Studying in France
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What type of institution is right for me ?
The French educational system is distinguished by the variety of its institutions, each with its own goals, structure, and admission requirements. To bring order to the variety, we'll separate the field into two broad types : universities and specialized schools.
Universities
The universities offer academic, technical, and professional degree programs in all disciplines, preparing students for careers in research and professional practice in every imaginable field. The universities offer dozens of different national diplomas.
In the 2002–2003 academic year, French universities enrolled over 1.5 million students. International students made up about 10 percent of total enrollments, one of the highest percentages among OECD countries.
France's universities are public institutions. Enrollment is open to any student holding a French baccalauréat or its foreign equivalent—that is, a degree that entitles its holder to begin university study in his or her home country.
Specialized schools
Some of France's specialized schools are public; others are private.
Specialized schools are selective in their admissions and enroll far fewer students than the universities. They train students for careers in engineering, management, art, and architecture, to name just a few.
Specialized schools prepare students for professional practice.
France's famous grandes écoles fall into this category. They are unique institutions, prestigious and very selective. Many are devoted to training high-level managers and engineers. Their programs are so well attuned to the needs of industry that their graduates are in very high demand.
Information sheet "Grandes Ecoles" (.pdf - 220 Ko)Engineering schools and the degrees
they offer
Schools of management and the degrees
they offer
Higher education in Agriculture
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