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What about Studying in Paris? |
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Page 1 of 9 Introduction
This document is an outline of the main information you need about the French education system. If you need any further information, we advise you send us an email; it would be an honour for us to help you. Our email is at the end of this document.
The French education system is really different from the British American one. There are two main kinds of institutions: universities and specialized schools.
• Universities: University, in France, does not have the same meaning as in other countries. The main purpose of these institutions is to offer various academic, technical and professional degrees. They are public institutions, which means that they are completely free; one just has to pay for the health care guarantee and the fees that are required of all students, which are not expensive at all. [See Universities document.] All students who have French "Baccalauréat" or its foreign equivalence can apply. Without it, one should have a foreign diploma recognized in France or based on the European system of credits. [See Application Procedures for fees information.]
• Specialized schools: These institutions prepare students for a professional practice. While some of these schools are private, most are public. Examples of specialized schools include the prestigious French "Grande Ecole" and some private engineering schools, though most private specialized schools focus on business. [See Schools document.] The fees depend mostly on the reputation, the how long ago the school was founded and its location. The training proposed by these specialized schools try to relate to the actual industry's demand.
Those students who have already begin their higher education or who may even hold a university degree may find advanced training in France of interest. Many opportunities exist for students to transfer into degree programs and receive credit for the postsecondary work they have already done. In fact, that's one of the best ways to study in France.
One of the unique features of the French system is the diversity and wide range of diplomas and degrees offered. Most of the post secondary degrees awarded in France are national diplomas. The government regulates them and ensures the soundness and the quality of these degrees and the instructions. However, some universities and specialized institutions offer degrees of their own which are not regulated by the government. The degrees and certificates awarded by business or engineering schools are further subjected to extremely strict accreditation procedures, which guarantee the quality of the training.
The variety of trainings can be challenging to navigate when a student tries to find a program in France. One must be very careful and precisely identify what he or she wants to study before applying for an institution. [See Diplomas and ECTS documents.]
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