Centrale Paris
Ecole Centrale Paris: An Elite French Institution
To supply early industry with the technical expertise it needed, beginning in the 18th century, the French government created national educational institutions as well as a new category of manager: the engineer. Nowadays, continuing this original mission, ECP’s pedagogical project is to train leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators to take up the major challenges of the 21st century. Founded in 1829, ECP is today a 'Grande Ecole'—an elite public university-level institution under the auspices of the Ministry of Education.
As a French Grande Ecole, it has the following characteristics:
- Highly selective entrance exam to the Centrale Engineering Programme, taken upon completion of a two-year intensive preparation course (university equivalent and parallel recruiting paths available for foreign students)
- Accredited to confer the engineering degree by the Engineering Titles Commission, a branch of the Ministry of Education
- High degree of flexibility and adaptability: each Grande Ecole has the autonomy to adapt its programmes and facilities to the scale of the institution (300 to 500 students per year)
- Close articulation between technical expertise and management skills: a majority of ECP students move into executive functions
- Training excellence: generalist and multidisciplinary training, diverse teaching staff, modern teaching methods and tools (small group workshops, case studies, projects, tutorials, etc.)
- Strong ties to the business world: industrial sponsors, in-house training, company internships, an adjunct teaching staff from the business world
- International orientation: two foreign languages required, double-degree programmes, year abroad options, compulsory foreign experience, etc.
What is a Centrale Engineer?
A leader with a technical background and high-level science training, an entrepreneur and an innovator, prepared for an international career.