Moroccan education institutions and study programmes

Below, we explain what types of educational institutions and degree programmes there are in Morocco. We also explain how we check whether these are accredited. We check the to make sure that the quality is sufficient. We give the necessary information per educational sector.

Secondary education | diplomas

With regard to secondary education programmes, you have to pay special attention to the fact that a student has a state diploma. These are the recognised upper secondary education state diplomas:

See Secondary education documents for a short explanation of the documents that students receive.

Secondary education | educational institutions

Students follow lower secondary education at a collège, they follow upper secondary education at a lycée.

Higher education | educational institutions

Higher education in Morocco is offered by the following institutions:

  • universities;
  • non-university higher education institutions; and
  • grandes écoles.

Universities

Universities provide both research-oriented and higher professional education. A university consists of various sections, but at least 3 faculties (facultés). Examples of other sections are:

  • école nationale de commerce et de gestion
  • écoles nationales
  • écoles dingénieurs
  • écoles normales
  • écoles normales supérieures
  • écoles supérieures

Universities can be public or private.

Non-university higher education institutions

Other higher education institutions are not affiliated with a university. These are known as établissements d'enseignement supérieur ne relevant pas des universités (EESNRPU). Examples of these types of institutions are:

  • centre de formation
  • centre pédagogique regional
  • école
  • école nationale
  • école normale supérieur
  • institut national
  • institut supérieur

Non-university higher education institutions can be public or private.

Grandes écoles

Grandes écoles do not fall within any of the previously mentioned categories. Students who attend them receive 'executive education' (formation des cadres). The study programmes offered are both professional and academic, leading to such certificates as the Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État.

Checking the accreditation of higher education institutions

The Ministry of Higher Education (Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur) offers overviews of accredited higher education institutions:

Accredited educational institutions for a Diplôme de Technicien Spécialisé

Students usually obtain a Diplôme de Technicien Spécialisé from:

  • an Institut Supérieur de Technologie Appliqué (ISTA); or
  • an établissement d'enseignement supérieur ne relevant pas des universités (EESNRPU).

In Morocco, these educational institutions are not the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education, but of the Office de la Formation Professionnelle et de la Promotion du Travail (OFPPT). This is also stated on the diploma.

You can find the accredited educational institutions for a Diplôme de Technicien Spécialisé on the OFPPT's My Way website:

  • Go to Découvrir un établissement.
  • Under 'Trouver un établissement', you can search by 6 subjects.
  • Under 'Level de formation', choose 'Technicien Spécialisé'.
  • Under 'Villes', choose the place name of the educational institution.
  • Under 'établissements trouvés', the accredited educational institutions for a Diplôme de Technicien Spécialisé will appear.