Bachelor’s First Employment Survey 2026 – Class of 2023: Diverse Career and Academic Paths in France and Abroad

Three years after beginning their higher education, graduates of École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science program are following a range of paths, from further academic studies to professional careers. The 2026 First Employment Survey provides an overview of their main outcomes nearly 30 months after graduation.

Conducted between January and April 2026, the survey covered the 96 graduates in the Class of 2023, including 36 French nationals and dual nationals and 60 international graduates. A total of 62 graduates completed the survey, representing a response rate of 65%. The results provide a snapshot of graduates’ situations immediately after completing the Bachelor’s program and approximately 30 months later.

Immediately after graduation, 90% of respondents continued their studies in a master’s or doctoral program. Another 8% entered the public or private sector, while 2% pursued entrepreneurship. Those who continued their studies enrolled at leading higher education and research institutions in France, elsewhere in Europe, and in the United States.

Nearly 30 months after graduation, graduates’ paths had diversified. Among respondents, 45% were employed in the public or private sector, 19% were pursuing a doctoral degree or PhD, 28% were enrolled in other academic programs, 2% had founded their own companies, and 6% were seeking employment.

A Strong International Outlook

Immediately after completing their Bachelor of Science at École Polytechnique, graduates who continued their studies were distributed across France (38%), other European countries (38%), and the United States (24%).

This international dimension, one of the defining features of École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science program, is also reflected in doctoral studies. Of the 12 respondents pursuing a PhD, half were studying in Europe, including 16% in France, while the other half were pursuing their degrees in the United States.

Further Studies at Leading Institutions

École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science program enables graduates to continue their academic journeys at leading institutions in France and around the world. Among those pursuing doctoral degrees or PhDs, the survey identifies students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, King’s College London, the University of Maryland, and, in France, Université Côte d’Azur and École Polytechnique, part of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris.

Graduates pursuing other academic programs have enrolled at ETH Zurich, EPFL, Columbia University, the University of Oxford, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the University of Bonn, and Harvard Medical School, as well as at École normale supérieure, HEC Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, the Paris School of Economics, and École Polytechnique. These programs mainly lead to Master of Science degrees, but also include degrees in management and public policy, engineering programs, and other courses of study.

Doctoral Studies Across Multiple Disciplines

Reflecting the research-based approach of the Bachelor of Science program and its dual-major specializations, graduates pursuing doctoral studies are working across a range of scientific disciplines. Mathematics, computer science, and physics are among the most widely represented fields, alongside biology and economics.

For graduates pursuing doctoral studies, who account for 19% of respondents, the average gross annual compensation is €34,000, rising to €39,000 when additional activities, such as teaching, are included.

At the same point in their post-graduation journeys, 28% of respondents were pursuing other academic programs. The length of some degree programs, or the decision to take a gap year, may explain why these graduates were still studying nearly 30 months after completing their Bachelor’s degree, postponing their entry into doctoral studies or the workforce.

A Fast Transition into Employment

Among the 28 graduates employed nearly 30 months after completing the Bachelor of Science, 61% found their first job within two months or less. Three-quarters were employed under long-term contracts, and 96% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs.

Graduates work across a range of industries. Banking, insurance, and financial services, together with information technology, digital services, and telecommunications, are the two leading sectors. Energy, business services, and the public sector account for other areas of employment.

International Career Paths

International mobility is also evident in graduates’ professional careers. Among the 28 employed graduates, France was the leading destination, accounting for 39% of jobs, followed by the United States and other European countries, which accounted for 25% of jobs, including 21% in the United Kingdom. Another 4% of employed graduates began their careers in Asia.

Graduates joined organizations of different sizes: 36% work at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees, 32% at mid-sized companies, and 32% at large companies with more than 5,000 employees. Across all countries, average gross annual compensation stands at €74,000 before bonuses and €92,000 including bonuses.

The 2026 survey highlights the diversity of paths pursued by École Polytechnique’s Bachelor of Science graduates, spanning further academic studies, doctoral research, and entry into the workforce in France and around the world.