Admission by competitive examination gives the student the status of a civil servant trainee at the ENS (normalien élève), paid for 4 years and registered for the ENS diploma, for French candidates as well as for candidates who are nationals of a member state of the European Community or of another state party to the agreement on the European Economic Area; salary of €1,500 gross per month; 10-year commitment to the State (including the years of schooling at the School). A scholarship of €1,000 per month for a maximum of 3 years is granted to the best candidate admitted as a foreigner in each series (from countries outside the European Community or not part of the European Economic Area agreement).

Admission by application gives the student the status of "normalien étudiant" or "auditeur" depending on whether or not the student is enrolled in the ENS diploma; access to the training provided at the ENS and to all the ENS laboratories; active participation in all aspects of campus life; access to all the ENS facilities and services. The Ampère scholarship program of the ENS de Lyon and the IDEXLYON scholarship program of the University of Lyon offer excellent international students scholarships of up to €1,000 per month for one year to enter the Master 1 or Master 2 program.

International exchange programs give access to all teaching modules offered by the ENS and to all ENS laboratories; studies recognized by the home university (no need to obtain a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from the ENS); active participation in all aspects of campus life; access to all ENS facilities and services..

All students, whether French or international, are also students of the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1. As such, they have access to all the laboratories of the University Lyon 1, to the equipment and services of the University and can actively participate in the life of the La Doua campus, where the University is located.