On the eve of the French Third Republic, lectures and research activities were reorganised into a comprehensive three-year curriculum and developed in 1872, embodied by its newly built Institut industriel du Nord de la France (IDN).

Since early 20th century, student admission has been based on a competitive exam after attending a classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles or similar undergraduate studies.

The Institut industriel du Nord was originally located in Lille central district until 1875.

Larger buildings with dedicated laboratories were inaugurated in 1875 nearby the Faculté des sciences de Lille.

It then moved in 1968 in the modern campus of Lille University of Science and Technology, in the south-east suburb of Lilly.