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Educational System Higher Education System Large Variety of Superior Education Institutions Where to Study in Île-de-France? How to Apply?

Higher Education System

Large Variety of Superior Education Institutions

Where to Study in Île-de-France?

How to Apply?

Research System Public Research Institutes Research Laboratories Master Internships or PhD Candidatures

Public Research Institutes

Research Laboratories

Master Internships or PhD Candidatures

Practical Information Bank Account Financial Support Public Transport Where to Learn French?

Bank Account

Financial Support

Public Transport

Where to Learn French?

Useful Links

Find your laboratory

Legal Mentions

English

There are several types of establishments of higher education in France:

Universities

Grandes Écoles

Preparatory Classes (CPGE)

Specialized Schools (engineering, business, healthcare, art, architecture etc.)

Technical Universities (BTS or DUT)

Each one has its own specificity and prepare to a particular national diploma. They can be complementary between them and there are different ways of going from one to another (see image below). The three-level organization of post-secondary education is shared by most countries in the European Union; in France, meaning licence-master-doctorat (Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate), or the LMD system . This system standardizes the levels and organizes recognition of the degrees in the different countries. It makes educational mobility easier in Europe and elsewhere.

LMD degrees are obtained by successfully completing a certain number of semesters from the time of entry in the higher education programme. Each semester awards up to 30 ECTS (European Credits Transfer System) credits that are valid in, and can be transferred to other countries.

A Bachelor ‘s requires successful completion of six semesters, resulting in 180 ECTS credits. An additional four semesters are required to obtain a Master ‘s, with an additional 120 ECTS credits. A Doctorate is awarded after successful completion of sixteen semesters and awards a total of 480 ECTS credits in a minimum of eight years of studies starting from the first year of the Bachelor’s programme.

There are both public and private establishments in France, with a difference in enrollment fees:

Enrollment fees are established by law for public establishments, which are government-supervised and funded and accept scholarship students. These are, most notably, the universities.

Enrollment fees are set individually by private establishments with or without a contract and consular establishments (attached to the CCIs). For this type of establishment, check to see whether your diploma is recognized by the State and whether your training gives you access to CROUS scholarships. This will not necessarily be the case.

In France, the academic year begins in September or October, depending on the institution and program. It is punctuated by holidays, including two weeks at year-end. At the end of the first semester, classes are briefly interrupted for exams. The summer holidays start in May or June at the end of the second semester exams. In general, these holidays last at least two months.

French higher education involves 2.5 million students. 12% of them are from abroad. All of them are benefiting from highly diversified training, and they are enrolled in every field, at every level. There are more than 3,500 public and private institutes of higher education in France: 72 universities, 25 multi-institute campuses, 271 Doctoral schools, 227 engineering schools authorized to award the title of engineer, 220 business and management schools, 45 post-secondary public schools of art, 22 schools of architecture and 3,000 private schools and institutes.

More than 1,200 classes are provided in English. Find out which in the catalogue Programs taught in English . Short programs that consist of learning French thanks to cultural visits are also offered to foreign students. There are more and more MOOC offered in French. The acronym FUN, for France Université Numérique (Digital University France), refers to the first French online course platform. It provides nearly 300 courses from over 80 institutes, with enrollment near the one million mark.

Further information:

French Degrees, LMD System and Equivalences

Lyon Campus

How Higher Education Works in France

The information is adapted from Campus France and The Different Types of Institutes of Higher Education in France .

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