Written application

The ENS Mathematics and Applications Department’s “Normalien Student” program (Concours Normalien Étudiant, CNE) aims to recruit 6 to 7 students with a passion for mathematics and wishing to obtain the ENS diploma.

These students have 3 years to complete the ENS diploma. The latter requires validation of ENS’ L3 and M1 in mathematics and a M2 in mathematics in the Paris region, as well as a number of ENS courses in complementary subjects.

These students can also take advantage of the ENS boarding school (< 500€/month), and, once they have completed their Master’s degree, apply for the Contrats Doctoraux Spécifiques Normaliens. In terms of mathematics teaching, there is no distinction with students entering through the Classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE) route.

Although CNE graduates do not have the status of trainee civil servants, CNE graduates in 2025 will all receive a €1,000/month scholarship for 3 years via the Fondation de l’ENS (see this news item).

How does the competition work?

The first step is to send in a dossier enabling us to the mathematical profile of the candidates. Please feel free to attach any relevant documents to your application:
internship report, personal work, etc. (in a single file, within the size limits).

Candidates must apply here between March 10, 2025 and April 25, 2025 (more infos on ENS website)

An e-mail will be sent to you on May 22 to inform you of the outcome of this first selection, i.e. whether you are eligible or not.

Those who qualify will be invited to take two individual mathematics orals (dates to be announced). The first oral, lasting 30 minutes, will begin with a 15-minute presentation on the blackboard (or remote equivalent), during which candidates will present a mathematical result of their choice. The remainder of the time will be devoted to questions from the jury about their presentation. The second 30-minute oral will consist of a discussion with the jury, focusing on the candidate’s background, motivations and an exercise proposed by the jury.

Eligible candidates are notified by e-mail of their final results.