Higher education in France is open to students having a baccalaureate or equivalent diploma.

Higher education is organized in three stages: LMD (licence, master, doctorat, i.e. BA, MA or master's degree and PhD or doctorate), as defined by the Bologna agreement.

There are two main types of studies:

• Short studies (two or three years),
• Long studies (4 to 8 years).

Short course of study generally concern business, industry and the services and are generally offered by multidisciplinary institutes attached to universities (Instituts Universitaires de Technologie - IUT - vocational Institutes of Technology) or specialized schools. Their programmes include theoretical instruction and practical work placements in companies.

Qualified Technician/Engineer sections are popular because they are vocationally oriented towards the labour market.
These courses are the equivalent of the higher classes of secondary schools, and lead to a diploma called Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS - advanced vocational training certificate) in over a hundred different specializations.

The BTS prepares students for professional life. This certificate, highly sought after by companies, is also accepted for admission to university (BA then MA) and engineering and management schools, depending on one's specialization.

Long courses of study are organized by universities and the “grandes écoles” (higher education establishments with competitive entrance exams, specializing in professional training).

Universities prepare students for three levels of qualification:

• Degree (BA, BSc etc)
• Master's degree (MA, MSc etc)
• Doctorate (PhD).

Three years of study lead to a licence (6 semesters and 180 ECTS credits).

Five years of study lead to a master (4 semesters after the licence, and 120 ECTS credits).

A doctorat requires 8 years of study study (6 semesters and 180 ECTS credits).

French universities prepare for degrees, master's degrees and doctorates in all fields: human sciences, technology, medicine, pharmaceutics, law, management etc. 

Many licences (BAs) or masters (MAs) are oriented towards professional life. 

Many licences (BAs) or masters (MAs) are oriented towards professional life. Admission is subject to passing a competitive examination after two years' study in a preparatory class (organized by secondary schools or in certain grandes écoles). 3 or 4 years of study in these schools lead to a qualification equivalent to a master.

Higher education in France includes universities (state-controlled) and private or semi-public establishments (the grandes écoles in particular).