Information on french universities?

Question

when attending a French university are there certain required courses like there are in the U.S , regardless of your major or the degree you are pursuing?

Answer 1

I think you're asking if there are "core" or "general ed" courses in France like in the U.S. The answer is no. France, like in most parts of the world, at university, you only take your subject. Once they finish secondary school, their general education is finished. Higher education is on one track at that point.

They have to apply directly to that department (there is no being accepted and then choosing a major). You follow only those classes, sometimes never setting foot elsewhere at that university. Some universities are spread out all over town and when I first came to France, I was wondering how they managed that.

There is very little flexibility with courses. They often give you the program and you have to follow just that. Perhaps there are a few options, depending on the subject and institution.

Two other small details I found interesting. Students go right into med or law school from the equivalent of high school. They don't have to finish university and then re-apply to med or law school. They decide these professions as teenagers, which doesn't work in the States.

Also, specialized schools are often held in HIGHER estime than universities. Anyone who passes the baccalauréat (le bac) can enter a university but their business and engineering schools are really competitive.

French teenagers have to decide their careers very early and if they change their mind, they basically lose that time and have to start over. There is no transfering units over from one subject to another. Higher learning is specific to young students and getting your degree in the evening or part time is almost unheard of.

Answer 2

Eclipse said it all. Before university you have to take all the general education courses (10 subjects minimum) and prove you've learned enough to go to higher education by taking the Baccalaureat exam. But when you go to University you specialise and study only your chosen subject, or if you are brave enough you study two subjects at the same time. There are no required courses outside your chosen subject.

Answer 3

Almost all courses are required in French Universities. Students usually  have few course selection options once they enroll in a particular diploma and changing majors is very difficult.

EDIT: In answer to "so all courses are required as..."  French Universities are more focused on developing skills in the individual's specific field of study rather than in imparting what Americans might call "a broad liberal education."

To a great degree this is because French students learn vastly more in their early years and come to University far better educated than American high school students (many of whom can barely read, write or do simple arithmetic).

Answer 4

No, there are not any kind of such mixtures -

meanwhile, in the cursus that you chose - you have optional and mandatory courses - with various values - some courses are at high coefficient others lower - and the final total of your exam-marks enables to know if you can access to next year or not - start again a failed year is possible once but not more