Post-secondary studies
After earning a baccalaureate or otherwise ending their obligatory phase of schooling, your child can pursue post-secondary studies. France offers several different educational opportunities.
Specialised programmes
There are numerous specialised programmes available to students following their baccalaureate. Admission requirements may vary (e.g., be based on enrolment alone, application quality, or the results of a competitive exam), and it is important to do your research before choosing a school or programme.
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Higher education institutions
In France, depending on their educational background, students can attend one of the following institutions:
- a high school that provides post-baccalaureate training and awards a degree after 2–3 years of additional study
- a university that awards degrees after 3–12 years of additional study
- a specialised school that awards degrees after 3–5 years of additional study
- a grande école or a programme that prepares students to pass the entrance exam for a grande école; the grandes écoles award degrees after 2–7 years of additional study
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Tuition fees
In France, post-secondary educational programmes can vary greatly in cost. You should inquire about programme fees in advance and explore sources of financial aid if needed. Tuition at public universities in France is relatively low because of large government subsidies.
To provide a sense of potential costs, tuition fees are approximately as follows for students from France; the EU; the EEA, Andorra, or Switzerland; or a country that has established an agreement with France:
- €170/year for a bachelor’s degree
- €243/year for a master’s degree
- €601/year for an engineering degree
- €380/year for a doctorate
For students not in the above category, fees are approximately as follows:
- €2,770/year for a bachelor’s degree
- €3,770/year for a master’s degree
- €380/year for a doctorate
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Glossary
Licence: the standard undergraduate degree earned after 3 years of university studies (Bac+3).
Master: a degree that can be earned after a licence following 2 additional years of study (Bac+5). It is issued by universities and certain private grandes écoles. There are Master 1 and Master 2 degrees (completion of 1 and 2 additional years of study, respectively).
Formation d’ingénieur: French engineering degrees result from 5 years of post-secondary study (Bac+5; Master 2) and are awarded by institutions accredited by the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieurs. Students can undertake engineering studies immediately after their baccalaureate or, under certain conditions, in the third year of their licence. In the latter case, training lasts 2 years.
Doctorate: A degree earned after at least 3 additional years of study following a master’s degree (Bac+8). Doctoral students generally complete a research project and must write a thesis that is formally defended before a panel of experts.
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