École normale supérieure

The École normale supérieure is one of the most selective and prestigious graduate schools in Paris, France. It is one of the French grandes écoles and a member of PSL University, currently an association of public universities and colleges, since 2010.

It was initially conceived during the French Revolution and was intended to provide the Republic with a new body of professors, trained in the critical spirit and secular values of the Enlightenment. It has since developed into an institution which has become a platform for a select few of France's students to pursue careers in government and academia. Founded in 1794 and reorganised by Napoleon, ENS has two main sections and a highly competitive selection process consisting of written and oral examinations. During their studies, many ENS students hold the status of paid civil servants.

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