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YEARS OF STUDY
Degrees LEVELS
DEGREES THE L MD SYSTEM

The degrees awarded in French higher education reflect a

9 18 semesters • State diploma of Doctor
(+ 9 years) of medicine

common European architecture. The LMD system—for Licence D O C TO R A L D E P A RT M E NT S

DOCTORATE • Doctorate
(bachelor), Master, and Doctorate—is based on the number of
8 16 semesters Doctoral degrees are conferred
by doctoral departments
semesters completed after leaving secondary school and their (+ 8 années) affiliated with France’s
480 ECTS universities to successful
equivalent in European credits under the European Credit
Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)*: 7 candidates who have previously
earned a French master’s
degree or the equivalent.

Licence = 6 semesters = 180 ECTS 12 semesters • State diploma of Doctor • Mastère spécialisé (MS) • HMONP (professional credential
(Baccalauréat or equivalent + 3 years)
6 (+ 6 years) of dental surgery
• State diploma of Doctor
• Master of Business
Administration - MBA
for independent practice of
architecture)
of pharmacy
Master = 10 semesters = 300 ECTS (L + M)
(Baccalauréat or equivalent + 5 years) MASTER • Research Master • Engineering degree • Art school diploma (DNSEP)

Doctorate = 16 semesters = 480 ECTS (L + M + D)

(Baccalauréat or equivalent + 8 years)
• The universities confer “na-
tional diplomas,” which have the
same weight regardless of the
institution that confers them.
• The Titre d’ingénieur (enginee-
ring degree), Master grade, is a
national diploma. The schools that
award it are accredited by CTI, the
4
which are approved by the French
state and, in many cases, have
received international recognition or
accreditation.
• France’s schools of art and spe-
cialized schools also undergo na-
tional certification.
5 10 semesters
(+ 5 years)
• Professional Master
• Engineering degree
(Titre d’ingénieur)
• Business school diplomas
• State architect’s diploma
• Diplomas of specialized
(Titre d’ingénieur) • Degrees from schools (health, social work,
300 ECTS
the Grandes Écoles tourism, etc.)
LICENCE • Licence (bachelor) • Art school diplomas
3 6 semesters • Licence professionnelle
(+ 3 years) (professional bachelor)
(DNA)
• Architecture diploma
180 ECTS
4 semesters • University technical • Admission to the first year • Art school diploma (DMA)
2 (+ 2 years) diploma (DUT)
120 ECTS
of a Grande École program
• Preparation for admission
• Postsecondary technical certificate (BTS)
• Postsecondary tecnical certificate in
to Grandes Écoles (CPGE) agriculture (BTSA)

The degrees
French national commission on engi-
neering degrees.
1 Grandes Écoles
Schools of art
Schools of architecture
Schools of business Other institutions
Universities Schools of engineering (lycées, specialized schools)
conferred • A similar accreditation procedure
Completion of secondary school + baccalauréat or equivalent (eligibility to enter higher educa-
exists for government-recognized
in French schools of business and
tion in home country) = access to French higher education

universities and management, the diplomas of *Crédits ECTS: Credits earned under the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System are recogni-
zed throughout Europe. A full year of academic work represents 60 ECTS credits.
other institutions Note http://www.agence-erasmus.fr/page/ects
of higher From ENIC-NARIC centers, students who have already earned a degree in their
home country can obtain a certificate of comparability that enables admissions
education are officers in French institutions to evaluate the degree for equivalence in the
Did you know?
French system. Any student presently enrolled in higher education in his or her home country
certified by may apply for admission to a French university or other institution of higher
ENIC-NARIC network: www.enic-naric.net
the French education, provided he or she meets certain criteria.

government
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