Studying in France

Understanding your university pathway

The LMD system

The Université de Perpignan Via Domitia applies the European LMD system, which equates to Undergraduate-Master-PhD: Undergraduate - Licence (L) - Baccalaureate +3 years Master (M) - Baccalaureate +5 years PhD - Doctorate (D) - Baccalaureate +8 years
 

National diplomas

In accordance with article D613-4 of France’s Education Code, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research accredited the following national diplomas (by order of 8 June 2021) in all of the major academic fields:

DAEU, Certificate of Capacity in Law (Capacité en droit), DEUST, Bachelor’s , dont les licences Access Health (Accès Santé), Professional Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s in Technology (BUT), Master, Engineering Degree, Doctorat (PhD).

University diplomas (DU)

In accordance with the provisions of article D613-2 of the French Education Code, the University of Perpignan offers short, specialized courses known as University Diplomas (DU), which do not generally have a national accreditation. Accessible at different levels of study, they can be added to a traditional university course, such as the DU in Languages. Aimed at international students with a desire to enter within the university system, the objective of the CUEF's DUs is to prepare them linguistically, methodologically and culturally. The other DU programs are mainly aimed at people who are already employed and who would like to specialize in a specific field or skillset, go back to school or change direction, or those seeking to use their personal training accounts (CPF) (employees, self-employed people, the self-employed, jobseekers, etc.).

Certifications

The UPVD is a certification center for :

French and French as a Foreign Language (FLE):

DELF-DALF : Diploma in the French Language and Diploma in Advanced French Language   TCF : French Knowledge Test TEF Canada: French Evaluation Test (Canada)

Foreign languages :

TOEIC: Test of English for International Communication CLES: Certificat de compétences en Langues de l'Enseignement Supérieur (Certificate of Language Skills for Higher Education). It provides reliable proof of a candidate's level in English and Spanish.

Digital skills

PIX: Digital Skills Certificate

Validation of prior learning

The principle of validation is set out in the French Labour Code: "any person engaged in working life is entitled to have the benefits of his or her experience, in particular professional experience or experience related to the exercise of trade union responsibilities, validated".

There are three types of validation:

VAE : VAE, or Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience, enables anyone to have their experience recognised through professional certification (diploma, professional title, CQP, etc.). VES : Validation of higher education studies (VES) enables you to obtain all or part of a diploma by recognising your studies in France (in a course not leading to a state diploma) or abroad. VAP :Validation of professional experience (VAP 85) enables you to gain direct access to a university course without having the required diploma, by having your professional experience (whether salaried or not), the training you have taken or the personal experience you have acquired outside the training system validated.