École Polytechnique
Palaiseau, France
From San Diego to the Seine, undergraduate STEM students have the opportunity to study at one of Europe's premier universities for science and technology, École Polytechnique (EP)! EP's campus is located south of Paris on beautiful pastoral property complete with an equestrian center and a lake. Exchange students are enrolled in EP's Bachelor of Science Program, which is a Mathematics-based degree program with specialized tracks in Physics, Economics or Computer Science. The program is entirely taught in English, so no French language skills are necessary to participate. This exchange program is rigorous, but incredibly rewarding for those who participate!
Links and Resources:
*Please note that UC San Diego students do not have to pay the tuition fees per semester listed as we have a mutual exchange agreement in place.
Important Information for 2027-28 Cycle
-
-
-
Please note that Global Exchange Programs have two applications: one for UC San Diego (TritonsAbroad) and the other for the partner university. After applying in Tritons Abroad, UC San Diego will review and approve your nomination and you will be provided instructions for submitting a second application to the partner university.
Visit the
How to Apply section for more information on the application process and the
Pre-Departure Requirements section for important steps and considerations leading up to your time abroad.
Exchange Details:
- Academic Level: Undergraduate
- Academic Years: Junior and Senior
- Eligible Major(s): STEM majors. Computer Science and Engineering, Economics, Mathematics and Physics majors are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Additional Eligibility Requirements: EP is a highly academic and rigorous university. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 to apply. In addition to GPA, strong academic performance in STEM subjects, especially mathematics, will be considered as part of the nomination process.
Academic Calendar:
- Fall Semester: September to December/January*
- Spring Semester: February/ April - June*
* For year 2 courses, the instruction period ends in January but final examinations take place in February. Year 3 courses finish in December. For the third year, the first semester ends in December with examinations being in mid-December and the second semester starts in April and concludes in June.
The International Mobility Office organizes orientation days 3-5 days prior to the beginning of each semester to find their way around campus and provide them with the necessary tools for a successful exchange period. EP recommends that all exchange students participate in this activity.
- Full Time Enrollment: Minimum twenty (20) and maximum thirty (30) ECTS per semester.
- Course Catalogs:
- Language of Instruction: English. The exchange with EP is with the Bachelor of Science program which is entirely taught in English (even for French students). For courses in which the language of instruction is French, exchange students can take one to two electives per semester offered by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, depending on availability (exchange students also have access to English-taught courses as electives in this Department as well). Student who wish to take courses taught in French will have to provide some sort of documentation demonstrating their proficiency in French (at least at B2 Level). EP will also accept a letter of endorsement from a French-speaking faculty member at UC San Diego.
- French Language Courses: Exchange students can take French classes offered by the Department of Languages and Cultures, and under certain conditions, classes in another foreign language taught by the Department. The levels offered range from beginner to advanced (A1 to C2) depending on the number of open places.
- Restricted Courses:
-
The following Masters of Science and Technology courses are not open to exchange students: Data & Finance X-HEC, Data Science and AI for Business X-HEC, Cybersecurity, AI for Markets and Quantitative Investments.
-
Please note that access to Master of Science and Technology courses is limited to a maximum of 1 course per period and is subject to approval by the Master's coordinator.
-
Depending on the specialization chosen, students at Bachelor's and Master's level may request to carry out a scientific project, but due to the limited number of places in the courses, final enrolment will be subject to the approval of the supervising professor.
-
At Master's level, only the scientific research internship in the 3rd year of the Ingenieur Polytechnicien Program is open to exchange students, provided they have studied the whole year in the 3rd year of the Ingénieur Polytechnicien program. The Business internship experience in a company in the 2nd year of the Ingenieur Polytechnicien Program is not open to exchange students.
École Polytechnique arranges
on-campus housing for exchange students, if possible. Exchange students take priority in allocating housing, but it is entirely based on availability for the semester(s). More general information can be found on the
campus services page.
- On-Campus/ Off-Campus Housing: EP has 1,500 housing units on campus for students. Some rooms are available on the campus or nearby for students participating in the internship program or for students on academic exchange during the Fall semester or the Full academic year. Please note that students on academic exchange during the Spring semester are not guaranteed on-campus housing and may need to make other arrangements. EP will provide students with relevant information and advice on self-arranged accommodation. There are cooking facilities in the residences, as well as a number of cafeterias and cafes for dining.
- Average cost of living (including accommodation, insurance, study materials, transportation, meals and incidentals): €800/ month. This amount does not include personal expenses, which depend on the requirements of each individual student.
U.S. citizens must obtain a student visa to study in France. For other citizenships, visit the website of the French Embassy or Consulate in your country of citizenship for visa requirements and processes.
- Letter of Admission After admission, students will receive an admission letter by email. Only students who need to apply for a visa can receive an original copy of their admission letter by express mail.
Links:
- Medical Facilities On Campus: EP has an on-campus medical facility that is divided into four areas: medical services, preventative care, psychological services and social services. Exchange students have access to all of them.
- Support for Students with Disabilities: Yes.
- French Health Insurance: All students staying in France for at least 6 months must be affiliated with the French Healthcare System. All students must have liability insurance. All students attend a mandatory medical visit once on campus; some documents have to be completed during the enrollment process.
- Excursions/ Sightseeing: Some events are organized; events and activities depend on a year-by-year basis.
- Recreation/ Sporting Activities and Clubs: Exchange students have access to all the recreational facilities on campus. EP also has multiple student associations.