France has a total of 87 general universities. Since all these universities are public, education is free and there are no entrance examinations. The students only pay 800 to 4,000 francs for the registration fee of one year. France’s comprehensive universities offer the same basic and common majors like in China diploma such as the arts, the sciences, economics, law, etc.

The education in France’s general universities is divided into two phases: the first phase is composed of the first year (freshman) and second year (sophomore) in the university. The second phase refers to the third year (junior) and fourth year (senior) in the university.

Completion of the first phase of their studies will give the students the eligibility to receive the basic education diploma (DEUG). When the student has completed the third year in the university, he/she will be awarded the License Diploma and upon completion of the fourth year, the student will be awarded the Maitrise diploma. The License and Maitrise are equivalent to China’s undergraduate and master’s degrees respectively. Also, after completing intensive research projects during the fourth year of study in the university, the student will get a diploma (DEA) or a senior professional studies diploma (DESS). These diplomas are equivalent to China’s master’s degree. The DEA is one of the requirements for admission to the Doctoral program (Doctorat).

The French National Diploma recognizes diplomas obtained from any France public university. As such, the students who hold a diploma have the right to choose which university they want to attend and finished their university education, particularly the three stages of university education.

Incidentally, medical-related majors in France have different system compared with other disciplines. Students who major in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other medical majors are not awarded any diploma after completion of their first and second stages in the university. They have to complete all the requirements until the third stage before they shall be given the medical diploma.

France's College of Professional Education is sometimes called the “big school”. The school includes Institute of Engineers (ECOLE D, INGENIEURS), the Teachers College (ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE), the School of Business (ECOLE DE COMMERCE ET DE GESTION) and the Political Institute (INSTTUT D, ETUDES POLITIQUES). The main objective of the School of Professional Education is to provide quality professional education on engineering technology, education, economic management and political sciences. Generally, the courses would take three to five years of completion. On the basis of course that student pursue, they can either receive Institute Certificates, DESS, MBA or MASTERE. Admission requirements are very rigid. High school graduates will not be admitted when they fail in the entrance examination.

France has a total of 200 schools of professional education. Some of which are private. Private colleges charge higher tuition fees of about 17,000 francs per year.

Approximately 250 Ecolesa d'Ingenieurs, some of which are housed within universities, offer a 3 - year curriculum that is approved by a national commission. Some Engineering schools, such as the Ecole Polytechnique, the Ecole Centrale and the Ecole des Mines, offers a general course which enables engineers to handle all management functions in industry. Others take a more specialised approach in subjects such as agronomics, chemistry, biology and information technology. An engineering diploma gives access to a Matere (equivalent to a Master's degree).

Most Ecoles d'Ingenieurs have admission routes for international students, whose level is determined by their prior studies in France and abroad. Annual tuition fees are approximately ￡400.

The "n+1" programme is targeted at students who have at least a bachelors degree. It offers them the possibility of obtaining a Masters degree (equivalent in France to a "Diplome d'Ingenieur). Studnets are offered the opportunity to extending their skills outside the traditional scientific and technological dimensions of an engineering qualification to areas such as economy, sociology and management that will be part of their future careers. This is achieved through cultural and linguistic adaptation programmes and qualifying work placements. www.nplus1.tm.fr

The ENS (ENS Ulm and ENS Cachan in Paris, ENS Lettres et Sciences Humaines in Lyon and ENS Lyon for Sciences) train HE teachers for 4 years in sciences, technology, applied arts, humanities, economics and social sciences. They are highly selective and prestigious HE institutions. Entry requirements: at least 2 or 3 years HE. Selection is by competitive examination. There is a special foreign visitors status for students on international exchange programmes.

Students who attend this school are trained to specialize in technical personnel in different professions such as secretarial, international trade, computer, travel, etc. completion of a degree in this school normally takes two years. Graduates are awarded with the Senior Technician Diploma, which is also recognized by the French National Diploma Association. Holders of Senior Technician Diploma students can be directly admitted to the university for further related study. This school is offered both in private and public institutions. Public education is free but attending the private institutions would cost you tens of thousands of francs.

Apart from the above five categories introduced by the Higher Education, the French have some vocational training schools, such as tourism and hotel management. The difference however, is that these courses can be completed within one year to four years only compared to a university education which would take you two to five years of completion. After completing the course, the student is also awarded a diploma recognized by the French National Diploma Association. However, schools that offer this type of education of curriculum are usually private. Therefore, students who attend such would cost them an amount of francs.

Chinese students who wish to study in a university in France must have finished at least their junior high school education and then must pass the French entrance examination. Chinese students who have finished their undergraduate education may apply directly to the graduate program or attend a post doctoral degree at universities that offers such degree.