France - Master's studies

The second cycle in the post-Bologna system leads to the Master Recherche (formerly Diplôme d'études approfondies - DEA) or to the Master Professionnel (formerly Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées - DESS) corresponding to 120 ECTS after the Licence. In the pre-Bologna system it used to lead to the Licence, one year after the DEUG, and to the Maîtrise one more year after the Licence.

 The Maîtrise has been maintained as an intermediate diploma and can be awarded one year after the Licence upon request of the student. The “Grade de Master” has been awarded since 1999 to holders of DEA, DESS, of some Engineering degrees (Titres d’ingénieur) and of some écoles de commerce degrees (diplômes visés). In professional fields, the following Maîtrises can still be awarded : Maîtrise des Sciences et Techniques (MST), Maîtrise des Sciences de Gestion (MSG), Maîtrise des Méthodes informatiques appliquées à la gestion (MIAGE).

The Magistère was awarded three years directly after the DEUG (or the DUT). It is not a national diploma, but rather a "diplôme d'université" (DU) accredited in the past by the ministry of education. It associates fundamental and scientific knowledge, professional applications and introduction to research. It is possible to distinguish between general magistères, prepared together with a DEA or master recherche, leading to a doctorate, and the professionally oriented magistères, usually prepared together with a DESS or master professionnel. Not being a national diploma, the magistère has no legal protection and accreditation procedures stopped in 1988 - 1989. With the implementation of the Bologna system in 2004, some magistères disappeared.

Maîtrise holders of Instituts universitaires professionnalisés and engineering students in their last year of engineering school can be admitted to a Diplôme de Recherche technologique (DRT) (Technological Research Diploma), a third cycle diploma issued after completion of a course centring on innovation through technological research in the industrial sector and service industries. The DRT marks the successful completion of a programme of 18 months to two years that is carried out in an industrial or service-oriented scientific environment. In Medicine this cycle (DCEM) consists of four years of study and hospital internship. In Dentistry and Pharmacy, it leads to the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Chirurgie Dentaire and to the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Pharmacie after six years. In the Grandes Ecoles, a Diploma is awarded in Engineering or Commerce, generally three years after two years at university or at CPGE.

The Titre d'Ingénieur is conferred upon successful completion of five years of study beyond the Baccalauréat. Some école d’ingénieur accept students on the basis of a competitive examination generally taken two years after the Baccalauréat (in this case, studies last three years at most) or according to the Baccalauréat results, followed by aptitude tests and an interview (in this case, studies last four or five years). The établissements d'Enseignement supérieur catholique, besides preparing to State diplomas at this level (in agreement with a public university), offer four-year and six-year ecclesiastic canonical qualifications.