Initial training (ENS system vs International system)
ENS system vs University system
Admission
ENS system : Admission by highly selective national competition usually taken after a two-year post-baccalauréat preparatory programm University system : Admission on the basis of qualification: students must hold a French baccalauréat (secondary school national diploma) or equivalent diplomas
Status
ENS system : Normalien status = student + trainee civil servant University system : Student
Course of study
ENS system : Double curriculum = University curriculum + complementary training within ENS Rennes – from Bachelor's to Ph.D levels University system : University curriculum (from post-baccalauréat to PhD levels)
Number of students
ENS system : Around 3,000 normalien students in all 4 ENS University system : Around 1,300,000 students in the French State Universities
Management
ENS system : The presidents of the Écoles Normales Supérieures are appointed by the President of the French Republic University system : The presidents of the universities are elected by their respective University Councils
ENS Rennes has close links with partner universities within the framework of their traditional degree programs: Rennes 1 and Rennes 2 Universities.