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Studying in France

Some peculiarities of the French higher education system may at first surprise international students :

  • It does not only take place in universities, but also sometimes in high schools (“lycées”) after having obtained a Secondary High School Certificate, or in engineering schools, or in management schools,
  • Many engineering schools (“Grandes Ecoles”) are small compared to their foreign equivalent (from 50 to 500 students per entering class).
  • French universities themselves normally don’t select among candidates (except for law and medicine): the Secondary High School Certificate itself opens the doors to higher education.
  • Competition among students occurs for the entry into schools and colleges (“lycées”, “Grandes Ecoles”). Competitive examinations are organized at the Secondary High School Certificate level or 2 years afterwards when leaving preparatory classes.

There are 3 types of scientific and technical curricula:

  • Short technical studies (Secondary High School Certificate + 2 years) in Institutes of Technologies, leading to a Technical Degree;
  • Scientific and technical programmes (Secondary High School Certificate + 3/5/8 years) within universities, leading to Bachelor, Master, or PhD degrees;
  • Engineering studies (Secondary High School Certificate + 5 years) in engineering schools (“Grandes Ecoles”), leading to an engineering degree (Master’s Degree / DIPLOME INGENIEUR GRANDE ECOLE);

1. Short Technical Studies

There are two large categories of short technical programmes:

  • In University Institute of Technologie (IUT);
  • In High Technological Sections (STS).

Institute of Technologie
The curricula lasts two years after the Secondary High School Certificate. As they are short and technology-oriented, they directly lead to employment at the technical level. Students may pursue longer studies, for instance in engineering schools.

2. Scientific and technical programmes within universities

At universities, the long curricula are split into three successive cycles called LMD (Bachelor/Master/PhD) in 3, 5 and 8 years:

  • the first level is attained upon the successful completion of three years' study after the end of secondary high school certificate and results in a university degree (licence "L"/ bachelor degree);
  • the second level leads to a Master's Degree (M) in two years (“former” DEA (Degree of Advanced Studies) or DESS (Degree of Specialized Studies),
  • the third level is dedicated to research and, if successfully completed, leads to a PhD degree, which is obtained after submitting a doctoral dissertation. The PhD is prepared in 3 years following the Master’s degree.

University gathers more than one million students, all disciplines. Its main characteristics are:
- No selection at the entrance (except for law and medicine)
- a range of degrees from 2 to 8 years of higher school
- a growing reputation according to the level of studies
- an entrance to research activities from the third level

3. Long engineering studies: the engineering schools (“GRANDES ECOLES”)

In France, the engineering degree corresponds to Secondary High School Certificate + 5 years of higher education; it corresponds to a Master’s degree.

There are a lot of engineering studies in France. They differ from one another on several grounds: programme duration, kind of entrance examination, areas covered, academic methodology. The typical model of the specifically French engineering education system includes two stages:

  • Two years of preparatory classes. In these sections, students are being prepared for the entry into engineering schools.
  • Three years of engineering cycle within schools "Grande Ecole".

Engineering education

Over 210 engineering schools are accredited by the “French Board of Engineering Degrees ” (CTI) to award the title of qualified engineer, which accounts for 98 000 students. On average, there are 100 students in each entering class. An engineering degree is equivalent to a Master’s degree.

Engineering schools offer:
- An excellent reputation,
- Strict entrance selection,
- Close links with the industrial world,
- Curricula permanently meeting requirements expressed by companies,
- A large international outlook.

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