It is a higher education teaching establishment that issues a MASTER level diploma that is recognised by the State. (5 years of studies after the French Baccalaureate). The establishment has considerable autonomy and its own specific pedagogical project, which includes the following characteristics:
Students are accepted at these schools based upon a selection process, an entrance exam or based on their application forms. The training and diplomas provided by the Grandes Ecoles are of a very high level and offer a certain amount of prestige. The diplomas on offer provide access to key functions in companies and to top-level careers.
Background information
The idea of harmonising higher education training courses at European level was launched on 25 May 1998 at the Sorbonne by the Ministers of Education from four countries: France, Germany, the UK and Italy.
In June 1999, the concept of "Building the Europe of Higher Education" and relying on a harmonious system throughout Europe was approved by 29 countries in Bologna (cf. the reason for choosing Bologna is historical: it was in this town that the word "university"was invented).
The "Bologna Process" was then approved in May 2001 in Prague by 32 countries.
The university courses offered focus on three diplomas: the "Licence"(first degree), the Bachelor and the Doctorate. This is referred to as the "LMD"system.
The objectives of the LMD system are to improve the legibility of diplomas and make the student training programmes more flexible by relying on greater mobility from students and the almost total customisation of the university courses that the students follow.
It is hence the duty of all the European higher education establishments to introduce and implement this system.
A Module-based Organisation
From a global perspective, the organisation is composed of the three following cycles:
The degree courses are organised into semesters. In France, the university year is divided up into two semesters.
Each semester corresponds to 30 credits that can be "cumulated and transferred" (this is the "European Credit Transfer System").
A credit is a specific amount of work adapted to each year, including personal work.
Hence, in order to pass the Master, or equivalent of five years of university studies, 300 credits are necessary (10 semesters).
The credits can be acquired in another European higher education establishment and can also be transferred from one course to another (on condition that the pedagogical teams accept).
The Diploma Supplement
A descriptive appendix to the diploma rounds off the European Credits System (ECTS). This is referred to as the “Diploma Supplement” and is intended to improve the legibility of the knowledge and aptitudes acquired during the course.
Presented as an element designed to assist students and universities, the document provides a description, and not an evaluation since it is devoid of any value judgment. It illustrates the consistency and originality of the courses followed and describes the nature, level, context, contents and status of the studies successfully completed by the person.
It aims at reinforcing international “transparency” and at facilitating academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, acquired expertise, certificates, etc.).
The information provided in the diploma supplement is divided up into eight parts: the holder of the diploma, the diploma, the level of qualifications, the contents and results obtained, the function of the qualification, additional information, certification of the supplement and information concerning the national higher education system.
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