Studies before entering Higher Education

• kindergarten, for 3-to-5-year-old children (optional);
• primary school, for 6-to-10-year-old children (mandatory);
• high school, divided into junior high schools (11 to 15 years old) and senior high schools (16 to 18 years old) (mandatory).

The Baccalauréat is a national examination that permits entry into the higher education colleges. There are three kinds of Baccalauréat :

• the general Baccalauréat, opening the route to long advanced studies in various domains, such as sciences, fine arts, literature, human sciences ;
• the technical Baccalauréat, usually leading to short college cycles ;
• the professional Baccalauréat, allowing the continuation of studies, but mostly enabling its graduates to find employment.

• a Baccalauréat, preferably scientific (general Baccalauréat "S") or technical ("STL" or "STI"),
• or an equivalent level,
• or passing a special examination to enter university studies.

Scientific and technical education

• it does not only take place in universities, but also sometimes in high schools («lycées») even after having obtained a Baccalauréat (special courses preparing for specialized colleges, special technical sections - "STS"), and many engineering schools are small compared to their foreign equivalents (from 30 to 500 students per year).
• French universities themselves normally don't select among candidates : the Baccalauréat itself opens the doors to higher education.

Types of scientific and technical Curricula

• Short university-level technical curricula :

  There are two large categories of short, two-or-three-year, technical programs :

  • Technical institutes (IUT) are semi-autonomous structures within universities, leading to a University Degree in Technology (DUT) ;
  • Special technical sections (STS) take place within certain high schools and lead to an equivalent degree, the Higher Technician Certificate (BTS).

  These curricula last two years after the Baccalauréat. As they are short and technology-oriented, they directly lead way to employment. The delivered degrees are valid at the national level. The students may pursue another year of studies in some particular area and get the National Specialized Technology Degree (DNTS).

  Students may also pursue longer studies, for instance in Professional University Institutes (IUP) or engineering schools.

• Scientific and technical programs within universities

  Scientific university curricula are divided into three levels :
  • First level (two years), leading to the Non-Specialized Studies Degree (DEUG)
  • Second level (two years), leading to the Licence degree (bac+3level) and to the Maîtrise degree (bac+4 level)
  • Third level (up to five years), with the Doctoral Qualifying Degree (DEA) at the end of the first year, and the Doctoral Degree after approximately three more years of research activity (bac+8 level).

  Universities deliver other more technically-oriented degrees :

  • at the bac+2 level : Non Specialized Scientific and Technical Studies Degree (DEUST) and University Degree (DU) ;
  • at the bac+4 level : Bachelor Degree in Science and Technics (MST),
    Bachelor Degree in Corporate Computer Applications (MIAGE)
    both requiring two years of study after a previous bac + 2 degree;
    Professional University Institutes (IUP) which requires three years after a com petitive examination at the bac+level ;
  • at the bac+5 level :Magister Studies ( Magistères) requiring three years after a bac+2 level, DESS requiring one year after a bac + 4 level ;
  • at the bac+6 level : Technical Research Degree (DRT) given to students having conducted tech nological research in close relation with a company.

  All these curricula take place within universities and aim at providing specialists to industry.

• Long technical studies : the engineering programs

  There are a lot of engineering studies in France. They differ from one another on several grounds : program duration, kind of entrance examination, areas covered. Foreign students can't easily grasp a clear picture with such great amount of sometimes small schools. Common characteristic of these engineering schools : the engineering degree is at bac+5 level.

  The classical model of the specifically French engineering education system includes two stages :

  • two years of preparatory classes (Classes Preparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles Scientifiques). Preparatory sections are part of same high schools. In these sections, students are being prepared to competitive examinations for entering Engineering Schools (Grandes Ecoles Scientifiques technically oriented). A few schools of education (Ecoles Normales Superieures, more scientifically oriented) also recruit that way.
  • three years of higher technical education within schools.

  The better known engineering schools, some of which are 200 or more years old, follow this model.

  However, in the last forty years, new engineering programs were developed :

  • some engineering curricula recruit students at the Baccalauréat level (most of them without a special exam), and give them a 5-year training ;
  • others still recruit at the bac+2 level, but accept students who have already got a degree (DEUG,DUT or BTS) instead of organizing a competition for students coming from preparatory sections.

  Most engineering schools take a few university graduates (bac+4) who then follow the last two years of engineering school with the other students.

• Mastères

  In France, «Mastères» are additional one-year programs for graduate students, offered by engineering or business schools.