The CPGE Q&A chat took place on June 13.
Many questions were asked. If you weren’t able to attend, this FAQ covers the questions asked by students about the CPGE, the Mines-Télécom 1 and 2 competitive entrance exams, as well as topics related to the school and student life.
To find a particular topic, feel free to perform a search (CTRL+F) on the page and enter the keyword(s) that interest you (examples: international, series 1, space, PT, asso…).
Is Télécom Saint-Etienne a generalist in IT?
Télécom Saint-Etienne is a generalist in the digital field: photonics, electronics, telecom/networks, image processing and computer science. This is the core curriculum deployed over 18 months to train student-engineers equally in each of these subjects. Then, the 18-month courses are specializations (e.g. cybersecurity, software architecture, or image and AI for the 3 courses plus computer science).
I thought I noticed that in the core curriculum you were proposing a lot of optics, why is that?
The core curriculum includes equal parts of optics, electronics, networks/telecom, imaging and IT.
Could you give a few examples of engineering projects you’ve completed this year?
In my team, we’re developing business software for the quality department of a factory that manufactures bicycle rims. Basically, we’re going to create software that will enable them to capture rim characteristics (flatness, diameter, etc.) during their quality checks, in order to monitor the performance of their production lines.
For our part, we’re currently working on an engineering project. My project consists of automatically detecting anomalies in network data to get clues as to the origin of failures. The principle is to analyze the data, then use a machine learning system to learn the different trends in their data and spot the various problems.
Can you tell us about the opportunities offered by the student photonics course?
Photonics leads to R&D engineering positions, often in design offices. Some of our students go on to doctoral studies, notably at the Hubert Curien laboratory (take a look at the fiber optic dosimeters deployed on the ISS during Thomas Pesquet’s mission https://www.lesechos.fr/pme…). Keep in mind that photonics has a wide range of applications, the main ones being energy, medical, telecoms and the environment.
What is the minimum grade point average required to enter the school?
This year, the series have been merged: there is now just one series and therefore just one bar for all 18 schools in the competition.
How does the SI oral exam work for the PSI stream?
The SI test lasts 30 min.
Do you offer maths and physics as core subjects?
Yes in semesters 5 and 6.
What languages are offered at Telecom Saint Etienne?
English compulsory in LV1 and in LV2: German, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.
What does the cybersecurity specialization entail?
- Apprenticeship (50% school, 50% apprentice) for the last 18 months of the engineering cycle (you are an employee of the company under apprentice status).
- In terms of teaching areas, this is a cybersecurity course with 4 disciplines covered: networks, information systems, system administration and transmission.
Details of the 4 disciplines: Networks: Protocols and advanced routing, Network security, Pen testing Information systems: SYSTEM and IS, Hyperconvergence, Security and convergence. Admin Sys: Architecture and administration of system and network services, Automation and orchestration, Responsible digital project. Transmission: TELECOMS, Advanced modulations and coding, Advanced antennas, Wireless networks.
Is LV2 compulsory in engineering schools? How many hours per week?
LV2 is compulsory at Télécom Saint-Etienne.
1h30 per week of LV2.
What extracurricular activities are on offer?
For extracurricular activities, we do all kinds of things: – the BDS (sports office), which is in charge of all sports (badminton, volleyball, handball, rugby, running, cycling, soccer, swimming, etc.) – the BDA, which has a number of activities such as : music, painting, gaming, poker, sewing, board games – the BDE, which organizes various parties, WEI, etc. – Projet&Tech, Télécom’s robotics association – Inspire, Télécom’s junior enterprise, an association dedicated to professionalizing students by giving them paid projects.
I’m having trouble understanding what telecoms and network design are all about?
Telecommunications courses include antennas, fiber optics, modulation and coding, WIFI and 5G radio wave transmission. Network courses cover the operation and configuration of switches and routers, and communications protocols.
The school does not offer a specialization engineering diploma (ingénieur de spécialisation is a national diploma as defined by the CTI at bac+6 level (an additional year after a bac+5 in engineering).
We have a double degree with IOGS, in a 2+2 year format. Students do 2 years at TSE then 2 years at IOGS, or 2 years at IOGS and 2 years at TSE. In the fields of optics and photonics, of course. The selection of IOGS students coming after 2 years depends on IOGS. The selection of TSE students after 2 years depends on the students’ success during their first 2 years in the subjects concerned. A jury meets to validate the application, and in the case of an untroubled dossier, the double degree application is a priori accepted!
Are there still advanced theoretical math courses? Or is the focus more on practical application?
In the core curriculum, mathematics revolves around probability and statistics, then turns into mathematics around analysis, modeling, decomposition and estimation of random variable sequences (random signals). In the image and AI pathways, the math is even more advanced (wavelet transforms, mathematical morphology, 3D imaging).
Is the embedded systems course a sandwich course?
No, only the Cybersecurity course is a sandwich course.
We offer a double engineering/management degree with Institut Mines Télécom Business School, as well as a number of masters programs. Find out more at https://www.telecom-st-etie…
There are also double degrees in management at IAE Saint-Etienne (Master in Entrepreneurship, Master in Business Management and Administration, Master in Economic Intelligence and Innovation Management) – each in parallel with the final year of the engineering cycle.
Do you offer internships abroad in M2 and M3 or do you operate differently?
There is a 4-week operational internship in the first year, followed by personal initiative internships between the first and second years, or the second and third years, and finally the final internship. All these internships can be carried out abroad.
Around 30% of end-of-study internships are carried out abroad, to give you an idea.
As regards the embedded systems curriculum, what projects are you working on during the year?
The projects are as follows:
Robot follower with a thermal sensor that tracks a person, nuclear power plant investigation robot with LCD screen and WIFI control, music learning system with LCD screen, ipod-type system for playing music and viewing video clips, ….
If I’ve understood correctly, selection depends on the school of origin?
Yes, and also from the destination school, which, in a relationship of trust and history, follows the advice of the sending school (in the end, it’s the school that knows the student best :-)).
There are photonics courses in FISE (the one you mention in particular) as well as in FISA (IPSI diploma via the IMT Apprenticeship platform – competition closed). It is not possible to change during the course (start in FISE and finish in FISA).
It is mostly done in the first semester of the last year of the engineering cycle. It can also be done in the 2nd year of the engineering cycle. It is also possible to do a double degree abroad.
Eramus mobility grants are available, as are mobility grants from the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region. The International Relations Department can help you apply.
What role do practical exercises play in training?
It depends on the subject, but overall we have a large proportion of practical and practical work in our timetables.
I think it’s about 1/3 of the time in CM and 2/3 of the time in TD/TP. We also have a lot of projects.
This depends on your course of study and the subjects concerned, and written marks vary from year to year depending on the bar.
The written exams count for 50% and the oral exams for 50% (coefficients 30 and 30).
If you qualify for the written exam, you’ll need to perform well in the oral exam to be ranked highly.
It depends on your stream and whether the school is in high demand this year. You can refer to the statistics on the CMT website: https: //www.concours-mines-…
Here’s a detailed explanation of the series merger: https: //www.concours-mines-…
What’s student life like in Saint-Étienne?
Community life is an important part of Télécom. The school has many associations (Student Office, Sports Office, Arts Office, Robotics Association). There are many events organized by these associations.
Saint-Étienne is a student city with 30,000 female students. On a city scale, you meet a lot of other students from other schools, you meet a lot of people, it’s pretty cool. Then, in terms of quality of life, Saint-Étienne is top-notch, far from the rumors you may hear.
The cost of living here is very affordable (bars, restaurants, minimarkets). The town is quite small, so you can walk to all your friends in just 10 minutes, which is very pleasant. In the surrounding area, there’s lots of fun stuff to do, such as water sports centers and so on.
The accommodation is beautiful and affordable too.
What sets you apart from Mines de Saint Etienne?
École des Mines de Saint-Etienne is a general engineering school, with its historic ICM cycle, nuclear engineering and microelectronics (Gardanne site). Télécom Saint-Etienne is a more technological school, with a focus on photonics-electronics-telecom-networking-image processing-computing. This is why it is sometimes said that Télécom Saint-Etienne is a generalist digital engineering school.
Of course, there are also links between Télécom Saint-Etienne and its big sister. On a more serious note, there are also joint projects, such as a European project enabling students to attend workshops in Europe on “digital innovation in 10 years”: https: //www.dc4dm.eu/.)– with Politecnico Milan and the University of Madeira.
How many students are there in each class?
There are about 120 of them.
Embedded systems are everywhere: in your car, on planes and trains, in nuclear power plants. Embedded systems involve electronics and computing. They often use an ARM-type microprocessor running a Linux OS.
Yes, and also the network, because when developing an embedded system, you work on a PC and transfer files to the board via a network protocol (TFTP, NFS).
Yes, you can choose the campus you want.
How many students are eligible for this double degree with IOGS?
Only a handful of students are eligible for a double diploma with IOGS. Acceptance depends directly on the quality of the application. To date, all applications (from students who have demonstrated their potential for the double degree) have been accepted.
Do students have any advice for the Mines-Telecom orals and/or for the engineering school years?
For the motivational oral, you really have to work at it. You can get 20/20 quite easily if you’ve practiced well. You need to read the guide carefully, have a good idea of your career plan, and on the day, be up to date with the latest scientific news. Watch YouTube videos to help you succeed in your interview. For the science tests, do what you’ve always done in maths/physics.
Link to the oral guide https://www.calameo.com/rea…
At school, the pace is much slower than at a preparatory school. You’ll be able to enjoy your free time a little more (even if there are always projects).
The Science section of the Le Monde website is very good! https://www.lemonde.fr/scie…
Lemonde, arte, science étonnante and so on. For example, I mentioned the James Webb telescope in my interview to give you an idea.
Is student housing available at the school?
No, there are no housing units reserved for the school, but there are two large residences close to the school.
Private accommodation is at the same rate, or even cheaper, than university accommodation.
Every year, many of the school’s students find themselves in these residences, the first being UXCO greenbreak and Gest’etud.
The school is located in the city center, three streetcar stops from the town hall. On the former site of the Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne (where FAMAS, the assault rifle made by the Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Etienne for counter-strike players, was manufactured ;-)). These are historic stone buildings. Virtual visit: https://www.telecom-st-etie…
