International Students at CESI
Learn more about our admission criteria, our application process and the services we offer.
Degree-seeking students
Our admission criteria
Check the « Programs » page for information about each program offered to international degree-seeking students.
Language requirements
- Programs taught in French
A level of French equivalent to B2 is required to enter our Grande École Program taught in French (Undergraduate, Graduate and Post-Graduate) and our Mastère Spécialisé® programs (Post-Graduate).
Knowledge of English is also required. A minimum level of B1 is required for admission.
- Courses taught in English
For courses taught in English (Master’s Degree in Engineering, Master’s Degree in Computer Science), a level of English equivalent to B2 is required.
Students must also have some knowledge of French to enroll (level B1).
Indeed, a minimum level equivalent to B2 according to the CEFR* is required in these two languages at the end of your studies to obtain the engineering degree.
*CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Tuitions fees
Undergraduate level
Tuition fees for international students with tax residence outside the EEA (European Economic Area)TUI are currently €8,500* for the first year of study.
Graduate level
Tuition fees for international students whose tax residence is outside the EEA (European Economic Area) are currently €10,500* for the first year of study.
Post-Graduate level
Tuition fees for international students whose tax residence is outside the EEA (European Economic Area) are currently €15,000* per year of study. International students pay no application fees.
*Fees are subject to change depending on the academic year.
Exchange students
To study at CESI as an exchange student, please first contact the international office of your home institution.
Exchange students can come under bilateral agreements or specific exchange programs for periods ranging from one semester to one academic year.
Academic Calendar
The autumn semester starts at CESI in mid-September and runs until the end of January.
The spring semester begins at CESI in mid-February and ends in late June.
The exact start dates for your program will be indicated in your admission letter.
We recommend that you arrive one week before the start of the semester so that you can take part in the integration activities and complete the necessary administrative formalities.
application
Step1 : Nomination
The partner institution where you are registered must send the list of students nominated, by email to CESI’s international office: relationsinternationales@cesi.fr
Nominations must include the following data:
- First name
- Last name
- E-mail address
- Exchange semester (fall, spring, full academic year)
- Field and level of study (Computer Science/ Industrial Engineering)
- Level of French and/or English
- Campuses requested (3 wishes)
Step2 : Application by the student
The International Mobility Department will contact you to submit your application on our international mobility management portal, Mobility-Online:
- Completed application form
- A copy of your identity card or passport
- Your CV
- All transcripts of your higher education studies (in French or English)
Step 3: Confirmation
The Programs Department reviews your application and makes an admission decision. You will then receive your admission letter by e-mail.
The learning agreement is also sent to you shortly afterwards (see programs below).
Step 4 (optional, depending on your country of origin) : Visa
If you are not a citizen of one of the following countries: European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway and want to study in France, you must first apply for a long-stay visa (VLS-TS) for students (valid for 4 months to 1 year). Contact your local Campus France office.
Deadlines
Fall semester:
- Nomination deadline is May 1.
- Application deadline is May 15.
- Admission letters and learning agreement are sent in June.
Spring semester :
- Nomination deadline is November 1.
- Application deadline is November 15.
- Admission letters and learning agreement are sent in December.
Exchange programs (courses) :
At CESI, the Grande École Program uses active PBL (Project and Problem Based Learning) teaching methods.
Exchange students come for a predefined semester corresponding to their field and level of study, covering 30 ECTS credits per semester. They are fully integrated into the French classes and can not select less than 30 ECTS. The school does not accept Free Mover exchange students (without a signed agreement with your home institution).
At CESI, the Grande École Program uses active PBL (Project and Problem Based Learning) teaching methods.
An internship, post-doc or co-tutorship in a laboratory
CESI can welcome international students, PhD students or post-doctoral fellows to its research laboratories for an internship, residency, thesis or co-tutorship.
Services provided to international students
The quality of services offered by CESI to its international students has earned the school two stars in the Bienvenue en France label.
This label attests to the quality of the welcome given to foreign students at CESI. The Bienvenue en France label testifies to the actions taken to meet the needs of international students, based on the following criteria:
- Quality and accessibility of information
- Quality and accessibility of reception facilities
- Accessibility and support for teaching
- Accommodation and quality of campus life
- Quality of post-graduation follow-up
Here are some of the services provided :
Before you arrive
CESI provides you with this welcome guide (lien avec guide à télécharger), which contains a wealth of useful information for a successful arrival and stay.
CESI will give you the opportunity to get to know your new campus before you arrive, with the help of video-conferences, 3D tours, etc.
CESI offers a “Buddy” program to help you settle in. This system facilitates your integration and academic success.
CESI also helps admitted students find accommodation. Acces to the school’s platform « Studapart »: to find verified offers, and dedicated support. You can also find details of the accommodation available on each campus site in the “Living at” section.
During your stay at CESI
CESI organizes a welcome day or Care Program for international students and provides them with a welcome kit (city map, public transport tickets, CESI T-shirt).
CESI will arrange a personal meeting with the international relations officer at your assigned campus to help you with the following formalities:
Social security: if you are enrolling for the first time in a higher education establishment in France and do not have a social security number, you must register on this site in order to benefit from coverage of your healthcare costs for the duration of your studies. Registration is free and compulsory, and will enable you to benefit from reimbursement of your healthcare expenses.
To ensure optimum reimbursement of your healthcare costs, you can subscribe to a complementary health insurance plan or a mutuelle.
Bank account: We can also help you open a bank account and take care of all the other formalities involved in settling in France. To find out more about all the formalities involved, please consult the Campus France website, particularly the page on applying for a job.
Validation of your visa
Verification of your compulsory insurance (health and civil liability)
Caisse d’Allocation Familiale (CAF) and social assistance: any student enrolled in a French higher education institution can apply for housing assistance. Students who are nationals of the European Union can receive a social assistance grant after one year in France.
CESI introduces you to the Bureau des Etudiants (BDE) and local student associations, enabling you to experience intellectual, cultural and sporting life on your campus during your studies. CESI celebrates internationalization throughout the academic year with Erasmus Days, Europe Day, and more.
At the end of your mobility
CESI supports you throughout your professional integration in France and abroad.
CESI offers a dynamic alumni network of 110,000 alumni in many countries around the world, a tremendous asset for your professional success.