The Eiffel Tower rising above Paris rooftops at sunset.

France Open for September 2026 entry — applications close 7 January 2026

ENS Paris-Saclay International Selection Scholarship

The ENS Paris-Saclay International Selection is one of France's most prestigious awards for international undergraduate-to-Master's applicants. Selected international students receive a €1,000-per-month stipend (around LKR 345,000/month) for up to 3 years (typically covering the final year of a Bachelor's plus a 2-year Master's), full tuition waiver, subsidised on-campus housing, and full access to ENS's research labs. ENS Paris-Saclay is one of France's elite Grandes Écoles — a research-intensive institution producing 4 Nobel laureates and 10 Fields Medallists. Selection is highly competitive: typically 30-40 international students are admitted globally each year across all disciplines. Open to applicants in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mechanical / Electrical / Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, English, History, Sociology, Philosophy, and Sport Science.

École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay

University-funded

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Value

€1,000/mo + Tuition + Housing

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Duration

Up to 3 Years

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Awards

~30-40 per Year (Global)

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Outstanding Undergraduate Record

Selection is extremely competitive — typical applicants are in the top 5% of their undergraduate cohort with documented academic prizes, research output, or olympiad-level contest results. Sri Lankan applicants from Colombo, Moratuwa, Peradeniya engineering / science streams with research distinction are competitive.

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Completing Bachelor's in 2026

Applicants must be currently in the third year of a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent — a 3-year undergrad in France maps to Sri Lankan / UK final year). The programme is structured to take you from final-year Bachelor's through a 2-year Master's at ENS or partner institutions in Paris-Saclay.

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Non-French Citizen

The International Selection is restricted to non-French citizens. EU students apply on the same terms as non-EU. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible. The programme actively recruits from outside France's traditional Grande École applicant base.

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French or English Proficiency

Most science / engineering Master's at ENS Paris-Saclay are taught in English. Humanities and Social Sciences typically require French B2-C1. Sri Lankan applicants in STEM disciplines do not need French for admission, though learning French during the first year is strongly encouraged for full participation in Paris life.

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Submit International Selection application

Apply via the ENS Paris-Saclay International Office portal (ens-paris-saclay.fr/en/international-selection) by 7 January 2026. Application includes: full transcripts (with English / French translation), ranking certificate, CV, statement of academic interests, two academic references, and a research project sketch (for science disciplines).

Eligibility check and pre-selection

Applications are pre-screened by the ENS International Office in January-February. Pre-selected candidates are forwarded to the relevant department (e.g. Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science) for academic review. Pre-selection cutoff is typically the top 20-30% of the international applicant pool.

Departmental interview by Zoom

Shortlisted candidates are invited for a rigorous 30-60 minute academic interview with the department, conducted by Zoom from Sri Lanka in March-April. Interview includes technical questions, research interest discussion, and motivation. This is genuinely the gatekeeper stage.

Final selection + French visa

Final scholars are notified in May. The award letter names the €1,000/month stipend, tuition waiver, and housing provision. You then apply for the French long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) at Campus France in Colombo, with ENS as sponsor.

Why ENS Paris-Saclay?

ENS Paris-Saclay is one of France's four elite Écoles Normales Supérieures — research-intensive institutions that have produced 14 Nobel laureates and Fields Medallists between them. The Paris-Saclay campus is at the heart of the French government's flagship 'Silicon Valley'-style research cluster, alongside Polytechnique, HEC, and 13 grandes écoles.