The Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse (INSA Toulouse; English: National Institute of Applied Science) is a French grande école of engineering, under the authority of the French Ministry of Education and Research. Situated in Toulouse, this school is one of the 6 state engineering institutes that compose the INSA network.
The school was founded in 1963 to train highly qualified engineers, foster continuous training and scientific research.[1][7] It is a member of the University of Toulouse since 2007. Even though INSA Toulouse is highly selective (its offer rate was 10.1% in 2020, for an Applications/accepted ratio of 1.48%[8]), diversity and international openness are two values to which INSA Toulouse gives priority: the school is composed of 38% female students, 32% of students are scholarship holders, and 23% of students are international.[9][4]
INSA Toulouse is one of several engineering schools within the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) network under the supervision of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (France) (French: Ministre de l'Économie et des Finances. All INSA engineering schools are Grandes Écoles, a French institution of higher education that is separate from, but parallel and connected to the main framework of the French public university system. Similar to the Ivy League in the United States, Oxbridge in the UK, and C9 League in China, Grandes Écoles are elite academic institutions that admit students through an extremely competitive process.[17][18][19] Alums go on to occupy elite positions within government, administration, and corporate firms in France.[20][21]
Although INSA engineering schools are selective and can be more expensive than public universities in France, Grandes Écoles typically have much smaller class sizes and student bodies, and many of their programs are taught in English. International internships, study abroad opportunities, and close ties with government and the corporate world are a hallmark of the Grandes Écoles. Many of the top ranked schools in Europe are members of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles(CGE), as are INSA engineering schools.[22][23] Degrees from INSA are accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles[24] and awarded by the Ministry of National Education (France) (French: Le Ministère de L'éducation Nationale).[25]
Diplômes d'Ingénieur
New European program
In 2002, INSA Toulouse decided to reform its structure to adapt to the European 3/5/8 system. The Engineering degree is obtained after five years of studies. The new programme, better adapted to the social and economic environment, includes a one-year common core, two years of pre-specialization and two years of specialization.
The selection level at INSA Toulouse has greatly increased since the European reform, and it now makes the INSA Toulouse one of the most elitist universities in France, with an average grade at the Baccalauréat exam (high school achievement exam) of 17.05/20, equivalent to the grades 1.0 or A in Anglo-Saxon countries.[citation needed]
Specializations
INSA Toulouse offers master level degrees (Diplôme d'Ingénieur)[26][27][28] in the following 8 specializations:[29]
In parallel of the regular Masters in Engineering, students may also follow one of the research masters, taught in French:[31]
Civil Engineering: Sustainable Engineering – research and innovation in materials and structures
Mechanical/Energy/Thermic Engineering: Fluid dynamics, Energetics and Transfers
Mechanical Engineering: Sciences for Mechanics of Material and Structures
Embedded Networks and Connected objects – Security of information systems and networks
Advanced Masters’s Degree
INSA Toulouse delivers three Mastères Spécialisés, also called post master's degree for students already holding a master's degree. These masters are taught in English in the following subjects:[31]
Advanced Master in Safety Engineering & Management
Advanced Master Business Engineering and International Affairs
Advanced Master in Innovative and Secure IoT systems
Masters of Science and Technology
At INSA Toulouse, four master's degrees are especially designed for international students:[31]
Electronic systems for embedded communications and applications
Fluids Engineering for Industrial Processes
Water Engineering and Water Management
Industrial & Safety Engineering
Doctoral studies
Doctoral studies are managed together with other universities and engineering schools of Toulouse. PhD candidates can study in one of the following "écoles doctorales": [31]
Aeronautics and Astronautics
Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering
Mathematics, Informatics and Telecommunications
Mechanics, Energetics, Civil Engineering and Processes
Materials Sciences
Ecology, Agronomy, Bioengineering and Veterinary Sciences
Systems engineering
International
During their study, each student must spend a minimum of 12 weeks abroad, either as part of a semester in a partner university or during an internship, but some stay longer or spend considerably more time in a foreign country.
In Europe, exchanges take place in the framework of the Erasmus programme, with partnerships in UK (University of Bristol, University of Nottingham, University of Cardiff, University of Glasgow, etc.), Germany (Universität Hamburg, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg, etc.), Italy (Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino), Spain, Netherlands, Scandinavian countries, in Eastern countries and so on
INSA Toulouse also offers double-degrees with 20 foreign institutions, including: Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Seoul National University, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, etc.[32]
In addition to receiving short-term exchange students, INSA Toulouse participates in several exchange programmes with universities around the world:
ERASMUS - Over 130 partnership agreements with universities in 21 European countries.[33]
ECIU University - Since 2019, INSA has been a member of the European Alliance University, a research and training partnership with 12 European partner institutions.[33]
FITEC - Cooperative training and internships with many universities in Argentina (ARFITEC), Brazil (BRAFITEC) and Mexico (MEXFITEC).[33]
The campus of INSA Toulouse is very active and flourishes with cultural activities. L’Amicale des Elèves and its over 70 students clubs offer a wide range of activities that will suit all tastes: outdoors and indoors sports, arts, events, social actions, leisure and so on.`There is also a student hall and a party hall in where insaïens (INSA students) can organize events and the school's newspaper informs student about the campus life. The web radio, “Radio Insa Toulouse”, created in 2007, aims to facilitate communication between students and the staff (administration, teachers, researchers...). Every year, an annual race around the campus called “Les 100 tours de l’INSA”, gather every student association during two days in a festive atmosphere.
In September 2000 was created Les Enfoiros, a student association, which aims to help Les Restos du Coeur (a French nationwide association that gives free meals to impoverished persons) collecting money through various concerts and other events all along the year. Since then, Les Enfoiros have raised around €250,000 for this association.
Moreover, the AIIT, the INSA Toulouse students association, is very active as well and aims to:
Establish and maintain alumni contact
Advise students and graduates in their professional life
Develop cooperation between the Board and INSA's professors
Promote the school and its values
The Toulouse Ingénierie Multidisciplinaire (TIM) (partnership with the Paul Sabatier University) is a state of the art student association whose objective is to conceive and build very low consumption prototype cars. Founded in 1995, the association takes part every year ever since in the Shell Eco Marathon, a European competition whose winner is the vehicle able to run the longest distance with one litre of gasoline equivalent. As a matter of facts, the TIM is one of the best teams in the world, breaking several world records throughout its history, such as: ICE Prototypes category (Internal Combustion Engine), ethanol fuel: 3350 km/L in 2009, on the Rokingham track (still valid in 2017)
Rankings and acceptance rates
Rankings (national and international):
2nd place according to L'Express (06/01/2010), among 5-year schools. In the French education system, high school graduates go to "Prepa" courses for 2 years, then compete for engineering schools where they spend 3 more years; whereas other schools like INSA include the "Prepa" as part of their 5-year cursus. Ranking differ between these 2 categories.
2nd place for academic excellence (among 77) according to L'Etudiant (2021), among 5-year schools in France. 3rd place (among 77) overall.
Shanghai Ranking by Subject 2021: despite its small size (500 students graduate each year overall, among which 48 in mathematics and 96 in biology, process engineering and environnement[43]) INSA Toulouse is in the world top 200 in mathematics, and in the world top 300 in biotechnologies.
The average acceptance rates (percentage of candidates who have been offered admission) of the national competition taken by students after High school exams are indicated below:
Jean Botti (born on 14 April 1957, graduated in 1986), Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of EADS since 2006.
Richard Attias (born on 19 November 1959), a Moroccan-born businessman. In 2008 he married former First Lady of France, Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz, in New York.
Romain Mesnil (born on 13 July 1977, graduated in 2001), a French Pole vaulter.
Jean Bouilhou (born 7 December 1978, graduated in 2002), rugby player, played with the French national team.
Thomas Castaignède, (born 21 January 1975) rugby player, played with the French national team.
David Skrela (born 2 March 1979, graduated in 2003), rugby player, played with the French national team.[44]
^Monique de Saint-Martin, « Les recherches sociologiques sur les grandes écoles : de la reproduction à la recherche de justice », Éducation et sociétés 1/2008 (No. 21), p. 95-103. lire en ligne sur Cairn.info
