Did you know there is no graduation ceremony in France for le lycée and l’université? Schools may choose to host a small event to recognize students who are receiving their diplomas (diplômes); however, it is not at all like the graduation ceremonies you may have attended in the US.
College, or university, is called une université or une fac (short for faculté).
Students can apply to various universities in France with their grades (les notes) and a cover letter (une lettre de motivation). Most universities are public, which means that the student pays no tuition, except for a registration fee of a few hundred euros. Like in the US, there are also private universities, which can cost thousands of euros per year to attend.
The different diplomas at the université level are:
|
la licence |
(three years, like a bachelor’s degree in the US) |
|
la maîtrise |
(two years, like a master’s degree in the US) |
|
le doctorat |
(like a doctorate or PhD in the US) |
