Address: Téléport 2, 1 avenue Clément Ader, BP 40109, 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil du Poitou, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Aeromechanics & Energetics, Thermal Engineering & Propulsion, Materials for Aerospace
Aeronautics and mechanics run through the story of ISAE-ENSMA, the École nationale supérieure de mécanique et d’aérotechnique near Poitiers. Its roots lie in the Institut de mécanique et d’aérotechnique de Poitiers, created in 1945 through an agreement between the Air Ministry and the universities of Paris and Poitiers, and it took the name ENSMA in 1948 after a decree on national engineering schools.
The school moved from central Poitiers to the Futuroscope site in 1993, and in 2017 it became a public scientific, cultural and professional institution. In 2011 it adopted the ISAE name, and it belongs to the ISAE group, which other aeronautics and space schools have since joined.
The engineering programme ends with third-year options in aerodynamics, energetics, thermal engineering, materials, structures and computing. Beyond it, the school offers master’s programmes, including international MSc tracks in aeronautical mechanics and energetics and in turbulence, and doctoral studies. Research is anchored in the Pprime Institute, run with the CNRS and the University of Poitiers and described as the second-largest French laboratory in engineering sciences.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of ISAE Group. Close ties with aerospace industry (Safran, ArianeGroup, Dassault Aviation) and research centers (ONERA).
Research:
Aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, High-temperature materials and structures, Combustion and propulsion systems, Data science for aerospace applications.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
250
Current students***:
900
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
10000
Pros
Excellence in aeronautical and space mechanics, strong research in propulsion and materials, located near Futuroscope technology park.
Cons
Highly specialized in aerospace mechanics, very selective.
Best For
Leading engineering school for aerospace mechanics, materials, and energetics.
ISAE-SUPAERO, in Toulouse, belongs to the same ISAE group and teaches aerospace engineering and space systems engineering.
INSA Toulouse in Toulouse lists aerospace-related engineering, computer science and networks.
Université de Poitiers in Poitiers is the neighbouring partner in the Pprime institute, with engineering in mechanics, energy and materials.
École Centrale de Nantes in Nantes combines mechanical engineering with marine engineering and hydrodynamics.
Arts et Métiers offers mechanical, industrial and energy engineering.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Technische Universiteit Delft in the Netherlands teaches aerospace engineering with civil engineering and computer science.
Cranfield University in the United Kingdom lists aerospace, engineering and management.
Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Belgium is devoted to fluid dynamics, aerospace engineering and turbomachinery.
Universität Stuttgart in Germany pairs automotive engineering with aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering.
Polytechnique Montréal in Canada covers engineering in all disciplines, including aerospace.
*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
Where is ISAE-ENSMA located?
It lies on the Futuroscope campus near Poitiers, where it has been based since 1993 after leaving central Poitiers.
How did the school begin?
It grew out of the Institut de mécanique et d'aérotechnique de Poitiers, set up in 1945, and became ENSMA in 1948 under a decree on national engineering schools.
What is the ISAE group?
ISAE-ENSMA adopted the ISAE name in 2011 and is part of a network of aeronautics and space schools that also includes ISAE-SUPAERO. Other schools joined the group later.
What can students specialise in during the engineering course?
The Pprime Institute, a CNRS research unit set up with the school and the University of Poitiers, is described as the second-largest French laboratory in engineering sciences.
What changed for the school in 2017?
It became a public scientific, cultural and professional institution.
Where can entry requirements and tuition be checked?
The school's official website explains the admission routes for the engineering course and the master's programmes, and it is the source for current fees.
*: 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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