Sustainability sciences

Several PSL Schools contribute to the curriculum, covering a wide range of disciplines - Sciences, Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences. For example: MINES Paris - PSL, the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE) - PSL, Chimie Paris - PSL, Dauphine-PSL, the École normale supérieure (ENS) - PSL, the Observatoire de Paris - PSL, ESPCI Paris - PSL.

As Sustainability Sciences offers close supervision with teaching : the intake for Year 1 is only 30 students.

Teaching takes place in the 5th arrondissement, Paris in our premises on Rue Amyot and on the Jourdan campus (48 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris) where CPES - PSL students also have classes.

Tout à fait. Voir onglet dédié.

International students can find out whether the Campus France (Studying in France) procedure applies to them by going to this page, which lists the procedure for each student profile according to their country, type of diploma they are preparing in high school, etc.

For applicants preparing a diploma equivalent to the Baccalaureate in a foreign institution: you must provide a certified translation of your academic transcripts in French in addition to a certificate showing your level of French if it is not the official language of your country (B2 level required, C1 recommended).

Students are selected on the basis of academic performance, level of commitment and motivation.
For eligible applicants, the purpose of the interview stage is to gain a better assessment of the     last two aspects. Therefore, the following criteria will  be assessed at the interview:

• General understanding of the curriculum and motivation behind applying for this course

The aim is to ensure that the course is a suitable match for the applicants’ study profile, aspirations and future projects. They will be invited to ask the jury any questions they may have in order to clarify their thinking and boost their motivation.

• Interest in sustainable development issues and all types of student commitment

Undergraduate students are expected to show a great intellectual curiosity for the issues surrounding sustainable development. Applicants will therefore be invited to demonstrate this interest by one or two specific examples drawn from their own background: choice of options / majors in high school, projects carried out in an academic or personal capacity, reading, interest in topics in the news, etc.

Please note that the term sustainable development covers a very wide range of topics and can be approached at different levels and in different forms. It is not limited to environmental issues alone; notions of social equity, economic viability and political action are also key structural features. The common denominator is investment in the common good and the life of the city. For some of you, for example, this may mean giving lessons to students from your neighborhood. The context of the current health crisis may already have given you some ideas for solidarity initiatives. Don’t hesitate to share them with us!

• Ability to work in a team and flourish in the innovative undergraduate teaching environment (active teaching via projects and case studies)

Almost a quarter of teaching in Year 1 will be spent on experimentation. This implementation of concepts will mainly involve working on group projects. The admission interview could be your chance to back up this point with a few examples of your ability to work on collective initiatives (in a context of sports, associations, personal life, etc.).  

All eligible candidates will receive an invitation with the practical details of how the interview will be organized. They will be invited to choose a time slot on the platform from the available time slots and days within 48 hours of receiving their invitation.
Interviews will take place between early May 2023. Each interview will last 20 minutes. The juries will consist of a two-person team.
Interviews will be held online via the Teams application (no installation required).

Be yourself! The admissions interview is an exchange with the jury which takes place in a friendly atmosphere. You should take the opportunity to reveal your personality and check that this is the course for you.
If you have got through to the interview stage, then your academic path and your profile have already caught the attention of the jury.

Note:

• This interview is not intended to assess your academic background, and no “technical” questions will be asked. This is a motivational interview that will enable you to give further details about your background, your achievements and possible commitments, and of course your reasons for choosing this program.
• The jury is of course aware of the difficulties and anxiety that a remote interview can cause. Please don’t worry about any technical problems, these things can happen. All details for the connection will be sent to candidates by email.
• Please try to be by yourself in a quiet place so that the interview can be conducted under the best possible conditions.

Good luck to all our eligible candidates!

Admission is not based on an average grade as this can vary significantly from one school to another. The first assessment takes into account several criteria: grades as a whole, looking for solid results in all subjects (given that the program is multidisciplinary), rank in class in these subjects, motivation (motivation letter posted on Parcoursup), student’s level of commitment (also a dedicated section on Parcoursup – areas of interest, etc.).

When applying for Year 1, you should provide your motivational project (Projet de formation motivé) via Parcoursup. This section on the platform is the equivalent of a cover letter. No further documents are required in terms of motivation.

No, the course is open to everyone and is therefore also open to students preparing a diploma equivalent to the Baccalaureate in a foreign institution. Applicants will then be asked to provide, in addition to  their application file, a certified translation of their academic transcripts in French and a certificate showing their level in French if it  is not the official language of their country.

B2/C1. In Year 1, most courses are taught in French. Non-French-speaking students requiring a refresher course will be able to access an online language learning app, for French in particular. In Year 2 and Year 3, teaching will be mainly in English.

Your teachers will fill out an individual educational form for you via Parcoursup. You do not have to upload any letters onto the platform.

The required level of English is B2.

Only applications for Year 1 of the Bachelor’s degree will be open.

Yes, students who wish to change their career path after completing and validating 1 or 2 years of study in higher education or in a preparatory class can apply via Parcoursup.

Tuition fees are aligned with national tuition fees for a bachelor’s degree (€175 approx). In addition to these fees students must pay the Student Life and Campus Contribution (CVEC) which is €103 per year. Students in receipt of a scholarship based on social criteria will be exempted.

The recommended majors are:

• Mathematics + Physics-Chemistry
• OR Mathematics + Earth and life sciences
• OR Mathematics + Economics and Social science
• OR Mathematics + History-geography, geopolitics and political science
• OR Mathematics + Engineering science

There are about 27 hours of courses each week.

Students specialize gradually from Year 2, choosing one major out of 2 that are offered: Sciences of the Environment or Economics & Social Sciences.

• The same Mathematics courses are taught in both majors
• Research internships in Year 3

Just like PSL’s CPES Multidisciplinary Undergraduate degree, the degree delivered at the end of the 3-year program is a Bachelor’s degree, an official undergraduate diploma, recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

This accreditation of course entitles students to continue their studies at the Master’s level or on an equivalent training program (Grandes Écoles – engineering cycles, Écoles Normales Supérieures degree, IEP etc.) in France or abroad.

No, it opens doors to a very wide range of professional opportunities. The aim of the program is to produce responsible and enlightened citizens, to enable students to take on the challenges of sustainable development in their entirety, and not simply to train sustainable development specialists. Students will be able to go on to a wide variety of Master’s degrees and studies at Grandes Écoles (see Opportunities tab). Depending on their postgraduate specialization, students will then be able to aspire to a range of careers – engineers, economists, etc. in the private sector, administration, international organizations, civil society, or research.

The PSL Welcome Desk provides support for students with all their administrative procedures (before and after their arrival) and offers a series of cultural activities throughout the year: Renewal of residence permits, Accommodation and insurance, Health, Transport, Student Jobs, Museum visits, language exchange, etc.

The procedure differs between countries and can depend on the diploma being prepared at high school. Go to this page

Note: For applicants preparing a diploma equivalent to the Baccalaureate in a foreign institution, you must  provide a certified translation  of your academic transcripts in French in addition to    a certificate showing your level of French if it  is not the official language of your country (C1 level required).