Types of higher education institutions
Université – institution that offers academic courses on all the three levels
Grande École - university institution offering professionaly oriented courses
Structure of university studies
Academic year at French universities starts in September and ends in June. The languages
of instructions is French.
Universities
1st level
- 2 years full-time study leading to DEUG diplom (Diplôme d'Etudes Universitaires
Générales). DEUG is essential for being accepted to the second level of university
studies.
2nd level
- 1 year full-time study leading to Licence diplom (equivalent to Bachelor degree)
- 2 years full-time study leading to Maîtrise (equivalent to Master degree)
- 2 years full-time study in technical and economic courses leads to Maîtrise, one more
year study leads to Magistere
3rd level
- specialized professionaly oriented courses involving an internship last one year and
lead to DESS diplom (Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées)
- courses oriented to research lead to DEA diplom (Diplôme d'Études Approfondies) after
one year and to doctorate (Doctorat) after 2 - 4 more years
Note: there are some differencies at medicine and pharmacy studies:
- studying dentistry and pharmacy requires 4 - 6 years after DEUG
- studying medicine requires 6 years after DEUG (may vary according to the institution)
and 2 - 4 more years takes further specialization
Grande École
- 3 years full-time study (4 years for veterinary medicine) leading ti diplom
Note: Only students with DEUG are allowed to apply for this institution or students
who went through preparatory course called CPGE (Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes
Écoles). Preparatory course lasts 1 year in economic majors and 2 years in technical
majors.
Application procedures
- all foreign students should address their applications to the universities of their
choice (for up to two institutions in one academic year) but apply through the French
Embassy in their home-country
- proof of French proficiency is required (see "Tests" chapter)
- there are no admission tests for university studies, on the other hand the admission
tests for Grande École are very exacting
- deadline for the applications is March 15 for the following academic year
- student who has spent part of his/her studies at a university outside France can ask for
transfer of credits
- in case of starting the first year of undergraduate studies, International Baccalaureate
exam and is required
Health insurance
You can arrange for your insurance in France according to the suggestion of your accepting
university (about FF 1,000 for an academic year) or in your home-country.
Visa
Students do not need student visas to enter France if their planned stay will not exceed
three months. You will get the residence permit immediately after proving your visa when
arriving in France.
Important addresses
Ministere de l’Éducation nationale de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche
Direction générale des Enseignements supérieurs
61-65, rue Dutot
75732 Paris Cedex 15
tel. +33 (1) 4065 6270
Office national d’information sur les enseignements et les professions (ONISEP)
12, mail Barthélémy-Thimonnier
B.P. 86 - Lognes
77423 Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 2
tel. +33 (1) 6480 3500
fax +33 (1) 6480 3501
Centre National des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires
8, rue Jean Calvin
75005 Paris
tel. +33 (1) 4535 6964
fax +33 (1) 4337 4478
- information on financial aid for foreign students and reseachers
Union Nationale des Étudiants de France (UNEF-ID)
46, rue Albert Thomas
75010 Paris
tel. +33 (1) 4202 2555
fax +33 (1) 4203 3391
- student union
Useful publications
title: Apres le Bac
published: ONISEP 1997
title: Je vais en France
published: Centre National des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires 1995
title: Les Structures
published: Ministere de l’Éducation 1996
Internet addresses
http://www.mesr.fr - higher education system
http://cri.ensmp.fr/mesr/mesr.html -
various information, research, education
http://www.france.net.au/fr_links/edu.html
http://www.aero.pub.ro/~parvu/juz/date/fr.html
http://dgrt.mesr.fr/DGES - information on
universities
http://www.cri.ensmp.fr/cefi - technical
schools
http://www.cri.ensmp.fr/cge - Grandes Écoles