ESPCI Paris – PSL (ESPCI ParisTech) — École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris

The Graduate School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry in Paris has the state status and reputation of an excellent French university. This institution is a university with a rich academic history. The first students of ESPCI ParisTech (ESPCI) accepted for study in 1882. The main building is located on an urban-type campus in the capital, Paris.

ESPCI ParisTech always ranks national academic rating in the top three dozen of the most prestigious educational centers in France.

Such indicators did not pass by the attention of employers who are always happy to employ a graduate with an ESPCI diploma.

Engineering education combines scientific and technical coursework, gradual immersion in research, and collaborative projects. With a small first-year class, students receive individualized support and interact regularly with faculty, researchers, and administrative staff.

Students can receive free, confidential consultations with an ESPCI psychologist and access PSL University’s health services. Those with disabilities, health conditions, or specific needs can receive individualized support and academic accommodations.

International engineering students receive support from the student life coordinator, the Student Union, and the International Relations Office. The PSL Welcome Desk helps with administrative procedures, French-language learning, and student activities.

In the ACTION program, students learn to conduct rigorous life cycle assessments based on scientific principles and develop solutions for decarbonizing businesses and organizations.

• Engineering education and research in physics, chemistry, and biology,
• research fields ranging from fundamental physics to biomedical innovation.

In 2026, Sophie Bagur, a researcher at ESPCI's Laboratoire Plasticité du Cerveau, received an ERC Starting Grant.

Results from the ESPCI incubator:

• 54 startups supported,
• more than 2,500 jobs created,
• 128 patents and licenses,
• 850 million euros in funding raised.

• ESPCI has a research community of 530, including 250 doctoral candidates and 100 postdoctoral researchers,
• the president of the Student Council serves on ESPCI's Board of Trustees,
• the PC’UP incubator has operated since 2015 and supports about 20 startups in central Paris,
• at least one woman is part of the founding team at 59% of the incubator's startups,
• the incubator classifies all of its startups as projects with a positive environmental or social impact.

At the Les Portes d’Orléans residence in Montrouge, furnished and equipped studios of 15–35 m² are available. The residence is located about 30 minutes from the school, and places are allocated by ESPCI Paris – PSL. A few housing places are also available at the Citeaux residence near Gare de Lyon, primarily for participants in international dual-degree programs.

Shared housing places are available in furnished apartments in the 13th and 19th arrondissements of Paris. ESPCI staff help students with moving in. A guarantee program, ESPCI Alumni, is available to them. A specific option cannot be chosen, since places are allocated at random. Priority is given to international students in engineering programs and to those who come from outside the Paris region.

Campus life is organized by the Student Council, Sports Council, and Arts Council. These organizations cover sports, culture, entrepreneurship, community service, and science outreach.

• EPICS focuses on science outreach,
• Junior-Entreprise PCA helps students carry out projects for companies and gain their first professional experience,
• students can take part in PSL sports and cultural activities, inter-school clubs, and arts and music programs.

• ESPCI is part of Université PSL,
• its research center publishes about 500 scientific papers a year,
• the school's work leads to an average of two patent applications per month,
• six Nobel Prizes are associated with ESPCI.

ESPCI has 10 research laboratories with international reach.

Admission to the engineering program is available through a national competitive examination or a review of academic records. Some admission tracks also include an interview and a mathematics exam.

Smapse specialists will support you throughout every stage of the admissions process.

About two-thirds of first-year engineering students are admitted through the competitive examination for the PC and MP tracks. The school admits about 20 students each year based on academic records, while another 10 come from university programs and BUT.

In September 2025, 90 students entered ESPCI’s engineering program. Women made up 34% of the class, and 12 students were international.

Becoming an ESPCI student is possible after receiving positive results in the entrance exams. The learning process takes two semesters (of which one academic year is formed).

The cost of educational services here is quite low. For one bachelor’s program year, a student must pay $ 1,000 (in euros). As for postgraduate education, future masters are required to pay the same amount to the cashier of the school. This educational institution offers students participation in the international exchange process.

It is recommended to clarify all the nuances of education in this institution on the university website. Here you can get information about the procedure for admission and life of the student community.

Since 2010, French and international engineering students have been eligible for need-based Joliot Scholarships. This support may be combined with another scholarship or other financial aid.

Each engineering class receives 400,000 euros in scholarships and financial aid over the full course of study. Funding for academic study abroad is available through Erasmus+, the Île-de-France Region, and the ESPCI Fund.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision