2. Higher education in France courses are open to everyone, free of charge (except for enrolment fees, which are very low for universities) . housing aid is available for all students (French and foreign) The higher education system is high quality, effective and easily accessible :
3. Higher education in France : the institutions universities grandes écoles specialist schools and institutes Students in France attend three main types of institutions, spread all over the country :
4. Higher education in France : There are 87 universities are public and open to everyone, with exams throughout the duration of the courses These lead to nationally recognized qualifications (licence, master’s and PhD) They offer various types of courses (short, long, vocational ) in many different areas (law, economics, management, languages, the arts, social sciences, health, technology etc.) Most students in France study at universities, which :
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7. Higher education in France : standardization across Europe make it easier for students to move around within Europe and increase their employment prospects make it easier to understand the higher education system encourage universities, grandes écoles and specialist schools to work together make it easier for a student to resume studies or to continue studying when moving around Europe There are four goals for a system reform
8. Standardization across Europe : licence (six semesters, 180 ECTS ( European Credit Transfer System credits) : two years of study per course + one year of specialist study = licence graduate level (bachelor’s degree) master’s (licence + four semesters, 120 ECTS credits): one year of study after the licence (one-year master’s degree) + one year of highly specialized study (two-year master’s degree) = professional master’s degree or research master’s degree PhD (master’s + 180 ECTS credits): three or four years of study = PhD Three programmes of study will standardize higher education across Europe :
9. The English assistantship program : Students from any field, who have completed successfully 2 years of studies, may apply. They need to have a working knowledge of the French language. Positions are available in France and in French departments like La Réunion One receives a Living allowance from 900€ a month The English assistantship program gives the opportunity to work and live in France
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Editor's Notes
Higher education in France A higher education system that is high quality, effective and easily accessible: - €11,700 billion: more than 20% of France's national budget and 4% of the GDP. - Excellent standards in all areas of specialization. - Courses open to everyone, free of charge (except for enrolment fees, which are very low for universities and State-run engineering schools). - Foreign students are treated in exactly the same way as French students (in terms of their status and the tuition fees they pay). - Housing aid available for all students (French and foreign). Source: the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research
Higher education in France: the institutions Students in France attend three main types of institution, spread all over the country: - universities. - grandes écoles. specialist schools and institutes.
Higher education in France: the 87 universities Most students in France study at universities (nearly 1.5 million of France’s 2.2 million students), which: - Are public and open to everyone, with stage exams throughout the duration of the courses. - Lead to nationally recognized qualifications (licence, master’s and PhD) and prestigious university diplomas. - Offer various types of course (short, long, vocational and long-live education) in many different areas (including law, economics, management, administration, literature, languages, the arts, social sciences, health, technology and more) - Are centres of excellence for French research.
Higher education in France: the grandes écoles and specialist schools The higher education possibilities available to students in France include studying at the grandes écoles and other specialist schools and institutes: - The grandes écoles , a very selective system: . These include schools of engineering, business, management, political science and administration. . Admission is via a competitive examination after two years of classe préparatoire or on the basis of exam results (with stage exams) after two, three or four years of higher education. - Specialist schools and institutes: . These offer training in specific areas such as the arts, architecture, paramedical services, journalism, radio and television, social services and more. . Students are awarded State diplomas or the institute’s own diplomas/certificates.
Higher education in France: the current duration of further study Because higher education has not yet been completely standardized across Europe, the duration of further study in France depends on the type of institute and varies according to the diploma the student is working toward: - At universities, which award general university diplomas: . For a Diplôme d’Études Universitaires Générales (DEUG): two years. . For a licence : three years. . For a maîtrise : four years. . For a Diplôme d’Études Supérieures Spécialisées (DESS) or a Diplôme d’Études Approfondies (DEA): five years. . For a PhD: a minimum of eight years. - At the grandes écoles : three to five years, depending on the entry level. - At the specialist schools: two to seven years, depending on the type of course.
Higher education in France: standardization across Europe There are four objectives for a gradual system reform, which should be complete by 2010: - make it easier for students to move around within Europe and increase their employment prospects. - make it easier to understand what the various higher education programmes consist of in order to standardize qualifications across Europe. - introduce a degree of fluidity among higher education programmes and encourage universities, grandes écoles and specialist schools to work together. - make it easier for a student to resume studies or to continue studying when moving around Europe or elsewhere in the world.
Standardization across Europe: new programmes Three programmes of study will standardize higher education across Europe: - Licence (six semesters, 180 ECTS credits): Two years of study per course +One year of specialist study = Licence Graduate level (bachelor’s degree) - Master’s (licence + four semesters, 120 ECTS credits): One year of study after the licence (one-year master’s degree) +One year of highly specialized study (two-year master’s degree) = Professional master’s degree (formerly the Diplôme d’Études Supérieures Spécialisées or DESS) or Research master’s degree (formerly the Diplôme d’Études Approfondies or DEA) Postgraduate level - PhD (master’s + 180 ECTS credits): Three or four years of study = PhD
The EduFrance agency: the catalogue of programmes available Available on the website, EduFrance’s catalogue contains information about 450 higher education programmes: - Third-cycle programmes (master’s, PhD). - Bilingual programmes, in English or several other languages. - European educational tours. - courses with a period of linguistic adaptation. - vocational programmes (MBAs). - a pilot programme for training engineers (n+i). - a new programme for studying law in France (EduDroit).
Studying in France: the procedures Before a student can start thinking about his or her actual stay in France, the following schedule has to be closely followed, confirmed and monitored by the EduFrance offices : - For the first year of study in a university: . Between November and January, students can collect registration packs from the cultural department of French embassies (or can download them from www.education.gouv.fr). . In February, students sit for French language tests (in the embassies). - Students applying to study at second- and third-cycle levels (or at a grande école ) have to contact the relevant French higher education institution directly: . In January: students can collect enrolment forms for arts-oriented programmes. . From March onward: students can collect enrolment forms for all other programmes. - For all levels: . From July onward (or September, depending on the institution and the date the application is submitted): students are told whether or not they have been accepted.
Living in France: the student budget France is one of the least expensive countries in Europe, and students can enjoy a relatively high standard of living: - Tuition fees: . In universities: €130 to €350 per year. . For the grandes écoles , fees vary greatly: from €300 for public engineering schools up to €14,000 for certain others. - Additional insurance (compulsory): . Health insurance (student social security): €180 per year. . Private insurance: from €150 to €550 per year. . Third-party liability insurance. . Comprehensive housing insurance. - Day-to-day expenses: . Accommodation: from €150 to €600 per month (but all students are eligible for student housing benefits). . Food: €130 to €250 per month. . Transport: €50 to €130 per month.
