Career Opportunities in the Physics Department

The programs in the Department of Physics—and, more broadly, at the School—are designed to prepare students for careers in research. As a result, the vast majority of students in the Department of Physics (more than 90%) will continue their studies after ENS Paris Saclay by pursuing a doctoral degree, most often in physics. Upon completion of the dissertation, career opportunities are very diverse.

Research in Physics

Some pursue academic research (positions as faculty researchers or research engineers at universities, researcher or research engineer positions at the CNRS, or positions as astronomers). Others pursue careers in private-sector research (engineers at the CEA, engineers at companies such as Saint-Gobain, Thales, Safran, Air Liquide…)

Others pursue private-sector research (engineers at the CEA, engineers at companies such as Saint-Gobain, Thales, Safran, Air Liquide…)

Teaching

Graduates of the École Normale who have passed the agrégation exam have the opportunity to teach at various levels:

• preparatory classes for the grandes écoles
• positions as associate professors seconded to higher education (PRAG) (IUTs, universities, ENS, etc.)
• High school teaching positions

Other specific career paths

While the two career paths mentioned above account for the vast majority of opportunities, there are specific career paths made possible by the breadth of the program

• Careers related to “Big Data”
• Careers in finance.
• Senior civil service (for those entering the Corps de l’État: Corps des Mines, Corps des Ponts, etc.)
• The hospital civil service (physicists responsible for major medical instruments, or medical researchers for those who have chosen this type of dual degree program)