Understanding the French higher education system
France runs on the LMD system (Licence – Master – Doctorat), harmonised at European level: a Bachelor’s degree in 3 years (Bac+3), a Master’s in 2 years (Bac+5) and a Doctorate in 3 years (Bac+8). Alongside universities there are engineering schools, business schools, IUT/BUT (university bachelor of technology, 3 years) and specialised schools, each with its own admission rules.
The right choice does not depend only on an institution’s reputation: it must take into account your real academic level, your level of French or English depending on the programme, your budget and your career prospects on your return or in France.
How we support you
We carry out a full review of your academic background and career plans, then help you select up to 7 programme choices on the Études en France platform, spread wisely between selective and more accessible institutions to secure your admission.
- Analysis of your academic file and identification of suitable fields
- Selection of institutions recognised by the French State (essential for the visa)
- Trade-off between major university cities and cities with a more affordable cost of living
- Checking that the programme prerequisites match your profile
- Building a coherent study project, the central argument of the whole file
Points of caution
An institution that is not accredited or recognised by the French Ministry of Higher Education can lead to a visa refusal, even with a strong academic file. We systematically check the official recognition of each institution before proposing it.