Higher education

Unlike Dutch higher education, French higher education is not divided into HBO and WO . French higher education institutions can offer both types of education. This often means that, for each diploma, we have to determine whether it is HBO or WO. Below, we describe the diplomas that we often see.

Students can obtain a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS) via a study programme at an Institut Universitaire de Technologie, a lycée or (sometimes) a private higher education institution.

• Duration : 2 years.
• Study load : 120 ECTS.
• Content: subjects concerning a particular profession. There are many fields of study, including non-technical fields.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat général
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat professionnel
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat technologique
  • Diplôme national du brevet
    Educational institutions can also consider another diploma sufficient for admission.
• Function of the diploma: work. Sometimes, students can gain access to higher education, such as a bachelor's programme.
• Diploma: Brevet de Technicien Supérieur.

Students can obtain a Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie (DUT) via a 2-year technical study programme. They take their education at an Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT). IUTs usually only offer this type of short study programme.

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load: 120 ECTS.
• Content: subjects concerning a technical profession. Students learn how to apply scientific theory to practice.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat général
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat professionnel
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat technologique
    Educational institutions can also consider another diploma sufficient for admission.
• Function of the diploma: work. Sometimes, students can gain access to higher education, such as a bachelor’s programme.
• Diploma: Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie.

Students can obtain a Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (BUT) via a study programme at Instituts Universitaires de Technologie (IUT’s). The BUT has existed since 2021.

• Duration: 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: vocational subjects. Students can choose from 24 fields of study; see the IUT website (only in French).
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • Brevet de Technicien Supérieur
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat général
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat technologique
  • Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie
• Function of the diploma: work. Sometimes, the diploma gives access to further education.
• Diploma: Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie.

The licence professionnelle is one of the bachelor’s degrees in France. Various education institutions offer study programmes for this degree.

• Duration: 1 to 3 years.
• Study load: 60 to 180 ECTS.
• Content: usually vocational subjects, sometimes research-oriented subjects.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • Brevet de Technicien Supérieur
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat général
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat technologique
  • Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie
    Educational institutions can also consider another diploma sufficient for admission.
• Function of the diploma: work. Sometimes, the diploma gives access to further education.
• Diploma: Licence professionnelle.

The licence is one of the bachelor’s degrees in France. Universities in particular offer study programmes for a licence.

• Duration: 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: usually research-oriented subjects, sometimes vocational subjects. Sometimes, students do an internship and/or write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat général
  • Diplôme du baccalauréat technologique
• Function of the diploma: access to master’s programmes or work.
• Diploma: Licence.

Master's programmes are mainly offered at universities

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load: 120 ECTS.
• Content: students first follow a basic year (M1) with general subjects in the chosen field of study. In the 2nd year (M2), they choose a specialisation. Sometimes, students have to do an internship. They usually write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a licence. Educational institutions can also consider another diploma sufficient for admission.
• Function of the diploma: access to a PhD programme or work.
• Diploma: usually Master (without ‘of Science’ or ‘of Arts’). Other diploma names are also possible, such as Diplôme de Grande École.

PhD programmes are mainly offered at universities.

• Duration: at least 3 years.
• Content: students do academic research and write and defend a dissertation.
• Admission requirements: a Master.
• Diploma: Docteur.