Higher Level Education System

Postgraduate Study in France
Third Level Education System
The French tendency towards sophistication and idiosyncrasy extends to their impressive third level education system. Institutions range from big, old and famous universities like the Sorbonne in Paris, to modern schools of business and engineering in provincial cities that enrol no more than a few hundred students in close-knit communities of learning.

The quality of their education system is a source of pride for the French people. The French government devotes 20 percent of its annual budget to education. The central government supervises the quality of teaching as well as the curricular content of the country's higher-level programmes. For both French and international students, the government subsidizes a large part of the cost of tuition in France's universities and other public institutions.

France is a very popular option for international postgraduate study. In the spirit of equality and fraternity, there are no distinctions made between international and French students within the third level system. There are about 190,000 international students, from all corners of the globe, currently enrolled in French higher education.

The French system of third level education can be described as either remarkably diverse, or remarkably complex - or a bit of both. There are three main types of institutions: Universities, Grand Ècoles and Specialised Schools. A significant portion of higher research is done at specific research centres, which are not affiliated with any university.

The Universities are multi-discipline, wide ranging institutions offering academic, technical, and professional degree programs in pretty much every discipline imaginable.

The Grand Ècoles are highly specialised institutes established to provide levels of excellence in their individual disciplines. These are very prestigious and selective in admissions. Programmes are designed to provide high-level managers and engineers to French industry and business.

Specialized Schools are more vocational in nature and prepare students for careers in engineering, management, architecture and other professions.

The different institutions offer two types of academic programme – ‘long programmes’ and ‘short programmes’.

Short programmes tend to take two or three years. They specialise in concentrated study and training in the fields of manufacturing, trade, and services. The long programmes are more wide ranging in content. They are composed of three successive levels or cycles and are more closely approximate to the Irish awards system.
The first level is roughly equivalent to Irish undergraduate degree and ends after three years of university study. Graduates are awarded the Licence.
The second level may last 1 or 2 years and is approximate to the Irish Masters level. The first year culminates in a maîtrise. A diplôme d'études approfondies (DEA) or diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées (DESS) is awarded after an additional year of study.
The third level is composed of graduate research and ends in the award of a doctoral degree following the successful defence of a thesis or dissertation. Equivalent to a PhD, the doctorat requires 3 years of study after the DEA.
Diplômes Nationaux are regulated and recognised by the government, altough some universities and schools offer other unregulated degrees.
The French academic year begins in September/October and ends in May/June. The exact starting and ending dates vary from institution to institution and from programme to programme. Most of the academic programs offered in France are taught in French, although there are a growing number of bilingual options, including some postgraduate courses taught exclusively in English.