14 - France - Progression of students

At university, the teaching programmes are broken down into units (UE) that are accumulated. Units are acquired for good and can be capitalised once the student has obtained the required average mark. The acquisition of teaching units and degrees is based on the principles of capitalisation and compensation used in the European credit system. Acquiring teaching units at university earns students the corresponding number of European credits (ECTS).

Access to the first year of a master’s course is automatic for all students holding a licencein the same discipline. Access to the second year of a master’s course is decided by the head of the institution further to a proposal by the person in charge of the discipline.

The maîtrisequalification, an intermediate degree between the licence(180 European credits) and master’s degree(300 European credits), is awarded to the students requesting it after obtaining the first 60 European credits after the licence.

Students holding a national master’s degree or master’s equivalent qualification can progress to doctoral studies.

The doctorate curriculum lasts for six semesters(it corresponds with a baccalauréat qualification + 8 years of studies). The awarding of the qualification is conditional upon the presentation of a doctoral thesis.

In addition, the new order of 7 August 2006 relative to doctorate education, based on a vast nationwide consultation, is in keeping with the guidelines set out in the "European researcher charter", notably with regard to the status of the doctorate student. This text opens up the doctorate curriculum to all scientific partnerships, the utmost concern being the search for excellence. The attention given to the implementation of the "thesis charter", an authentic moral contract between the doctorate student, their doctoral thesis supervisor, the head of the doctorate school and that of the host laboratory, constitutes a guarantee of quality insofar as it defines the rights and duties of each party. The preparation of a doctoral thesis must be consistent with a personal and professional project, clearly defined in terms of objectives and resources.

Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe


Date: 2009
Privacy Policy