Secondary Education

Secondary education in France is divided into two main stages. The first stage, collège, lasts four years for students aged 11 to 15 and provides a broad general education in subjects like French, mathematics, history, and sciences. All students conclude this stage by taking the national diplôme national du brevet examination.

The subsequent stage, lycée, spans three years for students aged 15 to 18. Students choose between three main pathways: the general baccalauréat, the technological baccalauréat, or a vocational baccalauréat professionnel. The culmination of their studies is the eponymous baccalauréat (or bac) examination. This prestigious national diploma is both a school-leaving certificate and the primary requirement for university entrance, marking a significant rite of passage for French students.

Higher Education

France's higher education system is characterized by its unique dual structure, comprising universities and the highly selective Grandes Écoles. The country is renowned for elite institutions like Sorbonne University, École Polytechnique, and Sciences Po.

University education is open to all baccalauréat holders and typically follows a three-year licence (Bachelor's), two-year master's, and three-year doctorate model. The parallel Grandes Écoles system, entered via highly competitive exams after preparatory classes, produces many of the nation's leaders in engineering, business, and public administration. French higher education strongly emphasizes theoretical knowledge, abstract reasoning, and academic rigor, with many programs incorporating mandatory internships to provide practical experience.