2 systems after the baccalauréat:

1. the elite attended "grandes écoles" ( Ecole polytechnique, Ecole Normale supérieure, Sciences Po, etc): usually a 2 year preparatory class (classe preparatoire, which actually chooses you as much as is chosen by you), then a very selective exam. Except in business school, no fee, and in some schools you actually get paid for studying.

2. the State funded "universités": no exam; usually no choice since it should depend on the area you live in. Very low fee ( I think 100-400 $ a year)

Basically explained at the end of High School (18 years old) one must pass the "Baccalaureat" either to access a university of its choice or enter a "prep school" (2 years of hard studies to get prepared to the entrance exams of the Grandes Ecoles, as explained above).
About 60% of 18 years old suceed in obtaining the baccalaureat, which is a national exam (every students get the same test at the same time in the whole country).
About half of 18 years old' then go to either a university or a prep school.
Universities in France (there are no equivalent for colleges) are not ranked as they are in other countries. They are supposed to be all equal (which is highly controversial). Students pay very low fees in all of them, compared to American universities, because they are funded by the State as High School can be.
Of course you choose your university according to the field of study you are interested in: either law, medicine, biology, political science,arts, economics...And right from the first year you get specialized in this field of study.

A lot of students then fail to pass their first year, because they were unsufficiently prepared in their high school.

As the French Higher Education system is a dual one - as explained above - the best students ( not all of them, but most of them) go to "prep school" after high school and have 2 years to prepare the entrance exam of a "grande école". These selective schools are public for some of them, private for others. They can be described as "one faculty elite university", they last 3 years and deliver a master.
Very small is the number of students in each of them (from 1000 to 8000 students), but they have much more money per student and are better considered than traditionnal universities (graduates get better jobs, are better paid).

As you can understand the French higher education system is a complex one, and most High School students don't understand how it really works before they get into it. This is a real problem : only well informed students make the best choice for their future. And these students are usually the kids of wealthy parents. This is how the world goes...

i am saadoune from algeria,i want to continue my studies in europe or usa,j'ai obtenu mon bac en 2000 <scientifique>avec 13,14 de moyenne,j'ai passe 3 ans a l'ecole national preparatoire aux etudes d'ingeniorat;i don't khow what i must do,can you help me?

Le dossier de pré-inscription doit être retiré et déposé avant le 31 mars au Service Culturel de l'Ambassade de France en Algérie qui le retransmet à l'Université de premier choix.

Les candidats retenus adressent directement leur demande de visa avant le premier août auprès du

Consulat général de France à Alger (BP 33C EL MOURADIA 16070)


sources :

http://www.edufrance.fr
et : http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/venir/visas/index.html

I'm preparing the GED in morocco and i want to pass the test?
Where in France can I pass the test?
Give me names of the universities in France but it need to be american.
Do I need to have the toefl to enter the american university?
Can u please answer me as quickly as possible
thankyou soo much

Hello

As mentioned, this is a topic dealing with studies in France. I'm not sure the GED test can be tacken in a French High school of University.
About american universities, as far as i know only a few of them have open centers in France for their own home students, but i'm afraid that they do not offer to pass tests.

On the contrary the Toefl test can be tacken in France easily, and yes, it is usually needed to study in the USA, or the UK, or other english speaking countries.

You may find more information by contacting :
ttp://www.fulbright-france.org/htm/coordonnees.asp

thx for answering me but i have a question plz??
Is there an american public university or an american private but to be more cheaper in France??
Can I pass my TOEFL in France and enter an american university just with it??Or I need to succeed in the 12th grade +the TOEFL??
thankyou and i hope you answer me the fast as possible

I d'ont think so



No it's not enought

Salut !
Je suis enseignant à l'université de setif préparant une thèse d'état sur les couches minces . Je voudrais passer des stages de perfectionnement dans des laboratoires s'occupant de ce domaine. Mon séjour sera pris en charge par notre université.
Cordialement votre