FAQ

You would like to take the ENSCI-Les Ateliers entrance exam. You may have questions about the procedures, preparation and tests. Here is a series of questions and answers to help you. Don’t forget that coming to the ENSCI-Les Ateliers Open Days is an excellent way of preparing for the entrance exam, enabling you to experience the atmosphere and learn about the teaching methods and projects and speak to students and faculty members.

We remind you that it is essential to carefully read the Applicant’s Guide  to prepare for the entrance exam

Should I send you the administrative documents electronically (payment form, ID card, qualifications obtained, etc.)?

The administrative documents should be submitted in PDF format on the school’s pre-registration website.
Parcoursup candidates do not need to submit these administrative documents as they use the Parcoursup registration platform.

Is it possible to include video links in the project PDF?

No, you cannot include links to sites or videos in your project. This is because links can be modified at any time. For the purposes of the entrance exam, it is essential for the deadline to be the same for everyone.

Who is affected by Parcoursup?

Parcoursup is for candidates who have passed the Baccalaureate, or an equivalent French or foreign qualification, as well as students in the final year of high school, in preparatory class for art schools or enrolled on post-Baccalaureate courses.

Please note: candidates for Science and Design courses and Double Degrees do not apply via Parcoursup.

I am on a post-Baccalaureate programme in the second year of my bachelor’s degree. Should I apply via Parcoursup?

Yes. Parcoursup is for candidates who have passed the Baccalaureate, or an equivalent French or foreign qualification, as well as students in the final year of high school, in preparatory class for art schools or enrolled on post-Baccalaureate courses.

I am in the third year of my bachelor’s degree and I am due to obtain my bachelor’s degree in the year of the entrance exam. Should I apply via Parcoursup?

No. Holders of a French post-Baccalaureate qualification or foreign equivalent (BTS, Licence 3, Bachelor, DN MADE, DNSAP, Master, etc.) or those in the process of obtaining it in the 2023-24 academic year should not apply via Parcoursup. They should register via the school’s registration portal.

I am applying via Parcoursup. Do I have to submit the requested eligibility documents (video, questions, time-limited project) via the Parcoursup platform?

No. Parcoursup candidates should complete their administrative registration via the Parcoursup platform AND finalise their registration by submitting the additional documents requested for the entrance exam via the ENSCI portal.

I am applying via Parcoursup. Can I submit the requested documents as soon as the portal opens on 15 January 2024?

No. There are two different entry points for the entrance exam. You can submit your documents from 8 March. The opening of the portal on 15 January is for non-Parcoursup candidates.

Below are the important dates to remember based on your category:
Non-Parcoursup candidates:

Must register and submit the required documents via the ENSCI portal.
Registration opens on the ENSCI portal on 15 January 2024.
Deadline for registration and payment: Friday 9 February 2024 at 10am. 
Time-limited project date: subject published on the ENSCI website on Friday 16 February 2024 at 2pm.
Deadline for submitting your application files: Tuesday 20 February 2024 at 10am. 

Parcoursup candidates: Must register via Parcoursup and submit the additional documents via the ENSCI portal.

Opening of registrations: Please refer to the Parcoursup procedure defined on their website.

Opening of the portal for submitting additional documents on Wednesday 8 March 2024.
Time-limited project date: choice of subjects published on the ENSCI website on Friday 5 April 2024 at 2pm.
Deadline for submitting your application files: Tuesday 9 April 2024 at 10am.

IF I'M AN INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT, DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW A DIFFERENT ADMISSION PROCESS? DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH PARCOURSUP? 

Whether you're applying from France or abroad, the admission process is the same. 

As an international applicant, depending on the level of your last diploma, you will need to go through the Parcoursup platform for your administrative registration, or through the ENSCi website if you are outside Parcoursup. You should refer to the Candidate's Guide for details on admission. DELF level B2 is required. This document must be deposited on the ENSCI deposit platform with your application file.

I want to register for the entrance exam for the Sciences and Design programme. Should I apply via Parcoursup?

No. Candidates for Science and Design courses and Double Degrees do not apply via Parcoursup.

My PDF exceeds 15MB and I cannot reduce the size. What should I do?

Your application will be studied on-screen. It is therefore not necessary to add very high definition images which will make your application larger (an image quality of 150 dpi is therefore more than sufficient). Your images should be readable and clear on-screen and also remain readable when zooming in on certain areas. 

There are also plenty of tools available online to reduce the size of your PDF.
For example, you could use the following PDF tools:

Compress a pdf file 

In any case, we must receive your file in PDF format and its size must not exceed 15MB.

My video is too large. What should I do?

A tutorial for adjusting the size of your video is provided in the Candidate’s Guide. Please select the exact settings indicated to obtain a video no larger than 30MB. 

In any case, your file must be in .MP4 format and its size must not exceed 30MB. Your video should be no more than two minutes long.

When will eligibility and admissions decisions be made?

The eligibility results will be posted on the school’s website on Wednesday 24 April 2024 from 3pm and invitations to the admission tests will be sent to candidates by email. 

Admission days will be held from Thursday 2 May to Monday 13 May 2024. You will be invited to an admission day during this period.

The admission results will be posted on the school’s website on Thursday June 30 2024 from 3pm.

I don’t have my Baccalaureate. Is it still possible to apply to ENSCI? Do I need to request an exemption to take the entrance exam?

Yes. Candidates who do not fall into one of the four categories (for example, have not passed the Baccalaureate for categories 1 to 3) must submit an exemption request (a handwritten letter containing valid reasons and grounds, supported by compelling supporting documents) sent to the chief examiner by Friday 2 February 2024. This category of candidate does not apply via Parcoursup.

Candidates still in their final year of high school may not submit an exemption request. They must apply via Parcoursup. If successful, they will be admitted subject to obtaining their Baccalaureate.

Does ENSCI offer a foundation year?

No. The entrance exam is also open to final year students currently studying for their Baccalaureate. In the event of success in the entrance exam, an offer is made subject to passing the Baccalaureate.

Do I need to do a preparatory workshop before attempting the entrance exam?

ENSCI has no such requirement. The decision is yours. It is up to you to assess your ability to produce personal work that is sufficiently relevant to convey to the examiners your creative potential and the stages of your thinking. A self-taught design practice is as interesting as the more academic ones developed in a preparatory workshop, as long as they reflect your personality and are accompanied by a good understanding of industrial design and its contemporary fields.

Do you have quotas by nationality or by category?

There are no quotas by nationality. 

We have a maximum admission limit of 35 students for Industrial Design courses, six for Science and Design and four for Double Degrees. The limit for the Textile Design course is 10.

What are the tuition fees for foreigners?

Tuition fees are the same for all our students. Fees for the 2023-2024 year are €438. CROUS scholarship recipients are exempt.

In which category should I apply?

The admissions service assigns you a category based on your level of qualification. The entrance exam is the same for all categories, but the examiners’ expectations differ depending on your background and maturity.

Are there any open days?

ENSCI-Les Ateliers organises open days on 26 and 27 January 2024. Diploma sessions are also open to the public. See the ENSCI website for dates (October-December-March-July).

Which school reports do I need to provide in my application?

You must provide your last two years of studies as well as the first quarter of the current year if you are a student.
Category 4 candidates are not required to provide their school reports.

Where can I find the INE number requested in the application pack?

The National Student Identifier (INE – Identifiant National Etudiant) is an 11-character code assigned to all students who have attended a French school. It can be found on school certificates, Baccalaureate transcripts and student cards.

Can I apply for both the initial industrial design course and the double science & design course?

No. You must choose the course that reflects your proper understanding of it and express genuine commitment to it.

Who is the Science & Design course for?

This course is primarily aimed at students in their final year of a Science Baccalaureate. It is also open to those who obtained a Science Baccalaureate the year preceding the entrance exam. Good grades in scientific subjects are desirable in order to be properly prepared for this demanding course.

I don’t have any design knowledge and want to find out more 

Below is a general source of information about design: https://www.reseau-canope.fr/a-quoi-sert-le-design/presentation.html