Ecole Polytechnique
Region: Western Europe
Country/Region: France
Found Year: 1794
Address: Route de Saclay
Introduction

École Polytechnique, also known as l’X, is the leading French institution combining top-level research, academics, and innovation at the cutting-edge of science and technology. Since its establishment during the French Revolution in 1794, École Polytechnique strives to offer the brightest students of each generation the optimal conditions to develop their full scientific and personal potential. L’X’s mission is to train high-potential scientists and future top-level international executives with strong scientific backgrounds who will play a leading role in implementing complex and innovative projects and take on the challenges of the 21st century through careers in industry, research and public service. École Polytechnique benefits from an extensive network of partner universities located all over the world. Its long-standing reputation of excellence, combined with the prestige of its partners, attracts exemplary students and researchers from across the globe to its various academic programs and distinguished laboratories in its cutting-edge Research Center. Its various academic programs – Bachelor, Ingénieur Polytechnicien program (specialized engineering program), Master’s programs and PhD degrees – are highly selective and are in line with the culture of excellence that l’X promotes, featuring a strong emphasis on science, anchored in humanist traditions. The Bachelor program is designed for high potential students from all over the world. Fully taught in English, this 3-year program is based on a scientific multidisciplinary core with an emphasis on mathematics. Students have the choice between three double majors: mathematics and computer science, mathematics and physics, mathematics and economics. In addition to their education in fundamental sciences, students follow courses in humanities and social sciences, languages and sports, providing them with the necessary soft skills to complement their scientific background and knowledge. They are also exposed to industry experience as part of the curriculum. École Polytechnique’s Ingénieur Polytechnicien Program (specialized engineering program), arguably France’s most selective and demanding program in advanced science and engineering, is a unique 4-year program: 3 years to obtain the Engineering degree and 1 year to obtain École Polytechnique’s Diploma. The program offers a multidisciplinary scientific education of the highest level, supplemented with courses in humanities and the arts as well as foreign languages. The Ingénieur Polytechnicien program also develops students’ interpersonal and managerial skills through internships with major international companies and research laboratories, through experiences studying abroad, participation in on-campus sports and the numerous student clubs and organizations available at l’X. 500 students are admitted to the Ingénieur Polytechnicien program each year, including 100 international students ranging from nearly thirty different nationalities. The competitive entrance exam is accessible after two or three years of undergraduate studies in science. L’X also offers industry-oriented Master’s programs for advanced scientific studies in nearly a dozen subjects, attracting nearly 600 students each year, half of which are international students. École Polytechnique fosters innovation and entrepreneurship through three Master’s programs: “Project – Innovation – Design”, “Network Industries and Digital Economy,” and “Engineering and Innovation Technologies,” as well as through support structures such as its business incubator, various associations and start-up grants, thus maximizing exchanges and networking opportunities among its students, alumni and research teams. Concerning École Polytechnique’s PhD program, combining both Master’s and PhD degrees, it is designed to develop outstanding scholars for careers in leading academic institutions or top companies throughout the world. Students in this program benefit from École Polytechnique’s dynamic ecosystem and are closely associated to the research activities conducted at l’X right from the very beginning of their Master’s studies. They work closely with faculty members who provide them with individual coaching, oversee their progress, and help customize their training in regards to their personal interests and goals. 530 students (41% of which are international) enroll in a doctoral program and conduct research in École Polytechnique’s different research units. École Polytechnique’s Research Center hosts 22 research units in joint collaboration with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). L’X’s Research Center explores the frontiers of interdisciplinary knowledge to provide major contributions to science, technology, and society, and its laboratories are equipped with some of the most advanced technical resources available today. École Polytechnique is also a pioneer and leading institution of the major scientific and economic cluster, Paris-Saclay, bringing together top French higher education and research institutions, as well as R&D centers of prominent international companies. L’X supports research units in developing their industrial relations and marketing their skills and scientific expertise to business partners. In commercializing their patents, software, and procedures, it plays an important role in stimulating the economy, while generating new resources and funding for the Research Center laboratories. École Polytechnique guarantees an outstanding experience to its international students, from their admission to their career follow-up, not only training scientists, but also developing critical and creative minds that dare to take the necessary bounds for creating businesses, innovating, and inventing. It not only prepares its students to assume responsibilities, it instils them with a sense of responsibility for both present and future research and innovation across the globe.

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