Université Pierre-Mendès-France - General Information for International students
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General Information for International students
A few words on the university programs and trainings in France
The French Licence (=Bachelor) lasts 3 years and starts right after the Baccalauréat (= A-levels) (Bac +3), the Master lasts 2 years after the Licence (Bac +5) and the Doctorate lasts 3 years after the Master (Bac +8).
Learn more about the LMD system.
The « Licences » are almost never multidisciplinary in France: they focus on one single science (Law, Sociology, Economics, Philosophy...)
There exist two types of Masters:
- Professional Masters (Masters P: Master Professionnel): their aim is to quickly integrate the students in the professional world as soon as their training is over; the major part of the 2nd year of the Master is dedicated to a period of training (internship).
- Research Masters (Masters R: Master Recherche): their objective is to allow the students to follow their studies in a Doctorate; the major part of the 2nd year is dedicated to the writing of a Master thesis.
There also exist shorter University programs (Bac+2 or Bac+4; 2 years or 4 years of study after A-Levels), vocational (towards professional objectives) provided by IUT (Institut Universitaire Technologique = University Technological Institute) and IUP (Institut Universitaire Professionnel = Vocational University Institute). .
French academic schedule
The academic year includes:
- a first semester from early September to January
- a second semester from January to May (the exams take place in May)
The 2nd session of exams, for the students who did not pass their exams on the first session, takes place in June.
This schedule is informative and may slightly vary according to the faculties and the programs.
How to apply?
If you wish to study at Pierre Mendès France University (UPMF) out of an exchange program (=à titre individuel), you can also look into the complete information at the heading Inscription to know about the admission enrolment and entrance procedures.
To apply for a 1rst or 2nd year of Licence (=Bachelor) L1 or L2, foreign students have to ask, in December, for a pre-admission request or, according to his/her nationality to address to a Centre for studies in France.
To apply for a 3rd year of Licence or a 1st year of Master (L3 or M1), foreign students have to ask, in April, a Studies Validation Request (=demande de validation d'études).
To apply for a 2nd year of Master (« M2 »)
The application of foreign students is generally dealt at the same time as the application of French students, in March - April. The answers of the admission are given within the month of June, and sometimes until September for students on waiting list.
Under certain circumstances, in the programs with a high entrance selection, and if the applicants can justify it (notably when asking for grants, fellowships or with VISA problems), an anticipated consideration of the student's documents (=dossier de l'étudiant) can be requested to the head of the program (mail to service des relations internationales)
Admission Criteria
At all events, the student's dossier is examined by a committee that decide, on a case-by-case basis (according to the student's course of study, his/her home University, his/her academic grades, his/her work experience...), to validate or not the part of his/her course of study done in his/her country, and at which level of study can he/she claim in a French University.
If you apply for a M2, you may be accepted in M2, but you may also be admitted in M1, in L3...
This is the reason why it is recommended, at the same time as you ask for the studies validation request, to transmit a pre-admission request, in case you would not be accepted in M2, M1 or L3, and providing you accept to enrol in L1 or L2.
Enrolment fees
Pierre-Mendès-France University is a State University; French State takes charge of the major part of the academic program / training, including for the foreign students.
Nevertheless, there remain for the students to pay for :
- schooling fees (=frais de scolarité) : from 400 to 2000 euros depending on the degrees
- Social Security /Health insurance (=Sécurité sociale) : about 200 euros
You can find further information on the living conditions of a stay in France at the heading Inscription
Documentation
French level
You have to certify of a sufficient French level and possible take exams. To know more about it, consult Campus France website.
