Ecole Polytechnique is a specialized top university in France. It specializes in Science and Engineering and is a founding member of the Polytechnic Institute of Paris. It was started during the French Revolution and was militarized by Napolean I. It is still under the supervision of the French Ministry of Armed Forces. The French Engineering students are first made to undergo military training. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctorate programs. The alumni include 3 Nobel laureates, a Fields medalist, 3 French Presidents, and several other distinguished people.
Ecole Polytechnique was ranked #61 by the QS Rankings in 2021, #201-300 by Times Higher Education, and #342 by the US News.
Campus
Ecole Polytechnique’s campus was founded in Palais Bourbon, followed by Montagne Saint-Geneviève. Its present location is in Palaiseau. It is an institution of higher education with military status, aiming to provide the country with scientific and technical leaders. However, the military culture has reduced significantly over time. The school has undergraduate and graduate programs and employs researchers from laboratories such as CNRS, CEA, and INRIA. The admissions happen either from preparatory schools or of students who did their undergraduate at another university. Around 400 students are admitted each year.
The curriculum is technical. The first year includes military training (for French nationals) and basic sciences. The second year has multidisciplinary studies. The third and fourth years are for specialization. The French students do not pay any tuition fees and receive a stipend as an officer. The students’ representative body has 16 members. Sports are given a lot of importance.
Courses Offered
The Ecole Polytechnique offers several unique courses, especially at higher levels. Some courses offered are given below:
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Artificial Intelligence and Visual Computing
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Cybersecurity,
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Internet of Things,
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Economics for Smart Cities and Climate Policy,
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Data Science for Business,
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Double Degree Data and Finance,
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Data and Economics for Public Policy,
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Economics, Data Analytics and Corporate Finance
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Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Management
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Energy Environment: Science Technology and Management
Alumni
There are several notable alumni from the school. The alumni network is a reflection of the quality of education here. Some of them are:
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Jean Tirole (Economist, Nobel Prize in Economics winner)
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Maurice Allais (Economist, Nobel Prize in Economics winner)
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Henri Becquerel (Physicist, Nobel Prize in Physics winner)
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Anne-Marie Lagrange (Astrophysicist, French Academy of Sciences, discovered the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b)
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Patrick Ky (CEO of the European Aviation Safety Agency)
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Edmond Malinvaud (Economist, first president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences)
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Bernard Salanié (Columbia University economist, former director of the Center for Research in Economics and Statistics and ENSAE ParisTech)
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Bernard Arnault (CEO of LVMH)
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Jean-Paul Béchat (former CEO of Safran)
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Jean-Louis Beffa (CEO of Saint-Gobain)
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Driss Benhima (Chairman of the Board and CEO of Royal Air Maroc)
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Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (former President of the French Republic)
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Caroline Aigle (The first woman to be a fighter pilot in the French Air Force)
From the Desk of Yocket
The University’s rankings make it a popular study destination among many students globally. The quality of education offered here is understood by the rankings, thus making it a competitive place to apply to.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Ecole Polytechnique Ranking 2025
1: How prestigious is Ecole Polytechnique?
A: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne is ranked #88 in Best Global Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence, and Ecole Polytechnique is one of the top performers in the European region.
3: How competitive is Ecole Polytechnique?
A: The Ecole Polytechnique acceptance rate is around 10%, which makes admission highly competitive. Applicants must meet the entry requirements and submit the test score for admission. Applicants may be asked to meet the English language requirements if their first language is not English
3: Is Ecole Polytechnique public or private?
A: The Institut Polytechnique de Paris is a public higher education and research institution comprising five prestigious French engineering Schools: École Polytechnique, ENSTA Paris, ENSAE Paris, Télécom Paris, and Télécom SudParis.