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FRANCE:
France's higher education in the run of global competition
- France is a major partner of Europe
- France is the 4th largest economy in the world
- France is a pioneering country in science and technology
- A French Degree is highly regarded the world over
- France offers numerous courses in English
France is a major partner of Europe
France is the locomotive of the euro zone. It is the most prosperous of the big euro zone countries, enjoying a high balance of payments surplus. It is the leading producer and exporter of farm products in Europe and carries out 63% of its trade with its European Union partners (50% within the euro area). It is thus the ideal way of entering the euro-zone and its potential.
France is the 4th largest economy in the world
As per world rankings are concerned France is the fourth largest economic power in terms of GDP. The country's assets are varied and include its transport and telecommunications sectors, agri-food stuffs and pharmaceutical industries, along with banking, insurance, tourism and the traditional luxury products (leather goods, ready-to-wear fashion, perfumes, fine wines and spirits, etc.)
In 1999 France had a trade surplus of 18.9 billion euros; it is the world's fourth largest exporter of goods (mainly durables) and ranks second in services and agriculture (cereals and agri-food stuffs in particular.
France ranks fourth internationally for direct inward investment. Foreign investors appreciate the skills of French workers, the advanced level of research, the mastery of high technology, the stable currency and control of production costs.
France is a pioneering country in science and technology
France is the third country world wide in terms of R&D expenditure as % of GNP (2.4 %). Till now France has produced at least 50 Nobel laureates. In the last ten years it self five French scientists have received the prestigious Nobel Prize. This achievement reflects the high level and efficiency of engineering studies in France.
We could mange to publish here few of Nobel laureates from France.
1901: The prize was divided equally between:
Dunant, Jean Henry, Switzerland, 1828-1910.
Founder of the Red Cross (Comité International de la Croix-Rouge), Geneva. Initiator of the Geneva Convention;
and
Passy, Frédéric, France, 1822-1912.
Founder and President of the first French peace society (Ligue internationale et permanente de la paix, later known as Société française pour l'arbitrage entre nations).
1907: The prize was divided equally between:
Moneta, Ernesto Teodoro, Italy, 1833-1918.
President of the Lombard League of Peace (Società internazionale per la pace: Unione Lombarda);
and
Renault, Louis, France, 1843-1918.
Professor of International Law, the Sorbonne, Paris.
1909: The prize was divided equally between:
Beernaert, Auguste Marie François, Belgium, 1829-1912.
Former Prime Minister, member of the Belgian parliament, member of the International Court of Arbitration (Cour Internationale d'Arbitrage) at the Hague;
and
d'Estournelles de Constant, Paul Henri Benjamin Balluet, Baron De Constant de Rebecque, France, 1852-1924.
Member of the French parliament (Sénateur). Founder and President of the French parliamentary group for international arbitration (Groupe parlementaire de l'arbitrage international). Founder of the Commitee for the defence of national interests and international conciliation (Comité de défense des intérêts nationaux et de conciliation internationale).
1920: Bourgeois, Léon Victor Auguste, France, 1851-1925.
Former Minister of Culture, Minister of Justice and Prime Minister, President of parliament, President of the Council of the League of Nations.
1926: The prize was divided equally between: (We are still working on compiling more information.)
Briand, Aristide, France, 1862-1932.
Foreign Minister, a negotiator of the Locarno Treaty and the Briand-Kellogg Pact;
and
Stresemann, Gustav, Germany, 1878-1929.
Former Chancellor, Foreign Minister. A negotiator of the Locarno Treaty.
1927: The prize was divided equally between:
Buisson, Ferdinand Edouard, France, 1841-1932.
Former Professor at the Sorbonne, Paris. Founder and President of the League of Human Rights (Ligue des droits de l'homme);
and
Quidde, Ludwig, Germany, 1858-1941.
Historian, professor honoris causa, member of the Bavarian parliament; member of Germany's constituent assembly 1919; delegate to numerous peace conferences.
1951: Jouhaux, Léon, France, 1879-1954.
President of the trade union CGT-Force ouvrière, President of the International Committee of the European Council, Vice President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Vice President of the World Federation of Trade Unions, member of the ILO Council, delegate to the UN.
1953: The prize for 1952: Schweitzer, Albert, France, 1875-1965.
(Born in Kaysersberg, Alsace, then part of Germany.) Physician and missionary, founder of the Lambarene Hospital in Gabon.
1968: Cassin, René, France, 1887-1976.
President of the European Court of Human Rights.
France is a well known center for scientific and technological innovation: The smart card, the TGV train and the Ariane launcher, the discovery of the HIV virus are some of the most notable feats of the last decades.
A French Degree is highly regarded the world over
Even though the "grandes écoles" (Highly competitive institutes comparable to the IITs or the IIMs) are still the backbone of training for technology and management, the quality of university education is on par with all good universities worldwide.
France offers numerous courses in English
More and more courses are now offered in English in France. Yet the knowledge of French is recommended since it opens the doors to even more possibilities and adds an important asset to the student after having completed his studies. Besides learning French is not difficult as more than 1000 Indian alumni testify. It can be acquired either before leaving in one of the 15 Alliances Françaises of India or during the stay in France
A three-way system
Higher education in France is imparted through three main categories of institutions with varying objectives, structures and admission requirements.
- Universities
- Grandes écoles
- Advanced studies centres
Universities
The minimum requirement for admission to any university course is the French higher secondary Certificate (baccalauréat) or an equivalent qualification. Universities offer theoretical practical and job-oriented courses and train students for research in all disciplines - humanities, social sciences, law, economics, management, natural sciences, medicine, pharmacology, technology, arts political sciences...).
Grandes écoles (competitive institutes)
These distinguished and meritorious schools prepare students for specific goals in the fields of engineering or business management.
Advanced studies centres
There are a large number of advanced centres offering specialisation in various other fields than engineering or business management like architecture, agriculture, public administration, etc.
Admission to all the above institutions is on merit and the number of enrolments are limited.
For international students, admission is subject to the recognition of qualifications by the concerned institution.
At University
- Undergraduate courses: the Bachelor's degree (Licence), a 6 semester program
- Post-graduate courses
Undergraduate courses:
the Bachelor's degree (Licence), a 6 semester program
87 universities throughout the country offer the following specialised Bachelor's Master's degrees :
- art and audiovisual
- literature and languages
- human and social sciences
- law
- political science
- economics, management, sales
- material, life, earth and natural sciences
- mathematics
- computer studies
- mechanics, EEA, technology,
- civil engineering, energy
- physics
- chemistry
- health sciences
- sport
- theology
Post-graduate courses
- including vocational goals: the DESS, a two year programme with the Maîtrise at the end of the first year
If the student's main aim is to get a job in France, he or she should choose a Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées (DESS). This is a two-year course or a one year course in a university. It includes a minimum compulsory three months of work experience or internship and many hours of lectures and seminars.
- pursuing mainly to research objectives: the DEA, a one-year program with the Maîtrise at the end of the first year and the Doctorat (Ph D)
- If your aim is to go into research, you register for the 3ème cycle to get the Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies (DEA) the first stage in the preparation of a doctorate. This is a two-year diploma. The doctorat (Ph D) is the logical next step for holders of the DEA with mention, and for those who forward a research plan of exceptional standard. A doctoral thesis is prepared under the authority of a "directeur de recherche" (research director) and takes two to four years. A doctorate is awarded after a viva on the thesis or research papers have been publicly examined and defended. With a doctorate you can become a university lecturer.
Grandes écoles
Their objective
To train French and foreign engineers and executives in five years (including 2 years of preparatory classes) for state administration, industry and services.
Their main features
- Highly selective admission
- 3-year high level versatile training
- Great awareness of international activities,
- Close links with the professional world
- Low enrolment
- Advanced technologies based
- Applied research oriented
- Influential networks
- Active since long on the international scene
Admission procedures for foreign students
On principle students are admitted at entrance level by competitive examination after an intensive two-year preparatory course of study. International students can get admission in the first or second year on the basis of a diploma or equivalent.
Titles Grandes écoles deliver
- The Diplôme des Grandes écoles is a highly regarded degree, approved by the French ministry in charge of higher education and research.
- The Mastère is a specialised Masters developed for international graduates who have already reached an advanced scientific and technological level. The Mastère is not a university degree, but a high level certificate awarded by certain Grandes écoles, following a twelve month course including five or six months of practical training. To apply for this certificate, candidates must already hold a degree in engineering or management, a DEA or its equivalent (i.e. Master's + three years professional experience).
High level technical sections (BTS) and Technology Colleges (IUT)
- The Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS)
- The Instituts universitaires de technologie (IUTs, Technology Colleges)
The Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS)
The B.T.S. (high-level technical diploma) is awarded after 2-3 years of study, directly after the baccalauréat, immediately after completion of the secondary school. Many schools and institutions offer BTS sections. Some of them are accessible for international students. A few provide programmes partly or totally in English medium.
Its objective is to train high-level technicians with a professional speciality.
It offers a two-year professional training in very specialised fields, e.g., tourism, hotel management, automobile construction, advertising, health care, and includes company internships. Opportunities are available for advanced specialisation lasting one year after the BTS.
It represents approximately 225,000 students a year.
150 specialities are taught. The main study areas are as follows:
- Biological laboratory analysis
- Interior design
- Ceramics
- Textiles and printing
- Management assistant
- Insurance
- Building
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- International commerce
- Communication
- Accounting and management
- Industrial product design
- Metallic construction *
- Social and home economics
- Electronics
- Beautician studies
- Optical engineering
- Graphics
- Computer science
- Hotel and restaurant trade
- Industrial maintenance
- Mechanics
- Micro-technology
- Fashion designing
- Textile production
- Tourism and leisure
- Public works
- Food production and distribution
The Instituts universitaires de technologie (IUTs, Technology Colleges)
Their aim is to prepare students for technical and professional management positions.
They prepare students for the college-level technological degree (Diplôme universitaire de technologie, DUT) during an intensive two-year training period which includes two weeks of company internships. The studies consists of applied work in small groups under professional and academic supervision. Opportunities are being offered for advanced specialisation lasting one year after the DUT.
Students may be admitted upon application after the high-school diploma.
Many specialities in engineering, company management, new technologies are provided by the IUTs.
They represent over 100,000 students.
High-level technician:
The high-level technician is a middle-management person who works with the engineer. He transforms the requirements (in terms of cost and deadlines) into a plan of action and gives the appropriate technical instructions to carry out that plan. His technical, scientific and social training enables him to liaise with other specialists and to organise the workforce and the equipment, which contributes to the efficiency of the firm. He is the link between the manager or the engineer and the production workers. As he plays an important role in the workplace and can evaluate potential difficulties, his work is often a contributing factor in quality improvement.
In the year 2001, 176,000 foreign students went to study in France.
What makes France so attractive?
- A long tradition of academic excellence
- Recognised degrees at affordable costs
- Value chain in higher education
- Numerous courses available in English medium
- French hospitality
- French made easy
A long tradition of academic excellence
Besides the breathtaking scenic beauty, dense historic past and cultural richness, France houses some of the oldest universities in the world. The Sorbonne, the University of Paris, founded in 1179, the University of Toulouse, founded in 1229 and the University of Montpellier, founded in 1289, are rated world-wide as centres of academic excellence.
Recognised degrees at affordable costs
France spends per year an average 7 700 € (3.3 lakh rupees) for each and every student engaged in higher studies. Since all foreign students are treated on par with national citizens this structural scholarship is available. France thus provides value for money by offering internationally recognised degrees at affordable costs.
Value chain in higher education
World class quality is maintained by faculties consisting of professors from universities in France and abroad. There are also visiting professors from world famous institutions and numerous experts in various fields. Students are supervised and assessed on a daily basis to maintain low failure and drop out rates and enjoy innovative teaching methods which are modern, pragmatic, interactive and integrate new technologies. This helps the students to compete successfully in the international arena.
Numerous courses available in English medium
In order to attract more international students, French universities are now increasingly using English as the language of instruction specially in areas like management, engineering, political sciences etc.
French hospitality
Overseas students are given a warm welcome as part of the traditional French hospitality. Most campuses have a multicultural environment.
French made easy
For students lacking proficiency in French, language centres and special courses are available during vacation time
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