COLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE
APPLICATION
ENS-INTERNATIONAL DIVISION
Humanities
2006 Session
This form must be completed in French. Translations in five different languages are available on the website to
help answer questions
DO NOT STAPLE ANY DOCUMENTS
http://www.ens.fr/international
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM FEBRUARY 1ST TO MARCH 15, 2006 (INCLUSIVE)
Application forms to be returned in triplicate by post before the final date of application,
i.e. postmarked no later than MARCH 15, 2006
cole normale suprieure
Slection Internationale
45, rue dUlm F75230 Paris cedex 05
FRANCE
For any specific questions that are not answered on the Slection Internationale (International Division)
website, please write to the following e-mail address: [email protected]
CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION
This application and all materials must be completed in French. Translations in five different languages are
available on the website to help answer questions.
1. AGE
- Candidates must be younger than 23 years of age on January 1, 2006.
This age limit may be extended due to:
- time spent carrying out compulsory National Service
- a child or disabled person in the candidates care (one year per person)
In addition, the Director of the ENS may grant a special, one-year dispensation upon request.
2. REGULATIONS CONCERNING NATIONALITY
- The candidate must be able to provide proof of a non-French nationality.
3. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- The candidate must be currently enrolled in his or her final year of undergraduate studies, attending a
university outside France. The student must have attended less than 5 years of university.
(NB: students in the Humanities who arrived in France after August 1, 2005 to continue their studies are
allowed to apply)
4. CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION
- The candidate may only apply once for this program.
- Candidates must take the examination corresponding to the subject and language options they indicated in
their applications.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENS-INTERNATIONAL DIVISION ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
Methods of selection
There are no requisite programs of study for this application process. Through a series of tests, the
selection committee evaluates each candidates capacity for analysis, conceptualization and synthesis.
Also taken into account are the candidates literary knowledge, as well as his/her intellectual curiosity
and the relevance of his/her chosen project.
Selection process
The selection committee is composed of professors from both French and foreign universities
HUMANITIES
1/ Application
2/ Blind written tests
I. French Language Test: The student must summarize a contemporary French text in French, and then
respond in French to questions on that text. Duration: 2 hours, weight: 1.
II. Textual analysis.
The candidate analyses or compares several documents written in French from a series of documents
on a given theme. The answer must be written in one of the following languages: French, German,
English, Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese. These documents relate to various specialized subjects, such
as Literature, Philosophy, Classical Studies (Latin/Greek/Archaeology), History, Linguistics Theory,
Grammer and the History of Linguistics, Geography, History of Art, Sociology, Anthropology,
Economics, History and Philosophy of Sciences, History and Philosophy of Law, Cognitive Sciences,
Cinematographic Studies. Duration: 4 hours, weight: 2.
III. Commentary on a short text or development of a general topic from the primary subject (listed in
point 2/II.) indicated by the candidate on his/her application. Answers must be written in one of the
following languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese. Duration: 4 hours,
weight: 2.
3/ Interviews with the examination panel.
I. Commentary on a document in French that relates to the candidates area of specialization. The
candidate may answer in any of the six languages mentioned above. Duration: 30 minutes (preparation
time: one hour), weight 2.
II. Interview by the examination panel on his/her project of study and research. The panel asks
questions in French and the candidate responds in one of the aforementioned six languages. Duration:
30 minutes, weight: 2.
DOCUMENTS THAT MUST BE SENT WITH THE APPLICATION DOSSIER
All the documents listed below must be sent in three copies by post, before March 15, 2006 to the following address:
cole normale suprieure
Slection Internationale
45, rue dUlm F75230 Paris Cedex 05 FRANCE
DO NOT STAPLE ANY DOCUMENTS
1 - APPLICATION FORM
Reply in full, then date and sign the enclosed questionnaire entitled
Information concerning the candidates studies.
2 AGE LIMIT EXTENSION
For an authorized dispensation, please provide an official statement of
National Service, or an official certificate of responsibility for a child or
disabled person.
Any special dispensations should be obtained from the Director of the
ENS.
3 LETTERS OF RECOMMANDATION
Two or three letters of recommendation from the students professors
must be enclosed. These letters should be marked confidential and
placed in sealed envelopes and signed on the back of the envelope
across the seal. They should include the relevant contact details in case
of need by the examination panel. The letters may be included with the
application materials or sent directly to the following address:
M. le Prsident du jury
Slection Internationale en Lettres
Service des concours
45, rue dUlm
75230 Paris cedex 05 France
4 CERTIFICATE OF NATIONALITY
A copy of the candidate's passport, national identity card or any other
authenticated document that confirms nationality.
5 PLEASE NOTE : THE CANDIDATES
WHO ARE INVITED TO TAKE THE
WRITTEN AND ORAL EXAMINATIONS
MUST PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS UPON ARRIVAL IN PARIS :
[a, b].
a) A certified document from the head of the institution indicating :
- the marks obtained by the candidate at university,
- the results of all exams taken,
- the results and details of any competitive exams sat by the candidate.
This document must indicate the relevant grade scale and in what
percentage those grade are attributed.
b) Certified photocopies of all the candidates academic qualifications
and diplomas.
APPLICATION FORM
I IDENTIFICATION
Last name: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Married name (if applicable): |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
First names: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
(underline the name you usually use)
Sex: F
(Please tick appropriate box)
Nationality: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Date of birth: |__|__|__|__|__|__| Place of birth (town): |__|__|__|_ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Day month year
Country of birth: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
II ADDRESS
(to which all correspondence will be sent, including during vacations)
Address: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Town or city: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| Post/zip code: |__|__|__|__|__|
Country: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Telephone: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
E-mail : ..................................................
So that we can contact you in may to inform you whether your application has been selected, it is vital that you provide us with the
quickest way of getting in touch with you (e-mail or telephone).
University or College attended (2005-2006): |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Town: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Country: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__| __|__|__|__|
III CANDIDATURE FOR THE HUMANITIES OPTION
Please indicate your specialized subject from among those listed below:
classical Studies (Latin/Greek/Archaeology)
history and philosophy of Sciences
History and Philosophy of Law
cinematographic estudies
literature
Philosophy
cognitive estudies
geography
Linguistics Theory
history
Grammer and the History of Linguistics
sociology
anthropology
economics
history of Art
____________________________________________________________________________________________
First blind written test: French Language Test: The student must summarize a contemporary French text in
French, and then respond in French to questions on that text.
Second blind written test: Textuals analysis
These documents relate to the specialized subjects listed above.
Please indicate your choice of language in which to answer
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
First blind written test: specialized subjects listed above
Commentary on a short text or general topic concerning the specialized subject indicated by the candidate
Please indicade your response language
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
----------------------------------First interview with the examination panel: Comentary on document selected by the panel
Please indicate your response langue for the interview
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
Second interview with the examination panel: Regarding the candidates project of studies an research
Please indicate your response langue for the interview
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CANDIDATES STUDIES
This questionnaire consists of 4 pages. It must be completed carefully and included with the application dossier. The information
provided by this questionnaire will help us to form an impression of your educational career.
1. Secondary education
1.1. When did you complete your secondary education (date when you obtained the Baccalaurat, Abitur, A-levels,
Bachillerato etc)?
Year:.
2. University Education
2.1. Name the academic institutions which accepted you for study following secondary school ?
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
2.2. What is the standard duration of the undergraduate education at your university?
3 years or 6 semesters
4 years or 8 semesters
5 years or 10 semesters
2.3. Give the name and contact details of a senior member of your university department who can confirm the information
given in 2.7.
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
2.4. Please list a bibliography of ten books, including at least five by French authors:
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
No
Yes
2.5. Did you apply for a grant to finance your study
Name of grant or institution: .
According to what criteria were the grants awarded?
Merit
Financial situation
Other:.
.......................................................
Were you awarded a grant?
No
Yes
2.6. Please indicate any national or international exams which you have taken and your results on these exams.
2.7. Please provide an account of each semesters academic program since your arrival at university. Make specific mention of any areas of specialty (units or modules) and the
grades received. Give as much information as possible.
Semester
University or Institution
Degrees, diplomas
or other qualifications
Date received
(year month)
Honor
Mark
Rank
* You can attach a separate sheet if there is not enough space on the table above.
In the event that you are chosen to participate in the written and oral examinations in Paris, you must be able to justify, with the proper official documents, the information
provided above.
2.8. Indicate the college or university degrees you have received or will receive this year
University or Institution
Name of module, diploma
or examination
Date received
(year month)
3. Knowledge
3.1. Under what circumstances did you learn French?
Have you spent any time in France?
Yes how long have you spent in France? .
No
What is your native language? ...
3.2. Using the table below, indicate your level in the languages that you know:
Good
Written
Average Poor
N/A
Good
Spoken
Average Poor
N/A
French
German
English
Spanish
Italian
Portuguese
Other: .....................................
..
.
3.3. Do you engage in sporting, artistic or cultural activities?
Do you hold any particular qualifications in areas related to any of these activities?
Which qualification?
3.4. Have you:
- Been on research courses in laboratories
Yes
No
- Been on work placement courses
Yes
No
- Done any private work you wish to mention here?
Yes
No
Please provide a description :
2
4. Motivation and plans
4.1. Describe your academic project (2500 characters or less)
..
..
4.2. Do you plan eventually to undertake a doctoral thesis? If so, in which field? If not, what are your future career plans?
..
..
I, the undersigned, declare that the information I have provided above is
correct to the best of my knowledge.
At ..on .2006
Candidates signature
