The French Higher Education System

The LMD system

In France, institutions often follow the "LMD" scheme, which stands for:

1. Licence (equivalent to bachelor's degree) in three years (180 ECTS),
2. Master (equivalent to master's degree) in two years (120 ECTS), and
3. Doctorat (equivalent to PhD) in three years.

The LMD system standardises the levels and organises recognition of the degrees in the different countries. It makes educational mobility easier in Europe and elsewhere. Each semester awards up to 30 ECTS (European Credits Transfer System) credits that are valid in, and can be transferred to other countries.

In the vast majority of cases, students attend their master's degree right after finishing their licence (gap years are sometimes encouraged). This is because licences are now considered too limited to access the job market. Therefore, expect to be a student for as long as five years, but once you're done studying, you can enter the workforce and build your career.

The value of a French higher education diploma is guaranteed by the State when it's a French diploma, a degree certified by the French Ministry of Education ("diplôme visé") or titles registered on the RNCP (French Directory of Professional Certifications). For various "Grandes Ecoles" and business/engineering schools, the quality of training and diplomas may also be certified by independent organisations issuing accreditations or labels. When a degree is not recognised by the State, it bears the name of the institute that awarded it. It may have value on the work market, but does not provide an equivalence enabling the bearer to continue his or her studies.

MOOC

There are more and more MOOC offered in French. The acronym FUN, for France Université Numérique  (Digital University France), refers to the first French online course platform. It provides nearly 300 courses from over 80 institutes, with enrolment near the one million mark.

Public Universities

Public universities in France offer a wide range of academic programmes across various disciplines, divided into faculties. Admission to public universities is generally open to a broader range of students, with specific requirements depending on the programme. This situation is reinforced by the fact that access to a university education is a ‘right’ for all those who have passed a baccalauréat (equivalent of the A-levels), so traditionally there has been no selection for entry into university programmes.

Public universities emphasize theoretical knowledge and academic research. They are suitable for students who are used to autonomous work and are seeking a broad education, especially at the Licence level. Contrary to the British system, you only get to truly gain a specialisation and hands-on experiences at master's level, which gives you more time to truly set your own path and also to be more open-minded when approaching practical tasks.

Remember: changing your path and area of study is common and passerelles ("bridges") give you this opportunity without the need to start from zero.

The “Grandes Écoles”

One of the most striking features of the French higher education system is the existence of grandes écoles. These schools are often specialized in specific fields such as engineering, political science, business, arts, etc. They offer in-depth and demanding study programmes, focusing on practical teaching and interaction with the professional world.

Admission to the grandes écoles is often competitive, requiring rigorous examinations and interviews. However, these schools offer students exceptional opportunities, such as partnerships with companies, high-quality internships and solid professional networks.

Some of France's high schools provide courses in preparation for entry to the grandes écoles, they are called the classes préparatoires (CPGE).

Schools of Arts and Applied Arts

In France, there are nearly 50 public schools of art and design directly overseen by the Ministry of Culture. Training in art, design and communication is provided in two steps of three or five years, with national degrees awarded on successful completion. Some also offer a third level of studies.

Four highly-reputable public schools of art are directly overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education: Boulle, Olivier de Serres, Duperré and Estienne. They confer national degrees in graphic design, spatial design, fashion and arts and crafts.

Some private schools or schools that depend from chambers of commerce and industry award their own degrees. Some are registered in the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP - National Repertoire of Professional Certifications). These institutes of higher education in art and applied arts are very selective, and enrolment is through analysis of the applicant's file, by competitive entry exam and / or interview. Applications may be filed online on the site Campus Art.

The National School of Architecture

The Ecoles Nationales Supérieures d’Architecture (ENSA - the national schools of architecture) form a network of 20 public schools overseen by both the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Higher education, Research and Innovation. Two other institutes, the École Spéciale d’Architecture (Special School of Architecture) and the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (National Institute of Applied Science) in Strasbourg, are part of the same network and confer equivalent degrees.

Private Schools

Private schools in France cover a wide range of establishments, from specialist vocational schools to international business schools.

Be careful, however, as some private schools offer programmes that are not recognised by the State. When a degree is not recognised by the State, it bears the name of the institute that awarded it. It may have value on the work market, but does not provide an equivalence enabling the bearer to continue his or her studies. Ask your school of choice for more information.

Want to know more? Check out these articles:

• How can you evaluate the quality of a degree or institute?

• What is the "Bienvenue en France'" Label?

Format

In French universities, instructors and researchers give students two types of classes:

1. Lectures: Non-mandatory classes taught in an amphitheatre for 100 to over 1,000 people.
2. Tutorials and practical or lab work: Mandatory classes in smaller groups in connexion with the lectures, with the intention of applying and deepening theoretical understanding.

While more individualistic in many regards, the French system of higher education is ideal for students to build their own discipline and autonomy, allowing them more flexibility in their academic or professional lives.

Hours

In the UK, lectures or seminars tend to last for one or two hours. In total, you will have 10 to 12 hours of classes per week in average. However, in France, you can expect to have more contact hours. Every week, you will have 18 to 20 hours of classes and each of them can last from 2 to 3 hours (sometimes 4). With more contact hours, lecturers or professors in French universities can cover more teaching materials and contents.

Some classes can begin as early as 8am and as late as 8pm. Overall, a standard university schedule is quite spread out, with long gaps between classes, allowing you ample time to study independently at the university library.

Marking system

In the UK, papers are marked out of 100. In order to get an A in your course, you must get at least 75% as the average for all your coursework and exams. However, in France, all assessments are marked out of 20. While the scale can sometimes change, a 15 or above is considered excellent and the equivalent of an A. On the other hand, 10 is a passable grade and a standard student's average can settle around 10 to 12 out of 20. The French system, while sometimes appearing harsh and strict, is designed to always highlight a path for personal improvement.

Exams

Exams can take the form of written or oral assignments, depending on the topic. Final exams are generally more strict and are held in large gymnasiums or amphitheatres, where you are required to write by hand, unless a medical condition necessitates the use of a computer. In contrast, continuous exams follow more flexible rules and can be adapted by each teacher based on the format of their class. Some programmes may also include midterm exams, which adhere to the same principles as final exams.

Studying in France is MUCH cheaper than studying in the UK.

Why? In short, the quality of teaching in France is comparable to that of most UK universities. The lower costs reflects the French ethos surrounding higher education. Universities are meant to be accessible to everyone, and the state covers a significant portion of the cost of your studies, between 10,000€ and 15,000€, even if you're not French.

Since the UK left the EU, British citizens are required to pay differentiated registration fees, if:

1. You are enrolling for the 1st time for a Bachelor's or Master's degree, or for an engineering programme;
2. Within a higher education establishment that falls within the scope of the MESR (i.e public universities);
3. Provided that you are not permanently settled in France. 

The state will thus cover two thirds of the cost of your training. The total registration fee that you will be required to pay will be:

• €2,850 per year at the licence level
• €3,879 per year at the master level
• €391 per year at the doctoral level (standard fee, you pay the same as EU nationals and French students)

Private schools (namely business schools) and universities with a special status can sometimes be much more expensive, and similar in price to what you would find in the UK.

For more information on the specific cost of studies, visit Campus France's main website.

QS World University Ranking 2025

France continues to perform strongly with 35 universities ranked.

Top 100: Four French institutions are in the Top 100, all located in Paris or the Paris region, with their positions unchanged from the previous year:

•  Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) at 24th
•  Institut Polytechnique de Paris at 46th
•  Sorbonne University at 63rd
•  Paris-Saclay University at 73rd

Top 500: France has 14 institutions in the Top 500, including:

• Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon at 187th
• Ecole des Ponts ParisTech at 205th
• Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University at 283rd (up 45 positions)
• Paris Cité University at 302nd

The QS ranking evaluates universities based on academic reputation, employability, research citations, faculty-to-student ratio, sustainability, and internationalization metrics.

Times Higher Education Young University Ranking 2024

Top 10: Four French universities are ranked in the Top 10, all showing notable improvements from the previous year:

•   Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) at 2nd (up 1 position)
•   Université Paris-Saclay at 5th (up 7 positions)
•   Institut Polytechnique de Paris at 6th (up 2 positions)
•   Sorbonne Université at 8th (up 7 positions)

Top 100: France has a strong presence with 12 institutions in the Top 100:

•   Université Paris-Cité at 19th
•   Université de Montpellier at 51st
•   Université Grenoble-Alpes at 55th
•   Institut Agro at 56th
•   IMT Atlantique at 60th
•   Centrale Nantes at 63rd
•   Aix-Marseille Université at 73rd
•   Université de Bordeaux at 78th

Top 200: An additional four French institutions are ranked in the Top 200:

•   Université Fédérale de Toulouse at 115th
•   Université Côte d’Azur at 119th
•   Université de Lorraine at 171st
•   CY Cergy-Université at 179th

The Young University Ranking evaluates institutions based on 18 indicators across teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

Shanghai Ranking (Academic Ranking of World Universities, ARWU) 2024

Top 100: France has four institutions in the Top 100:

• Paris-Saclay University achieving its best-ever rank at 12th (up 3 positions)
• Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) at 33rd (up 8 positions)
• Sorbonne University at 41st (up 5 positions)
• Paris Cité University at 60th (up 9 positions)

France remains in 3rd place globally based on the number of institutions in the Top 20, continuing a five-year streak. The United States and the United Kingdom lead the rankings.

Top 500: France has 18 universities in the Top 500, including the top four institutions. Other notable institutions in this range are:

•   Aix-Marseille University (Top 150)
•   University of Grenoble Alpes (Top 150)
•   University of Strasbourg (Top 150)
•   University of Montpellier (151-200)
•   Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 University (201-300)
•   University of Bordeaux (201-300)
•   Ecole normale supérieure de Lyon (301-400)
•   Institut Polytechnique de Paris (301-400)

The ranking reflects the growing competitiveness of French universities and the success of new models and mergers in the French higher education sector. The French Ministry of Higher Education highlights this as a sign of increased international visibility and success of recent educational reforms and investments, including those under the France 2030 plan.

Studying in English

If you are taking a course provided in English, French is not required. Nonetheless, the institution may ask for an English proficiency test if it is not your native language.

Thousands of classes are provided in English. Find out which in the catalogue Programmes taught in English. Short programmes that consist of learning French thanks to cultural visits are also offered to foreign students. They are detailed in the catalogue of short programmes and in our Immersion France application.

Studying in French

On the other hand, if you are taking courses in French, remember that foreign students must present a document attesting to their level of French. You can obtain one by sitting an official French exam or test, such as the DELF, the DALF, the TCF or the TEF. The common reference is that of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Note that you can learn French and take those exams at the French Institute in London and at the French Institute in Edinburgh.

Foreign students who have received a French high school diploma in an AEFE (Agence pour l’Enseignement du Français à l’Etranger - the Agency for French Education Abroad) institution are exempted.

Level B2 or C1 is recommended for studying at the undergraduate and Master's level, especially in the humanities and social sciences. Level B2 is required for admission to 1st year in the framework of the DAP (demande d’admission préalable - preliminary request for admission).

Book a test: https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/certificates/#/