NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

The requirement for entrance to the first year of the first university cycle is a baccalauréat or a diploma considered to be
equivalent, or a pass grade on the diplôme d’accès aux études supérieures (DAEU). The universities usually organise, under
the conditions stipulated by the order of 3 August 1994, two special university entrance examinations, the DAEU A (literary)
and the DAEU B (scientific). The first (DAEU A) allows students to enrol in the following disciplines: literature, arts, social
sciences, languages, communications, law, economics, administration and management; the second (DAEU B) authorises
enrolment in the sciences, technology, physical education, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or in the paramedical sector. These
examinations allow many young people and adults who do not have a baccalauréat to pursue university studies.
Special cases
The certificat de capacité en droit (legal scholastic aptitude certificate) is designed for students aged 17 or older without a
baccalauréat. It allows those candidates who obtain a score of at least 10 points out of 20 on the series of tests to enter a first
year university DEUG diploma law programme. Candidates with a score of 15 points or more can enter the second year
programme.
Admission to the different post-baccalauréat education programmes offered at institutions which come under the ministère de
l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche (universities or business and engineering schools) can also be authorised in
conformity with the conditions stipulated in the decree relating to the validation of studies, professional experience or personal
knowledge (Decree No 85-906 of 23 August 1985). Validation enables the candidate to enter directly into an educational
programme leading to a national diploma or degree which is regulated by the State, or to apply for the competitive entrance
examinations administered at a particular institution. Candidates who hold a foreign diploma or degree, for instance, can also
make a request for validation. Validation is decided by the president of the university or the director of the institutions on the
proposal of the academic commission.
Admission to instituts universitaires professionnalisés (IUP) is granted to students who have completed either the first year
DEUG diploma programme, one year of preparatory classes for grandes écoles or a year of study after the baccalauréat. They
must also submit a letter in support of their application along with letters of recommendation from two instructors.
Selection occurs after one year in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy:
continued study is determined by the ranking of scores on a general examination.
Admission is selective to the following professional maîtrise programmes:
maîtrise de sciences et techniques (MST: science and technology);
maîtrise de sciences de gestion (MSG: management science);
maîtrise des méthodes informatiques appliquées à la gestion (MIAGE: computer science applied to management).
Admission to these maîtrise programmes requires that the student have a certificat préparatoire (preparatory certificate)
which certifies his or her completion of the preparatory courses prepared jointly with the DEUG diploma.
After four years, students who have obtained the degree of maîtrise may wish to continue their study in the direction of a
diplôme d’études
spéciales supérieures (DESS) or a diplôme d’études approfondies (DEA), which represents the first year of preparation of a
doctoral degree. Permission to continue study is granted by the president of the university according to the student’s
demonstrated merit, particularly during the maîtrise programme.
Short-term higher education programmes
Selection is made as soon as a student has obtained the baccalauréat. This is done in the case of the instituts universitaires de
technologie by means of a formal application submitted to a selection committee. Admission is announced after the scores of
the baccalauréat examination have been reviewed by the selection committee; or in the case of paramedical programmes, by
means of a very selective entrance examination which is normally accompanied by an interview and by physical and
psychological aptitude tests.