You can apply for this program through Parcoursup under two different statuses: :

• Student status
• Civil servent status fonctionnaire

Whether you are admitted as a student or as a civil servant, you will follow the same curriculum, with the same courses, professors, and degree awarded at the end of the three years of study.

It is possible to apply to both admission tracks to increase your chances of joining Géodata Paris (formerly ENSG-Géomatique).
If you are accepted to both, you will need to make your choice starting June 2, 2025, in accordance with the procedures set out on Parcoursup.

The recruitment of civil service students destined for the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN) is carried out through an external competitive examination, which includes written eligibility tests and an oral admission interview conducted via Parcoursup. 

Successful candidates will join Géodata Paris for three years as student surveyors and trainee civil servants preparing to work at IGN. During this training period, they will receive a monthly gross salary of approximately €1,760.

It should be noted that the recruitment of trainee surveyors involves two main commitments:

1. Completing the full three-year training program.
2. Working, either in active service or on secondment, for at least five years after being granted tenure within the Surveyors Corps of the IGN.

If either of these commitments is broken more than three months after appointment as a trainee, and if the breach is attributable to the trainee, they will be required to reimburse the State for all salaries and allowances received during their training, as well as part of the training costs. However, this amount may be adjusted according to the duration of service already completed.
 

Number of positions available in 2025: 4

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), the Swiss Confederation, Monaco, or Andorra.

Hold, or be in the process of obtaining, a qualification equivalent to at least Level 4 (e.g., Baccalauréat) or an equivalent diploma recognized by the French government.

Examination Content

Two written eligibility tests:
Test 1 – Analytical Essay:
Candidates answer a series of questions based on one or more documents on a current topic and write a short commentary. (Duration: 3 hours; Weighting: coefficient 3)
This test assesses analytical and synthesis skills, writing ability, and reasoning aptitude.
Test 2 – Scientific Questionnaire:
A set of 20 open or multiple-choice questions.
(Duration: 3 hours; Weighting: coefficient 5)
Topics correspond to the French “Mathématiques” specialization (First Year of High School) and “Complementary Mathematics” (Final Year) curricula.
 

Oral admission test:
An interview with the examination panel, based on a randomly selected text or quotation of general interest.
(Total duration: 45 minutes — 15 minutes of preparation and a 30-minute interview; Weighting: coefficient 7)
This test evaluates the candidate’s reasoning skills, general knowledge, and motivation.

Décision du 19 décembre 2024 autorisant au titre de l'année 2025 l'ouverture d'un concours externe pour le recrutement de géomètres de l’IGN

Arrêté du 26 février 2014 fixant les règles d'organisation générale, la nature et le programme du concours externe pour l'accès au grade de géomètre de l'IGN

Décret n° 67-91 du 20 janvier 1967 relatif au statut particulier des géomètres de l' IGN

By entering the program under civil servant status, and upon completing your Professional Bachelor’s degree, you will become a surveyor for the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN) and take part in the institute’s many activities.

Opportunities for mobility toward other positions within the French civil service are also possible.

Initial training

* Tuition fees shown apply to 2024-2025. An annual review of these fees is based on the latest inflation rate communicated by the French national institute for statistical and economic studies (INSEE).

• Pathway to the Engineering Program at Géodata Paris :
  During the first year, the school will offer the top students in the class the opportunity to follow an enhanced mathematics track.
  This track includes an additional 80 hours of mathematics courses, held during the second and third years.
  At the end of this program, and following an interview, students with satisfactory results may be offered the chance to enter the Engineering Cycle (first year).
   
• Pathway to a Master’s Degree in Geomatics :
  Some students — particularly those who choose the Imaging specialization and have a strong academic record — may continue their studies toward a Master’s degree in Geomatics, either at Géodata Paris or another institution.
   

Important Note

1. Further studies are not possible for students under civil servant status.
   They must have completed at least four years of service (starting from their appointment as tenured staff) before being eligible to sit for the internal entrance exam to the Engineering Cycle.
2. Even with a good academic record, universities may be reluctant to admit students holding a Professional Bachelor’s degree into a Master’s program, as such degrees are primarily designed to lead directly to professional employment.