Engineering Education in France

• Introduction
• The French Education System
  • Studies before entering Higher Education
  • Scientific and technical education
  • Types of scientific and technical Curricula
• To be an engineer in France
• Various educational paths for engineers in France
• French Engineering Education Program Types
  • Traditional program types
  • New Educational Paths for engineers in France
  • Other higher technical programs
• International Dimension of French Engineering Schools
  • Some general data and trends
  • Some indications for foreign students wishing to pursue engineering studies in France
  • Institutions partnerships leading to double engineering degrees
• An International Comparison

Introduction

• guides and advice to foreign students about various administrative procedures and prerequisites for entering French colleges, with various examples;
• existing international exchange programs or networks in which French engineering schools participate, such as training programs yielding double graduation degrees, or pioneering initiatives like the first European EURINSA study level ;
• comparison of French engineering degrees and their foreign equivalents, with a few comparison charts.

The French Education System

Studies before entering Higher Education

• kindergarten, for 3-to-5-year-old children (optional);
• primary school, for 6-to-10-year-old children (mandatory);
• high school, divided into junior high schools (11 to 15 years old) and senior high schools (16 to 18 years old) (mandatory).

• the general BaccalaurÈat, opening the route to long advanced studies in various domains, such as sciences, fine arts, literature, human sciences ;
• the technical BaccalaurÈat, usually leading to short college cycles ;
• the professional BaccalaurÈat, allowing the continuation of studies, but mostly enabling its graduates to find employment.

• a BaccalaurÈat, preferably scientific (general BaccalaurÈat "S") or technical ("STL" or "STI"),
• or an equivalent level,
• or passing a special examination to enter university studies.

Scientific and technical education

• it does not only take place in universities, but also sometimes in high schools (´lycÈesª) even after having obtained a BaccalaurÈat (special courses preparing for specialized colleges, special technical sections - "STS"), and many engineering schools are small compared to their foreign equivalents (from 30 to 500 students per year).
• French universities themselves normally don't select among candidates : the BaccalaurÈat itself opens the doors to higher education.

Types of scientific and technical Curricula

• Short university-level technical curricula :

• There are two large categories of short, two-or-three-year, technical programs :
  • Technical institutes (IUT) are semi-autonomous structures within universities, leading to a University Degree in Technology (DUT) ;
  • Special technical sections (STS) take place within certain high schools and lead to an equivalent degree, the Higher Technician Certificate (BTS).
  These curricula last two years after the BaccalaurÈat. As they are short and technology-oriented, they directly lead way to employment. The delivered degrees are valid at the national level. The students may pursue another year of studies in some particular area and get the National Specialized Technology Degree (DNTS).
  
  Students may also pursue longer studies, for instance in Professional University Institutes (IUP) or engineering schools.
  
  

• Scientific and technical programs within universities

  Scientific university curricula are divided into three levels :
  • First level (two years), leading to the Non-Specialized Studies Degree (DEUG)
  • Second level (two years), leading to the Licence degree (bac+3level) and to the MaÓtrise degree (bac+4 level)
  • Third level (up to five years), with the Doctoral Qualifying Degree (DEA) at the end of the first year, and the Doctoral Degree after approximately three more years of research activity (bac+8 level).
  Universities deliver other more technically-oriented degrees :
  • at the bac+2 level : Non Specialized Scientific and Technical Studies Degree (DEUST) and University Degree (DU) ;
  • at the bac+4 level : Bachelor Degree in Science and Technics (MST),
    Bachelor Degree in Corporate Computer Applications (MIAGE)
    both requiring two years of study after a previous bac + 2 degree;
    Professional University Institutes (IUP) which requires three years after a com petitive examination at the bac+level ;
  • at the bac+5 level :Magister Studies ( MagistËres) requiring three years after a bac+2 level, DESS requiring one year after a bac + 4 level ;
  • at the bac+6 level : Technical Research Degree (DRT) given to students having conducted tech nological research in close relation with a company.
  All these curricula take place within universities and aim at providing specialists to industry.
  
  

• Long technical studies : the engineering programs

  There are a lot of engineering studies in France. They differ from one another on several grounds : program duration, kind of entrance examination, areas covered. Foreign students can't easily grasp a clear picture with such great amount of sometimes small schools. Common characteristic of these engineering schools : the engineering degree is at bac+5 level.
• The classical model of the specifically French engineering education system includes two stages :
  • two years of preparatory classes (Classes Preparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles Scientifiques). Preparatory sections are part of same high schools. In these sections, students are being prepared to competitive examinations for entering Engineering Schools (Grandes Ecoles Scientifiques technically oriented). A few schools of education (Ecoles Normales Superieures, more scientifically oriented) also recruit that way.
  • three years of higher technical education within schools.
  The better known engineering schools, some of which are 200 or more years old, follow this model.
  
  However, in the last forty years, new engineering programs were developed :
  • some engineering curricula recruit students at the BaccalaurÈat level (most of them without a special exam), and give them a 5-year training ;
  • others still recruit at the bac+2 level, but accept students who have already got a degree (DEUG,DUT or BTS) instead of organizing a competition for students coming from preparatory sections.
  Most engineering schools take a few university graduates (bac+4) who then follow the last two years of engineering school with the other students.
  
  

• MastËres

  In France, ´MastËresª are additional one-year programs for graduate students, offered by engineering or business schools.

To be an engineer in France

Engineer : a title and a job

• In France, to be an engineer first means to exert a profession that requires a good level of technical expertise, directly or undirectly bound to producing goods or services for the community. An engineer designs new products, has a manufacturing responsibility or is a project manager. He may discuss technologies and methods being used or argue about them if need be. That's how he differs from a lower level technician who only implements in conformance with guidelines.
• To be an engineer has a second meaning : earning the engineering degree after rather long training period (usually 5 years after BaccalaurÈat), with a curriculum that includes a balance of scientific, technical and even economic studies.

• it is possible to get an engineering job without having an engineering degree ;
• the career of graduate engineers often leads them to managerial positions where technical aspects may disappear or, at least, be reduced..

• studies any problem related to engineering education ;
• examines engineering degree habilitation requests coming from engineering schools and monitors the authorized engineering education programs ;
• intervenes to preserve the quality of education ;
• investigates within engineering schools or companies.

Various educational paths for engineers in France

A diversified landscape with common characteristics

• A competitive system where the scientific baccalaurÈat is prevalent

  Competition and selection are strongly connected to any engineering education. Selection occurs:
  • either by the competitive examinations at the end of preparatory classes (leading to most prestigious engineering schools),
  • or immediately after the BaccalaurÈat, based on students' grades and interviews,
  • or after a few university years, or after IUT or STS.
  Access to engineering schools is only open to good or very good high school students with sufficient scientific background. However, opening engineering schools to graduates of DUT, BTS or DEUG, and developing new engineering schools (NFI) has allowed high school students with a technological background to enter engineering schools.
  
  

• Connection between engineering schools and companies

  In the last 15 years, many relationships have developed between schools and companies, aiming at adapting the programs to needs of the job market. They may lead to true partnerships between schools and companies (sponsoring student activities, forums and seminars, lending equipment, teaching by company representatives). Companies appreciate getting students involved in internships scheduled within the school curriculum.
• Internships were first established because companies claimed that studies were too abstract, and to prepare future engineers for the workplace. Internships are now offered in all schools and at least one internship is mandatory in 90 % of the schools.
• Three kinds of internships are organized by schools :
  • observation or workman internships
  • technician internships
  • engineering internships
  These various internships are part of the study program, and follow one another in a pedagogical progression. Some of them occur during summer vacations.
  
  The average total duration of all internships is 28 weeks, but there are big differences between engineering schools. The last internship (engineering internship) is usually the longest, lasting about 18 weeks. The total duration of internships is between 15 and 30 % of total study time, and sometimes more than that.
  
  
  The quality of the internships is important to get a degree : most schools give it a weight of 10 to 30 % in the final grade, and some of them only give the degree after completing the internships.

French Engineering Education Program Types

Traditional program types

• Studies organization in traditional engineering schools

  In traditional schools, the engineering degree can usually be obtained after five years of higher education.
• Within these five years, the first two years aim at giving the students basic scientific training, and a work methodology (first years of five-year engineering schools, or DEUG, DUT, BTS, or preparatory classes).
• The proper engineering training lasts three years (about 3000 hours) and includes :
  • a basic scientific training, with many different subjects, covering with less depth the field of several university four-year curricula ("maÓtrises"),
  • a basic technical training, more or less bound to a large application sector (chemistry, mechanics, ...),
  • a basic diversified training (about 20 to 30 % of the allotted time), in foreign languages, economy (economic computations useful for engineers), human education,
  • a practical training, sometimes very important, with short or long internships within companies (with usually at least one personal project ending studies, more or less similar to an actual industrial case).
  Both small and large schools are trying to adapt to their environment through changing stress on options which are often revised according to companies' needs.
  
  

• Schools that recruit mainly through Competitive Exams after scientific or technical preparatory classes

  
• These are the most numerous : 110 among 202 in january 1995.
• Competitive examinations for entering engineering schools are prepared within preparatory classes of lycÈes (´classes prÈparatoires aux grandes Ècoles scientifiquesª). Preparation lasts two years after the BaccalaurÈat or three years if the student decides to repeat the second year (the year called ´mathÈmatiques spÈcialesª).
• Engineering training then follows for three years.
• Some competitive exams permit access to several schools, and such unions create groups of schools. For instance, the ´Mines/Pontsª exam groups 8 schools, while the ´Centrale/SupElecª exam groups 7 schools and the ´Polytechniqueª exam groups 37 schools (23 in physics and 14 in chemistry).
• Studies in preparatory classes are particularly tough, because of the intense effort required and give character reference to those students who were able to sustain such efforts.
• 10 337 engineers graduated in 1992 within these programs (60,7% of the degrees delivered by schools mainly entered after initial studies).

• Schools recruiting mainly at bac+2 level, 2 years after high school degree (DEUG, DUT, BTS level)

• 42 engineering programs recruited mainly bac+2 students in Jan. 1995. Those are almost exclusively programs internal to universities.
• Recruitment in these programs occurs mainly through analysis of the students's c urriculum vitae (resume) and interviews. Most of the candidates have got a DEUG A (earth and life structure sciences) or B (life or natural sciences) or a DUT/B. Percentages of course vary from one program to another. Selection is most severe : DEUG in no more than 2 years, excellent DUT/BTS with a relevant major.
• These schools also recruit a few students of preparatory classes, provided they have at least successfully passed the written part of the competitive examinations for the better schools ("admissibilitÈ"). These programs produced 1,622 graduates in 1992, that is more than 9.5 % of the total number of engineering graduates.

• Schools recruiting mainly at the baccalaurÈat level

• Fifty among the 202 schools recruit directly at the BaccalaurÈat level. These programs are close to their foreign counterparts, like German Technical Universities.
  Their advantage lies in studies designed from the start for engineering training. They allow students to choose a major without risks of competitive examinations.
• These schools often join together for selection (INSA, ENI, schools of FESIC) ; recruitment may use the students curriculum vitae (INSA), or examinations (FESIC, ENI), with a complementary discussion with the jury.
• Priority is given to scientific high schools graduates, whose percentage varies according to the schools. ENI recruit also technological high school graduates. Training occurs in 5 years, usually with two cycles (INSA, FESIC) :
  • a first cycle of 2 years, organized according to a plan which can be
    • either one of preparatory classes (FESIC type schools),
    • or one of a probation year followed by an orientation year (INSA schools),
  • a second cycle of actual engineering training which lasts three years.
  Other schools do not distinguish these two cycles (ENI, ESIEE).
  
  
  5 067 students graduated from these programs in 1992.

New Educational Paths for engineers in France

The ´NFI'sª

NFI studies organisation

• periods of training within companies alternating with academic education, under joint leadership of an industrial adviser and faculty members ,
• specific, tangible, lightened education, built upon experimentation,
• specialized programs adapted to the needs of companies : NFIs cover the largest job-offering sectors, mainly electronics and mechanics.

Other higher technical programs

IUP : "Instituts Universitaires Professionnalisés"

• a scientific and technical basic education,
• a complementary education preparing for insertion within companies,
• internships in relevant domains

A degree of 'ingénieur-maître' at the level bac + 4

• DEUG after the 1st study year,
• Licence after the 2nd study year,
• MaÓtrise after the last year.

Specialized ´Mastères' (´MS')

• Duration and program :

  MSs last at least 12 months, but they may last 18 months or 2 years.
• The curriculum includes :
  • at least 350 hours of theoretical and practical courses,
  • a personal study or research work, which lasts at least 4 months within a company ; this work leads to the submission of a professional thesis.

• Admission requirements :

  A french or a foreign engineering or management degree is required, of bac+5 level (in France, DEA or DESS are accepted). However, a few (up to 20 %) lower level (bac+4) positions may be accepted for applicants with several years of professional activity.
• Information about how to apply may be obtained through the relevant schools.

• Foreign students admission :

  The initial higher specialization of foreign students allow them to get through MS the kind of education that corresponds to their countries' standards..
• 470 foreign students are studying in engineering MSs in 1994-95, i.e. 34% of the global students population.
• Countries' origin of foreign students :

• Western Europe 64 Eastern Europe 122 North Africa 148 Central
  Africa 50 America 27 Middle East 30 (mostly South America) Asie 29 

• Cost of the MS studies :

  The registration fees for engineering MSs varied last year through a large range, with 30 % of them around 40,000 FF, but in many cases fees were reduced through scholarships from various public origins, counties,towns, state ... Fees for individuals or for company employees are sometimes different.

             (Source : ConfÈrence des Grandes Ecoles)

International Dimension of French Engineering Schools

Some general data and trends

• In specialization programs (specialization schools, "MastËres specialisÈs", ... ), and doctoral studies, the percentage of foreigners is 30 % on average, but may reach 50 % in some cases.
• In initial studies leading to the engineering degree, harsh selection methods based on a high mathematical level lead to a lower foreign student admittance ratio, usually around 5 %, sometimes 10 % in some engineering schools ; besides, most foreign students wishing to prepare an engineer degree follow the way of the admittance "sur titres" (based on the candidate's curriculum) , more accessible than the competitive entrance examinations. However, many more foreign students are coming through international exchange programs for 6 months to one year studies that do not necessarily lead to official degrees.

Some indications for foreign students wishing to pursue engineering studies in France

• Preparing an engineering degree
• Following specialized engineering studies leading to a degree
• Preparing a doctoral degree in engineering sciences
• Staying in an engineering school in the framework of an exchange network to study or pursue research
• International courses and programs
• Other types of training courses or programs designed for foreign students

1. Preparing an engineering degree

   Because of the selective French engineering schools admission system, students need a very good high school level in mathematics and physics, which generally makes it difficult for foreign students to prepare French engineering degrees. However, there are some possible ways which could be interesting to explore.
   • Engineering Schools recruiting at the BaccalaurÈat level These schools recruit students using the students' grades and interviews ; this eases foreign students integration.
   • Some schools have made particular efforts for admitting foreign students; here are some significant examples :
     • The 4 INSA (Lyon, Rennes, Rouen, Toulouse) created in 1991 a European first-cycle EURINSA, currently accessible to about thirty European countries. This two-year program is given in French, with mandatory learning of two other foreign languages, and enables one to later enter either one of the 4 INSA in its third year, or another European partner college. About 100 students get registered per year, of which 1/3 are French students. Contact : EURINSA : Jean-Claude Bureau, TÈl : 33-72 43 80 90 or Laura Gandolfi , TÈl : +33-72 43 84 72
     • The UniversitÈ Technologique de Compiegne (UTC) organizes courses in semesters and credit hours and offers a flexible structure for international exchanges (particularly within the ECTS network of mechanical engineering). About 100 foreign students follow the entire engineering education, not including 400 foreign students among 1000 students registered in doctoral or specialized courses.
     • The Ecole Europeenne d'Ingenieurs en Genie des Materiaux de Nancy (EEIGM) of the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine, founded in 1991, has a partnership with the University of Saarbrueck (Germany), the Polytechnical University of Barcelona (Spain) and the University of Lulea (Sweden). Partner schools' students may get an engineering degree in 5 years, by attending courses in the universities of 3 European countries (the two first years in their country of origin, third and fourth year in a European partner country, and last year both in France and another country).
   • Engineering Schools recruiting on a Competitive Examination These schools, which mainly recruit on the basis of competitive examinations after preparatory classes, are very difficult to enter at the first year level for foreign students, except for those students coming from countries having the same kind of preparation system (ex.: Lebanon, Morocco, Syria ).
   • Some schools (ex.: Centrale, SupElec) organize a special competition for foreign students having a high school degree and having followed preparatory studies for French or foreign engineering schools. This competition leads to entering the first year as a foreign intern student and later passing into the second year if satisfying the conditions. It is however easier to get admitted "sur titres" (without examination) directly in the second study year. This usually concerns students who already graduated from another school or from a foreign university.
   • Specific Programs giving a Double French and Foreign Degree The double degree system has been developed within the framework of partnerships between French and foreign schools, mainly aiming at European mobility. Selected students must feel strongly motivated because of the important adaptation effort and usual additional length of the studies needed to get both degrees (from 6 months to one year).
   • The most important of these programs is the TIME network (Top Industrial Managers for Europe) developed by Ecole Centrale de Paris and extended to 23 European institutions ; it produced since 1989 about 100 double degreed European graduates. Contact : Prof. Elinor Sigler, Ecole Centrale de Paris, Bureau des Formations Internationales, Grande Voie des Vignes, 92295 Ch,tenay-Malabry Cedex, France
   • TÈl : +33-1-41 13 14 19 - Fax : +33-1- 41 13 15 04 or 41 13 14 36. The EPF Foundation introduced studies with double degrees in partnership with Fachhochschule of Muenchen and Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Based on perfectly integrated curricula which are no longer than normal studies (1rst, 3rd and 5th year in France, 2nd and 4th year in Canada or in Germany); they enroll every year classes of around 30 students (15 from each country).
   • Also with double degrees, ENSAM intends to initiate a French-German Center in Metz (opening in September 1996) with Technical University of Karlsruhe : students from both countries will study together, alternating between France and Germany. In the same spirit, ENSAM opens a French-Iberian Center in Bordeaux in September 1995, with 5 engineering schools of Northern Spain and the Engineering College of Porto University. Contacts : ENSAM Paris, Odile Jacquemin, TÈl : + 33-1-44 24 62 04 - Universitt Karlsruhe, Isabelle Hornick, TÈl + 49-0721-608 28 94 - Centre ENSAM Bordeaux : TÈl : +33- 56 84 53 33, Fax : +33-56 84 53 53
   • Another original idea led to the Diplome Tripartite of ESIEE (so called because of the program tricultural profile ), created in agreement with the universities of Karlsruhe (Germany) and Southampton (U.K.) and ICAI of Madrid (Spain). Students spend their 4th and 5th years abroad, each year in another partner country, and get at the same time the ESIEE degree and the Diplome Tripartite. About 200 European students have followed this course.
     
     

2. Following specialized engineering studies leading to a degree

   These are graduate studies, thus much easier to enter for foreign students than undergraduate studies.

   • Specialization Schools giving an Engineering Degree

     These 21 schools (see list) offer one or two years of specialization studies for candidates who usually have already graduated from an engineering school. Foreign candidates may enter with an engineering degree with the same level as French degrees (bac+5 level). Foreign candidates having got up to the level of the French "maÓtrise" (bac+4 level) may also enter, but they have to study two years in this case. Some schools take a high percentage of foreign students, and have even developed specialization studies in English :
     • ENSPM (Ecole Nationale Superieure des PÈtroles et des Moteurs) in Rueil-Paris is an internationally oriented school, with 40 % foreign students coming from 40 countries (7300 alumni including 1500 foreign alumni). It offers international programs in English :
       • Advanced Technology in Petrochemicals, Polymers and Plastics : a program with a modular structure (maximum 16 months) organized in partnership with the University of Mc Gill, Canada, leading to ENSPM engineering degree or a " MastËre" in petrochemicals polymers and plastics;
       • Energy Management and Policy : 16 months, in partnership with University of Pennsylvania,USA, leading to double degree of MSc of Penn and ENSPM engineering degree or "MastËre" in energy management and policy.
     • ESAT/CNEARC (Ecole Speciale d'Agronomie Tropicale/ Centre National d'Etudes Agronomiques des RÈgions Chaudes), located in Montpellier, organizes a two-year program addressing the special needs of warm and underdeveloped countries, with 6-month internships in a tropical country.
     • Prerequisites :
       • without examination, at the Bac+4 level .
       • with a competitive examination for candidates at the Bac+3 level, and having at least worked for three years in warm countries agriculture ..
       Applications should be sent before May 15 to CNEARC, 1101 Avenue Agropolis, BP 5098, 34033 Montpellier Cedex 01, France - TÈl + 33-1-67 61 70 00 - Fax : + 33-1- 67 41 03 23
       
       This program leads to the Diplome d'Agronomie Tropicale (DAT) at the end of the first year, and to the CNEARC engineering degree, DiplÙme d'IngÈnieur d'Agronomie Tropicale (DIAT) at the end of the 2nd year . Almost half of the graduates are foreigners.

   • ´MastËres SpÈcialisÈsª (MS) organized by Engineering Schools

     About 60 engineering schools (and also some management schools) organize these high-level business oriented specialization programs, usually 12 to 15 months long including personal work leading to the submission of a professional thesis. These are around 140 of these programs in science and engineering.
   • French or foreign candidates should hold an engineering or university degree of bac+5 level. Bac +4 level candidates with professional experience may also apply in some MSs.
   • Some of these programs were organized within international partnerships : French-polish MastËres in industrial engineering and paraseismic engineering (ECL, ECP, ENSMSE with the polytechnical schools of Wroclaw and Scezin) or in Telecommunication Network Management (ENSTBr and Ecole Franco-polonaise of Poznan).
   • Get more information in the chapter dealing with "MastËres SpÈcialisÈsª.
     A list of MastËre programs is distributed by the ConfÈrence des Grandes Ecoles, 60 Bd Saint-Michel, 75272 Paris Cedex 06 - TÈl : 33-1-43 26 25 57 - Fax : 33-1-46 34 56 70.

   • DiplÙmes d'Etudes SupÈrieures SpÈcialisÈes in Engineering Sciences (DESS) organized in partnerships between Universities and Engineering Schools

     More than 200 specialized graduate programs lead to a DESS. Those are organized by universities, often in partnership with one or many engineering colleges. These programs last one year.
   • An engineering degree or a university degree at the bac+4 level is required. Selection is organized using the student's resume and interviews (usually in June/July and again in September). Candidates should enquire about admission formalities in May.
   • The list of these programs is available :
     • in the "catalogue du CEFI des DESS en Sciences de l'Ingenieur", available in French Embassies (Scientific services), or at CEFI - 7 rue Lamennais - 75008 Paris - TÈl +33-1-42 89 15 73 - Fax : +33-1-42 56 04 05 ;
     • on the Internet network, under URL : http://cri.ensmp.fr/~cefi/dess.html

3. Preparing a Doctoral Degree in Engineering Sciences

   Obviously, doctoral studies are the most important scientific exchange programs of engineering schools or universities (percentage of foreign doctoral students in ENPC : more than 50 %, in ENST : 43 %, in INSA, the Institut National Polytechnique, UTC... : 40 % ).
4. Candidate selection and admission are under the responsibility of a committee which usually meets twice, in June and September.
5. Admission may occur at two levels :
   • DEA-level (Ph.D. qualifying year) for foreign students whose degree is at least at a bac+4 level; the DEA is usually considered as a preparatory year for the doctorate thesis, but it may also be a final degree ; in some engineering schools, students registered in the last year of the engineering curriculum may prepare simultaneously the DEA, with some additional research work;
   • thesis preparation level (after exemption from DEA) for foreign students whose degree is at least at the engineering degree or bac+5 level.
   There is no automatic equivalence system for recognizing foreign degrees. The admission committees, when deciding the admission of students in DEA or thesis studies, take into account all previous studies of the candidates, their grades, personal projects ... and their ability to follow the French doctoral studies. Therefore, a good foreign engineering degree does not guarantee exemption from the DEA.
   
   Before worrying about administrative procedures for registering in doctoral studies, the candidate should get in touch with the faculty member in charge of the program, in order to tell him about his ideas and motivation.

   Theses under joint sponsorship by French and foreign higher education institutions

   In January, 1994, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research decided to authorize French higher education institutions to give doctor titles jointly with their foreign equivalent. This aims at developing scientific cooperation between French and foreign research teams by easing mobility of Ph.D. students.
   
   These thesis are being alternatively prepared within both institutions under the supervision of both advisers. The thesis has to be written in one of the national languages of both countries, and a summary has to be written in the other language. The thesis is submitted only once to a jury including the same number of scientific representatives of both countries.
   
   The list of the DEA programs is available :
   • in the "catalogue du CEFI des DEA en Sciences de l'Ingenieur", available in French Embassies (Scientific services)or at CEFI -7 rue Lamennais - 75008 Paris - TÈl +33-1-42 89 15 73 - Fax : +33-1-42 56 04 5 ;
   • on the Internet network, under URL : http://cri.ensmp.fr/~cefi

6. Staying in an engineering school in the framework of an exchange network to study or pursue research

   Engineering schools most often examine applications coming under the guidance of existing exchange programs with foreign partner institutions, though individual applications are also welcome.
7. These partnerships tend to get priority because the schools know the involved colleges of foreign students and their professors, and because they can get some reciprocal priority for foreign trips of French students and financial advantages (for instance, internships for students and mutual remittance of candidates fees within European ERASMUS networks).
8. Through the ERASMUS European program, many higher institutions networks now increase student mobility ; each college validates studies accomplished in a foreign college. More than 2/3 of French engineering schools abide by this principle and offer to European students 6 to 12-month courses, in their 2nd or 3rd study year (often the students may choose between courses of different years). Most double-degree partnerships were built within these networks.
9. Some networks later tried to structure relationships in order to increase exchanges (the following list is of course not exhaustive) :
   • ACEE - Automatic Control & Electrical Engineering, created by ENSIEG in relation with the departments of 8 European Universities : the 4 UK Universities of Bath, Birmingham, Brighton and Glasgow, TU Braunschweig and TU Stuttgart for Germany , University of Lund in Sweden and University La Sapienza in Rome, Italy.
   • the CLUSTER Network, Cooperative Link between Universities of Science, Technology for Education and Research, groups 9 institutions : Eindhoven University of Technology (NL) , Imperial College London (UK), Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (FR), Politecnico di Torino (IT), Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm (SW), Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (D), Technische Universitt Karlsruhe (D), Trinity College Dublin (IR), UniversitÈ Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (B).
   • ENTREE , European Network for Training and Research in Electrical Engineering coordinated by ESIEE, is an inter-university cooperation and mobility program towards a tri-cultural education of engineers within Europe. The partners will sanction the tri-cultural profile of those students who have spent a minimum of 6 months in each of two network countries.
   • 16 european institutions are part of the network : EPFL Lausanne., ESIEE Paris, ESIM Marseille, ICAI Madrid, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, T.U. Delft. , TU Dresden, TU Karslruhe, UniversitÈ Libre de Bruxelles, University of Essex, University of Heriot-Watt Edinburgh, Southampton University, National Technical University of Athens, Universidad de Valladolid.
   • the LEUVEN Network gathers 6 Institutions of Northern Europe (Imperial College London, RWTH Aachen, Katholeike Universiteit Leuven, UniversitÈ Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, Technische Universiteit Delft, NTH Trondheim) and the Group of Engineering Institutes of Paris (ENGREF, ENPC, ENSAM, ENSCP, ENSMP, ENST, ENSTA, ESPCI, INAPG) .
   • the STAR 2000 Network (Student Transfer Authority and Reciprocity), coordinated by ENSIMEV in Valenciennes, in association with 11 other european universities : TU Berlin, TU Dresden, Saarland Universitt, TU Gratz, Royal Institute Stockholm, TU Gtteborg, TU Tamperre, TU Trondheim, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol, Universidad Politecnica de Cataluna-Barcelona..
   Apart from these very structured European exchange programs, numerous partnerships have been developed with other countries' institutions, e.g. North-American universities.
   
   Foreign students wishing to study or pursue research in a French engineering school should join partnership programs of the college of origin, which will certainly ease their stay in France.
   
   

10. International Courses and Programs

    Some engineering schools have developed specific courses corresponding to priority needs of foreign candidates. Here are some examples :
    • in English
      • Integrated Reservoir Management, collaborative program organized jointly by Institut FranÁais du PÈtrole/ENSPM, Delft University of Technology and Imperial College London, which lasts 6 months (January-June). Graduates will receive a diploma in reservoir management and will be eligible to submit a short dissertation for the ´MastËre degreeª of the Ecole du PÈtrole et des Moteurs
      • 
        
      • Applications to be sent before September 15 to Institut FranÁais du PÈtrole/ENSPM, IRM Coordinator, BP 311, 92506 Rueil-Malmaison cedex France - TÈl : +33-1- 47 52 60 96 - Fax : +33-1- 47 52 67 65.
      • 
        
      • Courses "New Telecommunication Techniques", which lasts 8 weeks (May to July), organized by CESELEC (Centre d'Etudes SupÈrieures en ElectricitÈ, Electronique, Informatique) Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des TÈlÈcommunications and Ecole SupÈrieure d'ElectricitÈ in Paris with sponsorship of France Telecom, FIEE and the Union of Telecommunications Industries (SIT).
      • 
        
      • Registration fees : 31,000 FF per student. Applications before April 15. Information : CESELEC, 8 Avenue des Minimes, 94300 Vincennes,France. Tel. : +33-1-43 98 38 44 - Fax : +33-1-43 98 12 06
      • 
        
      • "Quality Management in Production Engineering", which lasts 2 months (October and November), organized by CESMECA (Centre d'Etudes SupÈrieures pour l'Enseignement de la MÈcanique) , in partnership with CAST of INSA Lyon.
      • 
        
      • Registration fees : 34,000 FF per student. Applications before September 1. Information : CESMECA, 8 Avenue des Minimes, 94300 Vincennes, France. Tel. : +33-1-43 98 29 92 - Fax : +33-1-43 98 12 06
      • 
        
      • "ECATA, European Consortium for Advanced Training in Aeronautics", an international program for young European engineers in the field of aeronautics. This program is being organized jointly by ENSAE, the Cranfield Institute of Technology, the Department of Aerospace Engineering of Pisa University, ETS of Aeronautics Engineers of Madrid, Technical University Delft, and Technical University of Muenchen.
      • 
        
      • Contact : ECATA Executive Office, 2 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31055 Toulouse Cedex, France, TÈl :+33-61557183
      • 
        
      • Master in International Business (MIB) of Ecole Nationale des Ponts et ChaussÈes (ENPC), a specialized 15 months program (october - december) including a 6 month- professional training period in industry, welcomes yearly engineers, scientists and economists from all countries (groups of 60 students per year), with a cosmopolitan faculty team (American, Asian, European, ...).
      • 
        
      • Registration fees : 100.000 FF per student. Information : ENPC, Mrs ERERA, TÈl : + 33-1.- 44 58 28 52.
    • in French
      • ´Gestion Technique du Milieu Urbain ´(Technical Management of Urban Areas), organized by the Department for continuous education of UTC CompiËgne and which lasts 9 months (march to november + 2 months languague course for non French speaking candidates) ). Groups of 15 participants.
      • Registration Fees : 62.800 FF per student. Information : UTC, Mrs CÈline FERAMUS, TÈl : +33-44 23 45 75
      • - The CESMAT - ´Centre d'Etudes SupÈrieures des MatiËres PremiËresª - specialized courses : these high level further training courses, which last one academic year, are proposed by various engineering schools of Mining and Geology and designed for experienced engineers and mining geologists. A preliminary three-month- language course is organized for non French speaking candidates. These courses lead to an engineering degree or a French national diploma
      • The different courses are the following :
        1. CESTEMIN - course in Mining Techniques at Ecole des Mines in Nancy;
        2. CESEV - course in Exploration and Valorisation of Mineral Resources - at Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure de GÈologie in Nancy;
        3. C.F.S.G. - specialized course in Geostatistics at Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Mines in Paris;
        4. CESECO - course in quarrying and open mines working at Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Mines in Paris;
        5. CESPROMIN - course in mines planning at Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Mines in Paris (Fontainebleau);
        6. CESSEM - course in mines security and environment at Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Techniques Industrielles et des Mines in AlËs;
        7. CESAM - course in mines administration at Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Mines in Paris (Fontainebleau);
        Information : CESMAT, 60 boulevard Saint. Michel, 75272 Paris Cedex 06 - TÈl : + 33-1-46347618, Fax : + 33-1- 43 25 17 99
    Short continuing education courses It is also important to know that a great number of engineering schools offer in the framework of continuous education a large series of short courses and seminars (a few days long) for professionals, centered on very specialized fields. Foreign students coming to France to follow a long study program may so have the possibility to complete their training in a specific subject through this type of short course. The catalogues and programs of theses courses are available in the continuing education departments of the different engineering schools.
    
    

11. Other types of training courses or programs designed for foreign students

    • ´Jean Monnet Programª of ´Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechniqueª

      Thanks to "Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechnique", this program could be offered to students of the best American or Japanese universities. Its aim is to give a European cultural, scientific and industrial vision. The program extends for one year with courses and seminars (4 months), internships in companies (5 months) and study travels. Selected students can get a scholarship of the Fondation.
    • Information : Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechnique, 29 Place des Corolles, La DÈfense 2, 92400 Courbevoie - TÈl : + 33-1- 47 75 89 00 - Fax : + 33-1- 46 98 92 29

    • Summer Program of Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL)

      INPL entered a cooperation and student exchange agreement with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Kansas State University, and University of Wisconsin at Madison. Thus, INPL has been admitting since 1991 French speaking engineering students from these universities in a Summer Program which starts mid-May and lasts for 10 weeks. Language training and cultural education by INPL's "Centre d'Accueil et de Formation Linguistique" last 6 weeks. 4 other weeks are oriented towards a scientific activity in a lab, in the student's major field, with factory visits. Students write reports about these activities, in French. These reports are validated by the initial American university and give credits to students. This "ý la carte" program encounters an increasing popularity among students, and managers of INPL are looking for other American university partnerships.
    • For any information : Mme LUCIUS, I.N.P.L. - S.R.I. - 2 Avenue de la ForÍt de Haye - BP 3 - 54501 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex - TÈl : +33- 83 59 59 36 - Fax : +33- 83 59 59 55
      or Miss Kimberley THOMPSON - College of Engineering - Study Abroad Office - 115 International Studies Bldg. - 910 S. Fifth Street - CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820 - Fax (217) 244-0249 - e-mail : kthompsn@uiuc.edu

    • COPERNIC - a management program for engineers and economists from Central and Eastern Europe

      COPERNIC recruits young economists and engineers, all French-speaking,, graduated from the most important Central and Eastern European Universities. A minimum level of 4 to 5 years higher education is required, a first professional experience is recommended. The recruitment phase starts every year in February.
    • COPERNIC was created in 1990 jointly by Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et ChaussÈes, Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Mines de Paris and CollËge des IngÈnieurs. It offers an intensive 7 month training in the field of management and a 5 month internship in a partner or associated company. The internship prepares the students to future responsibility duties in a French company in Central and Eastern Europe..
    • The Copernicians follow about 500 compulsory training hours from october to april in the 4 partner institutions. The training intends to give high level undergraduates additional tools in the field of management. The program is centered on economics and political life, financing and accountancy, strategy and marketing, communication and administration of human resources. The internship (may to september) aims at breaking cultural barriers in order to allow a successful professional integration in the French firms present in Central and Eastern Europe.
    • For any information , contact the COPERNIC Office : 49 rue de l'UniversitÈ - 75007 Paris - TÈl : + 33-1- 49 54 72 81 - Fax : + 33-1- 49 54 72 68. - e-mail : Knut@cdi.cdi.Fr

    Institutions partnerships leading to double engineering degrees

    (this list is not exhaustive)
    
    

    French Institution(s)	Foreign Institution(s)
    TIME Network
    (Top Industrial Managers for Europe) : ECP + EC Lyon, ECLille, ECNantes, ENSAE, ENSTA, SUPELEC 50 students graduated in 1993 100 graduated since the beginning of the program	RWTH Aachen, TH Darmstadt, Fr.Alex U. Erlangen-N¸rnberg, TU M¸nchen, Univ. Stuttgart, TU Wien, FP Mons, U Cat.Louvain, U.L. Bruxelles, DTH Copenhagen, ETSII Barcelone, ETSII Madrid, ICAI Madrid, EMPol. AthËnes, TU Eindhoven, Politecnico Milan, Politecnico Torino, IST Lisboa, KTH Stockholm
    EMN Nancy	Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas de Madrid (U.P.M.)
    ENSMP Paris (acces through usual procedure "sur titres" in the 2nd yr)	Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas de Madrid (U.P.M.)
    ENPC Paris	ETSI de Caminos Madrid, TU M¸nich, TU Berlin, Politecnico Torino
    ENSAM Paris-French-German center in Metz (opening in september 1996)	T.U. Karlsruhe
    ENSAM Paris - French-Iberian center in Bordeaux (opening in september 1995)	U. Bilbao, U. San Sebastian, U. Valencia, U. Valladolid, U. Zaragossa, FEUP Porto
    ENST Paris	U. Stuttgart, Politecnico of Torino, ETSIT Madrid, ETSIT Barcelone
    EMSE St. Etienne	T.U. Berlin
    ENSERG Grenoble	Politecnico of Torino
    ENSPG Grenoble	TU Karlsruhe, Politecnico of Torino
    EPF Sceaux (Production and Automation Engineering Degree)	FH Munich, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal
    ESIM Marseille	ETSII Madrid, Cranfield Institute of Technology
    ESITI - INP Lorraine	FH Mannheim
    INSA Rennes - "Two degrees program in Electrical Engineering"	Strathclyde University in Glasgow (MEng with European Studies)
    ISTG Grenoble	T.U. Karlsruhe
    UTC CompiËgne	Cranfield Institute of Technology
    Other partnership types
    E.E.I.G.M. Ecole Europiéenne en Génie des Matériaux de Nancy	U. Sarrebrück, U.P. Barcelone, U. Lulea
    ESIEE, Diplôme Tripartite (training T.U. divided among 3 european institutions), exists since 1980, around 200 former graduates).	Karlsruhe, U. Southampton, ICAI Madrid

    ---

    An International Comparison

    The degree equivalence dilemma

    Engineering training fields and engineer status differ widely among countries. In Europe for instance, the apparently simple problem of correspondance among degrees, not to speak of equivalence, is far from being solved, and the idea of harmonizing the various systems does not seem realistic. Educational systems specificities are deeply rooted in each country's culture, industry and economy. Large disparities appear in Europe between :
    • kinds of high-school studies and their length before college entrance,
    • means of student recruitment,
    • length of training, in terms of number of years of studies as well as annual credit hours,
    • pedagogical methods (for instance, internships),
    • degree awarding,
    • academic recognition,
    • professional recognition.
    These disparities appear in a few comparative tables, which show some characteristics of various engineering training systems as compared to the French system. In many countries, two engineer profiles coexist : a design engineer with a broad training, and a production and application engineer (trained for instance by Fachhochschulen in Germany or by NFI in France). For each profile, there are nevertheless important national peculiarities.
    
    With such a diversity one may understand why a foreign candidate admission in a French engineering college does not follow automatic level equivalence rules, but results from various factors : number of study years, major and minor fields of studies, implemented projects, ...
    
    A specific European directive about professional recognition of engineering training was planned, but never materialized. Therefore, there is only one European general directive in this area, dealing with recognizing degrees obtained after at least three higher education years for entrance in professions having regulated access.
    
    Because of this definite lack of equivalence standards, Europeans have chosen to develop student and professional mobility by recognizing and validating studies made in colleges of other countries. The ERASMUS program was managed under this principle : student study periods in a European partner college are being validated by the initial college. This process has strongly developed :
    • in some cases through the development of programs leading to double degrees
    • through the E.C.T.S. project (European Credit Transfer System), based on academic credits which are transferable within higher education institutions of the European Union. Institutions wishing to participate in E.C.T.S. - particularly those following non-university framework - must make great efforts to adapt : they have to reorganize the contents of their training programs with credit hours (1 year = 60 credit hours) and they have to use a homogeneous grading scale. The University of Technology of Compiegne (UTC) was the first French engineering school to engage in ECTS in the field of mechanical engineering. Other schools, like INSA of Lyon and ESIEE have more recently adhered.
    Apart from this very structured system, mutual recognition of study periods among institutions from several countries more and more appears to be an essential component of an international opening policy, and is not limited to European exchanges. Partnership agreements exist also with American universities, like the partnership between the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Kansas State University and University of Wisconsin at Madison. Developing this practice and enlarging student exchanges requires confident relationships between foreign partners. A new, unassuming attitude develops, where one takes notice of differences between systems, without emitting value judgements.
    

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Engineering education in France