Grandes écoles and specialised schools

The Grandes écoles are typically French. They represent an original type of establishment, in parallel with the university system. The most highly rated school (HEC, Ecole des Ponts et Chuassées, ENA…) are considered as the elite path compared with the university system. This high standard is reflected in the strict admission requirements.

• Admission

The grandes écoles are known for their extremely selective admission policies. Entry is usually by competitive examination, though some schools may accept students on the basis of academic record.Two-year preparatory courses (classes préparatoires) are available for students wishing to prepare for these competitive examinations; the baccalauréat is required for admission onto these grande école preparatory courses. Some grandes écoles offer their own preparatory courses.Most grande écoles programmes last three years after the two-year preparatory course. After completing such a programme, graduates have a degree that is considered the equivalent of five years of study after the Baccalauréat. Parallel admission Over the last few years the grandes écoles have set up a "parallel admission" (admission parallèle) scheme. Students who have a degree corresponding to two or three years of higher education can transfer into the second year of the grande école programme, on the basis of academic record. The transfer requires special preparation, since students must take tests.

• Engineering schools

Created to meet the needs of the industry, engineering schools are usually state schools and were the first of the grandes écoles. Today, 226 of them deal with 105 000 students. They are officially recognized by the Committee for Engineering Qualification (CTI) and deliver a degree in engineering, equivalent to a Master.  List of engineering schools can be found on: ftp://trf.education.gouv.fr/pub/edutel/bo/2003/hs8/tableaux.pdf How to get in? To enrol in one of these schools, the student usually has to pass a competitive exam and is grilled as to his motivation during an interview but the recruitment vary indeed from one school to another:       - recruitment on Baccalauréat level or equivalent: about 40 engineering schools, gathered in the FESIC (Federation of Higher Engineering and Executive Schools), recruit on baccalaureate level for 5 years studies. It’s the case for the INSAs (National Institutes of Applied Sciences) and the ENIs (National Schools of Engineers).       - recruitment based on a competitive examination for the students of the preparatory classes to Grandes écoles: a two-year preparatory school is the traditional way to enter the most prestigious engineering schools. To be admitted in those preparatory classes you need a very good school report. Some schools organize a specific exam for foreign students. Contact them to learn more…

• Business and Management schools

Their programs are based on business and management and are organised around several majors: economics, marketing, finance, human resources… Among these schools, the Business Institutes are the only State-schools. In recent years, business schools have introduced an international dimension in their curriculum and, today, many courses are in English. Business schools have the highest proportion of foreign students of all the higher education institutions: around 25%. How to get in? There are several ways to enrol in business school:      - recruitment based on a competitive exam after the Baccalauréat or its equivalent      - recruitment based on a competitive examination for students of the preparatory classes to grandes Ecoles.       - recruitment, called “parallel admission", for students who have already completed a university cycle (licence or master). Note that enrolment procedures vary from one school to another and you should always contact directly the school of your choice to acknowledge the admission procedure. There may be specific procedures for foreign students.

• Other Grandes écoles and top schools

Beside the business and engineering schools, there are others delivering top rank training in various fields: teaching, civil service, research, political studies, veterinary, arts… Here are the most famous ones: The Ecoles Normales Supérieures (ENS) They are elite schools and aim at training high level teachers and researchers. There are 4 of them: two in Lyon and two in Paris.   One of them, called ENS ULM, organizes a selection of foreign university students, whatever their nationality. Its is aimed at top students in literature and science in their third year. The chosen candidates become “students in the international section at ENS” and receive 1200 euros a month.  The Instituts d’Etudes Politiques (IEP) There are nine IEP in France, most of them linked with a university, and the most famous one is in Paris. Selection is done after a competitive exam. The studies last 5 years and correspond to the LMD structure: three years of general education + two years of specialization in one subject (civil service, economics, finance, communication, human resources, international relations, journalism…). The Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) This school is the royal path to the highest bodies of the State and senior civil service. The entrance competitive exam is of highest level and is opened to students under 28 who hold a Master Degree or a diploma from a grande école. The ENA offers several international cycles. More information on: http://www.ena.fr/accueil.php (information in English available) The Ecoles Nationales Vétérinaires.   There are four national schools and give a six-year training approved by the diploma of doctor veterinary surgeon. The students must follow a two-year preparatory class called “prepa veto” to get in. Info on: http://www.formproveto.educagri.fr/francais/ecolesvetos.htm The Ecoles Nationales d’art. In the artistic field, there are various types of schools.You can find them on: Studyrama - Senior Art schools.  

• Specialised schools

This comprises all career-oriented programmes which prepare for a specific profession : arts, journalism, paramedical, aeronautics, social action, architecture, accounting , etc… Reputed for their diversity, these public or private, establishments offer both short and long study programmes, and award both state and university degrees. Sources: CIDJ and Studyrama Photos: © F. de la Mure / Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs