France · Bachelor's
École Polytechnique
Bachelor of Science
École Polytechnique
Course Overview
École Polytechnique's Bachelor of Science is France's most selective English-taught undergraduate science programme — a 3-year intensive degree based on the Saclay campus (~25km south of Paris, inside the Paris-Saclay scientific cluster). École Polytechnique (l'X) is the historic flagship of French engineering education, founded in 1794, and is consistently ranked France's #1 engineering and applied science school (#38 globally in QS 2024). The Bachelor is a small-cohort programme (~180 students/year, ~85% international) covering a rigorous foundation in mathematics, physics, computer science, and economics across the first two years, followed by a third-year specialisation track: Mathematics & Computer Science, Mathematics & Physics, Mathematics & Economics, or Physics & Chemistry. Teaching is 100% in English in years 1-2; French language is built in (mandatory for non-Francophone students).
Sri Lankan applicants who target this Bachelor's are almost exclusively A-Level / IB students with exceptional Mathematics and Physics — typically top-decile in their A/L combined-maths cohort, or 38+ IB Diploma scores with HL Maths and Physics. Selectivity is roughly 15-20% globally. Graduates progress almost universally into specialised Master's programmes at Polytechnique, ETH Zürich, Imperial, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, or directly into the Polytechnique 'cycle ingénieur'. Direct industry exits open at Dassault Aviation, Thales, Airbus, Safran, Schneider Electric, plus quant roles at BNP Paribas and Société Générale. France's 12-month APS post-Bachelor's permit applies, and the EU Blue Card route is straightforward at Master's level.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A-Levels: 3-4 A-Levels with Mathematics and Physics at grade A* / A. Further Mathematics highly preferred. Plus 5+ O-Level / GCSE passes including English and Mathematics.
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 A passes (Physical Science stream) — Combined Mathematics and Physics required at A.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 38+ points with HL Mathematics (grade 7) and HL Physics (grade 6+).
- check_circle Application via École Polytechnique's online portal — Lanka Scholar handles document certification.
- check_circle Motivation letter, CV, two strong academic references, on-line entrance test (mathematics, physics), and an academic interview (panel) for shortlisted candidates. Mathematics olympiad / national-level science competition results are strongly valued.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced grade B+ or C2 Proficiency.
- check_circle Duolingo English Test: 120+.
- check_circle French language is mandatory by the end of year 2 (level B1 minimum). The university provides intensive French classes for non-Francophone students.
- check_circle English requirement waived if your A-Level / IB qualification was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan A-Level / IB applicants qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | €14,000 | Rs. 4,830,000 |
| Living Expenses & On-Campus Housing (12 months) | €11,000 | Rs. 3,795,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & CVEC | €500 | Rs. 173,000 |
| Health Insurance, Books & Travel | €1,200 | Rs. 414,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €26,700 | Rs. 9,212,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
École Polytechnique BSc graduates progress overwhelmingly into competitive Master's programmes — Polytechnique's own MSc tracks, École Polytechnique's prestigious 'cycle ingénieur', and the world's leading STEM Master's at MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, Imperial, ETH Zürich, EPFL. Direct industry hires (selective minority) land at Dassault Aviation, Thales, Airbus, Safran, Schneider Electric, plus quantitative analyst tracks at BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole CIB. France's 12-month APS post-study permit. EU Blue Card track opens cleanly at Master's level. Sri Lankan returnees route into research engineering at UoM, KDU, the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, plus quantitative roles at HSBC SL, John Keells, and IFS R&D.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.