Everyone knows that Paris is the most visited city in the world. Most foreign guests flock here to see the masterpieces of the Louvre, enjoy the magnificent French cuisine, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of savoir-vivre, that is, to come into contact with the art of living beautifully. But a photo by the Eiffel Tower is not the only or even the main goal of the trip for at least 200,000 visitors. That's how many foreign students study in France in higher education programs, making up 10% of the entire student population.
Among our compatriots, about a thousand people choose French universities every year, which have always been famous for the high level of training of mathematicians, engineers, designers, economists, politicians, financiers, as well as professionals in the arts, high fashion, and luxury goods. Moreover, unlike the main flow of tourists, students are not always focused on Paris: in any region of the country you can find strong universities and interesting specialties. For example, programs in the management and production of champagne wines are only in Reims, the world capital of champagne.
Bienvenue en France!
Not every country extends the principle of liberty, equality, and fraternity to foreign students who wish to study on an equal footing with citizens of that state. Whereas France, which annually invests more than 20% of its budget in education, can afford this luxury for everyone, no matter what region of the world they come from. Firstly, foreigners receive higher education for free. Secondly, universities enroll without exams. And thirdly, French diplomas are quoted throughout Europe, wherever the graduate may work in the future.
With such obvious advantages of the French higher education system, there are also a number of hidden obstacles. Each of the listed points is valid for all students, but, alas, does not apply to every university. It's all about the complex hierarchy of state and private educational institutions in France.
Universities
State universities are obliged to accept holders of the French secondary education diploma Baccalaureat (or an equivalent foreign one) without exams and to teach them for free (not counting a one-time registration fee of €150-700). In total, there are 87 universities in France, scattered throughout the country. Their official names consist of the name of the city and a serial number if there are several universities in the city. For example, in Paris and its suburbs there are 13 universities, named respectively from Paris I to Paris XIII. Three of them bear the famous name of the Sorbonne: Paris I (Universite Pantheon-Sorbonne), Paris III (Universite de la Sorbonne Nouvelle), and Paris IV (Universite Paris Sorbonne). So, dreaming of studying at the Sorbonne, first decide which of the universities has the specialty you need.
Each French university either offers a wide range of professional disciplines or specializes in a fairly narrow field. For example, Paris IX (Universite Paris Dauphine) and Universite Toulouse I are distinguished by strong training in economics, management, and law. Enrollment without exams, on the one hand, opens opportunities for all applicants, but on the other hand, in a number of state universities, strong groups are not initially formed. However, by the second or third year of study, just over half of the enrolled students remain, those truly capable of obtaining higher education.
Grandes Ecoles
Unlike universities, you cannot get into Grandes Ecoles without entrance exams: there are far fewer places. Education is paid – from €700 per year in state engineering schools, where they study electronic components and radio parts, to €12,000 and above in private business schools. Another feature of Grandes Ecoles is their focus on a narrow field of activity: business, engineering, or humanities. Most famous French politicians, businessmen, top managers, as well as outstanding scientists, are graduates of elite Grandes Ecoles.
“Grandes Ecoles have an excellent reputation, are famous for close partnerships with employers (from business and industry) and broad international connections,” says Kirill Marto, Director of International Relations at Ecole Superieure d'Ingenieurs ESIGELEC (Rouen, France). “The strict selection of students upon admission allows teaching at a high level.”
Grandes Ecoles are divided into several types. For example, Ecoles Normales Superieures (ENS) train future researchers and professors. There are only four ENS in France: in Paris, Cachan, and two in Lyon. There are many more engineering schools (Grandes Ecoles d'Ingenieurs) – about 240. Among the most famous are Ecole centrale Paris, Ecole polytechnique, Ecole nationale superieure des mines de Paris, Ecole nationale superieure de l'aeronautique et de l'espace, etc. They train specialists in telecommunications, electronics, computer science, civil aviation, and many other technical disciplines. But perhaps the most famous in the world are French business schools (Grandes Ecoles de Commerce). There are 39 of them in total, but the top lines in world rankings are consistently occupied by Ecole des hautes etudes commerciales (HEC), Ecole superieure des sciences economiques et commerciales (ESSEC), and ESCP-EAP European School of Management.
By the Bologna standard
The national system of French diplomas is too complex for foreigners. Nevertheless, with the advent of pan-European standardization of education, known to us as the Bologna Process, it has become easier to understand French programs and diplomas.
Junior students of our universities can enroll in three-year Licence programs, corresponding to our bachelor's degree. Senior students or graduates of domestic universities can continue their education in master's programs (Master 1 and Master 2), lasting two years – the graduate level. To obtain a PhD degree, it is necessary to study for three years in a doctoral program (Doctorat).
On the CampusFrance agency website (www.campusfrance.org) you can choose a program of the required level and of interest specialization. The catalog contains more than 11 thousand programs across all universities in France. Via the electronic link you can easily go to the website of the institution you are interested in and get more detailed information. Such an 'electronic excursion' will help you better imagine the scale of your opportunities in choosing French universities.
Whichever French university you enter – you will find yourself in the center of Europe. You will be able to arrange interesting excursions, going out every weekend to any major city of the Old World: London, Milan and Rome, Amsterdam, Geneva and Zurich, Brussels, Barcelona, not to mention trips to the mountains or the ocean coast. So acquaintance with French culture can always be supplemented with extensive international communication experience.
Parle vous francis?
In France, most higher education programs are taught in French. Therefore, you will have to confirm your knowledge of French by providing one of the international certificates (TCF, TEF, DELF or DALF).
François Bonvalet, General Director of the MBA program at Reims Management School (Reims, France):
– Thanks to the internationalization process in Grandes Ecoles, programs in English are increasingly common: from bachelor's to MBA. Sometimes within one program there are courses in English and French, depending on who teaches them – French-speaking or English-speaking professors. In the modern world, a mix of languages is not a problem, everything is very flexible. With the increase in the number of foreigners in French universities, I think the number of programs in English will grow.
Christine Zampa, International Relations Coordinator at Ecole de Cinema CLCF (Paris):
– At the CLCF film school, foreign students from 25 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America study. They make up a quarter of all students. Instruction is in French. But as a practical assignment, each student makes their own film, which can be in any language of the student's choice.