French Higher Education System

In France, the national Bachelor’s degree is awarded after six semesters. Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree, students can prepare for the Master’s degree, which is awarded after four semesters (it corresponds 5 years of higher education after completing the baccalaureate). Upon completion of the Master’s course, students can register with a view to preparing for a doctorate. The doctorate generally lasts three years (it corresponds to 8 years of higher education after completing the baccalaureate).

Each semester is assigned 30 credits or E.C.T.S. (European Credit Transfert System), common among many European countries: for a Bachelor’s degree, 6 semesters validated equate to a total of 180 credits; for a Master’s degree, 4 semesters validated equate to a total of 120 credits (300 credits when combined with the Bachelor’s degree). As part of their learning agreement, students may acquire credits in higher education institutions abroad.