École Normale Supérieure de Cachan

, in France. Like all the other Grandes Écoles, this higher education institution is not included in the mainstream framework of the French public universities.

Overview

Its main mission is to train world-class academics, but it may also be a starting point for public administrative or private executive careers. It recruits mostly from the very competitive "classes préparatoires" (see also Grande École) but also admits students who have graduated from university with a DEUG (Diplôme d'Etudes Universitaires Générales, two years of studies).Students who entered through "classes préparatoires" are automatically civil servants and are paid by the french ministry for education during their studies. They follow the standard university curriculum (Licence, Maîtrise) but have to work for a French public administration for six years when their four-years curriculum at the ENS is completed. They are encouraged to take then the Agregation competitive examination. Students originating from the University are not required to work for a French public administration but are not paid either.

There are 15 departments : Mathematics, Computer Science, Fundamental Physic, Chemistry, Biology for the scientific department, Electronic, Mecatronic, Mecanics Engineering, Civil Engineering for the engineering departments, and Economy/Management, Law, Social Sciences, Languages, Design, Sport for the human sciences.

Students of the ENS Cachan who are civil servants are known as "normaliens".

ome Famous Alumni

* Philippe Aghion (French economist)
* Alain Aspect (French physicist)
* Marie-Noëlle Lienemann (French politician)

ee also

* École Normale Supérieure

External links

* [http://www.ens-cachan.fr/ ENS Cachan website]