The International Academic Exchange Program gives international students currently enrolled in a degree course in science and engineering outside of France the opportunity to attend courses at École Polytechnique.
Student applicants from partner institutions must have been nominated by their institution. Visiting students (enrolled in a higher education institution that does not have a partnership agreement with the École Polytechnique) may also apply, but are not given priority for admission. Tuition fees apply to their exchange period.
Student applicants can apply to take part in the exchange program for a full year, the autumn semester or the spring semester. The duration of an exchange period is between 3 and 12 months maximum.
École Polytechnique allows exchange students to choose their courses from a wide range of courses taught in 11 departments.
In this exchange program, students take classes together with regular full-time students. They enroll in the exchange program and receive ECTS credits for classes validated during their exchange period.
Most courses are subject to a numerus clausus, so enrollment cannot be guaranteed at the time of admission. Confirmation of course enrollment takes place before the start of each semester.
COURSES AVAILABLE TO EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Applicants to the exchange program should consult the course selection guide below to find out which courses are available to them.
Course syllabi are available in the online course catalog.
LANGUAGE CLASSES
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.
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES CLASSES
Exchange students can take one class per semester offered by the Department, depending on availability.
MANAGEMENT, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASSES
Exchange students can take one class per semester offered by the Department, depending on availability.
SPORTS
Exchange students have access to sports facilities on the campus.
COURSE RESTRICTIONS
The Masters of Science and Technology Data Science for Business and Data Science for Finance courses are not open to exchange students.
Please note that access to Master of Science and Technology courses is limited to a maximum of 2 courses 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.
1st & 2nd YEARS
| 1st semester | 2nd semester | |
| Teaching | September to January | February to June |
| Examination | Early February | End of June |
3rd YEAR
| 1st semester | 2nd semester | |
| Teaching | September to December | April to June* |
| Examination | Mid-December | End of June |
* Period from January to March is dedicated to the Bachelor Thesis
2ND YEAR OF THE INGÉNIEUR POLYTECHNICIEN PROGRAM
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching | August to Mid-November | Mid-November to Mid-February | Mid-February to Mid-May |
| Examination | Mid-November | Mid-February | End of May |
3RD YEAR OF THE INGÉNIEUR POLYTECHNICIEN PROGRAM / 1ST YEAR OF THE MSC&T
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching | September to December | January to March | April to August |
| Examination | Mid-December | Mid-March | Thesis Defense |
Welcome day
The International Affairs Office organizes a welcome day, taking place at the beginning of each semester. It is intended to help students find their way around campus and provide them with the necessary tools for a successful exchange period on our campus. Participation in this day is compulsory.
Other cohesion activities will be organized throughout the academic year.