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Pre-higher education
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 16
Structure of school system: Primary
Type of school providing this education: Ecole
Primaire
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 6 to: 11
Lower Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Collège
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 11 to: 15
Certificate/diploma awarded: Brevet des Collèges
Upper Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Lycée
d'Enseignement général et technologique
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Baccalauréat
général or Baccalauréat technologique
Vocational
Type of school providing this education: Lycée
professionnel
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Aptitude
professionnelle (CAP) Or Brevet d'Etudes professionnelles
(BEP)
Professional
Type of school providing this education: Lycée
professionnel
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 17 to: 19
Certificate/diploma awarded: Baccalauréat
professionnel
School education
Primary education lasts for five years. After
lower secondary education (lasting four years),
pupils may opt either for general/technological
education in lycées preparing for the Baccalauréat
or the Baccalauréat technologique in three
years; or for technical/vocational education in
lycées professionnels preparing first for
the Certificat d'Aptitude professionnelle (CAP)
or the Brevet d'Etudes professionnelles (BEP)
in two years and then, for those who want to continue,
for the Baccalauréat professionnel in two
more years.
Higher education
Higher education in France is characterized by
a dual system : it is provided in universities
(including Instituts nationaux polytechniques)
open to a large number of students, whose programmes
are generally geared towards research and its
applications and in Grandes Ecoles and other professional
higher education institutions with selective admission
policies. Whereas most institutions come under
the responsibility of the Ministry of Youth, Education
and Research, some Grandes Ecoles come under other
Ministries. Universities are made up of units
offering curricula in academic fields and of various
institutes and schools - such as the IUT - offering
courses in Engineering and Technology and special
programmes in Management, Political Science, Languages
and Physical Education, the IUFM (Instituts Universitaires
de Formation des Maîtres) which offer training
courses for primary and secondary schools teachers,
the IUP (Instituts Universitaires Professionalisés)
which offer technological courses and practical
training with an introduction to research and
foreign languages. The Grandes Ecoles offer a
high standard of professional education in three
or more years after two years of preparatory classes
and the passing of a very selective competitive
entrance examination. They offer scientific training,
teacher training or advanced business studies.
Five Catholic higher education institutes prepare
for either national and professional diplomas
or for church diplomas. National diplomas are
conferred by universities.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education
Decree: Law #84-52 Year: 1984
Concerns: New Doctorate
Decree: Law #85-1371 Year: 1985
Decree: Law #89-486 Year: 1989
Decree: Loi du 12 Juillet 87 Year: 1875
Concerns: Private higher education
Academic year
Classes from: Sep to: Jun
Long vacation from: 1 Jul to: 15 Sep
Languages of instruction: French
Stages of studies
Non-university level post-secondary studies
(technical/vocational type):
Non-university level: Technical/vocational
Short-study courses last for two years after
the Baccalauréat and lead to a terminal
diploma : Brevet de Technicien supérieur
(BTS), a national diploma awarded in vocational
and service areas. Courses are provided in Lycées;
Diplôme universitaire de technologie (DUT)
offered in Instituts universitaires de Technologie
to train middle-level managers in Industry and
Commerce; Diplôme d'Etudes universitaires
scientifiques et techniques (DEUST) offered in
various fields related to national or regional
needs. DUT and DEUST diplomas are offered in University
institutions and are equivalent to a first cycle
in a University. A DUT graduate may, in some cases,
pursue higher studies leading to the Licence and
other degrees.
University level studies
University level first stage: Premier Cycle (2
years)
The first cycle of long study courses corresponds
to basic training in a specific field. It leads,
two years after the Baccalauréat, to the
Diplôme d'Etudes universitaires générales
(DEUG) with mention of the major field of study.
In Medicine, the first cycle is called PCEM. Two
years in Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes
Ecoles (CPGE) are required to enter a Grande Ecole.
In Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés
(IUP), the first cycle is called DEUP (Diplôme
d'Etudes Universitaires Professionnalisées).
University level second stage: Deuxième
Cycle (2 years)
The second cycle normally leads after one year
to the Licence and after another to the Maîtrise.
In professional fields, the following Maîtrises
are awarded two years after the DEUG : Maîtrise
des Sciences et Techniques (MST), Maîtrise
des Sciences de Gestion (MSG), Maîtrise
des Méthodes informatiques appliquées
à la gestion (MIAGE). The Magistère
is awarded three years directly after the DEUG
(or the DUT). In Medicine this cycle (DCEM) consists
of four years of study and hospital internship.
In Dentistry and Pharmacy, it leads to the Diplôme
d'Etat de Docteur en Chirurgie Dentaire and to
the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Pharmacie
after six years. In the Grandes Ecoles, a Diploma
is awarded in Engineering, Commerce or literary
fields, generally three years after the DEUG,
the DUT, or the CPGE. The Titre d'Ingénieur
(engineering Degree) is conferred by independent
engineering schools or by engineering schools
attached to universities, upon successful completion
of five years of study beyond the Baccalauréat.
Some engineering schools accept students on the
basis of a competitive examination generally taken
two years after the Baccalauréat (in this
case, studies last three years at most) or according
to the Baccalauréat results, followed by
aptitude tests and an interview (in this case,
studies last four or five years). Catholic higher
education institutes, besides preparing to State
diplomas at this level (in agreement with a public
university), offer four-year and six-year ecclesiastic
canonic qualifications.
University level third stage: Troisième
Cycle
The third cycle is devoted to specialization
and training for research. It offers two channels:
a professional one, leading in one year to the
Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées
(DESS), a terminal degree. A doctoral channel
leads in one year to the Diplôme d'Etudes
Approfondies (DEA) and then to preparation of
a Doctorat. The latter is obtained three or four
years after the DEA and after extensive research,
either individual or as part of a group supervised
by a Directeur de Thèses and the preparation
and successful defence of a thesis. Several schools
of Engineering, Business and Management offer
a Mastère spécialisé to students
who are recipients of Engineering degrees or the
DEA. The Mastère spécialisé
is a specialized 12-month programme (including
four months' training). Since 2000, a Mastaire
is awarded to holders of a DEA or a DESS or an
Engineering Diploma. Engineers with a Maîtrise
from a university (Ingénieurs-Maîtres)
and engineering students in their last year of
engineering school can work towards a Diplôme
de Recherche technologique (DRT) (Technological
Research Diploma), a third cycle diploma issued
after completion of a course centring on innovation
through technological research in the industrial
sector and service industries. The DRT marks the
successful completion of a programme of 18 months
to two years that is carried out in an industrial
or service-oriented scientific environment under
the joint responsibility of two advisers, one
being a teacher-cum-researcher, the other coming
from the industrial sector or a service industry.
In general Medicine, the third cycle culminates
in the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Médecine
after two years' further study following DCEM.
In specialized Medicine, it leads to the Diplôme
d'Etudes spécialisées (DES) after
four to five years' further study.
University level fourth stage: Post-doctorat
The Doctorat may be followed by a post-doctoral
degree, the Habilitation à Diriger les
Recherches, which constitutes the highest national
award and is offered to academics who display
the ability to carry out high level scientific
research and to supervise thesis.
Teacher education
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school
teachers
Training lasts for one year following success
in a competitive examination. Candidates must
hold a Licence or a three-year diploma granted
within the EU to be allowed to sit for the competitive
examination. In order to prepare themselves, candidates
can decide to be trained in one year at an Institut
Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres.
They must present a portfolio and/or pass an interview.
This year of preparation is not compulsory.
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers train for one year
following success in a competitive examination.
Candidates must hold a Licence or a three-year
diploma granted within the EU or a four-year diploma
granted outside the EU to be allowed to sit for
the competitive examination. In order to prepare
themselves, candidates can decide to be trained
in one year at an Institut Universitaire de Formation
des Maîtres. They must present a portfolio
and/or pass an interview. This year of preparation
is not compulsory.
Training of higher education teachers
The Doctorat is a prerequisite to sit for competitive
examinations leading to the positions of Maître
de Conférence and Professeur d'Université.
In the fields of Pharmacy, Law and Economics and,
now, in many other fields, positions are restricted
to holders of an Agrégation de l'Enseignement
Supérieur. The Habilitation à Diriger
les Recherches is required to become a Professeur
d'Université.
Non-traditional studies
Distance higher education
Télé-enseignement universitaire
is offered to students who are unable to attend
regular courses. 29 universities cooperate in
this. The Centre national d'Enseignement à
Distance (CNED) provides training leading to technical
diplomas - BEP, BP, BTS, in addition to competitive
entrance examinations for recruitment to the civil
service and to adult education courses.
Lifelong higher education
Education permanente is a system of continuing
education allowing people with full-time careers
to attend evening classes in universities and
thus obtain a degree without interrupting their
working schedules. The Conservatoire des Arts
et Métiers (CNAM) offers such facilities
leading to the award of an Engineering diploma.
Catholic universities organize upgrading traineeships
and courses leading to diplomas.
Higher education training in industry
Several higher education institutions (public
and private ) offer professional training "en
alternance" (sandwich courses), consisting
in theoretical training and practice periods in
business or industry.
Other forms of non-formal higher education
Both private and public institutions have "Universités
du Troisième âge". In these
"third age" universities, senior citizens
are offered two options: either to follow university
courses with other students or attend seminars
and lectures especially devised to improve their
life and cultural background; their advice is
also sought when it comes to choosing study topics
of common interest. Finally, cycles of Physical
Education, Handicraft, cultural visits and outings
are also organized.
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