The Higher Education System in France
French universities take on 1.5 million students every year, and approximately 10% of these students are international. It’s not difficult to see why - the diversity and volume of educational programs in France means that you are sure to find one that meets your personal requirements. The universities offer thousands of academic, technical and professional degree programs in every imaginable field.
France utilizes the same three-level higher education system as do the rest of the 29 European countries involved in the Bologna system, facilitating international mobility. The ‘Licence’ and ‘Licence Professionnelle’ degrees are undergraduate, known elsewhere as a Bachelor’s. Master’s and Doctorate (PhD) courses are postgraduate. France implements a credit-based system whereby each module of study is worth a certain amount of ECTS (European credits), which are usually transferable between courses. Attaining 180 ECTS will earn you a Licence, and a further 120 ECTS is required for a Master’s qualification.
Many French universities are public institutions, which keeps fees low and education accessible. However, there also exists in France smaller, more specialized private institutions of higher study. These schools are more selective in their admissions process and usually train students in vocational or professional pursuits such as engineering or architecture. France’s renowned Grandes Écoles fall into this category – these are prestigious institutions whose sought-after graduates often go on to high-powered positions. In order to be admitted to one of the Grandes Écoles, students must have completed 2 years of validated study after graduating the Baccalauréat (the academic qualification taken by French secondary education students) or equivalent - an addition that public universities do not require
Higher education includes several systems:
Higher education is divided into three cycles or stages: the Premier cycle, two-year course up to DEUG (Diplôme universitaire d’enseignement général) level; the Deuxième cycle, third year up to the licence followed by the one-year maîtrise; and the Troisième cycle or higher postgraduate study beginning with the Diplôme d’études approfondies (DEA) or with the Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées - DESS (diploma in an applied subject).
The Grandes écoles of engineering and business administration. These are competitive-entrance higher education institutions offering either four or five-year courses directly after the Baccalauréat or three-year courses after two years of classe préparatoire (preparatory class) during which students prepare for the entrance examinations to the Grandes écoles.
Vocational training lasts two to three years after the Baccalauréat. Courses may be taken in the Sections de techniciens supérieurs - STS (Advanced technicians sections) where students prepare for the Brevet de technicien supérieur - BTS (vocational training certificate for advanced technicians) and are also taught by the Instituts universitaires de technologie - IUT (polytechnics).
Some training courses have special entrance requirements and their own organization (study of medicine, pharmacy, paramedical studies, study of art and architecture, etc.).
To begin higher studies in France, foreign students must have a French baccalaureate or foreign equivalent and be able to prove that their command of French is good enough for them to take the course of their choice.
Entrance procedures vary depending on the educational institution and the chosen training course. For the Classes préparatoires for entrance to the Grandes écoles, IUTs (polytechnics) and Instituts universitaires professionalisés - IUP (professional university institutes) students are to enrol directly with the institution concerned. For Premier cycle enrolment at a university, students are required to file an entrance application before the start of the academic year.
Students are required to take a written examination and an oral to test their command of French.
It is possible to continue with one’s higher education in France and to apply for a place on a course at university. The choen institution alone will be authorized to validate a student’s previous education.
Universities in France
France’s strong academic and artistic tradition continues in the modern day, helped by the fact there are few countries which invest as much in research and education. Global university rankings reflect this. A total of 39 French universities are included in the QS World University Rankings® 2018, of which 11 are within the global top 300.
The nation’s two leading universities, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris and Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech, both make the world's top 60 at 43rd and 59th respectively, cementing their reputations as two of Europe’s and the world’s leading institutions.
In addition to the 39 French universities featured in the QS World University Rankings, France is also known for its strong contingent of specialized business schools. These are not placed in the overall rankings due to their subject-specific focus, but nonetheless enjoy wide-reaching international reputations. Notable examples include ESCP Europe, ESSEC Business School, HEC Paris and INSEAD.
What’s more, tuition fees at the leading universities in France are among the lowest in the world, with annual fees averaging under US$1,000 per year for domestic and international students alike.