Exchange students' Frequently Asked Questions
Upon your arrival
ENS Orientation Week
You can register for the various events and activities organized by the ENS via the "My Calendar" page. You will receive an email in August granting you access to this platform.
PSL Welcome Desk Orientation Days
As an ENS-PSL student, you will also have access to the welcome days organized by the PSL Welcome Desk throughout August, September, and October. For more information, please consult this document.
You will need your ENS student card for:
- access the school campuses
- access libraries and borrow books
- access to the school canteen
It also constitutes a valid proof to benefit from student discounts, particularly in museums, cinemas, public transport, etc.
You will receive your student card on the welcome day, September 4, 2026.
If you are not present on the welcome day, you can collect your card directly from the DRI office upon your arrival.
You can pay for your meals at the school restaurant by adding funds to your student ID.
• Or, with your bank card using the terminals located at the entrance of the restaurant and cafeteria.
/!\ During your first visit to the university restaurant, ask for a receipt to obtain your personal ID number. This number, printed at the bottom of the receipt, will be required to top up your card online.
Unlike the cafeteria where it is possible to pay by bank card, the restaurant only accepts payments by student card.
Hours of operation
Cafeteria: Monday to Friday from 7:15 am to 9:00 am and from 11:40 am to 2:00 pm
Restaurant: Monday to Friday from 11:40 am to 2:00 pm
Prices
Exchange students enrolled at ENS-PSL benefit from the student rate, which is approximately €4 per meal. This right is automatically linked to your student card within 24 hours of its issuance.
Access to the libraries requires pre-registration. To register online, go to www.bib.ens.fr then click on "Pre-registration".
ENS-PSL provides exchange students with various digital services, most of which are accessible with your institutional email address @ens.psl.eu and your login credentials. These will be sent to your personal email address before the start of your exchange.
Here are the services available to you:
A Wi-Fi connection
Use your login credentials to access the ENS-PSL Wi-Fi network.
If you did not receive them at the start of your mobility period, you can obtain them from the IT Resource Centre (CRI). To do so, send an email to assistance-cri@ens.psl.eu by providing your mobile phone number, your date of birth and a picture of the front of your ENS-PSL student card.
Self-service computer rooms with printers
Access is via your ENS-PSL credentials.
- Panthéon Campus: at 45 rue d’Ulm, Info rooms 3 and 4 on level 1 of the NIR building and near the War Memorial
- Montrouge Campus: 7th floor of tower C
- Jourdan Campus: ground floor of the Hypnos building
An intranet
Log in with your ENS-PSL credentials to access administrative information and electronic documents available to you.
Software
ENS-PSL makes several scientific software programs available free of charge, including Mathematica and Matlab.
A coordinator is available to answer your questions and inform you of the measures we can take to help you.
If you would like more information, please feel free to write to dri@ens.psl.euor to consult the ENS website: Health and disability.
Due to the limited number of rooms available on campus, ENS is unfortunately unable to offer accommodation to all exchange students.
If you have been allocated on-campus accommodation as part of the exchange agreement between ENS and your home institution, you have already been notified by email. We encourage you to carefully review the messages sent by the International Relations Office (DRI) to verify the information regarding your situation.
If you have not yet received confirmation regarding your accommodation, please contact the DRI at the following address: dri@ens.psl.eu.
If no accommodation on campus has been allocated to you, the DRI and the PSL Welcome Desk can assist you in your efforts to find accommodation in the private sector.
To help you with your search, we recommend that you consult the following resources:
- THE Housing Guide from the PSL Welcome Desk;
- THE Practical advice for finding accommodation transmitted by the DRI
You can also schedule an appointment with the PSL Welcome Desk for personalized support. To do so, please visit their website at clicking here.
The informational sessions that you must take, and are obligatory of all students are the following:
- Sexual and sexist violence (VSS)
- September 12th, 2026 (4:30PM-6:00PM)
- Campus security
- September 14th, 2026 (2:00PM-5:30PM)
- September 14th, 2026 (2:00PM-5:30PM)
- September 15th, 2026 (2:00PM-5:30PM)
Information for exchange students living on campus
We invite you to consult the "ENS Boarding School Charter" in French or English.
Click here to access the English version.
Click here to access the French version.
By living on campus, you agree to abide by the rules of the Charter. We draw your attention in particular to the rules concerning room maintenance. No cleaning service is provided for individual rooms at the ENS; it is therefore your responsibility to ensure their cleanliness throughout your stay.
Upon your departure, your room must be completely emptied of your personal belongings and left in a satisfactory state of cleanliness. Any abandoned items, uncollected waste, or cleaning required after your departure may be charged.
Failure to comply with these obligations may result in a fine of up to €200.
For students living on campus:
- Arrival in the autumn semester (early September) Please inform the Housing Department of your approximate arrival date and time (hebergement@ens.psl.eu) and to the International Bureau (dri@ens.psl.eubefore the September 30Otherwise, your room may be reassigned.
- Arrival in the spring semester (early or mid-January) Please inform the Housing Department of your approximate arrival date and time (hebergement@ens.psl.eu) and to the International Bureau (dri@ens.psl.eubefore the January 30Otherwise, your room may be reassigned.
The rooms at the ENS are approximately 12 m² and are furnished (bed, mattress, bedside table, desk, chair and shelves). However, you will need to bring or buy your own bed linen (sheets, pillow and blanket).
Each floor has a shared kitchen equipped with a hob, a fridge, an oven and a microwave. The bathrooms (toilets and showers) are located on the landing.
This page This allows you to preview the rooms. The building and your room number will be provided upon arrival.
Insurance
Within one month of your arrival, you will need to provide proof of liability insurance to hebergement@ens.psl.eu.
You can take out this insurance:
- in your country of origin;
- in France, with an insurance company (for example: HEYME(Allianz, MAAF, AXA, Groupama, GMF, MACIF, MATMUT, Direct Assurance, etc.)
- a bank (examples: Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, BNP Paribas, Banque Populaire, Caisse d’Epargne, LCL, etc.)
You will probably need to take out a one-year insurance policy, but if your stay is shorter, you should be able to cancel your contract when you leave and get a refund.
Student residences are closed in July and August. New students arriving for the autumn semester can move in from the September 3. You can collect your key from the reception of your residence, open 24/7.
Don't forget to communicate your approximate arrival date and time to dri@ens.psl.eu And hebergement@ens.psl.eu.
No, unfortunately, that's not possible.
If you are housed on campus, your postal address is as follows: 45 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris.
Always make sure to indicate your room number in your address. This information is essential to allow the mail service to correctly deliver your letters to your mailbox, whether you reside on the Ulm, Jourdan or Montrouge campuses.
Please note that it may take several weeks after your arrival to set up the mail lockers. In the meantime, you will need to collect your mail directly from the mail service, located opposite the main entrance to the Ulm campus.
Parking at 46 rue d'Ulm
For occasional access to this underground parking lot, please contact the General Management at the address dg@ens.psl.eu . They can give you a parking permit in exchange for a deposit (ID or €20 by check or cash). You can only keep this permit for 8 days. The badge must be swiped at the top of the ramp (the reader at the bottom only opens the gate halfway, for pedestrians).
Longer or more frequent access to the parking lot at 46 rue d’Ulm is possible for a limited number of vehicles. To submit your request, you must complete the online form at degetteweb. Print it out and return it to the DG with the necessary documents (including an insurance certificate). If your request can be granted, your ENS card will be activated for parking access within the following business days.
Parking at 45 rue d'Ulm
During the site's opening hours, it is possible to access a parking space on an ad-hoc basis and outside of weekends. To request one, please send an email at least one working day before the desired date to the security staff at 45, rue d'Ulm (securite.ulm@ens.psl.eu). Please provide the following information: name, surname, telephone number, reason and vehicle registration number.
Jourdan Campus
The Jourdan car park is reserved for Jourdan staff. However, when you move in, you may use the lane reserved for firefighters at 46 Boulevard Jourdan, as briefly as possible.
To do so, please send an email at least one working day in advance to Jourdan's security department (securite.jourdan@ens.psl.eu).
Wi-Fi is currently being installed in the rooms. In the meantime, you can connect your computer to one of the two RJ45 ports using an Ethernet cable. You can bring your own cable or purchase one from a store upon arrival. You will also need to register your MAC address with the IT department. The procedure is explained on this page: link.
You can contact DRI (dri@ens.psl.eu), who will be your main contact. You can also contact the General Delegation at the address dg@ens.psl.eu and consult their FAQYou can also contact the housing department at the address hebergement@ens.psl.eu.
You can contact DRI (dri@ens.psl.eu) who will be your main contact person. You can also write to the housing department at the address hebergement@ens.psl.eu, copying the DG (dg@ens.psl.eu).
In case of emergency
Depending on the campus where you reside, here is the list of numbers for the central security posts at the different sites:
- Ulm: 06 66 03 18 88
- Jourdan: 06 66 03 20 90
- Montrouge: 06 66 03 13 81
If you need to contact student representatives, the mobile numbers for COF/BDS/DG are listed in the student directory.
In case of damage, technical problems or repairs
For any problem in the room (or in common areas such as the kitchen) requiring technical intervention, you can report it to travaux@ens.psl.eu, with a copy to the DG (dg@ens.psl.eu).
In the subject line of your email, clearly state the problem, and in the body of the message, don't forget to include your room number.
Equipment replacement, presence of pests
For any problem not requiring technical intervention, you can report it to the housing office via hebergement@ens.psl.eu with copy to the Director General (dg@ens.psl.eu).
Please note that the logistics service does not take back beds and does not lend additional mattresses.
Academic life
Course registration will take place after your arrival at the ENS.
You can now consult the course offerings 2025-2026, available on the websites of the various departments. The course offerings for the 2026-2027 academic year will be published starting in September.
During October, you will have the opportunity to freely attend the classes that interest you in order to explore the courses before finalizing your choice. To enroll in a class, you must obtain the approval of the instructor(s) in charge. You can contact them by email or come directly to the first session.
If you wish to attend courses, whether as an auditor or for academic credit, you will need to officially register on the Pegasus platform in October. When the time comes, the International Relations Office (DRI) will send you all the necessary information by email.
We draw your attention to the fact that only students registered on Pegasus will be able to obtain a transcript or certificate of participation at the end of their stay.
If you are considering having the credits obtained at ENS recognized by your home institution, we recommend that you check beforehand that the courses you are considering are compatible with your study program and meet the requirements of your university.
Yes, under two conditions:
- First, the professor in charge of the course must agree to enroll you in this course. This agreement can be given by email or in person.
- Secondly, we strongly recommend that at least half of the courses you complete are delivered within your host department.
Yes, provided the professor in charge of the course is willing and able to accommodate you in their class. Please note that grades obtained outside of the ENS will not appear on your ENS transcript. If your home university requires an official ENS transcript at the end of your stay, please ensure that taking courses outside of the ENS will not cause any problems.
Some exchange students, particularly those participating in the Erasmus+ program, must establish a Learning Agreement.
OLA (Erasmus+ students)
The International Relations Department (DRI) validates all study contracts submitted online via the Online Learning Agreement (OLA) platform, after obtaining the agreement of the relevant host department.
Once your OLA is completed and submitted, we invite you to send a message to dri@ens.psl.eu to inform us that it is ready to be examined.
Other learning agreement
For all learning agreement signatures, please send us the completed document provided by your university by email to dri@ens.psl.eu.
Once all your professors have entered your lecture notes on the Pegasus online platform at the end of your stay, you will be able to download an official ENS transcript directly from your account.
As the course registration period approaches, the DRI will send you an email with more information about it.
Each department at the ENS designates a faculty liaison officer in charge of international relations (CDRI). A specialist in your discipline and familiar with the School's exchange programs, the CDRI is your primary contact for any questions relating to the department's course offerings, your study contract, or, more generally, your academic path at the ENS.
If you do not know the identity of the International Relations Department (CDRI) in your host department, we invite you to consult the website of the department in question. If this information is not available there, you can contact the International Relations Office at the following address: dri@ens.psl.eu ; we will be happy to put you in touch with the appropriate person.
Most departments at the ENS offer at least some courses in English. Please note that the range of courses in English in the humanities and social sciences is very limited.
For more details, please consult the course programs of each department, and do not hesitate to contact your department's secretariat if you have any further questions.
On your student profile, you will be able to locate information regarding how to download the certificate.
Student life and resources
Yes! The student organizations of the ENS are managed by two central associations: the COF (Festival Organization Committee) and the BDS (Sports Office).
The COF organizes school events and manages the clubs. It is entirely run by ENS students. All ENS clubs, organizations, and associations are listed on their website as soon as the annual brochure is published.
The Student Sports Association (BDS) manages all sports clubs affiliated with the ENS. To join a sports club at the school, you must go in person to the BDS and pay the registration fee. This fee varies depending on the sport you wish to participate in. Once registered, you can join local students to participate in sports such as indoor climbing, skiing, frisbee, cheerleading, and soccer.
For more details, please see the general "Student Life" page of this website!
As an international exchange student, you can visit the Health Hub to get information on common health issues.
You will also have access to the French healthcare system, even as a student on a temporary stay in the country. For any questions regarding your registration with the healthcare system, please do not hesitate to contact the PSL Welcome Desk (welcomedesk@psl.eu).
The Health Centre is located on the Ulm campus; you can also contact them by email upon your arrival.
The École Normale Supérieure places respect for the rights and dignity of individuals at the forefront. As an engaged, inclusive, and responsible community, it has implemented various prevention measures.