European students can apply for our Master's degrees - in first year (M1) or in second year (M2) - depending on the quality of the candidate’s academic profile and motivation for research or/and teaching careers.
Please note: for an application for a first year of a Master degree, admission is by registration in the 2nd year of the diploma and registration in M1.
This application procedure concerns FRENCH, EUROPEAN and NON-EUROPEAN students who have graduated in France.
European students are students who have the nationality:
- of one of the countries of the European Economic Area: the 27 countries of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
or
- of Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra.
Non-European students - that is, who do not have the nationality of one of the countries of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra - who have obtained a higher education degree in France are also concerned by this application procedure.
For other students, we invite you to follow the procedure described in the page Application for Master's degrees - Non-europeans.
[Ces informations sont disponibles en français à cette page.]
General information
Please note:
- Applications on record are subject to the decision of ENS de Lyon admissions commission.
- International students (European and non-European) can apply through the Excellence Scholarship of the ENS de Lyon and its partners. Find out more
- Before starting your application, please read the whole procedure and consult the courses.
Conditions
To apply for the 2nd year of the diploma / first year of a Master's program (M1), applicants should:
- be a student with French nationality;
- either be a student from one of the countries of the European Economic Area (the 27 countries of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra;
- be a student of non-European nationality but having obtained a higher education degree in France
- justify holding a L3 degree (Bachelor - 180 ECTS) or, for applicants who have studied abroad, an equivalent level.
Application process
ENS de Lyon Diploma
The ENS de Lyon diploma is the common framework of the "Nomalien" education. The program lasts 4 years for students entering the first year of the diploma and 3 years for those entering the second year.
Admission is by registration in the 2nd year of the diploma and registration in M1. You will prepare for the ENS de Lyon Diploma in 3 years and will obtain the "Normalien étudiant" status. You must therefore apply in the second year of the diploma.
More about (in the French website)
Process
- Online entry of applications for the second year of the diploma on the CADENS web application.
- File review: Candidates' files are reviewed by the ENS de Lyon admissions commission.
- Publication of results: The results of the admissions commission will be available on the CADENS web application. Each candidate will need to log onto the app to see their results. No decision will be communicated by telephone.
- Confirmation of admission and registration: Admitted applicants will have to confirm their arrival on the CADENS web application. They will then receive an email giving them directions to request accommodation and prepare their registration file.
To apply to several master's programs, within the framework of the 2nd year of the diploma, an application file must be compiled for each master's program and submitted online.
Schedule for 2025-2026 academic year
- Applications open from May 5, 2025 (2:00 pm Paris time) to June 16, 2025 (5:00 pm Paris time)
- Publication of results on July 17, 2025 (2:00 pm Paris time)
| M1 program combined with the 2nd year of ENS de Lyon diploma | Disciplines |
|---|---|
| Advanced Economics | Economic and social sciences |
| Ancient History | History/Geography |
| Arabic Studies | Arabic |
| Computer Science: concepts and applications | Computer Science |
| Contemporary Philosophy | Philosophy |
| European Studies | History/Geography |
| German Studies | German |
| History of Philosophy | Philosophy |
| History, Archaeology and Literature of Medieval Christian and Muslim Worlds | History/Geography |
| Life, Earth and Universe Sciences | Biology |
| Earth Sciences | |
| Logic, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology | Philosophy |
| Physics and Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Physics | |
| Russian Studies | Russian |
| Sciences of Earth, Planets and Environment | Earth Sciences |
| Socio-ecological systems: heritage, dynamics, management | History/Geography |
| Temporalities, powers, societies | History/Geography |
Please note: if certain disciplines are not listed, it means that they are not open to application on record.
Documents to be provided
The attachments to support the application file are listed in the CADENS web application based on each discipline.
They must be uploaded to the same application.
Here is the list of mandatory documents to provide:
- ID
- Resume
- Accompanying letter stating why you wish to apply
- Scores obtained during higher education (after the “baccalauréat" for France)
- Diplomas obtained since the end of high school (Baccalauréat for France)
International students applicants will upload their certified translated diplomas in French or English - 2 reference letters
Additional documents may be requested depending on the discipline chosen, when you apply on CADENS.
We advise you to send your application even if you are missing some documents by indicating, on a free page, the reason why the document is missing.
Conditions
To apply for the second year of a Master's program (M2), applicants should:
- be a student with French nationality;
- either be a student from one of the countries of the European Economic Area (the 27 countries of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra;
- be a student of non-European nationality but having obtained a higher education degree in France
- justify holding a M1 degree (240 ECTS) or, for applicants who have studied abroad, an equivalent level.
Application process
- Online entry of applications CADENS web application.
- File review: Candidates' files are reviewed by the ENS de Lyon admissions commission.
- Publication of results: The results of the admissions commission will be available on the CADENS web application. Each candidate will need to log onto the app to see their results. No decision will be communicated by telephone.
- Confirmation of admission and registration: Admitted applicants will have to confirm their arrival on the CADENS web application. They will then receive an email giving them directions to request accommodation and prepare their registration file.
To apply to several master's programs, within the framework of the 2nd year of the diploma, an application file must be compiled for each master's program and submitted online.
Schedule for 2025-2026 academic year
- Applications open from May 5, 2025 (2:00 pm Paris time) to June 16, 2025 (5:00 pm Paris time)
- Publication of results on July 17, 2025 (2:00 pm Paris time)
Disciplines open to applications:
- ARTS, LETTRES, LANGUES: Ancient Languages, Literature and Civilizations; Arabic Studies; Dramaturgy Studies; German Studies (Franco-German curriculum available); Hispanic Studies; Italian Studies; Modern literature (French language option, French literature, comparative literature and Francophonie (Franco-German curriculum possible for this option)); Music on Stage; Russian Studies; The thoughts of Cinema.
- LAW, ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT: Advanced Economics.
- SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH: Advanced Mathematics; Computer Science: concepts and applications; Physics & Chemistry; Sciences of Earth, Planets and Environment; Teaching of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics.
- HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES: Contemporary East and Southest Asia (ASIOC); Contemporary Philosophy; Digital Humanities; European Studies; From Renaissance to Revolutions; History of Political Thought (Franco-German curriculum available); Logic, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology; Middle-East Studies; Migration Studies; Pluralist Approach of Healthcare; Socio-ecological Systems: Heritage, Dynamics, Management; Dual course - Medecine and Science
Please note: if certain disciplines are not listed, it means that they are not open to applications based on academic records.
For the Biosciences, Biosciences and Modeling of Complex Systems, and Biosciences for Healthcare courses, applications must be submitted to Lyon 1 University via eCandidat between April 3 and June 6, 2024.
Documents to be provided
The attachments to support the application file are listed in the CADENS web application based on each discipline.
They must be uploaded to the same application.
Here is the list of mandatory documents to provide:
- ID
- Resume
- Accompanying letter stating why you wish to apply
- Scores obtained during higher education (after the “baccalauréat" for France)
- Diplomas obtained since the end of high school (Baccalauréat for France)
International students applicants will upload their certified translated diplomas in French or English - 2 reference letters
Additional documents may be requested depending on the discipline chosen, when you apply on CADENS.
We advise you to send your application even if you are missing some documents by indicating, on a free page, the reason why the document is missing.