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2. French Universities
2.2. French University QualificationsThere are a wide variety of higher education qualifications and, for the uninitiated, the picture is a very confusing one.
2.2.1. Short Term StudiesUniversities and the Instituts universitaires professionnalisés (IUT) attached to them offer two year vocationally based courses, following which students can enter employment in their specialist field or continue their studies thanks to the pretty flexible system of ‘parallel admissions’. This system allows for example a student with a DUT to enter a course to get a Licence, without having done the first two years. This is sometimes possible only through an application to explain your motivations and check your academic level. 2.2.2. Long Term StudiesWhilst university studies in the UK are categorised as either undergraduate or postgraduate, in France courses are divided into three ‘cycles’ in an attempt to reflect the continuous nature of education and the linkages between the different stages.
Students can elect to choose from one of three main streams - literature and arts, political and economic science, or science. Within these main streams, many different diplomas are offered. Science faculties can train engineers, literature faculties can train linguists for instance. The Licence is the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in the United Kingdom. The Licence is the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in the United Kingdom. As an alternative to studying for the general Licence students can study for the Licence Professionnelle, a vocationally based degree, which is often undertaken in collaboration with a Lycée.
There are also different types of masters degree reflecting the nature of their specialisation and going under the nomenclature of Maîtrise de sciences et techniques (MST), Maîtrise de sciences de gestion (MSG), Maîtrise de méthodes informatiques appliquées à la gestion (MIAGE), and Titre d'ingénieur-maître (TIM).The Master itself can be called Master Professionnel (vocational) or Recherche (research). The latter is ideal for students willing to take a PhD. Students from abroad can enter directly into the second cycle, but only on condition that they have already undertaken at least three years course of undergraduate study. With the european system, any student that validated 6 semesters in a field is allowed to enter a French Master’s Degree BUT many universities now organize selective entrance to the Master, either in first fourth year or in fifth.
The third cycle courses in the sixth year onwards are akin to PhD research studies with a range of different qualifications ultimately leading to a doctorate. Next: Grandes Ecoles Back: Admission Couldn't find what you are looking for? Search again now!! The IFP Guides are published for general information only. Please visit our Disclaimer for full details. |
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