Each year ENS-PSL in Paris recruits outstanding foreign students through its International Selection for a 3-year research-based programme with a EUR 1,000/month grant, accommodation, and no tuition fees. There are two streams — Arts & Humanities and Sciences — both with applications from 16 October to 15 December 2026 (14:00 Paris time) for the 2027 session. Admission runs through shortlisting, written/oral tests by videoconference, and final results in March 2027.
Why it is notable: The official page warns explicitly: do not use @icloud.com email addresses for yourself or your referees — a small technicality that can silently break the referee-letter flow on the OnePSL30 platform.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Monthly grant of EUR 1,000 for the 3-year programme (per ENS's official international-selection materials), paid monthly between the 5th and 10th; first payment in October 2027 covering September and October.
Accommodation on an ENS campus.
Tuition-free study (ENS is a public institution — tuition paid by the state).
3 weeks of welcome conferences/debates, department visits, intensive French lessons, and cultural visits of Paris at the start.
Individual tutoring/mentoring, research-oriented training, and laboratory internship periods.
Administrative support for visa attestation, residency permit, health insurance (sécurité sociale), and bank account setup.
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Undergraduate studies in progressfor Masters
This scholarship is offered for the 3-year ENS International Selection programme (research-oriented Master's/doctoral-track training) in Arts & Humanities and in Sciences.
Who can apply
All nationalities — students from all geographical backgrounds and disciplines. Candidates must not have resided in France for more than 10 months (Arts & Humanities) / 6 months in total (Sciences) during the academic year of the competition or the preceding academic year, and must not have previously applied to the International Selection.
Experience
No professional experience required
Language Certificate
Course-dependent — for Arts & Humanities, French fluency is recommended (written exam and orals in French; candidate may use English in the interview); Economics, Linguistics, and Cognitive sciences candidates may submit in French or English. For Sciences, candidates answer in French or English. No certificate thresholds stated on the official page.
Other Certificates
Complete university transcripts for all coursework; high-school diploma.
Age Limit
Must not have turned 26 — Arts & Humanities: "no older than 25 years of age as of the application opening date (must not have turned 26)"; Sciences: "under 26 years old on the opening day of applications."
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
All countries. Fails if: resided in France >10 months (A&H) or >6 months total (Sciences) in the competition or preceding academic year; previously applied to…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Age
Must not have turned 26 at the application opening date (both streams).
02
Academic standing
A&H — proof of at least 3 years of study toward a foreign university degree (complete transcripts); you may apply while in your 3rd year. Sciences — at least 1 year of foreign undergraduate study at application, at least 2 years at enrolment.
03
France residence
A&H — not more than 10 months in France during the competition or preceding academic year. Sciences — not registered in a French high school or higher-education institution for more than 6 months in total over the same period.
04
One lifetime application
Must not have previously applied to the International Selection.
05
Documents
Complete dossier in the required order/format (see checklist); 2–4 recommendation letters requested through the platform; incomplete applications are not considered.
06
Language
A&H — written exam and orals in French (interview may use English); French fluency recommended. Sciences — answer in French or English.
Application fee
No application fee is stated on the official selection page.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: French long-stay visa for studies (visa long séjour pour études / étudiant), then a residence permit (titre de séjour) after arrival.
Application Procedure
8 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
From 16 October 2026 (14:00 Paris time)
fill in the initial application form and validate it on the official platform.
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02
Within ~2 days you receive an email
to activate an account on the application platform (OnePSL30) — do NOT use @icloud.com addresses for yourself or referees.
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03
Upload the complete dossier on the platform
in the required order (see checklist) by 15 December 2026, 14:00 Paris time. No email applications are processed.
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06
Admission tests by videoconference
A&H — 15–26 February 2027 (one written exam in French related to the discipline + two oral exams); Sciences — 3–19 March 2027 (scientific oral test, weight 6, possibly with a written preparatory part; oral interview on s
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05
Shortlist (admissibility) results
from 21 January 2027 (A&H) / 27 January 2027 (Sciences), published online and at ENS; all candidates are emailed.
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04
Request 2–4 recommendation letters directly through the
platform by entering referees' email addresses — plan ahead, do not wait for the last days.
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07
Admission results: from 9 March 2027 (A&H)
/ 26 March 2027 (Sciences).
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08
Spring 2027: admitted candidates receive the invitation letter
visa attestation, and the administrative-registration document list; apply for the long-stay student visa; September 2027: administrative registration and scholarship setup.
Application milestones
15 Dec 2026
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official École normale supérieure platform.
When do applications open and close for the 2027 session?
Both streams: from 16 October 2026 (14:00 Paris time) to 15 December 2026 (14:00 Paris time). No applications submitted by email are processed.
How old can I be?
You must not have turned 26 at the application opening date (both streams).
I have studied in France before — am I eligible?
Only within limits: A&H — no more than 10 months' residence in France during the competition or preceding academic year; Sciences — no more than 6 months registered in a French institution in total over that period.
What does the grant cover and when is it paid?
A monthly grant of EUR 1,000 for the 3-year programme (per ENS's official materials), paid monthly between the 5th and 10th; the first payment comes in October 2027 covering September and October. Scholars are also accommodated and study tuition-free.
Can I apply to both streams or twice?
You choose one discipline in one stream per competition, and you may not have previously applied to the International Selection at all.
What are the tests like?
A&H: one written exam in French related to your discipline, one oral exam before a discipline panel, and one interview on your background and project (videoconference). Sciences: a scientific oral test (weight 6, possibly with a written preparatory part) and an oral interview on scientific culture and motivation (weight 3).
Can my referees use any email?
No — the official page warns: "Please do not use @icloud.com email addresses, neither for you as candidate nor for the referees."
I'm in my 3rd year of university — can I apply?
Yes — "You may apply if you are currently in your 3rd year of studies" (A&H); Sciences requires at least 1 year at application and 2 years at enrolment.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
France · École normale supérieure