General courses
These are divided into 3 cycles. The 1st cycle is of 2 years for undergraduate studies. The 2nd cycle is of 2 to 3 years of graduate studies. The 3rd cycle is of 1 to 3 years of post graduate studies. Each cycle leads to a national degree.

French higher education is based on a common architecture (IMD) ­recognized at the European level - that counts the number of years of validated study following the baccalaureat (French secondary school matriculation examination for university entrance).

Thus, baccalaureat + three years = Licence (180 ECTS), baccalaureat + five years = Master (300 ECTS), and baccalaureat + eight years = Doctor at (Ph D).

ECTS (European Credit System Transfer) credits
A European system for transferring academic credits within Europe. Credits, corresponding to an evaluation of the amount of work a course represents within the overall volume of work required for a successful academic year, are assigned to each course. 60 ECTS credits are awarded for a year, 180 for the licence level, and 300 for the master level.

Further information is available at the website: europa.eu.int/comm/ education/pro grammeslsocrates/ects - en.html