A Guide to Applying for Philosophy Master’s in France

A Guide to Applying for a Master’s in Philosophy in France: My Experience at ENS-PSL

Background

Last winter, I applied to the philosophy master’s program at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure (ENS-PSL) through the Mon Master system. I want to share my application journey for future applicants to learn from. Here’s a quick overview of my background:

• Undergraduate and Master’s degrees from China (not in Philosophy)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from KU Leuven, Belgium (with an average score of 16+)
• Graduation thesis scored 19/20
• French language proficiency certified with DALF C1
• Two strong recommendation letters from KU Leuven

Universities I Applied To

I applied to several institutions, including:

• ENS-PSL
• Paris 1, 4, 10
• Toulouse 2
• University of Strasbourg

Application Reflection

The Mon Master system is France’s unified platform for master’s applications, allowing candidates to submit multiple programs and university choices. Each school ranks applicants and sends out offers one by one. You can either choose to accept, hold your decision in consideration, or decline. The experience can be quite thrilling as you can see your rank for each university and utilize past admission data for estimates (historical data is available on the Mon Master platform).

When I applied last year, I was thrilled when I received confirmed offers from Toulouse University and University of Strasbourg. However, the other universities remained on my waiting list. I had applied to both contemporary philosophy and the history of philosophy at ENS-PSL. The history of philosophy program turned down my application, stating that I was not a good fit compared to other candidates (which I anticipated). Unexpectedly, my ranking for the contemporary philosophy program was quite high (around 7th place), indicating that I had a good chance of being admitted, given last year’s data. By contrast, my rankings at other schools were ordinary, and while I expected acceptance, the movement of ranks was relatively slow.

What particularly surprised me was my lower-than-expected ranking at Paris 10 (my safety option). Although admission was likely, I felt this ranking reflected the mutual fit between the program and the applicant—much like relationships, being comfortable and suitable for one another is key.

Factors Influencing My Admission

Looking back, ENS-PSL, being a highly esteemed institution, enrolls a limited number of students each year (about 10 per field, whereas other institutions typically accept dozens). The admission rates are the lowest (around 10%, while other departments range from 30% to 85%) and expect high academic results, often reported as the primary selection criteria. I believe the factors contributing to my admission include:

• Strong academic performance
• Two compelling recommendation letters (KU Leuven, as a hub for Continental philosophy, holds a strong reputation)
• Diverse cultural background (studying internationally adds value)
• Clear research proposal (high compatibility with the program)

Final Thoughts

To everyone applying, I wish you all the best in your journeys! Prepare thoroughly, understand the criteria, and genuinely reflect on how you fit within your chosen programs’ ethos. Good luck! 🍀