Courses and degrees in France
French higher education follows the European LMD model — Licence, Master, Doctorat — which makes degrees easy to compare across Europe. Most undergraduate teaching is in French, but English-taught master's programmes are increasingly common.
Levels of study
Licence
The 3-year bachelor's degree (L1–L3), the foundation of the French LMD system.
Master
A 2-year postgraduate degree (M1–M2); many English-taught master's programmes exist.
Doctorat
Typically 3 years of doctoral research, usually after a master's.
Language proof
DELF/DALF or TCF for French-taught courses; IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught ones.
Popular courses
Bachelor of Computer Science
Licence 3 years
A three-year Licence in computer science within France's LMD system, building core programming and mathematical foundations at a public university.
Bachelor of Science
Licence 3 years
A three-year Licence covering core scientific disciplines within France's LMD system, taught mainly at public research universities.
Master of Engineering
Master's 2-3 years
An engineering master's or diplôme d'ingénieur combining advanced technical study with project work, offered by grandes écoles and research universities.
MBA
Master's 1-2 years
A postgraduate management degree taught at France's grandes écoles, blending rigorous coursework with deep corporate recruiting networks.
Teaching language and tests
- French-taught courses usually require proof of French via the DELF/DALF or TCF.
- English-taught programmes — most common at master's level — typically ask for IELTS or TOEFL.
- Choose your institution type carefully: public universités and the selective grandes écoles admit students very differently.
How you apply
- Many non-EU students apply through the Campus France "Études en France" procedure, which links to your student visa.
- Grandes écoles often run competitive entrance exams or selective dossiers; universités are generally more open at Licence level.
- Check tuition before you commit — see our cost of living guide for EU and non-EU "differentiated" rates.
Official source: Campus France.