Arts et Métiers, a leading engineering school, will resume organizing the ATS competitive entrance exam in 2026 for students with BTS, DUT, or BUT degrees who wish to enroll in an engineering school. This new responsibility is fully in line with the school's strategic ambition: to train 50% more graduates by 2027 on its campuses and new sites, by increasing social openness and diversity of backgrounds.
Each year, nearly 1,000 candidates take the ATS exam, which opens the door to around 50 engineering schools, including Arts et Métiers, Centrale Lille, CentraleSupélec, and ENSEA.
Managed by ENSEA until 2025, Arts et Métiers coordination of the exam from 2026, drawing on its recognized expertise in organizing national exams such as AMBition Ingénieur and Banque PT (Physics-Technology).
The ATS competition will be managed by the Competitions and Recruitment Department, headed by Xavier Dufresne, Director of Competitions and Recruitment at Arts et Métiers his deputy Fadila Nadour, and Navitha Ranjan, Competition Manager.
An additional competition manager will be recruited in December, and Jean-Michel Dumas, former Director of the ATS competition, will provide part-time support.
A path accessible after ATS preparatory classes: a refresher course in science to ensure success
The ATS exam is open to students who have completed a year of ATS (Adaptation Technicien Supérieur) preparatory classes, a specific training program for students who have obtained a BTS, DUT, or BUT degree.
This one-year preparatory program offers intensive scientific refresher courses that enable senior technicians to meet the requirements of engineering schools.
It is therefore an essential stepping stone towards pursuing long-term studies and obtaining an engineering degree.
Diversify profiles to train more engineers
ATS classes are available throughout France and welcome nearly 50% of scholarship students.
For Arts et Métiers, resuming coordination of the competitive entrance exam is an opportunity to diversify the profiles of those recruited and support the growth in the number of graduates, in line with its 2027 objective.
"This is in line with our desire to diversify recruitment for the Grande École program, both socially and geographically. ATS classes are an essential breeding ground for encouraging the pursuit of technological studies," emphasizes Xavier Dufresne, Director of Competitions and Recruitment at Arts et Métiers.
Today, approximately 10% of students in the Grande École program come from BTS or DUT programs.
The ATS 2026 competition will be held according to the following terms and conditions:
- Written exams: May 4, 5, and 6, 2026, in high schools offering ATS classes
- Oral exams: starting June 22, 2026, at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Paris
The oral exams will be a highlight, allowing candidates to discover the School's scientific, educational, and technological expertise.
