International rankings
Generally speaking, the ENS’s position is between the 1st and third 3rd French institution according to the international rankings. These rankings are based on diverse indicators and sometimes they detail by general disciplinary fields; some of them distinguish between the major disciplinary fields. While the methodology and the diverse biases are sometimes questionable (in particular the huge importance given to mass effects, which are prejudicial to a small-sized institution as the ENS), these rankings are among the activity indicators taken into account by the ENS, in addition to the diverse assessment processes supervised by its Scientific council.
The ARWU ranking (also called Shanghai ranking)
The ARWU ranking (Academic Ranking of World-Class Universities) is based upon a weighted combination of 6 indicators. According to the last ranking (2016), the ENS has the 87th world position and the 3rd French position (after Pierre et Marie Curie University and Paris-Sud University) in the global ranking; at the 8th world position and 1st French position for the alumni indicator; at the 5th world position and the 1st French position for the per capita performance indicator. This ranking is the most mediatised but suffers from important biases.
The CWUR Ranking (Center for World University Rankings)
The CWUR ranking uses 8 indicators. It is based in particular on analyses of publications and reputation investigations in the opinion of peers. In 2016, the ENS has the 39th world position and the 2nd French position.
The QS University Rankings
The QS ranking uses 6 indicators. According to the 2016 ranking, the ENS has the 33rd world position and the 1st French position.
The THE ranking (Times for Higher Education)
The THE ranking uses 16 indicators. It is based in particular on analyses of publications and reputation investigations in the opinion of peers. In 2016, the ENS has the 66th world position and the 1st French position. In March 2016, Times Higher Education has published a new ranking of the 200 best European universities, based on the data of the World University Ranking 2016. It is largely dominated by the United Kingdom, with 31 institutions to be found in the top 100; Germany comes at the 2nd place, with 20 institutions. France has the 6th position, on equal terms with Belgium, with 4 French institutions to be found in the top 100: the Ecole normale supérieure (17th), the Ecole polytechnique (43th), Pierre and Marie Curie University (51st) and Paris-Sud University (96th).
The Global Employability University Ranking
The Global Employability University Ranking ranks the best higher education institutions according to the opinion of recruiters. France has a good position, after United States and United Kingdom. In 2015, the ENS is thus the 1st French institution in the opinion of recruiters. It has the 13th position, before Mines ParisTech (22th position) and HEC Paris (25th position).
Mis à jour le 7/6/2018