EPITA

About EPITA

EPITA, formally the École pour l’informatique et les techniques avancées, was established in 1984 and joined the IONIS education group in 1994. It is a private higher-education institution recognized by the French state. Its independent degree-granting status is established most clearly through authorization to award the diplôme d’ingénieur, a nationally regulated engineering qualification that carries the master’s grade. The current official accreditation list confirms that EPITA remains authorized to award this qualification. The institution is focused narrowly on computing and related digital technologies rather than offering the breadth of a comprehensive university. Its principal route is a five-year engineering curriculum: two preparatory years followed by a three-year engineering cycle. EPITA also offers a Bachelor in Cybersecurity and international MSc programs, but applicants should examine the legal status and awarding body of each option separately rather than assuming all programs lead to the same type of French national qualification. EPITA has teaching locations in Paris and other French cities. For the conventional engineering route in the Paris area, the preparatory cycle is based at Villejuif and the engineering cycle at Le Kremlin-Bicêtre. English-taught international programs are concentrated at the Paris Le Kremlin-Bicêtre campus, while the broader institutional language environment and many domestic routes are French. This makes the exact program, campus and teaching language important considerations before applying.

Admission routes depend on the program, prior education and applicant location. French secondary-school applicants seeking first-year entry to the engineering curriculum generally use the national Parcoursup system and the relevant Concours Advance selection route. Parallel entry exists for applicants with previous scientific or computing study, but the applicable entry year and selection process vary by qualification. Because some domestic admissions pages still display earlier application cycles, candidates should rely on the live application portal and Parcoursup calendar for 2026–2027 dates. For EPITA’s English-taught international programs, applications are submitted online. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science route asks for secondary-school records, a school-leaving certificate, recommendations, a statement of purpose and proof of English when prior education was not taught in English. Selection includes an online mathematics test and interview. The official page listed 31 July 2026 as the application deadline for its September 2026 intake. The MSc in Computer Science and MSc in Artificial Intelligence Systems normally require a four-year bachelor’s degree in computing, computer engineering, electrical engineering or a related field; the Computer Science MSc may consider a three-year degree with relevant professional experience. The artificial-intelligence and marketing program accepts a broader range of prior disciplines. For these international MSc routes, the published deadlines were 31 July 2026 for fall 2026 and 15 January 2027 for spring 2027. Listed English thresholds are TOEFL iBT 80, TOEIC 800 or IELTS 6.0 when proof is required. Non-EU applicants may also need the Études en France and visa procedures.

EPITA’s flagship engineering curriculum lasts five years. The two-year integrated preparatory cycle develops foundations in mathematics, science and computing through coursework and technical projects. The subsequent three-year engineering cycle begins with a common core covering areas such as computer architecture, databases and product design, alongside engineering methods, languages and understanding of business. Students then personalize the engineering curriculum through majors, minors, electives and individualized pathways. The school identifies fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, image processing, embedded systems, cloud infrastructure, robotics and virtual or augmented reality. Availability can depend on campus and year, so applicants should verify the current pathway list for their intended location. The final engineering year concludes with a six-month capstone internship, and the curriculum incorporates earlier workplace experience as well. International experience is built into the engineering route through academic exchanges and overseas internships. EPITA reports partnerships with universities across five continents, and some students can pursue a year abroad that combines the EPITA engineering diploma with a qualification from a partner institution. English-taught international offerings include an MSc in Computer Science, an MSc in Artificial Intelligence Systems and a joint program in artificial intelligence and marketing strategy. These MSc programs have distinct entry requirements and should not be confused automatically with the CTI-accredited diplôme d’ingénieur. EPITA also awards a Bachelor in Cybersecurity registered as a level-6 professional certification in France. No evidence was found that EPITA independently awards doctorates; research activity at the school should therefore not be read as doctoral-awarding authority.

Key Highlights

• Private French higher-education institution recognized by the state
• Founded in 1984 as the École pour l’informatique et les techniques avancées
• Authorized to award a CTI-accredited engineering diploma carrying the master’s grade
• Paris engineering students normally move from Villejuif for the preparatory cycle to Le Kremlin-Bicêtre for the engineering cycle

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized around a technically focused, multi-school campus environment. EPITA reports more than 40 student associations spanning technology, arts, music, sport, games, media, entrepreneurship, humanitarian work and environmental action. The Paris campus provides dedicated association space and support such as guidance and training for student leaders. Examples listed by the institution include a role-playing club, a music association, an environmental organization and an esports group. At Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, EPITA shares a technology campus with other IONIS schools. Facilities described by the institution include teaching laboratories, research laboratories, lecture spaces, relaxation areas, association rooms and a maker lab. The campus is advertised as accessible around the clock, which may suit intensive project work but should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every service or room is continuously available. International degree students receive arrival and integration support through EPITA’s international team. The stated services include airport pickup, assistance with finding accommodation and signing a lease, an integration program, cultural activities and guidance on French administrative procedures. French-language courses and intercultural workshops are also offered. Housing is generally arranged through partner residences, private rentals or the Studapart platform rather than guaranteed institution-owned accommodation, so students should begin searching early and confirm availability before committing.

Location & Surroundings

EPITA’s Paris-area teaching is divided principally between Villejuif and Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, both immediately south of central Paris in the Val-de-Marne department. Students in the standard engineering curriculum complete the two-year preparatory cycle at Villejuif, then study the engineering cycle at Le Kremlin-Bicêtre. Applicants should therefore check which site applies to their year and program rather than relying only on the database city label “Paris.” The Le Kremlin-Bicêtre campus is near Porte d’Italie, approximately 100 metres from the Paris boundary. EPITA identifies access via Metro Line 7, tram routes T3a and T9, and several bus lines. This location gives students public-transport access to central Paris while placing the campus in a dense inner-suburban setting rather than a self-contained residential university district. The Paris region offers a large concentration of technology companies, professional events and internship possibilities. It also has substantial housing costs and a competitive rental market. EPITA directs students toward nearby residences, private rentals, Studapart and limited CROUS arrangements. Commute time, guarantor requirements and whether a property qualifies for French housing assistance are practical factors to investigate before signing a lease.

Costs & Career Outcomes

EPITA publishes program-specific prices, so there is no single institutional tuition figure. For 2026–2027, the French engineering route lists a €990 enrollment payment plus a €9,200 balance for a first registration in the preparatory cycle, or a €990 payment plus an €11,800 balance for a first registration in the engineering cycle. Re-enrollment balances are lower. These figures apply to the named engineering cycles and should not be transferred to bachelor or international MSc programs. The international admissions page lists separate fees. Its international bachelor route was priced at €10,450 for year one and €9,900 for each of years two and three. Published total program fees were €15,850 for the referenced MSc in Computer Science intake, €18,050 for the MSc in Artificial Intelligence Systems and €19,450 for the artificial-intelligence and marketing program. Applicants should confirm the applicable intake before paying because pricing differs by program and the Computer Science figure on the page is explicitly labeled for spring 2026. EPITA estimates Paris living expenses at roughly €1,000–€1,100 monthly, including accommodation commonly estimated at €600–€950. These are planning estimates, not guaranteed costs. State-recognized status allows eligible students to seek CROUS support, while other financing routes include loans, paid internships and apprenticeship where offered. Career preparation is embedded through internships, company interaction and technical specialization. EPITA’s survey of its 2024 graduating cohort reports that 98% of graduates seeking a first job found one within two months and 77% had signed before graduation. These institution-reported outcomes concern the surveyed engineering cohort and do not establish results for every program or student.