Study in France

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

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Financing of university studies

- annual tuition at French universities is about FF 665 at the first and second level or FF 1,560 at the third level
- annual tuition at private schools vary from FF 20,000 to FF 40,000
- the living expenses in France are about FF 2,600 for a month (FF 4,000 in Paris)
- contact the French Embassy in your home-country to find out if there are any possibilities of scholarships for study in France

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

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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

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