Higher education

Unlike Dutch higher education, Moroccan higher education is not divided into HBO i from universities of applied science and WO i from universities. For instance, Moroccan universities 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.

Please note: bachelor replaces Licence

Since September 2020, students are able to take 4-year bachelor's programmes at Moroccan universities. The first students can get their bachelor at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. The bachelor's degree gives Moroccan students more opportunities internationally than the Licence. This adjustment is part of the changes to the Moroccan education system that have been legally established (loi-cadre 51.17).

• Duration i : usually 2 years.
• Study load i : 120 ECTS.
• Content: specialist study programme in a particular discipline.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • an Attestation du Baccalauréat;
  • a Baccalauréat d’enseignement technologique et professionnel; or
  • a Diplôme de Technicien.
• Diploma: Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS)/ شهادة التقني العالي.

Usually, students take study programmes for a Diplôme de Technicien Spécialisé at an Institut Supérieur de Technologie Appliqué (ISTA) or an établissement d'enseignement supérieur ne relevant pas des universités (EESNRPU).

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load: 120 ECTS.
• Content: specialist study programme in a particular discipline.
• Admission requirements: at least a Diplôme de Technicien.
• Diploma: Diplôme de Technicien Spécialisé/ دبلوم التقني المتخصص.

After completing a profession-oriented bachelor's programme (études professionnelles) at a university, students obtain a Licence Professionnelle.

• Duration: 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: Students start the 1st cycle of 3 years with a propaedeutic year. After this 1st year, they follow higher professional education.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • an Attestation du Baccalauréat; or
  • a Baccalauréat d’enseignement technologique et professionnel.
• Diploma: Licence Professionnelle/ الإجازة المهنية.

Intermediate diploma: Diplôme d’Études Universitaires Professionnelles (DEUP)

Students can get an intermediate diploma (at their own request) after completing the first 2 years of the Licence Professionnelle study programme. The intermediate diploma is called: Diplôme d’Études Universitaires Professionnelles (DEUP)/دبلوم الدراسات الجامعية المهنية.

After completing a research-oriented bachelor's programme (études fondamentales) at a university, students obtain a Licence d’Études Fondamentales .

• Duration: 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: Students start the 1st cycle of 3 years with a propaedeutic year. After this 1st year, they follow research-oriented education.
• Admission requirements: an Attestation du Baccalauréat.
• Diploma: Licence d’Études Fondamentales/ الإجازة في الدراسات الأساسية.

Intermediate diploma: Diplôme d’Études Universitaires Générales (DEUG)

Students can get an intermediate diploma (at their own request) after completing the first 2 years of the Licence d’Études Fondamentales study programme. The intermediate diploma is called: Diplôme d’Études Universitaires Générales (DEUG)/ دبلوم الدراسات الجامعية العامة

After completing a 2-year profession-oriented study programme at an institute affiliated to a university, students obtain a Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load: 120 ECTS.
• Content: higher professional education.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • an Attestation du Baccalauréat;or
  • a Baccalauréat d’enseignement technologique et professionnel.
    Students also have to take an entrance exam.
• Diploma: Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie/الدبلوم الجامعي للتكنولوجيا.

Students take the study programme leading to a Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'Application at either a public or a private institution.

• Duration: 4 years.
• Study load: 240 ECTS.
• Content: higher professional education.
• Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
  • an Attestation du Baccalauréat; or
  • a Baccalauréat d’enseignement technologique et professionnel.
    Sometimes students have to take an entrance exam as well.
• Diploma: Diplôme d’Ingénieur d’Application/دبلوم مهندس التطبيق.

Students take the 3-year study programme that leads to the Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État at one of the grandes écoles (écoles d'ingénieurs). To prepare for the entrance examinations to this study programme, prospective students attend 2 years of classes préparatoires ( السنتان التحضيريتان لسلك المهندس) after secondary school at one of the dedicated lycées.

This study programme is part of 'executive education' (formation des cadres). Both professional and academic specialisations are offered. Students attend one of the grandes écoles or the technical faculty of a university.

• Duration: 3 years (following 2 years of classes préparatoires).
• Content: research-oriented education and profession-oriented.
• Admission requirements: 2 years of classes préparatoires and an entrance exam.
• Diploma: Diplôme d’Ingénieur d’État/شهاده مهندس الدولة.

After completing a profession-oriented master's programme at a university, students obtain a Master Spécialisé.

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load: 120 ECTS.
• Content: higher professional education.
• Admission requirements: a Licence Professionnelle.
• Diploma: Master Spécialisé/الماستر المتخصص

After completing a research-oriented degree programme from a university, students obtain a Master .

• Duration: 2 years.
• Study load: 120 ECTS.
• Inhoud: research-oriented education.
• Toelatingseisen: a Licence d’Études Fondamentales.
• Diploma: Master/الماستر.

After completing a PhD programme, students obtain a Doctorat .

• Duration: at least 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: conducting research, writing and defending a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a Master.
• Diploma: Doctorat/ دكتوراه.