INSA Rennes, the Institut national des sciences appliquées de Rennes, is an engineering school in Rennes, in Brittany, created in 1966. It belongs to the INSA group of engineering schools and celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026.
Engineering studies follow a five-year path: two years of shared first-cycle studies, then a specialty chosen for years three to five. The specialties include computer science, civil engineering, electronics and communication systems, mechanical engineering and automation, and materials science, and the school presents eight engineering specialties in all. International mobility is part of the curriculum for every student.
Research is carried out in seven laboratories linked to the school.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnologies, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of INSA Group and Université de Rennes. Strong collaborations with research labs in Rennes (e.g., IRISA, IETR).
Research:
Cybersecurity and digital trust, Advanced materials and photonics, Environmental engineering and sustainable cities, Health technologies.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
500
Current students***:
2000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
18000
Pros
Strong in ICT and materials science, located in a dynamic technology hub (Rennes Atalante), research-intensive.
Cons
Selective, specific areas of specialization.
Best For
Engineering school specializing in ICT, materials science, and civil engineering in Rennes.
Another comparable engineering school is INSA Toulouse, public and based in Toulouse, with aerospace-related engineering, computer science and networks.
École Centrale de Nantes, public and in Nantes, adds marine engineering and hydrodynamics to mechanical engineering.
For digital technologies, data science and cybersecurity, Télécom Paris in Palaiseau is a public school.
ENSEIRB, public and in Talence, is listed for electronics and embedded systems, computer science and telecommunications.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Politecnico di Torino in Piemonte, Italy, is known for automotive and aerospace engineering.
In Germany, Technische Universität Darmstadt combines computer science and AI with mechanical and process engineering.
Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg, Sweden, works on nanotechnology and materials science.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland, lists computer science and mechanical engineering.
Université de Mons in Hainaut, Belgium, offers materials science, engineering and computer science.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was INSA Rennes created?
The school was created in 1966 and marks its 60th anniversary in 2026. It is part of the INSA group of engineering schools.
How is the engineering course organised?
It lasts five years. Years one and two are a shared first cycle, and students choose a specialty for years three to five.
Which specialties can students choose?
The school lists eight engineering specialties, including computer science, civil engineering, electronics and communication systems, mechanical engineering and automation, and materials science.
What is the INSA group?
It is a network of engineering schools sharing a common model, to which INSA Rennes belongs.
How many research laboratories are linked to the school?
Seven research laboratories are associated with INSA Rennes.
Is there an international dimension?
International mobility is built into the curriculum for all students. The school's website describes partner institutions and exchange programmes.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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