Ecole Normale Supérieure
Ecole Normale Supérieure, 45 rue d'Ulm, 75230 Paris cedex 05, France
Description:
The ENS covers a vast spectrum of academic disciplines in both the humanities and sciences. It does so within six humanities departments (Philosophy, History, Classics, Literature and Languages, Social Sciences, Geography) and six science departments (Pure and Applied Mathematics, Computing, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Land-Atmosphere-Ocean). In each of these departments, the activities of teaching and research are closely interlinked. The initial task of the Ecole, to form the teachers and professors of the future, remains its fundamental vocation; but this has significantly widened in recent times, and pupils now go on to a wide range of future careers.
73% of students recommend
18 reviews
18 reviews of Ecole Normale Supérieure
HOUSING
by Marie, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Language, University Agreement
Personal assessment
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why? Very convenient location in 5th arrondissement. Opportunity to meet other students.
Personal comments:
Well heated, good showering facilities and large, well-equipped kitchen. Shame that there were only two washing machines for the entire residence. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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STUDENT LIFE
by Marie, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Language, University Agreement
Personal social experience
Describe host city: Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment Personal comments:
Lots of private/arts cinemas in the 5th/6th arr. Student tickets can be as cheap as 4 euros. ex. Accatone, Action Ecoles.etc. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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ACADEMIC
by Marie, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Language, University Agreement
My academic experiences
Course recommendations:
Most of the literature classes at Ens take the form of seminars or workshops and deal with broad themes, e.g literature and politics, writers and opera. etc. If you want to study a specific writer/literary movement, or gain some broader knowledge in a particular field, it is advisable to attend lectures at Paris 4 (Sorbonne) or Paris 3. Having said this, many of the French literature lectures I tried at Paris 4 were quite disappointing. I would however highly recommend Bertrand Marchal's courses for anyone who is interested in 19th c. Fr. literature - Baudelaire, Mallarme, Huysmans etc.
My opinion of the university assessment
Personal comments:
none This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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by Thomas, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Materials Science, Erasmus
Language difficulties
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't. Personal comments:
Overally, it is a new experience for me to learn french and its culture as well. At first, it is quite difficult to converse in french and due to peer encouragement, it is much more easier. This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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EXPENSES
by Jane, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
Humanities, University Agreement
The accessibility of student needs
Main source of funding:
Other Other sources of funding:
Government assistance Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience Personal spending habits:
More opportunities to spend money.. Food, Travel, Overall, Telephone: was more expensive than at home. Nightlife: was the same price as at home. Housing: was less expensive than at home.
Personal comments:
If you're on exchange with the ENS and can cope with the dorms, then you have an amazing opportunity as usually it's free accommodation... This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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OVERALL
by Jane, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
Humanities, University Agreement
Important to choosing this university...
I wish I had known...
It can be hard to meet French people, but be creative and persevere In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
During my experience abroad, I ...
Personal recommendation:
Go if you have a definite project in mind (eg archive research for doctoral studies) FINAL COMMENTS
The ENS is definitely an experience... This review is the opinion of an iAgora member, and not of iAgora itself
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