Different programs for different careers
Paid programs after CPGE appeal to many students who want to combine academic excellence with an early professional status. Mostly accessible through competitive exams, they lead mainly to the civil service and the military, and from admission they come with a specific status, either military cadet or trainee civil servant. In both cases, students are paid throughout their studies, a point we will cover in a dedicated third part.
Beyond this special status, these programs award a degree recognized at master's level. In most cases, the same degree is also open to civilian students through a twin exam. There are exceptions, though. At the Écoles normales supérieures (ENS), civilian students are admitted only on application. Other programs are open only to trainee civil servants, such as the statistician-attaché program at ENSAI or the air traffic controller program at ENAC. Most military programs (Polytechnique, Saint-Cyr, École navale, École de l'air) are open only under military status, except for the military infrastructure engineers (IMI) at ENSAM and the armament studies and techniques engineers (IETA) at ENSTA Bretagne, which also have civilian tracks.
These programs usually come with a commitment to the civil service or the military for a total period, often eight years, from which the years spent at school are deducted. A normalien who goes straight on to a PhD started in the fourth year will therefore have only two years of actual commitment left to serve in the civil service at the end of their studies.
Access to these exams varies widely between CPGE tracks. The MP track offers the most opportunities, with access to 21 of the 23 paid post-CPGE exams, while other tracks are much more limited: the D1, ATS Génie Industriel and TB tracks offer a single paid option each, at ENS Rennes for the first two and at ENS Paris-Saclay for the third. The number of positions also varies significantly from one track to another.
The exam route can also shape the program itself. Except at ENS Ulm, where students can join any department whatever their exam, ENS Lyon and ENS Paris-Saclay usually assign departments according to the student's track, though students can ask for an exemption after admission to join another department.
The following table sums up this variety and the specific access routes, with the number of places open by track and by exam.
Nombre de places par formation
Several exams and routes of uneven level
The exams that lead to paid post-CPGE programs fall into several large exam boards, each with its own features and required level.
The ENS BEL board covers only the A/L track and mainly leads to the humanities departments of ENS Ulm and ENS Lyon: arts, history, philosophy, classics, geography, literature, human sciences and digital humanities. ENS Paris-Saclay has a single humanities department, devoted to English, and ENS Rennes does not recruit through this board.
The ENS BLSES board, for the BL track, leads to the economics and social science departments of ENS Ulm, Lyon and Paris-Saclay. It also leads to the trainee civil servant program for statistician-attachés at ENSAI and to other civilian programs (ENSAE, ENSAI). ENSG-Géomatique also recruits through this board
The ENS science boards cover the MP, MPI, PC, PSI, BCPST and TB exams for the science departments of ENS Ulm, Lyon, Paris-Saclay and Rennes, including biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, earth sciences, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and digital engineering. These boards also lead to École polytechnique (MP, MPI, PC and PSI tracks). In PC, the board also leads to ESPCI, and in BCPST it gives civilian access to the Mines, the Ponts and the regional Centrales. In the TB track, ENS Paris-Saclay also uses the tests of the SCAV (Service des Concours Agro-Véto).
A few specific exams complete the picture, such as those of ENS Paris-Saclay for D2 (economics and management) and design, and of ENS Rennes for D1 (law and economics) and 2SEP (sport).
The ENS also recruit through shared exam boards :
The ECG track through the BCE board for ENS Paris-Saclay;
The PT track through the PT board for ENS Paris-Saclay and ENS Rennes;
The TSI track through the INP common exam for the same ENS;
The ATS Génie Industriel track through the ENSEA board for ENS Rennes.
École polytechnique uses the board it shares with the ENS for the MP, MPI, PC and PSI tracks. For the other tracks, it relies on the PT board (PT), the CentraleSupélec board (TSI) and the SCAV board (BCPST).
The military schools have their own tests but also recruit through the big boards: the CCINP board for Saint-Cyr and the École de l'air (MP, MPI, PC and PSI tracks), and the CentraleSupélec board for the École navale. Saint-Cyr also recruits in A/L through a specific exam and in ECG through the BCE.
Apart from Arts et Métiers, with its own exam in PT and the CentraleSupélec exam in PSI (IMI), and the Institut Agro Dijon through the BCPST Agro exam (IAE), the other civil service programs mostly use:
The INP common exam (MP, MPI, PC, PSI) for ENAC (civil service programs), ENGEES and ENSAI.
The Mines-Télécom common exam (MP, MPI, PC, PSI, PT) for ENSTA, the École de météorologie, ENSG-Géomatique, IMT Nord Europe, EIVP and ENTPE.
The Geology, Water and Environment exam (BCPST) for the École de météorologie, ENSG-Géomatique, ENGEES and ENTPE.
According to DAUR's analysis, the selectivity of these programs varies widely. Some, like the ENS or Polytechnique, are extremely demanding, while others offer more open access to the civil service.
The following table details these differences in selectivity by track.
Tableau des sélectivités
The civil service programs in detail:
ENS: normalien
Degree : Diplôme de l'École normale supérieure (with no city for Paris; for the others, the name of the city: Lyon, Paris-Saclay or Rennes)
Reporting to : Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Positions open in 2025 : 641
Length of the program : 4 years
Pay during studies : 1,801 €
The ENS (Ulm, Lyon, Paris-Saclay, Rennes) recruit normaliens every year through extremely selective exams, open mainly to preparatory class (CPGE) students in every track: humanities (A/L, B/L), economics (D1, D2, ECG) and sciences (MP, MPI, PC, PSI, PT, BCPST, TSI, TB, ATS). Some departments also admit candidates on application (especially after CPGE).
Students admitted through the exams have the status of category A trainee civil servants, with a monthly salary for 4 years, in return for a ten-year commitment to serve the state in the public sphere (teaching, research, administration, etc.). In practice, many normaliens fulfill this commitment through an academic career or at a public institution. Students admitted on application are not civil servants.
The program lasts four years and follows a unique model that combines high-level university education, preparation for academic and administrative competitive exams, and research, across a very wide range of departments.
Spécialisation dans les différents des ENS
The ENS have different policies on department access after CPGE. ENS Ulm lets the winners of its exams join any of its departments (depending on the science or humanities section), while at ENS Lyon, Paris-Saclay and Rennes each department recruits from one or more tracks through its own exam.
Accès concours par département ENS
The program stands out for:
One or more associated master's or magistère programs (within the ENS or with leading universities such as Sorbonne Université, PSL, Paris-Saclay, Lyon 1 or Rennes 2);
Strong multidisciplinarity, helped by flexible curricula and the option of taking courses in several departments;
Preparation for the agrégation, a high-level competitive exam in many subjects for future secondary and higher education teachers;
Active training in research, through internships, seminars, publications and dissertations, often with a PhD in view.
Normaliens therefore complete a master's-level university program (180 ECTS after CPGE) in their specialty, alongside a complementary program of 72 ECTS spread over the 4 years. They are supervised by high-level academics and work in a stimulating intellectual environment, with close ties to laboratories, libraries and international networks.
The ENS exist first to train academics, researchers and senior civil servants. The most common paths are:
Agrégation: preparation in most subjects, leading to the title of professeur agrégé and to positions in lycées, CPGE or IUT;
PhD: a very large number of normaliens go on to a PhD, often with a doctoral contract in a leading laboratory, leading to a career in public research (CNRS, INRAE, INRIA, etc.) or higher education;
Associate professor (maître de conférences): a recruitment exam after the PhD, leading to teaching and research at a university.
The ENS also have a dedicated external exam for two of the 4 major technical corps of the state: the Corps des Mines and the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts. Normaliens can also apply, alongside students of the authorized engineering schools, to the external exams of the other 2 major technical corps: the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE
ENAC: civil aviation studies and operations engineer
Degree : engineering degree of ENAC
Reporting to : Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC)
Positions open in 2025 : 15
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,674€ / 1,767 € / 1,945 €
Civil aviation studies and operations engineers (IEEAC) are trained at the École nationale de l'aviation civile (ENAC), a public institution under the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Recruited mainly through the external CCINP exam in the MP, MPI, PC and PSI tracks, admitted candidates become category A trainee civil servants and are paid during their studies.
The three-year program is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) and leads to the ENAC engineering degree. It covers a broad range of subjects in aeronautics and air transport: flight operations, safety, avionics, air traffic management and aeronautical and space telecommunications. Students also get free flight training, which can lead to a private pilot license.
After graduating, IEEAC engineers are appointed to the IEEAC corps and work mainly at the Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC). Their missions include:
Maintaining a high level of safety and security in air transport;
Regulating air transport;
Supporting air transport research and development;
The ecological transition;
Air traffic management and air traffic control;
Preparing and defending French positions in international bodies.
IEEAC careers can lead to senior management positions, with growing responsibilities at the DGAC or other civil aviation bodies in France or Europe.
The IEEAC corps gives access to the internal exam for the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, as do 4 other technical corps (ISGN, ITPE, ITM, IAE); 2 to 3 engineers a year are appointed across all these corps. The Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts is one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
ENAC: air navigation control engineer
Degree : ENAC degree in Air Traffic Management and Control
Reporting to : Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC)
Positions open in 2025 : 153
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
Air navigation control engineers (ICNA) are trained at the École nationale de l'aviation civile (ENAC), a public institution under the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Recruited through an external exam, mainly in the MP, MPI, PC and PSI tracks, admitted candidates become category A trainee civil servants and are paid during their studies.
The three-year program is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) and leads to the ENAC engineering degree. It covers a broad range of subjects in aeronautics and air transport: flight operations, safety, avionics, air traffic management and aeronautical and space telecommunications. Students also get free flight training, which can lead to a private pilot license.
After graduating, ICNA engineers are appointed to the ICNA corps and work mainly at the Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC). Their missions include:
Designing and managing air navigation systems;
Analyzing and regulating air transport;
Overseeing aviation safety and security;
Taking part in aeronautical research and development projects.
ICNA careers can lead to senior management positions, with growing responsibilities at the DGAC or other civil aviation bodies.
ENAC: air safety electronic systems engineer
Degree : ENAC degree in air safety electronic systems engineering
Reporting to : Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC)
Positions open in 2025: 29 (for the CPGE program)
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
Air safety electronic systems engineers (IESSA) are trained at the École nationale de l'aviation civile (ENAC), a public institution under the Ministry of Ecological Transition. They are recruited through external exams, one of which is based on the CPGE physics curriculum (this exam is outside the SCEI process). Admitted candidates become category A trainee civil servants and are paid during their studies.
The three-year program is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) and leads to the ENAC engineering degree. It covers a broad range of subjects in aeronautics and air transport: flight operations, safety, avionics, air traffic management and aeronautical and space telecommunications. Students also get free flight training, which can lead to a private pilot license.
After graduating, IESSA engineers are appointed to the IESSA corps and work mainly at the Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC) for at least 7 years (including the study period). Their missions include:
Designing and managing air navigation systems;
Analyzing and regulating air transport;
Overseeing aviation safety and security;
Taking part in aeronautical research and development projects.
IESSA careers can lead to senior management positions, with growing responsibilities at the DGAC or other civil aviation bodies.
ENSAI: INSEE statistician-attaché
Degree : Master in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Data Science for Public Decision-Making track, of ENSAI and the Université de Rennes
Reporting to : Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE)
Positions open in 2025 : 50
Length of the program: 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,560€ / 1,560€ / 1,945 €
INSEE statistician-attachés are trained at ENSAI (École nationale de la statistique et de l'analyse de l'information), a public school under the Ministry of the Economy. Recruited through an external exam after CPGE in a range of tracks, humanities (B/L), economics (D2) and sciences (MP, MPI, PC, PSI), admitted candidates become category A trainee civil servants right away and are paid during their studies.
The program lasts nearly two years and is designed specifically for careers in official statistics. It gives a solid grounding in statistics, applied economics, computer science and data analysis, with gradual specialization in official statistics, information management and public policy evaluation. Students do internships at INSEE or other administrations.
After graduating, attachés become permanent civil servants and hold a range of positions, including:
Statistical analyst in INSEE regional offices or ministries;
Head of survey production or of public data processing;
Methodologist or statistical quality expert;
Information systems officer in official statistics departments.
The career offers stable and evolving prospects at INSEE, in ministries or abroad, and each year a few career statistician-attachés can take the internal exam for the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE, one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts and the Corps de l'Armement).
IMT Nord Europe: industry and mines engineer
Degree : engineering degree of IMT Nord Europe
Reporting to : Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery
Positions open in 2025 : 10
Length of the program: 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
Industry and mines engineers (IIM) are trained at IMT Nord Europe, a public engineering grande école, member of the Institut Mines-Télécom and partner of the Université de Lille. Civil servant students are recruited through the Mines-Télécom exam, open to students from science preparatory classes (MP, PC and PSI tracks). Admitted candidates become civil servant students and are paid during their studies.
The three-year general engineering program covers a broad range of subjects: engineering sciences, digital technology, environment, energy, materials, civil engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, etc. Students can tailor their curriculum with eight thematic tracks and five engineer profiles, according to their career plans.
After graduating, IIM engineers are appointed to the IIM corps, an interministerial state civil service corps that formally reports to the Ministry of the Economy. They commit to serve the state for at least eight years.
IIM engineers hold a range of positions, including:
Inspector or controller in industrial safety, nuclear safety, environmental protection, etc.;
Public policy manager for innovation or the energy or digital transition;
Project manager for industrial or technological projects in central administration or regional services;
Expert or technical adviser to ministries, national agencies or local authorities.
Each year, 1 or 2 career IIM engineers can take the internal exam for the Corps des Mines, one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
EIVP: Paris city engineer and architect
Degree : engineering degree of EIVP, Urban Engineering specialty
Reporting to : City of Paris
Positions open in 2025 : 15
Length of the program: 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,674€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
The engineers and architects of the Paris administration (formerly Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris, IVP) trained at EIVP are category A trainee civil servants from the start of their studies, which guarantees them a salary. Recruitment is through a specific exam organized by the City of Paris, open to students from science preparatory classes (MP, PC and PSI tracks).
The three-year program is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) and leads to the EIVP engineering degree. Its multidisciplinary teaching combines engineering sciences with the specific challenges of managing a city like Paris. Areas covered include:
regional planning and urban planning;
civil engineering and sustainable construction;
water, waste, energy and the environment;
urban mobility and transport;
geographic information systems (GIS);
risk management and urban resilience.
Internships are part of the program, often in City of Paris departments, giving students hands-on experience of real public projects and of the technical management of the city.
At the end of their studies, students are appointed to the corps of engineers and architects of the Paris administration. This corps of local civil servants is specific to the City of Paris and falls under the local civil service statute. Paris city engineers can hold a wide range of positions in the city's technical departments. Among the main jobs:
Project manager in urban development: leading projects to develop public spaces, renovate neighborhoods or build infrastructure;
Public project owner engineer: running infrastructure projects (roads, networks, buildings);
Head of a technical or environmental department: managing teams responsible for maintaining, developing or sustainably managing urban facilities;
Policy officer for the ecological transition: rolling out climate, energy or biodiversity strategies across Paris;
Risk management or resilience expert: implementing public policies to prevent natural, health or technological risks;
GIS or urban data engineer: developing digital tools to steer urban public policy.
ENTPE: state public works engineer
Degree : engineering degree of ENTPE
Reporting to : Ministries of regional planning and ecological transition
Positions open in 2025 : 112
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
State public works engineers (ITPE) are category A trainee civil servants from the day they enter ENTPE, and are paid throughout their three years of training. Recruitment is mainly through the external TPE exam, open after science preparatory classes (MP, MPI, PC, PSI, PT, TSI and BCPST tracks). It runs on the Mines-Télécom exam of the Mines-Ponts board, and on G2E in BCPST. Admitted candidates commit to serve the state for 8 years after their training.
The TPE program at ENTPE is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) and leads to the ENTPE engineering degree. It takes place in Vaulx-en-Velin, near Lyon, and combines an excellent scientific foundation with professional training geared toward public action.
Teaching covers a wide range of subjects, including:
civil engineering, infrastructure and materials;
regional planning and urban planning;
mobility, transport and logistics;
environment, water, risks, climate;
buildings, energy and sustainable performance;
management tools, public economics, law and public policy.
A personalized path lets students choose specializations from the second year. The program includes internships in central administration, regional state services (DREAL, DDT, etc.) or public bodies such as CEREMA or Voies Navigables de France.
At the end of their studies, students are appointed to the corps of state public works engineers (ITPE), which reports to the Ministry of Ecological Transition (under its successive names). Their careers usually start in central administration, regional state services or public bodies under the ministry. TPE engineers hold varied positions with a strong impact on public policy. The main career paths include:
Project manager or public works manager: leading infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, hydraulic structures, etc.) or urban renewal;
Policy officer in regional or urban planning: territorial planning, land policy, planning documents;
Head of environment or risks: water and waste management, natural or industrial risks, the fight against climate change;
Technical or regulatory expert: drafting and enforcing standards for buildings, mobility or infrastructure safety;
Public manager at regional or national level: managing technical teams in the DREAL, DDT or major ministry directorates;
Researcher or research engineer: at bodies such as CEREMA, BRGM, IGN or research agencies.
The ITPE corps gives access to the internal exam for the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, as do 4 other technical corps (IEEAC, ISGN, ITM, IAE); 2 to 3 engineers a year are appointed across all these corps. The Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts is one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
ENSG-Géomatique: geographic and digital sciences engineer
Degree : engineering degree of ENSG-Géomatique
Reporting to : Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière (IGN)
Positions open in 2025 : 21
Length of the program: 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,560€ / 1,560€ / 1,945 €
Geographic and digital sciences engineers (ISGN) are trained at ENSG-Géomatique, a public school under the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, attached to the Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière (IGN). Civil servant students are recruited through an external exam from a wide range of tracks, humanities (B/L), engineering sciences (MP, MPI, PC, PSI, PT) and earth sciences (BCPST), and join the ISGN corps when they start, with trainee civil servant status and a salary during their studies.
The three-year program is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) and confers a master's degree. It covers every field of geomatics: acquiring, processing, modeling, analyzing, representing and disseminating geographic information. Courses include geodesy, topography, photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), cartography, spatial analysis, computer science and programming. Students do internships, notably at IGN, to apply their skills to real projects.
After graduating, ISGN engineers are appointed to the ISGN corps and work mainly at IGN. Their missions include:
Designing, producing and updating reference geographic databases;
Developing and maintaining geographic information systems and related digital services;
Research and innovation in geomatics and geographic information science;
Expertise and technical advice for state services, local authorities and international partners.
The ISGN corps gives access to the internal exam for the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, as do 4 other technical corps (IEEAC, ITPE, ITM, IAE); 2 to 3 engineers a year are appointed across all these corps. The Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts is one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
École nationale de la météorologie: meteorological works engineer
Degree : engineering degree of the École nationale de la météorologie
Reporting to : Météo-France
Positions open in 2025 : 29
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
Meteorological works engineers (ITM) are category A trainee civil servants from the day they start at the École nationale de la météorologie (ENM), in Toulouse, which is part of Météo-France, a public administrative body under the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Recruitment is through an external exam organized by Météo-France, mainly open to students from science preparatory classes (MP, MPI, PC, PSI and BCPST tracks). Admitted candidates are paid throughout their studies, in return for a commitment to serve the state for eight years.
The ITM program lasts three years and is accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI). It leads to the ENM engineering degree, specialized in meteorology, climatology, environment and related technologies. The multidisciplinary program includes:
atmospheric physics, meteorological dynamics and thermodynamics;
numerical weather prediction and climate modeling;
instrumentation, signal processing, remote sensing, radar and satellites;
scientific computing, programming and big data management;
climate and natural risk management;
applications to the environment, aeronautics, agriculture and civil protection.
The program includes technical or scientific internships in Météo-France's operational services or other national, European or international institutions.
At the end of their studies, students are appointed to the corps of meteorological works engineers (ITM). The corps formally reports to Météo-France but allows moves to other state services or public bodies. ITM engineers work at the crossroads of science, technology and public service. Their career paths include:
Weather forecaster: preparing forecasts for the public, civil protection, aviation or sensitive sectors such as agriculture or energy;
Climate engineer: analyzing climate change, contributing to adaptation policies, producing scenarios for local authorities and ministries;
Specialist in remote sensing and instrumentation: developing and operating weather sensors (radar, satellites), processing observation data;
Modeling engineer: helping design and improve weather and climate forecasting models;
Computer engineer or data scientist: managing high-performance computing systems, developing climate decision-support tools;
Analyst or applied researcher: in weather risk, air quality or environmental impact.
The ITM corps gives access to the internal exam for the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, as do 4 other technical corps (IEEAC, ITPE, IAE, ISGN); 2 to 3 engineers a year are appointed across all these corps. The Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts is one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
ENGEES: agriculture and environment engineer (IAE)
Degree : engineering degree of ENGEES
Reporting to : Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Positions open in 2025 : 20
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
Agriculture and environment engineers (IAE) are recruited as category A trainee civil servants through a specific exam of the Ministry of Agriculture. The exam is mainly open after BCPST preparatory classes but also to the MP, PC and PSI tracks. Admitted students are civil servants from the day they start and are paid throughout their training. In return, they commit to serve the state for at least 8 years.
The program takes place in Strasbourg at ENGEES, a school specialized in water sciences, natural environments, the environment, planning and public services. Teaching combines solid scientific foundations with operational know-how on the big challenges of the ecological transition and resource management. Key areas include:
urban and rural hydraulics, wastewater and drinking water;
integrated management of aquatic environments and flood prevention (GEMAPI);
applied ecology, soils and diffuse pollution;
civil engineering applied to the environment and infrastructure;
public water, sanitation and waste services;
environmental economics, public policy, rural and environmental law.
The program includes compulsory internships (in regional state services, water agencies, DDT, DREAL or public bodies such as the OFB) and a final project on real-world issues.
After graduating, students are appointed to the corps of agriculture and environment engineers (IAE), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, with the option of moving to other administrations (ecology, health, interior, etc.). They join, in the same corps, the trainee civil servants of the Institut Agro Dijon. IAE engineers trained at ENGEES hold technical, scientific and management positions all over the country, in very varied settings. The most common career paths include:
Policy officer for water or natural environments: monitoring water quality, drawing up and implementing SAGE plans, running river or wetland restoration programs;
Engineer in regional state services (DDT, DRAAF, DREAL): reviewing regulatory files, checking environmental compliance, managing natural or agricultural risks;
Technical adviser on agricultural or environmental policy: supporting local authorities, chambers of agriculture and agri-environmental projects;
Project manager for hydraulic or sanitation infrastructure: running public projects for local authorities or state operators;
Expert or inspector in public bodies: water agencies, OFB, INRAE, operators of the environment or health ministries.
The IAE corps gives access to the internal exam for the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, as do 4 other technical corps (IEEAC, ITPE, ITM, ISGN); 2 to 3 engineers a year are appointed across all these corps. The Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts is one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
L'Institut Agro Dijon: agriculture and environment engineer
Degree : engineering degree of L'Institut Agro Dijon, agronomy specialty
Reporting to : Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Positions open in 2025 : 39
Length of the program : 3 years
Pay during studies : 1,604€ / 1,674€ / 1,945 €
Agriculture and environment engineers (IAE) recruited at L'Institut Agro Dijon become category A trainee civil servants from the day they start, which guarantees them a salary throughout the three-year program.
Recruitment is through a national exam of the Ministry of Agriculture, open to students from BCPST preparatory classes. Students commit to serve the state for at least eight years after their studies.
The IAE program at L'Institut Agro Dijon is accredited by the CTI (Commission des titres d'ingénieur) and leads to the agronomist engineering degree. It focuses on agricultural, food, environmental and territorial issues, with an emphasis on multidisciplinarity and public policy. The main areas include:
Agronomy, ecology and crop production;
Farming systems, agricultural policy and sustainability;
Food issues, the food industry and quality;
Environment, water, biodiversity, soils;
Rural economics, territorial development, public policy;
Project management methods, communication, public engineering.
Civil servant students follow a dedicated track, with courses specific to public action and long internships in regional state services (DRAAF, DDT(M)), public bodies (INRAE, OFB) or ministries.
At the end of their studies, students are appointed to the corps of agriculture and environment engineers (IAE), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. They join, in the same corps, the trainee civil servants of ENGEES. This interministerial corps can also lead to assignments in other ministries (ecology, energy transition, interior, etc.). IAE engineers from L'Institut Agro Dijon can hold a wide range of positions, often in the field and at the heart of implementing public policy:
Policy officer for sustainable agriculture or agroecology: running local programs, supporting farming transitions;
Inspector in regional state services: inspecting farms, processing CAP subsidies, environmental assessment of agricultural projects;
Expert in rural public policy: supporting local authorities, territorial planning, rural economic development;
Project manager for the environment or water: managing natural resources, monitoring watersheds, running SAGE plans or ICZM initiatives;
Technical adviser in central administration or a public operator: Agence bio, FranceAgriMer, INRAE, public bodies.
The IAE corps gives access to the internal exam for the Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts, as do 4 other technical corps (IEEAC, ITPE, ITM, ISGN); 2 to 3 engineers a year are appointed across all these corps. The Corps des Ponts, Eaux et Forêts is one of the 4 major technical corps of the state, category A+ (with the Corps des Mines, the Corps de l'Armement and the Corps des administrateurs de l'INSEE).
