At Ecole Polytechnique, we admit the most talented undergraduate students from all over the world using a need-blind admissions process. We strive to attract and reward the very best students, regardless of their financial situation.
There are two categories of financial aid: merit-based and need-based. These categories are not mutually exclusive.
As the amount of aid is limited, students needing financial aid are encouraged to apply in early admissions rounds.
It is important to note that students enrolled in Ecole Polytechnique’s Bachelor Program can be entitled to receive French government CROUS scholarships based on social criteria. Students must take into account that they will have to pay at least part of the tuition and most of their living expenses. It is therefore necessary to make a feasible financial plan to pay your studies at Ecole Polytechnique before applying.
Please keep in mind that you will have to provide a financial plan to the French Authorities in order to receive your visa. Without a sound financial plan, you will not be able to get your visa to study at Ecole Polytechnique.
FULL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD MEDALISTS
École Polytechnique is launching a new scholarship for International Olympiad medalists, to honor their outstanding achievements.
It is offering a limited number of scholarships to medalists who are admitted to the Bachelor of Science Program, as follows:
For Fall 2025 intake:
Granting of scholarship subject to the final decision of École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science Admission and Financial Aid Committees.
Maximum scholarship limit (tuition fees plus living allowance) is 87,900 Euros per non-EU/EEA student and 78,750 Euros per EU/EEA student.
A student is eligible to apply for the scholarship if they have participated in one or more of the above international subject-proficiency Olympiads and been awarded one or more medal(s) in the three years prior to their enrollment (with a priority given to gold medalists).
Only one scholarship is granted per student: students cannot cumulate two medal scholarships, nor other types of financial aid provided by Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Polytechnique’s Foundation or the French government.
Students will be required to submit an official certificate confirming their International Olympiad result. · The scholarship’s renewal is subject to academic success and an exemplary conduct in the Program.
The 1,500 Euro annual administration fee is due by all students and non-refundable.
When is the scholarship paid, how is it paid? Tuition fees are waived apart from the annual administration fee. Living allowance scholarships are paid in 10 monthly installments from September to June each academic year (unless otherwise specified).
When can candidates expect to receive an answer? Candidates will be informed of their financial aid application result after admission results are announced and before the administration fee for pre-enrollment is due (unless otherwise specified).
Merit-based Financial Aid
EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
Excellence Scholarships are awarded to the very best students, who demonstrate outstanding academic abilities, a strong motivation to study in École Polytechnique’s Bachelor Program and a pioneering spirit to be real ambassadors of the Program, earning them an admission with honors. Granted throughout the three years of the Program, this scholarship aims to help students bear the cost of their studies.
Candidates admitted with honors will be informed on how to apply for an Excellence Scholarship upon their admission to the Program.
Granting of scholarship subject to the final decision of École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science Admission and Financial Aid Committees.
The Excellence Scholarship amounts to 4,800 Euros in total per year, for 3 years.
The exact number of scholarships is determined according to available funds.
Only students admitted with honors are eligible to apply.
Its renewal is subject to academic success and an exemplary conduct in the Program.
When is the scholarship paid, how is it paid? Excellence Scholarships are paid in 10 monthly installments from September to June each academic year (unless otherwise specified).
When can candidates expect to receive an answer? Candidates will be informed of their Excellence Scholarship application result after admission results are announced and before the administration fee for pre-enrollment is due (unless otherwise specified).
WOMEN IN SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP
Women in Science Scholarships aim to provide financial support to female admitted candidates. Historically, in France, women have been under-represented in scientific f ields of study. At École Polytechnique, we take this issue very seriously and strive to promote gender equality by providing support to female applicants. This scholarship is granted throughout the three years of the Program.
Candidates will be informed on how to apply for Women in Science Scholarships upon their admission to the Program.
Granting of scholarship subject to the final decision of École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science Admission and Financial Aid Committees.
The Women in Science Scholarship amounts to 4,800 Euros in total per year, for 3 years.
The exact number of scholarships is determined according to available funds.
Its renewal is subject to academic success and an exemplary conduct in the Program.
When is the scholarship paid, how is it paid? Women in Science Scholarships are paid in 10 monthly installments from September to June each academic year (unless otherwise specified).
When can candidates expect to receive an answer? Candidates will be informed of their Women in Science Scholarship application result after admission results are announced and before the administration fee for pre-enrollment is due (unless otherwise specified).
Need-based Financial aid
At École Polytechnique, we want to ensure that our programs are an affordable option for all of our admitted students. Based on their financial situation, admitted candidates may apply for need-based financial aid.
To help students bear the cost of their studies, there are two types of need-based financial aid, depending essentially on a student’s nationality and their family’s resources:
- French and assimilated students whose families have fewer resources may benefit from the French government state-funded aid, namely CROUS bursary, from the first year of their studies. It is composed of:
- a tuition fee waiver and a living cost scholarship.
EU/EEA citizens may apply for such financial aid from the second year of their studies.
- All other candidates, i.e. international, European and French students not entitled to the CROUS bursary, may benefit from need-based financial aid proposed directly by École Polytechnique and by Ecole Polytechnique Foundation, in the form of:
- a tuition fee waiver granted by École Polytechnique and/or an interest-free loan supported by Ecole Polytechnique Foundation.
Granting of tuition fee waiver subject to the final decision of Ecole Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science Financial Aid Committee.
Granting of CROUS bursary subject to the decision of the French Authorities, via a dedicated application process. · Any need-based financial aid that may be awarded will only partially cover fees or expenses.
The exact number of tuition fee waivers is determined according to available funds.
The 1,500 Euro annual administration fee is due by all students and non-refundable.
Applications should be made according to the instructions received by the candidate upon admission.
How much? The total amount of need-based financial aid will depend on the family’s resources.
When is the need-based financial aid paid, how is it paid?
o Tuition fee waivers: These are deducted from the total tuition fees due by the student. Students are invoiced by Ecole Polytechnique only for the outstanding amount they are expected to pay for each academic year.
o Interest-free loans: These are supported by Ecole Polytechnique Foundation. Students have to reimburse them after their studies.
When can candidates expect to receive an answer?
o CROUS bursary: Candidates will be informed by the CROUS of their application result during the summer subsequent to their application.
o Ecole Polytechnique/Ecole Polytechnique Foundation need-based financial aid: Candidates will be informed of their application result after admission results are announced and before the administration fee for pre-enrollment is due (unless otherwise specified).
Applying for financial aid can seem complicated. If you are admitted to the Program, you will be given clear steps on how to apply and guidance according to your situation.
Financial aid from outside of Ecole Polytechnique
Several other bursaries may be available to Ecole Polytechnique Bachelor students according to different requirements such as nationality, academic achievements and study plan.
A complete list of scholarships and grants is available on CampusBourses listing, where they are sorted by supporting organizations, fields of studies and countries of origin.
French banks may potentially provide students, on a case-by-case basis, student loans at preferential rates. However, a fiscal warrantor on French soil is systematically needed (except for the French bank Crédit Agricole) in order to obtain a student loan. Students who are not able to provide a fiscal warrantor on French soil will have to look for loan options in their own country.
Students are encouraged to find other types of financial aid in their own country or in France by themselves.
Master Columbia Financial aid
Funding for MS students is very limited. Columbia's academic departments have a number of part-time positions that are open to students each semester. MS students are eligible to apply for these roles, but they are generally not awarded prior to enrollment. We strongly encourage all applicants to seek funding from external sources.
Student Financial Planning describes different types of aid that may be available to you, including loans. International students are advised to seek out scholarship opportunities that they may be eligible for through their home country's government agency or Ministry of Education, and nonprofit organizations. Institutional aid is administered by academic departments and includes funding from institutional grants, fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, readerships, and preceptorships. All of these types of aid are considered institutional aid and can be awarded individually or in some combination, upon admission or to continuing students, by the academic department.
All prospective students may apply for admission to graduate programs in engineering with institutional aid consideration. There is no separate application for institutional aid. Graduate Engineering students may also choose to search for external funding opportunities outside of Columbia University to support their education and research costs.