More than 200 French schools of engineering accredited in 2023

The CDEFI is an association created in 2004 to represent schools of engineering in dealings with the State, the European Union and international organisations. Its members are directors of public and private institutions accredited by the Commission des titres d’ingénieur (CTI, Engineer Degrees Commission) to deliver the title of graduate engineer. In France, it is the CTI, created by a law of 1934, which is responsible for giving an opinion on all training courses, prior to authorisation from the Ministry of Higher Education to grant the title of graduate engineer.

204 schools spread throughout the country

A total of 204 schools of engineering are accredited this year, according to the following breakdown given by the CDEFI:

• 121 public schools placed exclusively under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, including 63 public schools within a university and 24 schools within a school of engineering;
• 33 public schools under the supervision of another ministry or a local authority, or under shared supervision with another ministry;
• 50 public schools, including four consular schools (supervised by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and 34 private higher education institutions.

Geographically, most of the major French cities have schools of engineering located in their territory. However, the highest density is found in:

• the Ile-de-France region and Paris (50 schools);
• major student city hubs: Rennes (16 schools), Toulouse, Lille, Nancy-Metz (13 schools in each city), but also Lyon (12 schools), Bordeaux (11), Nantes (10).

In addition to these schools, the CDEFI stresses, there are 33 foreign establishments in nine countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Lebanon, Morocco, Switzerland and Vietnam) which grant degrees accredited by the CTI and accepted by the French government. Holders of these degrees are authorised to use the title of graduate engineer in France.

Discover all there is to know about the engineer degree on this info sheet

Campus France publishes a number of Fiches ressources (resource info sheets) on training and degrees in France, including one devoted exclusively to the title of engineer, a specific feature of French higher education.

download the info sheet

The engineer study course combines academic and professional training leading to the degree of engineer and covers 64 specialities, with a renowned French certification that is recognised by the French government.

The French engineering degree is awarded following a 5-year course (10 semesters, 300 ECTS credits), including 2 preparatory years, which provide excellent training in basic sciences

These courses have many strong points, including:

• the close links between the engineering schools and companies, which play an active role in their governance: the programmes developed jointly enable students to work on practical cases;
• the frequency of internships, which are compulsory in various positions;
• the possibility of a gap year, before the final year of the engineering cycle, allowing students to spend a year in a company, in France or abroad, to carry out a study or an expert mission;
• exchange programmes and stays in foreign countries included in the study courses and recognised as part of the process to pass the engineering degree;
• the use of the English language: certain courses and disciplines are taught exclusively in English in classes open to all nationalities.