French high school in France for international students

After France's accession to the Bologna Declaration, its education system is undergoing a process of constant changes, and secondary school education in France has a very attractive price. The European quality of the country's private and public schools makes the country very popular for foreign students. A three-year study at the high school in France  guarantees foreign students admission to a higher educational institution, and studying at universities is subsidized by the state and has an extremely low cost.

SMAPSE managers will help you choose an educational institution: the presented catalog is convenient and easy to use, you will be able to choose a high school in France according to the specified parameters. Admission services to educational institutions of the country are free of charge. We are not intermediaries.

The initial stage begins when the child reaches the age of six. At this stage, international children usually have general educational stage, which includes:

• Standard subjects;
• Learning to read, write;
• Learning the basics of mathematics;
• Learning is characterized by a semi-intensive level of academic load.

Studying at the middle school covers the period from 11 to 15 years. The collège programs provide for four years of study and are generally mandatory. This is the first stage of the school cycle.

The next stage is lycee – a transitional stage between middle school and university. The lyceum helps the child in different aspects of this educational stage:

To go through special subjects in depth in the chosen direction (for admission to university);

To gain the knowledge necessary for mastering the profession. This is an optional stage of education, which provides for education up to 18 years.

At the age of 13-14, college students begin preparing for choosing a profession and a lyceum profile — as with studying in England after grade 9, studying abroad will require additional education from a foreign student. From the age of 13, physics and chemistry are studied and at the age of 14, children can optionally study Latin. Also, the secondary school provides for the development of a second foreign language without fail. In the last year of college, students study specialized disciplines and take exams to obtain a diplôme national du brevet. Also, children determine the leading direction and decide which educational institution they will be transferred to.

Lyceums are of three main types:

• General (3 years of study);
• Technological (3 years);
• Professional (two years of study).

After graduating from a general education or technological lyceum, the child takes an exam and receives a certificate. So he gets the opportunity to enroll in a higher educational institution. The areas of education are diverse, but the most popular are design. You can also enroll in quite rare areas – cosmonautics, aeronautics.

The BEP certificate is issued after graduation from professional lyceums and confirms the right to work in the service sector. Most of the students after the education enter the transitional classes to receive the traditional VAS.

Foreign students can study in the country in French, English, such programs are most common. Classical local institutions provide for obtaining a national certificate, international ones work mainly according to the British system.

The  tuition in the high school in France is significantly lower than, for example, in the USA, Switzerland or England. The State system is represented not only by state institutions, but also by private ones, which make up about 20% of the total. French educational institutions do not provide for a religious direction.

Asiya Watson

Client Relationship Manager at Hult EF Corporate Education

What other factors should be considered when choosing a school, besides teacher qualifications?

Look into the campus facilities, like sports fields and gyms, and the quality of the boarding accommodations, including room conditions and occupancy rates. Consider the diversity of the student body, the educational programs offered (especially regarding diplomas and graduation), the list of universities graduates typically attend, the school's reputation, and the backgrounds of the staff. The school's location is also a key factor.

Foreign students need to have an official guardian for admission, this will allow them to enter both a private institution and a public one. As a guardianship organization, it is permissible to specify a representative of an institution or a social organization, most often the school itself enters into bilateral agreements with a number of institutions on guardianship care and invites new students to contact these representatives.

If the parents of a foreign student themselves prefer to choose an official guardian, they should check the registration of the company in the country and consider whether this representative has an agreement with the institution.

For admission, parents (or a future student) need to prepare a package of documents and finish some activities:

• Write a motivation letter and indicate the reasons for choosing this institution;
• Interview (via Skype or personal);
• To take a test in French and some subjects, the list of disciplines depends on the profile of the lyceum.

Successful completion of the course of full secondary education (diploma of YOU) guarantees admission to universities in the country.

Studying in public institutions is relatively free, but choosing a boarding house, you will need to pay for accommodation and meals. A private boarding school will cost about 22-35 thousand euros per year. Such educational institutions usually provide:

• Full board;
• Effective educational programs;
• A lot of additional classes;
• Different electives.

Also, private institutions are distinguished by a developed sports and entertainment internal infrastructure.

How to prepare for best high school in France? Foreign students who are planning to enroll in an universities in France must speak French or English and confirm their proper level of proficiency by passing international tests. It is also mandatory to have a BAC certificate (on completion of middle school), if we are speaking about higher education.

The admission procedure depends on the type of the educational institution but obtaining an International Baccalaureate diploma greatly simplifies admission. Also, students from a foreign country can enroll in a preparatory course at a university or take a 3-year study at lycee.