CHAPTER 2 · HOW IT WORKS
Universities, schoolsand degrees explained.
French higher education follows the LMD system: Licence (Bachelor's, 3 years), Master (2 years) and Doctorat (3 years). You can study at public universities, grandes écoles (selective engineering and business schools) or specialised schools. The main intake is September; some private schools also start in January.
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- Licence (Bachelor's)
- 3 years · 180 ECTS
- Master
- 2 years · 120 ECTS
- M1 + M2
- Doctorat (PhD)
- Usually 3 years
- Main intake
- September
- January at some private schools
Types of institution
| Institution | What it offers | Typical fee (non-EU) |
|---|---|---|
| Public university | Licence, Master, Doctorat in every subject; research-led; large classes in early years | €2,902 (Licence) / €3,950 (Master) a year, unless waived |
| Engineering school (école d'ingénieurs) | 5-year Diplôme d'ingénieur (CTI-accredited) and MSc programmes; strong industry links | Public schools: regulated fees; private schools: set their own |
| Business school (école de commerce) | Programme Grande École (Master in Management), MSc, MBA, Bachelor's | Set by the school; often €12,000–€25,000+ a year (Althéa planning range) |
| Specialised schools | Art, design, architecture, fashion, hospitality, culinary arts | Public schools regulated; private schools set their own |
Degree names you will see
- Licence / Bachelor's: 3-year national degree. BUT (Bachelor universitaire de technologie) is a 3-year applied degree.
- Master: national 2-year degree. You can enter M1 after a 3-year Bachelor's; entry to M2 directly depends on the programme and your prior study.
- MSc: usually 1–2 years at grandes écoles; many are accredited by the Conférence des grandes écoles (CGE).
- Mastère Spécialisé (MS): a CGE-labelled post-master's specialisation, usually 1 year.
- Diplôme d'ingénieur: the French engineering degree, equivalent to a master's.
- MBA: for professionals with work experience; fees are the highest.
Check accreditation before you pay
Prefer national diplomas (Licence, Master, Doctorat), engineering degrees accredited by the CTI, business programmes "visé" by the State or holding the "grade de master", and CGE-labelled MSc and MS programmes. Certificates registered in the RNCP are recognised professional titles but are not the same as a national master's.
Accreditation matters for further study, government jobs back in India and some work-permit routes. Ask the school in writing which recognition your exact programme holds.
Which level can you enter from India?
| Your Indian qualification | Usual entry point in France |
|---|---|
| Class 12 | Licence 1 (via DAP for public universities) or a Bachelor's at a school |
| 3-year Bachelor's (B.A., B.Com, B.Sc, BBA) | Master 1, MSc, or Programme Grande École |
| 4-year B.Tech / B.E. | Master 1 or MSc; some programmes admit to M2 after review |
| Master's degree | Master 2, Mastère Spécialisé, or Doctorat |
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
How to tell a real degree from a school certificate
In France, only certain titles are national degrees: Licence, Master, Doctorat, and diplomas that carry the Grade de Licence or Grade de Master. Many private schools also sell 'MSc', 'MBA' or 'Bachelor' programmes that are school diplomas. Some are excellent and registered with France Compétences (RNCP level 6 or 7), others are not. A student visa can be granted for both, but employers, scholarship bodies and Indian equivalence checks look at the official status.
Before you pay a deposit, ask the school in writing: is the programme a national diploma or does it carry the Grade de Master? Is it registered on RNCP and at which level? Is the school accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA for business, CTI for engineering)?
Grading and credits
| French grade (out of 20) | Mention | Rough meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 16 and above | Très bien | Excellent — rare |
| 14–15.9 | Bien | Very good |
| 12–13.9 | Assez bien | Good |
| 10–11.9 | Passable | Pass |
| Below 10 | — | Fail (can usually resit) |
Programme formats you will meet
- Master 1 + Master 2 (M1, M2): two one-year steps; some students join directly in M2 with a relevant Indian master's or strong experience
- Programme Grande École (PGE): a business-school master, often 2–3 years with internships and gap years
- MSc / Mastère Spécialisé: 12–18-month specialised programmes, often in English
- Diplôme d'ingénieur: 3-year engineering degree after two years of preparatory classes; master's-level
- Alternance tracks: study and work alternately with a paid contract (mostly in French)
- Double degrees and exchanges: semesters abroad included in many grandes écoles
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
A selective higher-education institution, usually in engineering or business, with smaller classes and strong employer ties. Admission is competitive and fees are often higher than at public universities.
Public universities mostly start in September. Several business schools and private institutions also offer January (spring) intakes for MSc and Bachelor's programmes.
A Master is a national two-year degree from a university or accredited school. An MSc is usually a school-awarded programme of 12–18 months; it can be RNCP-registered or accredited, but it is not automatically a national Master. Check the status before you choose.
Sometimes. Universities can admit you to M2 if your previous studies or experience match the first year. Business schools often offer one-year MSc tracks instead. Ask each programme how they treat a 3- or 4-year Indian bachelor's.
The national register of professional certifications, managed by France Compétences. Level 7 equals master's level and level 6 bachelor's level. It shows the qualification is officially recognised in France, even when it is not a national Master.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
FRANCE GUIDE
Admission requirements
Documents, grades, language scores and timelines to get admission to French universities and schools for September 2027, for Indian students.
FRANCE GUIDE
Fees & cost of living
2026–27 tuition fees, CVEC, visa and Campus France costs, and monthly living costs in Paris and other French cities for Indian students.
DIRECTORY
University directory
Search real universities and courses by subject, country and city.
PROGRAMMES
Programmes
Researched programmes with published fees, deadlines and entry requirements.
TOOL
Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
YOUR OWN PLAN
Questions about
France?
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