The Ingénieur Civil des Mines (ICM) programme is also accessible outside the common Mines-Ponts competitive examination. Mines Saint-Étienne recruits students each year from universities, partner schools, or medical and pharmaceutical backgrounds via admissions based on qualifications and double degrees.
1. University Degree-Based Admissions
The GEI-UNIV Procedure
The GEI-UNIV entrance exam is a national university degree-based admission system, common to several major French engineering schools.
It allows students from a scientific university curriculum to directly enter a high-level engineering school, without going through preparatory classes.
The objective of this system is to promote the best university profiles, by offering them a generalist or specialized engineering education within major French engineering schools.
University Degree-Based Admissions at Mines Saint-Étienne
Degree-based admissions (AST) allow university students to join the Mines Saint-Étienne ICM programme via the GEI-UNIV route.
Admission Levels
- Level L3: admission to the 1st year of the ICM cycle
- M1 Level: admission to the 2nd year of the ICM cycle
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, students must:
- be enrolled in university in Licence 3 or Master 1,
- be pursuing a scientific university program,
- be preparing a university degree: admission is conditional upon obtaining the Bachelor’s degree and validating the completed semesters,
- not have completed two years of preparatory classes (CPGE) and/or not have already taken an engineering entrance exam,
- be a citizen of the European Union (non-EU candidates are subject to a different procedure).
Places Offered at Mines Saint-Étienne
- 5 places are available for L3,
- 5 places are available for M1,
for admission to the first or second year of the ICM program, respectively.
Application Submission
Applications are submitted exclusively online, between January and February.
Important: The information presented on this page is for guidance only.
Only the terms and conditions published on the official websites of the GEI-UNIV system and the SCEI entrance exam are authoritative.
2. Dual Degrees
Engineer–Manager (emlyon business school)
An excellence program training hybrid profiles at the intersection of technology and management.
emlyon students can join the final year of the ICM program to obtain the dual degree.
Doctor–Engineer
Medical students can join the ICM program after validating a preparatory module in fundamental sciences (mathematics, physics, computer science).
Two years at Mines Saint-Étienne interrupt the medical curriculum before resuming medical training.
Each year, 1 or 2 places are offered.
Pharmacist–Engineer
- Based on application and interview for students in their final 4th year of the engineering track at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Lyon.
- For students from other faculties of pharmacy, validation of the two years of the remote pharmacist-engineer preparatory cycle, followed by an application and an interview.
Between 5 and 8 places are offered each year.
Dentist–Engineer
Odontology students can join the ICM program after validating a preparatory module in fundamental sciences (mathematics, physics, computer science).
Two years at Mines Saint-Étienne interrupt the medical curriculum before resuming odontology training.
3. After Professional Experience: VAE
Lifelong learning is a necessity and becomes a reality for employees who wish to have their professional experience recognized.
The Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE), established by the social modernization law of January 17, 2002, constitutes the third admission route to the Master’s Degree in Science and Executive Engineering (ICM).
This system allows professionals with significant experience in technical, scientific, or managerial roles to have their skills validated for the purpose of obtaining the ICM degree.
4. Free Auditors and Exchange Students
The ICM program also welcomes students not pursuing the ICM degree, as part of academic mobility or partial program attendance.
- Exchange Students
From French or foreign partner institutions, they validate part of their studies at Mines Saint-Étienne (one semester, one year, or a full year with an internship). These students must be authorized by their home institution to undertake this mobility. - Auditors
They attend specific courses within the ICM programme without earning a degree, for professional development or further training.
Summary Table
| Profile | Admission Pathway | Required Level | Year of Integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Student | Degree-Based Admission (GEI-UNIV) | L3 / M1 | 1st or 2nd Year |
| emlyon Student | Engineer–Manager Dual Degree | M1 validated | 3rd Year |
| Medical Student | Doctor–Engineer Dual Degree | PASS or LAS with a scientific disciplinary major | 2nd Year |
| Pharmacy Student | Pharmacist–Engineer Dual Degree | PASS or LAS with a scientific disciplinary major | 2nd Year |
| Odontology Student | Dentist–Engineer Dual Degree | PASS or LAS with a scientific disciplinary major. | 2nd Year |
| Experienced Professional | Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) | Significant Experience | Based on application |
| Partner Student | Exchange / Free Auditor | According to agreement | Variable |
These admission routes allow Mines Saint-Étienne to diversify its profiles and to promote talents from various backgrounds.
They offer each student the opportunity to build a personalized path towards scientific and human excellence.