Community Life

La Kès is the association that represents Polytechnique students in their dealings with the School's administration.

 It manages community life, subsidizes student associations (binets) and welcomes students on their arrival at X. It is made up of 16 kessiers with specific roles.

Young red comrade,

First and foremost, we’d like to congratulate you on your admission, following what we know has been two or even three years of hard work. It’s official: you’ve been admitted to École Polytechnique, and you’ve chosen to join this truly unique institution. Soon, you’ll become part of the “X” family and discover our school and its history. The first moments of your life as a Polytech student can sometimes be confusing: be curious and let yourself be swept up in our culture and spirit of camaraderie, which are essential to the sense of unity that defines the relationships among all Polytech students. You’re about to enter a new world where all your points of reference will change, and that’s exactly why we’re here to guide you.

We are the Kès, École Polytechnique’s student office. We are 16 students elected by each class, tasked with representing them before the military leadership and the administration, and with organizing student life, which is a true pillar of our school. Together with several other student organizations and in collaboration with the military leadership, we also organize your arrival here.

So get ready for a crazy first month, without going home, far from everything, where you'll have the chance to discover the military world so essential to our School! During the first week, you'll be in Palaiseau, on the School's current site: the platâl. During the day, you'll learn the rudiments of military life, the first step on the road to becoming an officer cadet, for the French, or at least to integrating and understanding the codes and values. In the evening, the X2025 class, and some members of the X2024 class, as well as the Kès, will welcome you and introduce you to our traditions. This first week will be a busy one, so a word of advice: arrive rested and motivated.

At the end of this first week, the French students will head off to the La Courtine military camp in the Creuse region: this is the initial military training program, which lasts 3 weeks. During this time, you'll undergo a complete military training program, enabling you to discover the rudiments of soldiering: sport, shooting, hardiness and an introduction to defense issues and our Armed forces. After all, when you join the School, you join the army! It's probably a new, even unexpected experience for you, but you'll come out of it stronger, with a real spirit of camaraderie.

It's also there that you'll choose your military (for the majority) or civilian placement for your first semester internship. 

For our international students, we have planned a number of other activities on campus to help you discover the School and its surroundings.

We're deliberately keeping this period vague, because it's all about discovery, and we don't want to take all the fun away from you. Let yourself be carried away, and make the most of it, because this month will undoubtedly remain one of your best memories at X: those who experienced it before you would dream of reliving Inkhôrpo!

On this site you'll find a lot of useful information: take the time to browse around to learn a little more, and don't arrive as a tourist. Make sure you check your e-mail: we'll be sending you a summary message in the second week of August, giving you the essentials about your welcome at X and giving you our old-fashioned advice. 

In the meantime, we'll leave you to enjoy a well-deserved vacation, and look forward to seeing you on Friday August 28 at 8:00 a.m. Cour Vaneau.

Chic à la Rôuje ! Chic à la 26 ! Chic à Polytechnique !

L’AtlantiKès

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