| |
|
| Education in France |
|
More than 23% of
France's national budget goes to education. |
Renowned for its
art and culture, France is one of the world's top tourist
venues. It's also one of the leading destinations in Europe
for foreign students: more than 220,000 choose France every
year. France is a first-class center for scientific and technological
innovation. It owes this standing to its research capacity
and its many achievements in such fields as aerospace, transportation,
electronics, telecommunications, chemistry, biotechnology,
and health, successes confirmed by the number of French winners
of the Nobel Prize and the Fields Medal. |
In such public
institutions as national universities, the State pays a very
large part of each student’s study expenses (about €10
000 per year), keeping admission fees among the lowest in
the world. What's more, no distinction is made in France between
French and foreign students: the entrance requirements and
admission fees are the same, and the degrees are identical.
One of the most diverse, high-powered systems anywhere. The
traditionally high quality of French degrees is rooted in
a network of internationally renowned research centers and
institutions of higher education, of which there are more
than 3,000, including 87 universities, 240 engineering schools,
and 230 business schools, plus 2,000 other establishments
devoted to such fields as art, fashion, design, architecture,
paramedical training, and so on. |
The flexibility
of French higher education allows you to design an academic
itinerary that is perfectly suited to your goals and background.
Thousands of possibilities exist in every field of knowledge. |
Are you interested
in a general degree program? In acquiring a professional skill?
Maybe you're ready to specialize at the graduate level? Or
to do research? Somewhere in France there's a program that
meets your personal goals. More likely you'll find a multitude. |
The quality of
the French higher education system rests on the country's
many and varied institutions, each of which has unique goals
as well as unique structures and programs through which to
pursue those goals. Naturally, each also has its own admission
requirements. |
The quality of
the instruction offered is closely scrutinized by the French
government. EduFrance's members all enjoy recognition for
the excellence of their programs. They are proud ambassadors
of French higher education. |
International students
who already have begun their higher education, and who may
even hold a university degree, may obtain further training
in France. Many opportunities exist for students to transfer
into degree programs and receive credit for the post secondary
work they have already done. In fact, that's one of the best
ways to study in France. EduFrance's new program catalog includes
all French programs that are well suited to international
students. |
|
|
|
|
French
higher education is based on a common architecture (LMD)
– recognized at the European level – that
counts the number of years of validated study following
the baccalaureat (French secondary school matriculation
examination for university entrance). Thus, baccalaureat
+ three years = Licence (180 ECTS), baccalaureat + five
years = Master (300 ECTS), and baccalaureat + eight
years = Doctorate (PhD). As long as he or she meets
the entrance requirements, any foreign student in an
institution of higher education in his or her home country
may request admission to a comparable French institution.
|
Education
system image |
ECTS
(European Credit System Transfer) credits: a European
system for transferring academic credits within Europe.
Credits, corresponding to an evaluation of the amount
of work a course represents within the overall volume
of work required for a successful academic year, are
assigned to each course. 60 ECTS credits are awarded
for a year, 180 for the licence level, and 300 for the
master level. |
|
|
| |
|
France's
87 public universities are spread throughout the country,
from the Sorbonne in Paris (founded in 1179) to the
high-tech campus of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, and cover
the entire range of academic disciplines: from the Sciences,
including Mathematics, chemistry, Physics, and Biology
to Technology, covering Computer Science, Engineering,
Materials Science, and Electrical Engineering, through
Literature, Languages, the Arts, the Social Sciences,
Law, Economics, Management, Health, Sports, and more. |
Every
level is represented in the awarding of national diplomas,
including the Licence -3 years-, Master’s degree
-5 years-, and Doctorate (PhD) -8 years- Research activities
are an integral part of the universities: 315 doctoral
schools train 4,000 doctoral candidates in connection
with more than 1,200 research laboratories (affiliated
with both the universities and research organizations).
French doctoral schools have always been very open to
international students. The university system also stays
in step with today's world, offering technological specializations
and professional degrees, including: |
 |
University
engineering diplomas |
| |
Which
account for 50% of all engineering degrees in
France. |
|
Professional
qualification training |
| |
Via
the Institutes Universalities de Technologies
(IUT), offering more than 25 specialties. |
|
A complete
professional curriculum |
| |
From
the first year of the licence level up to the
master's degree, through the Institutes. Universitaires
Professionnalises (IUP), which offer 21 programs.
|
|
Studies
of Medicine, Pharmacology, and Dentistry are connected
with the universities in partnership with university
hospitals, and have their own organization and courses
of study. Admission to medical studies for foreign students.
It is not possible to enter a medical school partway
through. Foreign students who have not yet obtained
a full degree in medicine in their country of origin
must start with year one of the first cycle, regardless
of the level they had attained at home. If they pass
the competitive examination at the end of the first
year, they will then be allowed to enter the year corresponding
to the level attained in their country of origin (once
the appropriate level has been determined).
|
In
addition to the DES (Diploma in Specialized Medicine)
examination for foreign doctors already practicing,
there are specialized training programs available for
foreign doctors and medical students: the Attestation
de Formation Specialisee (AFS) for young doctors who
have already started the process of specialization (duration:
two to four semesters) and the Attestation de Formation
Specialisee Approfondie (AFSA) for foreign students
who have already specialized (duration: one or two semesters).
Certain highly specialized university degrees are also
available. All of these studies require a good level
of French. |
|
|
|
Top |
The
Grandes Ecoles are uniquely French institutions. Created
in the early 19th century in parallel to the university
system, they are extremely selective and offer education
of a very high standard. Grandes Ecoles offer diplomas
at the baccalaureat + five level, i.e. master's degrees.
Graduates can follow up this degree
with a specialization, including a specialized engineering
degree or a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
The classic method of admission to one of the Grandes
Ecoles (competitive examination after two years of preparatory
courses, followed by a three-year course of study) has
changed to meet modern professional needs. A parallel
admission process exists that is specially designed
for foreign students. It is based on degrees and exams,
with courses of study between two and five years, depending
on the entry level granted by the institution.
|
|
Grandes
Ecoles for Engineering |
| |
There
are roughly 240 engineering schools, which share
common characteristics; this guarantees the quality
of the engineering degree, which is at master's
level and covers all areas of engineering science
.Engineering degrees are national degrees. |
|
Grandes
Ecoles for Business and Management |
| |
The
business schools (about 230 of them) offer specializations
and training adapted to the changing economic
environment and new management practices. Instruction
is often structured around internships and international
exchanges. |
| |
CGE,
EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA accreditation for business
schools: |
| |
These
accreditations, bestowed on schools and/or the
diplomas they offer, guarantee that their recipients
meet international standards and certify international
equivalence. |
| |
CGE
: Conference des Grandes Ecoles
EQUIS: European certification
from the European Foundation for Management Development.
AACSB: given by the American
Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
AMBA: awarded by the Association
of MBAs in London to the top MBA programs. |
| |
Specialized
Schools : So-called specialized schools
offer higher-level training in specific areas
such as Art, Design, Fashion, Tourism, Paramedical
Services, Social Services, and so on. |
| |
Art
schools : There are three types of art
schools: the Ecoles nationales superiors d’art
(Grandes Ecoles for art), which offer a national
diploma after four or five years of study; the
schools for applied art, which are supervise by
the Ministry of National Education; and the schools
of fine art by the Ministry of Culture, offering
diplomas after three or five years of study. All
have selective admission policies.
|
| |
Architecture
schools : There are 20 architecture schools,
supervise by the Ministry of Culture, offering
the DPLG (Diploma Par Le Government) architectural
diploma, the only one recognized for those working
as architects in France. Studies last for six
years in three cycles of two years each.
|
|
|
|
Applying to institutions: |
|
Once
programs of interest to you is identified, you must
apply for admission. The first step in this important
process is to be sure that the institution at the
top of your list is willing to accept you. The institution
will need to review your academic background to determine
whether you are likely to succeed in its program. |
The
process is important in another way as well. When
the institution admits you, it will send you a letter
that will enable you to apply for a student visa at
the French consulate in your home country. (If you
are a national of a European Union member country,
you do not need a visa.) |
Each
French institution sets its own admission standards.
Some practices are common to many institutions, however.
Undergraduate and graduate admissions to the universities
are decided by selection committees that generally
meet in June, several months before the beginning
of the academic year in September. |
The
individual faculty members who direct DEA and doctoral
programs admit students to their programs after reviewing
students' application files and, often, interviewing
the applicants. |
For
more details contact us: |
|
|
|
|
For
courses starting in September |
You
should make contact with the chosen establishment as
early in the year as possible in order to have enough
time to complete the necessary paperwork and send it
back (April 30 is often given as the deadline). |
|
For
academic courses that last one or more semesters,
educational institutions decide on admissions
between June 15th and September 15th, depending
on when the admissions committee meets: |
|
Committees
for pre-licence and licence admissions meet in
June. |
|
Committees
for master's level admissions meet in June-July
and sometimes in September. |
| |
In the
worst-case scenario, remember that you may only
have one month to prepare your departure for France.
For courses starting in January-February
The deadline for admissions is October 30th for
the selection commissions that meet between November
15th and January 15th.
|
|
|
|
