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CPES Multidisciplinary Undergraduate degree

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CPES Multidisciplinary Undergraduate degree

Program type Initial Training

Degree Bachelor's

Domain(s) Arts, Humanities & social sciences, Engineering, Fundamental Sciences

Discipline(s) Chemistry, Law, Economics, History, Computer Science, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Cognitive science, Life Sciences, Social Science

Teaching language(s) French

Place Paris

PSL host school

Presentation

Program

Admissions

Opportunities

FAQ

The CPES Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Degree is a general multidisciplinary program, providing broad exposure to culture, project-based teaching and introducing students to research. It is a 3-year program based on the principle of gradual specialization and teaching in small groups, created in partnership with Lycée Henri-IV.

Learning outcomes

Hosted by some of the most prestigious higher education institutions, the CPES educates very high-potential students who are both creative and daring. With a single goal: to create the new decision-makers, researchers and entrepreneurs for the economic, academic and cultural spheres.

Demanding: a selective program in a unique scientific and cultural environment, backed by some of France’s most prestigious schools.

Interdisciplinarity: innovative modular study tracks, decompartmentalizing all fields of knowledge - Sciences, Literature, Social Sciences – based on the principle of gradual specialization.

Diversity: social, geographic, intellectual, cultural diversity... With openness driving innovation and creativity.

Program

1st year: at Lycée Henri-IV: cross-disciplinary core curriculum + choice of one of 3 tracks on offer:
- Humanities & society
- Sciences
- Economics, Society and Law.
2nd year: gradual introduction to teaching at PSL institutions (ENS-PSL, Dauphine-PSL, MINES Paris-PSL, etc.) and choice of a double major (see the "program tab).

→ Sustainable Development Challenges Conference Series : During the second year, all students at the College attend a conference series addressing major sustainable development challenges, benefiting from the expertise of leading specialists in diverse fields - Download the list of past conferences (2020 to 2025).
3rd year: choice of one specialization

Who should apply?

The CPES is a highly demanding program, designed for students from France or abroad who are curious and creative, and who display critical thinking.
Depending on each student’s specific track (chosen specialization), the curriculum leads to different credentials (Physics, Chemistry, History, Art History and Theory, Philosophy etc.)

Diploma delivered

The CPES degree (for "cycle pluridisciplinaire d’études supérieures”) is a selective bachelor degree with “grade de licence” awarded by the French government. More information: Official decree

Other PSL schools contributing to the curriculum

Benefits

A top-level academic environment, with 140 laboratories and 2,900 faculty
Supervisory guidance from the preparatory class format, with autonomy and education through university research
Customizable curriculum following the Anglo-Saxon model: Multidisciplinary common core, electives, major/minor
Varied teaching formats: Small class sizes, practicums, lectures, seminars, group work, orals, mentoring
Progressive specialization over three years
Personalized guidance and support systems
100% rate of follow-on studies (Grandes Écoles and competitively-selected Master’s programs at the best universities in France and abroad)
Full range of services | Joining PSL as an undergraduate means having a unique experience thanks to the many services on offer for students.

The CPES program of Université PSL and Lycée Henri-IV offers three tracks in year 1 (L1): Humanities & Society / Economics, Society & Law / Science.

In the second year (L2), CPES students are offered a wide range of double majors. Depending on their year 1 track and the validation of certain prerequisites, they may access majors offered by other tracks within the College of Sciences, Humanities & Society of Université PSL (indicated in a different color in the diagram below).

The same principle applies in the third year (L3) for specialization tracks, subject to the validation of specific prerequisites and completion of the corresponding majors in year 2.

→ Download the document

Humanities & society track

First year

Courses at the Lycée Henri-IV in history, philosophy, social sciences, literature, art history, applied mathematics social sciences, etc.

The aim of this first year is to acquire methods, a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for the rest of the program. The workload is heavy and the courses are demanding :

CPES Common Core (7 hours/week):

Cultural Program → 25/26 Cultural Program
Public Speaking
English (Civilizations, Arts and Literatures - Language and Translation)
Introduction to Research Practice

Courses specific to the program (18 hours/week):

Applied Mathematics for Social Sciences
General Philosophy
Global History
Introduction to Social Sciences
Literature
Global History of Art

+ Elective of Your Choice: Law, Art History and Society, Geography and Geopolitics, History of Economic Thought, Second Foreign Language (LV2).

Second year

In the second year, a system of double majors is offered.

4 choices are offered:

History + Philosophy
History + Law
History + Sociology & political science
Philosophy + Sociology & political science
Philosophy + Law

Courses are mainly taught on PSL campuses located on Rue Amyot in the 5th arrondissement of Paris and on Boulevard Jourdan in the 14th arrondissement.

Third year

In the third year, 3 specializations are offered:

History
Philosophy
Sociology & Political Science
Law & Public Governance

Science track

The Science track includes a wide range of scientific disciplines, from mathematics to computer science and including experimental sciences enabling students to gradually definie their choice of major.

First year

The Science track is intended for students interested in the exact and experimental sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and biology).

Classes are held at Lycée Henri-IV and, for practical optics classes, at the Meudon campus of the Paris Observatory – PSL, and are delivered by preparatory-class teachers, university lecturers, and researchers.

CPES Common Core (7 hours/week):

Cultural Program → 25/26 Cultural Program
Public Speaking
English (Civilizations, Arts and Literatures - Language and Translation)
Introduction to Research Practice

Courses specific to the program (21 hours/week):

Fundamental Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Biology

+ Elective of Your Choice: History of Economic Thought, History, Philosophy, Art History and Society, Literature, Geography and Geopolitics, Second Foreign Language (LV2)

Second year

In the second year, students choose one of the following double majors:

Mathematics + Physics
Experimental Sciences + Mathematics

Courses take place mainly at Mines Paris - PSL and at ENS - PSL (Jourdan Campus). The Observatoire de Paris - PSL hosts CPES Science students practical classes in optics.

During the second semester, students spend 60 hours on their first laboratory research project. The project is supervised by faculty and researchers and an oral presentation must be given before a jury at the end of the year.
Examples of projects: Life sciences: morphogenesis and microscopy - Institut Fresnel (Marseille). Logistic maps and chaos – Department of mathematics, ENS - PSL. Low-voltage electrical machine for an embedded application, ENS Paris-Saclay Laboratoire SATIE. Study and modeling of earthquakes – Department of geology, ENS - PSL. Comparison of data from the Mars mission, Science Laboratory at Mars Climate Database - Dynamic Meteorology Laboratory, Sorbonne University site. Expression of Hr78 in the establishment of cell processes during metamorphosis of the notum in Drosophila - Institut Curie. Electrophoretic characterization and application of quantum dots functionalized with metallophtalocyanines.

Third year

In the third year, students continue with their specialization.

4 choices are available:

Material sciences
Life sciences
Applied mathematics
Computer Science

Economics, Society and Law track

The Economics, Society and Law track aims to train students to analyze and understand economic and social reality in all its complexity.

Particular attention is paid to teaching quantitative methods (statistics, econometrics) and qualitative methods (field surveys), as well as the basics of research. The focus is on rigor, openness, and hard work to achieve intellectual autonomy.

First year

In the first year, students are encouraged to learn about all the social sciences: Economics, Social Sciences, Law, and also have a solid training in mathematics.

CPES Common Core (7 hours/week):

Cultural Program → 25/26 Cultural Program
Public Speaking
English (Civilizations, Arts and Literatures - Language and Translation)
Introduction to Research Practice

Courses specific to the program (15 hours/week):

Applied Mathematics for Social Sciences
Principles of Economics
Introduction to Social Sciences
Law
Philosophy

+ Elective of Your Choice: History, Geography and Geopolitics, History of Economic Thought, Art History and Society, Literature, Second Foreign Language (LV2).

Second year

In the second year, students choose two of the following majors:

Economics + Law
Economics + Sociology & Political Science
Economics + Philosophy
Sociology & Political Science + Law
Sociology & Political Science + Philosophy

Third year

In the third year, some specializations take place at Dauphine - PSL. Depending on the choices made in the second year, different specializations are possible:

Economics and Society: this specialization has the largest economics component and includes extra mathematics as it is preparing students to go on to the top Master’s degrees in Economics. It also includes social science courses.
Sociology and Political Science: this specialization includes a wealth of courses offering an extensive knowledge of the different components of the social sciences, combined with in-depth training in methodology, and notably in field surveys. The variety of options provide a diversity that will ensure a wide range of choices at Master’s degree level.
Law and Public Governance: this is a demanding legal course giving students a high level of competence in Law, the start of a specialization in Public Law and a decidedly multidisciplinary profile,preparing them for university studies and then for a professional career related to or interacting with the public or semi-public sphere.
Philosophy: this specialization of the Humanities and Society track is open to students from the Economics, Society and Law track who have completed the corresponding major in their second year.

Students in Economics and in Sociology and Political Science produce an individual research project supervised by a faculty member, which must then be the subject of an oral presentation. Law students participate in the Clinique juridique de Dauphine - PSL. Finally, the optional Media and Journalism Certificate, offered by the Institut Pratique du Journalisme, Dauphine – PSL introduces students to the journalism professions.

Partnership between PSL University & New York University in Paris (NYU Paris)

As part of this partnership, 2nd- and 3rd-year CPES students have the opportunity to take optional courses offered by NYU Paris, taught on the campus at Boulevard Saint-Germain. These courses can be credited as optional courses in their PSL program. A tandem program is also offered with NYU students who come to spend a semester in Paris.

→ Learn more about NYU Paris

Courses available for the 2025/26 academic year:

French/African Relations (in French)
France : Gender, Class, Race (in French)
Experimental Theatre Workshop (in English)
Studies in Prose Genres: Post-Colonial Readings of Classic Texts in English)
Approaches to French Literature (in French)
French Culture & French Cinema (in French)
Literature, Art, and the Path of Life (in English)

Applying for CPES Year 1

Prerequisites: To apply, you must have already completed or be in the process of completing a general High school French 'baccalaureate' diploma (obtained in France or abroad) or a diploma with recognized equivalence.
Admissions are based on application on the French platform : Parcoursup.

Parcoursup 2026 timetable

Start of registration and program choices draft: January 19, 2026
Deadline for submitting program choices: March 12, 2026
Deadline for completing the application and confirming program choices: April 1, 2026

> Find out more about the Parcoursup timetable

Interested in sustainable development challenges? Discover PSL's Sustainability Science bachelor's degree. More information here.

Tuition fees 2025/2026

Tuition fees :
- Scholarship student : Free
- Non-scholarship student : €178 /year (set by ministerial decree)
Student Life and Campus Fee (CVEC) : €105 /year - More information about CVEC

The CPES is a selective and highly demanding multidisciplinary program, leading to a Bachelor’s degree awarded by the institution. Students can pursue their higher education by moving on to a Master’s degree at Université PSL or any of the other major universities and Grandes Écoles, either in France or abroad.

100%

Poursuite d'études

Les débouchés par parcours

Humanities & society track

On completion of their 3-year program in Humanities, students are awarded a Bachelor’s degree by PSL, opening the way to a wide range of selective Master’s degrees in France or abroad. Some Grandes Écoles are also accessible through parallel admission.

For example, usual opportunities within PSL:
• Master's degree in Humanities
• Master's degree in Philosophy
• Master's degree in Cognitive Science (CogMaster)
• Diploma from ENS - PSL.

Discover testimonials from students in the Humanities & Society track

→ Loic

→ Lisa

Science track

On completion of the Science track, students obtain a Bachelor’s degree awarded by PSL, which opens up choices in a wide range of Master’s degree programs in universities in France or abroad. Some Grandes Ecoles are also accessible through parallel admission.

Students from the CPES Science track most commonly go on to enter the following leading institutions:

Mines Paris - PSL
ENS - PSL
ESPCI Paris - PSL
École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris - PSL
École polytechnique
CentraleSupélec
École nationale des ponts et chaussées
SupOptique
EPFL (Suisse)

Discover Sarah’s testimonial, a student in the Sciences track

Economics, Society and Law track

On completion of the 3-year program in the Economics, Society and Law track, students are awarded a Bachelor’s degree by PSL, opening the way to a wide choice of university Master’s degrees in France or abroad.

Usual opportunities within PSL:
•   Master's degree in International affairs and development - Read Pierre's story ;
•   Master's degree in Analysis and Policy in Economics ;
•   Master's degree in law ;
•   Master's degree in Mathematics and applications - Découvrir le parcours de Nicolas;
•   Master's degree in Quantitative economics ;
•   Master s degree in Journalism ;
•   Master's degree in Public policy ;
•   Master's degree in Institutions, Organizations, Economics and Society ;
•   Master's degree in Social Sciences ;
•   Diploma from ENS - PSL.

Discover testimonials from students in Economics, Society and Law track

→ Alexandre

→ Nicolas (article)

Découvrez les parcours de nos Alumni !

Admissions

Admissions | Est-il possible d'intégrer le CPES directement en 2ème année (L2) ?

Non. Seules les admissions en première année (L1) sont possibles, via Parcoursup, selon le calendrier national.

Programme

Y a-t-il un programme lié aux enjeux climatiques ?

Chaque année, les étudiants ont accès à un cycle de conférences de rentrée sur les objectifs de développement durable.

En première année, une fresque du climat est organisée pour tous les élèves de première année du Collège. Elle est l’occasion de sensibiliser aux problématiques environnementales de façon interactive et créative.
En deuxième année, un programme de conférences est organisé sur un thème lié aux enjeux climatiques. Au cours de ces conférences, d’éminents chercheurs (ENS – PSL, CNRS, PSE, GIEC, ...), des personnalités publiques ou des représentants d’associations et ONG interviennent sur un sujet dont ils ont l’expertise. Ces conférences sont l’occasion d’interagir avec ces experts et de discuter avec eux sur les questions climatiques.
→ Télécharger la liste des conférences passées (2020 à 2025)

Tout au long de la scolarité, les initiatives étudiantes sont encouragées et peuvent être reconnues dans le cursus académiques de tous les étudiants du Collège.

Quel est le contenu du programme culturel ?

Le programme culturel est proposé dans les parcours “Sciences”, “Humanités & société” et “Economie, société et droit” en première année.

le programme culturel propose à chaque étudiant de première année une immersion privilégiée dans la vie artistique et intellectuelle parisienne. Spectacles à la Comédie-Française ou à l’Opéra Garnier, expositions dans les plus grands musées (Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou, Quai Branly…), ateliers créatifs, rencontres avec des artistes, chercheurs ou professionnels des industries créatives : le programme offre une expérience riche, en écho avec les enseignements académiques.

→ Accédez à la FAQ complète du programme culturel

→ Téléchargez le programme 2024/2025

Echangez avec nos étudiants

J'ai des questions, puis-je échanger avec des étudiants de PSL ?

Oui, vous pouvez échanger avec nos étudiants ambassadeurs sur la plateforme de chat de PSL et poser toutes vos questions sur la formation qui vous intéresse, la vie étudiante et associative, ou encore les services d’accompagnement proposés par PSL.

→ Accédez au chat en ligne

Et ne manquez pas notre blog PSL Voices ! Plongez au cœur de l'Université PSL grâce aux articles rédigés par nos étudiants. Un espace dédié pour partager leurs expériences et vous conseiller sur votre orientation et votre parcours académique.Que vous soyez futur étudiant ou candidat, ce blog est fait pour vous !

→ Accédez au blog PSL Voices