Programme and careers

This programme, which leads to the ENS Paris-Saclay Diploma, is organized into three tracks, all of which feature significant interaction between teaching and research:

Research track

For those aiming to pursue a doctorate. Between the first year of the master's programme (M1) and the M2, students are strongly advised to do a year of pre-doctoral research abroad (ARPE).

Higher education track

For normalien students intending to concentrate on teaching at university level. This track offers the opportunity to spend a year preparing for the agrégation (FESup) between the M1 and M2.

Interfaces track

For students seeking to develop multidisciplinary expertise. After their M2 year, they can choose either to do an extra year at the School in another discipline or to join a graduate programme at a one of the partner institutions of ENS Paris-Saclay or Université Paris-Saclay (see useful links).

The three tracks share a common core, to which five skill sets (with key strengths) are added. The relative weight of these skill sets within the programme varies according to the chosen track:

• International: international experience, Cambridge English certificate
• Research: only certification in France in English for research purposes, immersion experiences in laboratories within and outside the School
• Multidisciplinarity: ENS Paris-Saclay’s unique spectrum of disciplines, multidisciplinary bachelor's and master's programmes
• Higher education: France's leading institution for the number of holders of the agrégation with a 90 percent first-time pass rate
• Breadth: broader capabilities (administration, scientific consulting, entrepreneurship and innovation, involvement in nonprofits or student representation, familiarity with industry)

Doctorate

After their master's degree, about 75 percent of normalien students undertake a PhD.
Researching and writing a doctoral thesis gives PhD students a taste of what the academic and research professions involve before they embark upon international careers.

Careers

ENS Cachan's chief purpose is to train future academic staff for public education and research institutions. Careers targeted by this mission can be categorized into three main areas:

• higher education: lecturer, professor, etc.
• research: research fellow, senior researcher, research engineer, etc.
• secondary and technical education: senior teacher who holds the agrégation (preparatory classes, BTS, IUT, engineering schools, etc.), senior school management, school inspection.

After completing their ENS Paris-Saclay Diploma, a growing number of students go into the French civil service via the competitive recruitment examinations for the Grands Corps de l'État: IPEF (merger between ENGREF and ENPC), INSEE, DGA and Mines; or the École nationale d'administration. It is also possible to pursue further studies at Sciences Po thanks to an agreement between the two institutions.
Some students prefer to take senior positions in the private sector, particularly in science and technology-based sectors after a PhD.