Refugee Students Program
On the initiative of the student association Dévelop’Ponts, École nationale des ponts et chaussées launched a Refugee Student Program at the start of the 2016 academic year. This program has enabled the school to welcome and support students who have previously studied science and are currently asylum seekers or refugees in France. The main objectives of this program are social and academic integration, with a view to preparing students to resume their studies or pursue a career in France.
Valuing the skills of students from migrant backgrounds and making them available to the rest of society are the foundations on which the Refugee Students Program is built. Offering a quality training in a recognized school is part of this objective.
The Refugee Students Program has two main focuses:
Helping Students resume their studies
Through this program, École nationale des ponts et chaussées provides training to enable these students to develop or reinforce the skills they need to resume their studies in France: language skills (French, English), computer skills, scientific skills, university methodology, etc.
Facilitating social and cultural integration
Each student is paired with a student-engineer, and thus benefits from personalized support in all their endeavors. Students have the opportunity to take part in sports and cultural activities throughout the year, and events with the rest of the School are organized to enable all students to share and discover their culture and that of others.
Admission criteria for the Refugee Students Program:
- Maximum age 35,
- Be an asylum seeker or beneficiary of international protection (refugee status, subsidiary protection, temporary protection, family reunification),
- Have at least two years of higher education in a field corresponding to the School's curriculum (Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.),
- Have an A2 level in French,
- have a plan to resume studies.
Applications
Applications for the program are open from April 14 to June 1, 2025.
Since 2023, applications for Île-de-France bridging courses have been pooled. To apply, you need to fill in the form below and mention 4 schools.
If you want to apply to École nationale des ponts et chaussées, remember to put it first!
You'll find all the information you need about Île-de-France programs and how to apply by following this link.
This program is a non-degree program aimed at asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, provided they have studied for two years in higher education, in France or abroad, in a discipline closely related to those taught at École nationale des ponts et chaussées.
The design and implementation of the program are based on an innovative training engineering approach and a cross-disciplinary approach involving students and the various departments of the School.
The following courses are offered as part of the Refugee Students Program:
Language
- French up to level B2 (FLE, FOS, FOU) - 250H
- Phonetics - 30H
- Conversation workshop - 25H
- English - 20H
Scientific and IT skills
- Science - 40H
- Computer science - 20H
Elective courses in the School's 6 academic departments - 40H
- City, environment, transportation
- Mechanical engineering and materials science
- Civil and structural engineering
- Industrial engineering
- Applied mathematical and computer science
- Economics, management, finance
Academic and professional support
- Ponts Alumni career workshops - 20H
- Orientation workshops - 60H
- Definition of academic and/or professional project
- CV and cover letter writing
- Applying for higher education and/or jobs
Students also have the opportunity to attend lectures by researchers and professionals from École nationale des ponts et chaussées sectors, take part in cultural outings in and around Paris, and meet other students at sporting and cultural events.
Students have access to the School's services and equipment: library, gym, restaurant with student grant for lunch, computers, wifi, printers, School's email address, certifications (TCF for French and TOEIC for English), School's medecine doctor and psychologist.
Cédric ROUSSE
Head of the Refugee Students Program
Anaëlle BIRRE
Orientation and development officer
Sara BENBERA
Vice President Refugee Students Program 2024-2025
Dévelop’Ponts Student association