For the past five years, the Olympic Scholarship Program, funded by donations from patrons of the ENS Foundation, has enabled the École normale supérieure to recruit the best international talents in mathematics. The recipients of these scholarships are gold or silver medalists from the International Mathematical Olympiad. Depending on their level, they either enter ENS directly for a three-year program or first complete a preparatory year at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand.
Tair Satubaldin (21 years old, from Kazakhstan) and Hoang Tuan Dung (20 years old, from Vietnam) are the two new Olympic scholarship holders who joined the mathematics department in September 2024.
For Tair, a silver medalist at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) for three consecutive years, the scholarship played a key role in his decision to attend the École Normale Supérieure over other schools:
“I chose to apply to ENS for its mathematics department, which is globally renowned, but also for the generous scholarship offer. It allows me to focus on my studies without worrying about my financial situation. Besides math classes, I am also taking French courses so that I can fully integrate into the ENS community.”
Hoang, a silver medalist at the IMO in 2023, learned about this scholarship program from friends who had studied at ENS. The scholarship, along with the school’s history and academic environment, influenced his decision to apply:
“At the school, I have access to a thriving academic environment; the professors are highly experienced, and the students are talented. I feel that I have made significant progress since my arrival here—I am learning every day.”
The program was created to facilitate the recruitment of the best international talents at the school. It aims to identify IMO laureates at the post-secondary level and offer them a five-year training program that includes:
- A partial scholarship (€500/month) during their first two years of mathematics studies in their home country or at Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris, with French courses (depending on the student’s level);
- A full scholarship (€1,000/month) during their three years of study at ENS.
The scholarships are funded solely through the generosity of donors:
“Since its creation, the École has offered one of the best environments in the world for studying mathematics and physics. Its reputation has been built on the quality of the students it has recruited. To maintain its level of excellence, it is essential that it continues to attract the most talented young people from both France and abroad. Thanks to these scholarships, the École is able to recruit outstanding students who will help ensure its influence for generations to come,” explains Fabrice Cancre (1983 S), a donor for the Olympic scholarships.
The scholarship also includes personalized support, with an ENS tutor assigned to each Olympic scholar from their arrival in France. This mentorship helps them integrate into the ENS community and take full advantage of the opportunities the school offers.
“I believe this program will open up professional opportunities for me. With ENS’s excellent academic reputation, my years of study here will be a major asset on my CV. Furthermore, ENS students have access to numerous doctoral contract opportunities in France and abroad, thanks to the school’s connections with other prestigious universities,” explains Tair.
“I want to become a mathematician, and studying at ENS is an excellent place to achieve that. I’m excited to see what opportunities the coming years will bring,” concludes Hoang.
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