Everything you need to know about the admission requirements, the duration, the organization and the course of the French studies, the pace of work, the integration in a Grande École…
1. duration of the study
The preparatory classes are two (2) years long and allow only one year of repetition. Those who repeat a second year will be redirected to the universities
2. Pace of work
– A busy schedule and a lot of personal work. Preparing for the competitive entrance exam requires a sustained rhythm. A student in a preparatory class can work up to 60 hours a week, including both classes and personal work.
– The preparatory class allows students to acquire rigorous work methods that will be useful for the rest of their studies, but also in their working lives.
– The regular evaluation of the work allows to control the level of each student and to ensure a progression of the acquisitions.
– Studies are conducted only in French, therefore, candidates must have a good command of this language.
3. Organization of the studies
– The preparatory classes are integrated into the framework of the national schools of higher education, with small classes and reinforced pedagogical supervision.
– The teachers of the preparatory classes are available, play the role of tutors, receive students individually who seek advice and accompany them in their work.
– The timetable is divided between classes, tutorials and continuous assessment.
-The preparatory classes must allow the student to pass the entrance exam to the higher schools.
4. professional discovery
There are no internships during the two years. These classes are a preparation for the entrance exam to the grandes écoles and the teaching is theoretical (with a lot of practical work for a better understanding of the courses).
5. Studiengang
– The passage to the second year is subject to semester exams and continuous assessment.
– Repeating a year is not allowed, except in special cases (illness, accident or major family problems). At the end of the preparatory classes, a certificate describing the student’s progress is issued. This system allows those who wish to join a bachelor’s degree to validate their achievements and obtain an equivalence with university studies.
Admission
– BAC grade depending on the BAC option, and the available pedagogical places in the school. To be eligible to apply, students must have an average of at least 13/20 for BACMathematics and Techniques Mathematics, and 14/20 for the BAC Experimental Sciences. These grades can be changed and are indicated in the orientation circular for new baccalaureate students issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Diplomas
The preparatory classes do not lead to a title, but give right to credits that can be used in the LMD system; the preparatory classes validate 120 credits at the end of the 2 years of study which allow them to obtain equivalences in case of reorientation.
What’s next?
The national schools of higher education recruit only students from preparatory classes and those from universities after they have passed the competitive entrance examination to the grandes écoles based on tests or qualifications.
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