Welcoming International Students and Faculty

With more than 100 nationalities on campus, 40% international students, and 40% international professors and researchers, École Polytechnique is highly internationalized. This strong international framework is a result of the School’s policies aimed at attracting and training talents from around the world, selected by merit and scientific excellence.

This international diversity represents a point of pride for the institution and the academic and administrative teams are engaged daily to encourage the success and flourishment of their students. By welcoming a large international population within its cohorts, École Polytechnique shares its educational excellence and research expertise with students and faculty around the world, while advocating for a multicultural environment for its students. Deeply committed to the values of humanism and universalism, the School does not tolerate any discriminatory acts or remarks. 

École Polytechnique constantly improves its reception of international students thanks to specific measures and actions deployed along five central pillars. Some of these actions concern, more particularly, the Ingénieur Polytechnicien program, but most of them apply to the entire student population at the university.

1. Assuring the best reception possible into l’X - from application to integration

École Polytechnique makes sure that all candidates who apply, and are admitted, to the School, have a clear vision of what student life is like at École Polytechnique. Thus, l’X deploys inclusive means of communication, in French and English, that consider the diversity of the students’ backgrounds and nationalities. 

Specifically, regarding the Ingénieur Polytechnicien program, which comprises both, students with military status and students with civil status, the School pays particular attention to reinforcing the cohesion within the cohorts. Primarily, this involves the organization of activities aimed at uniting the international and French students and faculty. Additionally, the military activities are adapted, when necessary, to make them accessible for international students who do not hold military status.

Furthermore, the institution is very attentive to ensuring there are absolutely no differences in treatment between the international and French populations during the period of basic human and military training and when they return to campus.

A dedicated Welcome Desk for international students, academics, and researchers (BasiX) provides support and assistance to the international population who joins École Polytechnique. The BasiX department helps them with formalities required for their time in France (residence permits, medical insurance, housing on campus depending on the program). The BasiX also contributes to the international students’ integration at the School and helps them become familiar with the institution and the community (cultural outings, team building activities, etc.). Attesting to the quality of these services on campus, the highest status of the label “Bienvenue en France” was awarded to École Polytechnique.

The portal LivinFrance is at the disposal of candidates, once they are admitted to l’X, to facilitate the administrative steps leading up to their arrival. 

2. Emphasizing international diversity in all aspects of student life 

Student life at École Polytechnique includes a busy academic schedule, sports, social gatherings linked to the many student associations, and other activities, which are part of the civil and military training of the Ingénieur Polytechnicien program. The School facilitates interaction and exchange between the students of the different degree programs and acts to assure that all students, without distinction, receive the same information and can participate in the broad range of student associations. 

The School conducts an annual evaluation to monitor how international students perceive their experience and make sure they feel well integrated. 

3. Valuing multiculturalism at l’X

Committed to the value and benefits of multiculturalism, l’X draws awareness to diversity among staff to reinforce inclusion for everyone.

Additionally, a dedicated unit has been established to prevent and address HDSV (harassment, gender-based discrimination, and sexual violence). Open to all students and staff, this unit was initially created to prevent sexual violence and sexism, but it also addresses the fight against discrimination in a larger sense. 

4. Offering financial support to international students in need to enhance their study conditions

Thanks to the support of École Polytechnique’s Foundation (FX) and the School’s partners, several measures are offered to provide financial support for international students.

The School’s ambition is to propose further scholarships from external organizations, and to extend the merit scholarship programs, which already exist in collaboration with École Polytechnique’s Foundation. Together with the student union (Kès), the School ensures that all students, regardless of their financial situation, can participate in the community life on campus. 

Moreover, the School is constantly improving the application and eligibility process for financial aid decisions.

5. Mobilizing the School’s alumni

The association of former students of École Polytechnique (l’AX) is a precious partner from the beginning of students’ studies until their graduation and the start of their professional career. 

Every year, the international students of the Ingénieur Polytechnicien program are invited by l’AX to benefit from the mentorship of former students of this program. The alumni offer to accompany them and help them become familiar with the new environment and French culture. By providing this mentorship program and also a solidarity program (one-time financial aid), l’AX has developed an expertise to accompany students during their studies. While maintaining the program’s existence and development, l’AX and Ecole Polytechnique examine the need-based requests.

The alumni network, in conjunction with the school’s career service, has a large impact in promoting École Polytechnique’s graduates around the world. Parallelly, the School benefits from l’AX and its network of ambassadors to welcome and accompany students upon their arrival and during their studies.