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FRANCE : OVERVIEW |
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Study in France
French Higher Education Overview :
Study in France is based on the quality of the Education
system. There are 400 internationally renowned institutions
of higher education and research and a system of accreditation
that ensures quality education. Studying in France is
relatively inexpensive because the government funds a
significant share of the cost. Annual tuition in a public
university is between 126 and 692 Euros, depending on
the program. A meal in a university restaurant costs 2.40
Euros. Costs in private institutions are higher. Applications
for the study grants offered by the French government
are made through the cultural service of the French embassy
in the country in which you reside.
Most grants are made for graduate study, usually at the
doctoral level. The length of grants varies by program.
Review of applications begins in March for programs beginning
in the fall of the same year, so applications should be
submitted as early as possible. Although most programs
i.e. management and engineering programs are taught in
English, knowledge of French will enable you to benefit
more fully from your stay and to get more out of life
in France.
There are two different types of educational institutes
you can choose from. Universities and "Grandes Ecoles"
(Described as Competitive Institutes).
There are about 87 universities and over 300 Grandes Ecoles
in France. A large number of students go to universities
which offer general courses and professional courses.
The universities cover all disciplines and trains students
for research.
The Grandes Ecoles take in a lower number of students
after a rigorous selection process and offer courses that
specializes students in areas that have direct career
applicability. These can be either Public or private institutions.
Throughout France one finds educational institutions of
very high quality in every field, from the universities
to the free-standing schools of engineering, business,
and art.Infact many of France’s business schools
have attained international recognition by meeting the
standards of various accrediting bodies, among them CGE,
EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Some forms of recognition apply
to the school itself, others to the degree conferred.
French Universities in Brief :
France’s publicly financed universities are well
distributed around the nation, from the Sorbonne in Paris
(founded in 1257) to the high-tech campus of the University
of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis. Private schools and institutes
play an important but relatively small role in French
higher education.
The Universities offer programs in all disciplines the
sciences (mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology),
technology (computer science, engineering, electrotechnics,
and materials), literature, languages, the arts, the social
sciences, law, economics, business, health and medicine,
and physical education. All of the nation’s universities
are public. National diplomas are offered at all levels:
the license (3 years), master (5 years), and doctorate
(8 years).
Departments spread throughout the nation’s universities
manage research programs in close cooperation with more
than 1,200 university based laboratories. France’s
doctoral departments have always been open to international
exchanges, but the pace of internationalization has accelerated
markedly in recent years.
The Grandes Ecoles- "The Graduate schools"
Unique to France, the first Grandes Écoles were
established in the early 19th century to operate in parallel
with the universities. Their distinction then, as now,
lay in offering professional education at a very high
level. The Grandes Écoles remain very selective.
Together they enroll about 100,000 students.
All Grandes Écoles offer five-year diplomas recognized
by the government to be equivalent to the European master.
They also offer intermediate degrees and specialized diplomas,
among them the bachelor (in three or four years), the
master of science (in four or five years), the master
of business administration. To accommodate international
students, many Grandes Écoles now offer admission
on the strength of the applicant’s academic record.
Academic Programs Offered :
University-based Engineering Programs
University-based engineering programs now confer 60% of
the engineering degrees awarded in France each year.
Career-oriented Licence Degrees
Career-oriented licence degrees, known as licences professionnelles,
are available in 700 different areas.
Technical Programs
Technical programs are offered in 25 specialty areas in
university-based institutes of technology.
Management Programs
Management programs are available in university -based
institutes of business administration.
Programs in Political Science and Economics
Programs in political science and economics are based
in university-based institutes of politics.
Journalism and Communication
Journalism and communication are taught in specialized
institutes in several universities. Examples include CELSA
at the University of Paris-Sorbonne and the Centre Universitaire
d’Enseignement du Journalisme at the University
of Strasbourg.
Schools of Engineering & Degrees Offered :
French training in engineering combines a solid background
in science with practical experience. France has about
240 engineering schools public and private. All grant
a master's level degree of assured quality. All are periodically
reviewed and accredited by the national committee on engineering
degrees (Commission Nationale des Titres d'Ingénieurs,
CTI). Together they cover every conceivable engineering
specialty, but each school has its own specialties.
Students are admitted to engineering programs on the strength
of their applications or their score on an entrance examination.
They are then placed at an appropriate level in the 5-year
curriculum. Placement decisions are made by the individual
schools
Campus France Presents : The n+i Program
n+i gives students who have completed at least 4 years
of university study (bachelor's degree or higher) an opportunity
to obtain graduate training in France. n+i is unique in
the degree of cooperation it fosters among students, firms
that hire engineers, engineering schools and programs,
and regions of France working to develop international
trade and exchanges.
n+i Engineering Institutes were created to prepare engineers
for international careers at the managerial level. Rigorous
academic training is coupled with the development of cross-cultural
competence.
National Diplomas in Engineering
Master's level
The “Diplôme D'ingénieur”
is a French national diploma that may be earned through
engineering programs in universities or in freestanding
schools of engineering, known as “Grandes Ecoles”.
To earn the “Diplôme D'ingénieur’”
students must be enrolled for at least 24 months at the
institution awarding the degree. The curriculum involves
a total of 5 years of study, but the sequence and timing
of courses differs from one program to another. Admission,
always selective, is based on the student's application
file, an entrance exam, and an interview. Applicants must
possess at least a secondary-school diploma. Students
with up to 4 years of postsecondary education may apply
for admission as transfer students and be placed in the
curriculum at the level determined by the school.
PhD
Students may earn a doctorate in engineering
after 3 years of successful work in the laboratory of
an engineering school, often in cooperation with industry.
Institution – Specific Degrees :
Many schools offer a 1-year master specialize degree in
engineering. Admission is open to students who have completed
5 years of postsecondary education. The programs (about
160 throughout France) have a strong professional orientation.
About 20 schools offer the diploma in the specialization.
Students with 5 years of postsecondary education may earn
this specialized degree in 1 year. Students with 4 years
may earn it in 2. These programs are very popular with
international students, in part because they can accommodate
holders of 4-year degrees.
Schools of Management & Degree Offered :
France has about 230 free-standing (Grandes Ecoles), private
schools of business and management, many of which are
affiliated with chambers of commerce and industry.
French schools of business award national diplomas, signifying
their adherence to international standards of quality.
International students who have completed two years of
postsecondary education may apply for admission, sit for
the entrance examination, and in 3 years earn a business
degree. Graduates may go on for an MBA or specialized
masters.
Among the best-known schools of business and management
are the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales, known as
HEC, the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris
(ESCP-EAP), the Ecole Supérieure nationale de Sciences
Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC), the Ecole des Hautes
Etudes Commerciales du Nord (EDHEC Lille), and the Ecole
de Management de Lyon (EM Lyon).
MBA in France
The most prestigious French business schools have MBA
programs, many of which are accredited by EQUIS and AMBA.
MBA programs are aimed primarily at young international
managers. Instruction is strongly oriented toward professional
practice, drawing heavily on students' experience. Many
French MBA programs are taught in English. Classes tend
to include students of many nationalities. In fact, their
international orientation and flavor are among the strengths
of French programs.
Admission is very selective. Students must submit an application,
and then appear for an interview. Tuition is high compared
to other French programs. The precise amount varies from
one institution to another.
Difference between short & long degree programs
:
Short Degree Programs
Short degree programs, generally involving two or three
years of study, are concentrated in the fields of manufacturing,
trade, and services. Most are offered by multidisciplinary
institutes affiliated with a university-the so-called
university institutes of technology, or IUTs—or
in specialized schools. All short programs include internships.
Job prospects for graduates of the short programs are
very good. Programs awarding the degree of “Brevet
de Technicien Supérieur (BTS)” are unique
postsecondary programs, they are taught in secondary schools.
BTS degrees are offered in 86 different fields. Graduates
move directly into jobs in their chosen field. Among the
most popular BTS programs are those in hotel management,
manufacturing, applied arts, business, and agriculture.
Students may transfer into a long degree program if they
hold a ‘Baccalauréat’ or another degree
deemed to be equivalent.
Long Degree Programs
Long degree programs are offered in universities, Grandes
Ecoles, and other specialized schools. Their structure
differs depending on their setting.
1.
In Universities :
Long programs are divided into three successive levels
based on a Common European architecture:
Licence:
The first level ends after three years of university study.
Graduates are awarded the licence, the equivalent of a
bachelor's degree.
Master:
The second level may last 1 or 2 years. Students may earn
a Master 1 in 1 year, and, after an additional year of
study, a Master 2. These degrees are equivalent to a 1-
or 2- year master's degree.
Doctorate:
The third level is that of graduate research and scholarship,
ends in the award of a doctoral degree following successful
defense of a thesis or dissertation. Equivalent to a PhD,
the doctorate requires 3 years of study after the European
Master.
2. In Grandes Ecoles and other
Specialized Schools :
Most long programs involve 5 years of study, including
2 years of preparation.
Students who successfully complete the 2 years of preparatory
classes earn the right to sit for one or more very selective
entrance examinations. The Grandes Ecoles enroll most
of their students through such examinations, but almost
all hold open some places for international students and
others seeking admission on the basis of their academic
record and experience.
Organization of French Academic Programs :
French university courses are of two basic types: Lecture
Courses & Study Sections.
Lecture Courses
Lecture courses are given in halls seating from 100 to
1,000 students. The professor presents the subject; students
take notes. Many professors prepare and distribute course
outlines or lecture notes that help students prepare for
exams.
Study Sections
Study sections (known as travaux dirigés and travaux
pratiques) consist of small groups of students. In the
seminar-style sections, students apply and deepen what
the professor has presented in the lecture hall. Attendance
is mandatory, as opposed to lecture courses, where attendance
is not checked.
Tests & Gradings
Student performance is assessed in two ways:
Short quizzes given throughout the semester allow instructors
to check what their students have learned in
each unit.
Examinations covering all of the material presented during
the semester are given at the end of each
semester, generally just before the
February break and again in June, before the summer break.
In the university system, courses are usually organized
into modules, some of which are mandatory and some elective
(optional). To earn a degree, students must complete a
certain number of modules. Once a module has been completed,
it counts toward a degree. Failure in one module does
not in any way reduce the value of a completed module.
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