Apply for the engineering programme

The admissions process for the engineering programme is highly selective. French students with excellent high school results spend two years in the intensive 'classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles' preparing for the 'concours' - competitive entrance examinations to French engineering schools. Successful candidates then undertake three years of study at Centrale Nantes - corresponding to the senior undergraduate year and two graduate years.

The 'diplôme d'ingénieur' qualification conferred upon successful completion of the engineering programme is equivalent to a Master of Science and Engineering and is awarded to students after a total of five years of higher education. The Centrale Nantes engineering programme is accredited by the CTI, the French Engineering Degrees Commission, for 5 years.

Access to the engineering programme for international students is via a double degree programme, the fast-track engineering programme or the Groupe des Ecoles Centrales university examination (concours universitaire).

Double degree - international

75 places
 

Open to international students selected by our partner institutions.

Selected students spend two years studying courses from the engineering programme at Centrale Nantes. This usually includes one year of the common-core engineering curriculum followed by one year of specialisation. Students must complete at least one semester of the first year programme.

Double degree students are typically accepted after successfully completing two or three years of higher education in their home institution. Successful completion of both courses of study leads to the award of a double degree at master's level.

 
Fast-track engineering programme

10 places
 

Open to students with a Bachelor's or equivalent degree in science.

Our fast-track programme gives international students who are qualified to bachelor level the opportunity to gain the 'diplôme d'ingénieur' in just two years.

Year 1 comprises a broad-based multi-disciplinary engineering and scientific courses, taught in English throughout. In year 2, students focus on a technical discipline with their choice of specialisation from over 20 on offer within the engineering programme, combined with a professional option, which focuses on a particular sector of activity or function. A 6-month internship in a research laboratory or in industry is then undertaken from early April to late September.

 
Groupe des Ecoles Centrale - university examination

Concours Universitaire des Ecoles Centrale

5 places
 

This entrance examination is open to students in their final year of a Bachelor's programme who wish to join one of the 6 Écoles Centrale: Centrale Nantes, CentraleSupélec, Centrale Lyon, Centrale Lille, Centrale Marseille, or Centrale Casablanca.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree or be in their final year of a bachelor programme. Admission will then be subject to obtaining the degree being prepared.

This examination is divided into five main disciplines: Mathematics; Physics; Mechanics and Civil Engineering; Electronics, Electrical Energy and Automation (EEA); Computer Science. Applicant choose the stream they wish to enter, taking care to ensure that they meet the conditions required for enrolment, and draw up a wish list of schools they wish to apply for.
Centrale Nantes takes applicants in the following disciplines: Mathematics; Physics; Mechanics and Civil Engineering; EEA
 

See example of 2023 examinations

Applications Process

  • Application deadline: register on http://www.scei-concours.fr from 3 January to 1 March 2024 (5pm)
  • Examinations: 15 to 10 April 2024
  • Admissions results: 29 April / 14 June / 1 July

Learn more: http://www.groupe-centrale.com/concours-universitaire/

Competitive entrance examinations

Only students from classes préparatoires are eligible to apply for the Centrale Supélec, ATS, banque PT and BCPST competitive entrance examinations:

 
Concours Centrale Supélec - open to 'classe préparatoire' (MP, PC, PSI, MPI and TSI) students only

270 places: 
 

  • MP-MP*: 110 places | MP Cycle International: 1 place
  • PC-PC*: 60 places | PC Cycle International: 1 place
  • PSI-PSI*: 85 places | PSI Cycle International: 1 place
  • MPI: 5 places
  • TSI: 10 places

Applications:
 

Concours ATS - Open to classe préparatoire (ATS) students only

15 places
 

BANQUE PT - Open to classe préparatoire (PT) students only

10 places
 

BCPST - Open to classe préparatoire (BCPST) students only

5 places
 

PSR - Open to Nantes Université Parcours Scientique Renforcé L2 students only

3 places
 

  • Application form followed by oral examinations.
  • The deadline for submitting applications to the head of the Parcours Sciences Renforcées at the Faculty of Science and Technology is mid-April.

For more information, contact the Faculty of Science and Technology of Nantes University.

Double degree - by discipline

19 places
 

Open to students from Audencia Business School and ensa Nantes for a double degree programme (Management and Engineering, Architecture and Engineering).

Published on February 18, 2020 Updated on February 13, 2025