France

In France, there are more than 3,500 public and private institutes of higher education. Universities, Grandes Ecoles and schools of art or architecture: there is a wide choice for foreign students who want to study in France. Universities receive 75% of the foreign students who pick France for their post-secondary education. These public institutes of higher education are financed by the French State. Located all around France, the universities confer national degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) that have all the same academic value.

Everyone who has a high school diploma or equivalent can enrol in the first year. Science, literature, languages, arts, humanities, medicine and sport: university programmes cover all of the areas of learning and research.

• Universities
  Universities are public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to any student who has obtained a “baccalauréat “ or its foreign equivalent. University study leads to degrees in many fields. Degrees are three different levels of achievement.
• Grandes écoles
  “Grandes écoles” are selective public and private institutions. They are similar to universities, but typically offer a more specialized three-year course of study, in subjects such as engineering, business, or public administration. Students are admitted to the Grandes écoles based on their scores on a competitive exam. Before taking this exam, students must have obtained a “baccalauréat”, and they often have taken a two-year preparatory course (cours préparatoires or prépas). Students graduate from a Grande école with a master’s degree (master).
• Specialized schools
  Specialized schools are public or private institutions that train students for professional careers in specific fields, such as art, architecture, social work, or tourism. They offer licence and master degrees.

French higher education has adopted the LMD system.
The three-level organisation of post-secondary education is shared by most countries in the European Union; in France, meaning licence-master-doctorat (Bachelor's-Master's-Doctorate), or the LMD system. This system standardises the levels and organises recognition of the degrees in the different countries. It makes educational mobility easier in Europe and elsewhere.

There are several tools that can help you select the programme that corresponds to your level and area of studies in French higher education. In particular the Campus France online catalogues.

Reference Portals:

Campus France
campusfrance.org/en
Campus France is the agency responsible for the promotion of French higher education and the welcoming of foreign students. This website offers information on the higher education institutions and programmes, the registration process, the cost of education, scholarships programmes. 

Portal for international students
etudiant.gouv.fr 
This is a government portal designed to help newly arrived students settle in.