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École Polytechnique · Programs

École Polytechnique Best Programs & Majors for International Students 2026

École Polytechnique's strongest programs and what each is genuinely known for — beyond marketing copy. With BrightKey's view on which serves international students best.

École Polytechnique's strongest programs include Cycle Ingénieur Polytechnicien, Bachelor of Science, MSc&T (Master of Science and Technology).

Notable programs

Cycle Ingénieur Polytechnicien

The flagship 4-year elite engineering programme (~2,000 students). Entry via the national concours after two years of classes préparatoires; French students are paid officer cadets with military status and pay no tuition. The single most prestigious engineering credential in France.

Bachelor of Science

3-year English-taught undergraduate degree launched in 2017 (~480 students), in maths–physics, maths–computer science and maths–economics. Admission by application file plus interview; the main entry route for international undergraduates, feeding top global master's programmes.

MSc&T (Master of Science and Technology)

English-taught two-year master's tracks in AI & advanced visual computing, data science, economics, energy & environment and more (~500 master's students). Designed for international graduates; strong placement into deep tech and research.

Programme PhD Track / Doctorate

~390 doctoral students, about 40% from abroad, embedded in l'X and IP Paris research labs with CNRS partnerships. A core pipeline into academic and industrial R&D, drawing on l'X's heritage in mathematics and physics.

X-HEC Entrepreneurs / joint HEC Paris degrees

Joint master's and entrepreneurship programmes with HEC Paris combining l'X's scientific rigour with HEC's management and venture training — a recognised launchpad for French deep-tech founders.

Master in Mathematics & Applications (with IP Paris)

Builds on l'X's exceptional mathematical heritage (Cauchy, Poincaré, Schwartz, Mandelbrot, Fields-medal-adjacent training). Among the strongest applied-maths master's offerings in continental Europe, feeding doctoral and quant-finance careers.

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