ENS Courses in Computer Science – Introduction

The ENS graduate degree

ENS, as part of PSL University, offers a graduate degree, entitled “diplôme de l’École normale supérieure”, that combines excellence in education in a major field with an openness towards other fields. The curriculum in computer science, research-oriented and research-based, is similar to the curriculum of the other three écoles normales supérieures (Lyon, Paris-Saclay, Rennes).

This degree is open to ENS students who underwent a specific recruitment procedure.

The ENS graduate degree is awarded at the end of a curriculum that (usually) lasts three years and during which each student needs to validate:

Computer science at the École normale supérieure

As part of the ENS degree, studies in computer science may take two distinct forms:

Bridges exist between the different departments of ENS. Subject to the agreement of the study directors of the respective departments, a reorientation may be considered during the curriculum.

Objectives

Students registered in the computer science track of the ENS graduate degree are attached to the Computer Science department of ENS which offers, for their main specialty, a program with a limited number of students (aroud twenty per cohort), which trains computer scientists with a strong background in pure and applied mathematics, in various sectors. Reinforced supervision allows a faster pace of studies. Classes are supplemented by research internships. The objectives of the curriculum are as follows:

Outcomes

Every student graduating from ENS in computer science holds a research-oriented Master’s degree and can therefore start PhD studies in computer science or mathematics, that he or she will usually complete in three years. It is also possible to skip PhD studies to start a non-academic career.

After possibly obtaining a PhD, possible professional outcomes after a couple of years are as follows:

An overview of the curriculum

The curriculum is organized over three years, corresponding to the third year of a Bachelor’s degree (L3) and two years of a Master’s degree (M1 and M2). At the end of their studies, after obtaining a research-oriented Master’s degree and also validating additional courses 72 ECTS units will receive the ENS graduate degree.

The Bachelor’s (L3) in computer science, through a partnership with the University of Paris, requires obtaining 60 ECTS, divided into 48 ECTS of courses at L3 level (first and second semester) or M1 level (first semester) and 12 ECTS for the research internship in an (academic or industrial) laboratory, prioritarily outside the Île-de-France region and of a duration of around 8 weeks between June and August. Students also follow additional courses for the ENS graduate degree (at least 24 ECTS units recommended per year).

A Maths and CS track is also offered during the first year. Students who choose it will be enrolled in both a Bachelor’s (L3) in computer science and a Bachelor’s (L3) in mathematics and will have to validate both. This demanding track allows motivated students to pursue a dual training in mathematics and computer science for one year. It also gives students who are still undecided the opportunity to postpone the choice between the two disciplines for one year.

The first year of the Master’s (M1) in computer science requires obtaining 60 ECTS, divided into 30 ECTS of M1-level courses and 30 ECTS of a research internship in a laboratory abroad. Students also follow additional courses for the ENS graduate degree (at least 24 ECTS units recommended per year).

The second year of the Master’s (M2) in computer science requires obtaining 60 ECTS, and includes M2-level courses and a research internship in a laboratory in France or abroad. Students also follow additional courses for the ENS graduate degree (at least 24 ECTS units recommended per year). The M2 year most often ends with the choice of a supervisor and a subject for a doctoral thesis. At this level, students gradually specialize into a research topic and join a research group.

In addition to the compulsory L3, M1 and M2 internships, it is possible from the 2nd year of schooling to do a year of research internships (often abroad), or follow another training for a year. It is necessary to prepare these internship several months in advance to obtain the agreement of the directors of studies, carry out the visa procedures, obtain the signature of internship agreements, mission orders and depending on the circumstances possibly obtain a year of leave from ENS.