Admission requirements

Who may apply for the entrance exams?

Students are admitted by competitive examination open to both French and foreign candidates, subject to age limits specific to each entrance examination.

Terms and conditions of each entrance examination are detailed in the course syllabus for each program.

Age limits and limited number of applications

The age limit is the age reached by the candidate on October^1st of the school year in question.

No one may apply more than three times in the same discipline. However, candidates who are eligible once may apply a fourth time.

Any candidate who fails to take part in a competitive examination, except in duly documented cases of force majeure, without notifying the Conservatoire at least one month before the start of the examinations, will nevertheless be disqualified and will not be allowed to take part the following year.

Exceptions to age limits

Age limits are raised in the cases and within the limits listed below:

• candidates who have completed compulsory national service: the age limit extension granted is equal to the length of service completed, up to a maximum of one year; periods of voluntary military service are not taken into account when calculating the age limit extension;
• candidates who have been granted sick leave under the conditions laid down by the Social Security for the granting of long-term sick leave benefits: the additional time granted is equal to the period of leave, up to a maximum of two years;
• candidates on maternity leave: the additional time granted is equal to the duration of the leave;
• candidates holding a DFS or DNSPM or diplôme de^1er cycle supérieur or diplôme de^2e cycle supérieur from the Conservatoire de Paris or a DNESM or DNESC or DNSPM or diplôme de^1er cycle supérieur or diplôme de^2e cycle supérieur from the Conservatoire de Lyon: two years;
• candidates currently enrolled in the^1st or^2nd cycle at the Conservatoire de Paris, or in the^1st or^2nd cycle at the Conservatoire de Lyon, and applying for admission to another major discipline: one year;
• a candidate on the waiting list for an entrance examination who enters the same discipline the following year: one year.

In all cases, exemptions, whether cumulative or not, may not lead to :

• raise the age limit by more than two years ;
• grant exemptions beyond the age of 30 on October 1st of the school year in question.

Language levels

Candidates from non-French-speaking countries admitted to the preparatory,^1st or^2nd cycle of higher education, or to the Doctorat de musique - recherche et pratique entrance examination, must present the Conservatoire with a certificate issued by an organization approved by the French government attesting to a level of French referenced in the Council of Europe's scale of common reference levels at least equal to level :

• in preparatory dance: B1 before June 30 preceding the ^1st registration ;
• in preparatory musicology: B2 before June 30 preceding ^1st registration;
• in^1er cycle supérieur : B1 before June 30 preceding ^1st registration;
• ^2nd advanced cycle: B1 before June 30 preceding ^1st registration and B2 before December 10 following ^1st registration;
• in the advanced writing cycle: B1 before June 30 preceding ^1st registration;
• in the advanced cycle of musicology or advanced training in sound professions: B2 before June 30 preceding the ^1st registration;
• Doctorate in Music - Research and Practice: C1 in support of application for entrance exam.

Students who have completed at least three years of schooling in French at a general educational establishment are exempt from having to present a French language certificate.

For information on exam centers in France and abroad, visit the CIEP (Centre International d'Études Pédagogiques) website 1, avenue Léon Journault BP 75 - 92310 Sèvres Cedex, tel: (+33) 01 45 07 60 00

For information on organizations that can help you achieve the required level in French, see :

• the cultural service of the French embassy in your country, or
• theAlliance Française in your country.

Depending on your level, several types of exam can help you obtain the required certificate:

• TCF (test de connaissance du français) for all levels (B1, B2, C1)
• DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) for levels B1 and B2
• DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) for level C1

How do I register for the entrance exams?

Candidates register on our portal for the competitive entrance exam of their choice within a set period for each exam.

They access the elements making up their application, and must complete it in full and pay the registration fee within the specified timeframe.

In particular, he or she is given all the information required for the entrance exam (precise dates, details of tests, list of teachers, etc.), fills in the electronic forms and submits the required documents in digital format.

Finally, to finalize their application, they pay the registration fee by credit card via the online payment platform before the registration deadline.

Once your application has been validated by the Conservatoire, you will receive confirmation of your application, followed by an invitation to the exams a few weeks before the exams.

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Internal regulations

Contact

Contact the department of your choice using the Contact form