving a stipend: they receive a stipend of €600/month
- In the first year (L3): 4 positions in the Mechanical Engineering DER program. See the application guidelines.
- In the second year (M1): 2 positions in the Mechanical Engineering DER program. See the application guidelines.