Programmatic recognition in France: why it matters and what it tells us
With most countries, it’s crucial that a higher education institution is formally recognised. For France, though, institutions are ‘evaluated’ rather than accredited, per se.
By contrast, the French authorities foreground the status of individual programmes. And nationally recognised programmes can be offered by a wide range of providers, beyond those listed on the ministry’s website.
What’s more, providers can offer a mixture of awards: some that are nationally recognised, and others that aren’t.
What constitutes programmatic recognition?
Programmatic recognition can take various forms. However, the following would constitute national awards and would therefore be eligible for UK ENIC assessment:
- Diplôme national – national diploma, quality-assured by the State and awarded by a ministry
- Diplôme d’Etat – state diploma required for access to a regulated profession
- Diplôme visé – official seal of approval from the State
- Diplôme conférant le grade de licence – diploma conferring an undergraduate degree
- Diplôme conférant le grade de master – diploma conferring a Master’s degree
- Professional title included on the RNCP register and associated with a level between 1 and 8
Are non-national awards a red flag?
Lack of national recognition isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. This may simply indicate that an award is specific to a particular institution or sector.
Take the Diplôme d’université (DU). This title designates an institution-specific award that wouldn’t be eligible for UK ENIC assessment. But the DU is issued by the same public universities that confer the main university degrees (licence, master, doctorat).
Similarly, many French institutions offer MBAs that aren’t part of the national system but are accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
Non-national awards may be highly valued in-country and accepted in-country. Admitting bodies may therefore wish to accept non-national awards, at institutional discretion.
What about the grandes écoles?
Grandes écoles are highly selective institutions – but even their courses don’t automatically lead to a nationally recognised degree.
A good case in point is the Mastère spécialisé (MS). This professionally orientated award is specific to the grandes écoles and doesn’t appear on the French qualifications framework. The MS wouldn’t therefore be eligible for UK ENIC assessment.
But the MS is quality-assured by the association of grandes écoles and has considerable currency in the French labour market.
Other grandes écoles programmes may hold some form of national recognition, but this should be checked on a case-by-case basis.
Whatever their official status, universities and employers may wish to accept grandes écoles awards for access to further study or employment.
If members have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with UK ENIC.