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How to choose a bachelor’s degree in France: 7 criteria to make the right choice
Check whether the bachelor’s degree is recognized by the French State
This is the first criterion to consider. In France, the term “bachelor” alone does not determine the official recognition of a program.
Depending on the program, you may come across different terms: state-recognized degree (diplôme visé), licence degree status (grade de licence), professional certification registered with the RNCP, or an institution-specific degree. These do not mean the same thing.
Understanding the French system: a three-year licence at a public university is not necessarily equivalent in status to a bachelor awarded by a private institution. In France, the title “bachelor” alone does not confer a national academic grade.
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A diplôme visé is a degree officially recognized by the French State following an assessment of the program and institution.
The grade de licence is an academic degree status that may be awarded to certain three-year higher education degrees. It is an important point to consider if you are planning to continue your studies afterward.
A professional certification registered with the RNCP, France’s National Directory of Professional Certifications, certifies an identified qualification level and set of professional skills. RNCP records allow you to check the qualification level, awarding body, targeted skills and expiration date of the registration.
These forms of recognition therefore serve different purposes. An RNCP Level 6 qualification, for example, should not automatically be considered equivalent to a grade de licence. -
Follow four simple steps:
1. Find the exact name of the degree or certification awarded.
2. Check its status with the relevant official organizations.
3. Check the validity period of its recognition or registration.
4. If you are considering a master’s degree, check the admission requirements of programs that may interest you.
On Parcoursup, each program page also provides useful information about its status, tuition fees and opportunities for further study.
A useful rule: if a school simply states that its bachelor’s degree is “recognized” without explaining what that recognition means, ask exactly which degree or certification you will receive. -
Le Bachelor en Intelligence Artificielle et Management est présenté par SKEMA comme un diplôme Bac+3 visé par l’État. Il correspond à une certification de niveau 6 enregistrée au RNCP sous le n° 42252.
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Two bachelor’s programs in management, digital technology or artificial intelligence can have very different curricula.
Do not rely on the program title alone. Look closely at the curriculum and ask yourself which practical skills you will have developed by the end of the three years. -
A coherent curriculum does more than place different subjects side by side. It creates a progression: fundamentals in the first year, followed by more advanced learning, practical application and specialization.
Look at:
• the courses taught each year;
• the role of projects and business cases;
• the tools and technologies used;
• the balance between academic knowledge and professional skills;
• assessment methods;
• the progression toward specialization.
The teaching approach matters as much as the course content. If you learn best through experience, look for a program that gives a significant role to projects, case studies, challenges and teamwork.
The SKEMA School of Professional Studies Bachelor in AI & Management illustrates this approach by combining AI, data and management with applied learning and an increasingly focused professional pathway. Check the detailed course sequence for your chosen campus and specialization.
A question to ask at an open day: “Can you show me an example of a project completed by students in the first, second and third years?”
The answer can often tell you more than a list of courses.
Check:
Choose a specialization that matches your goals
A bachelor’s program often starts with a relatively broad foundation before allowing you to refine your direction progressively.
Specialization can be a real advantage, provided it supports a professional goal rather than simply reflecting a sector that seems attractive when you apply.
Assess the professional experience offered
Bachelor’s programs are often described as career-focused or professionally oriented. The important question is what that means in practice.
Internships, work-study programs, company-sponsored projects, classes taught by professionals, business challenges and recruitment events can all bring students closer to the professional world.
Internship or work-study: two different experiences
An internship allows you to discover a role, sector or organization for a defined period. Completing several internships throughout your studies can help you experience different environments before choosing a specialization.
A work-study program provides a longer-term immersion. In France, an apprenticeship alternates between academic study and practical training with an employer. The student also becomes an employee of the company.
This format can provide substantial professional experience, but it also comes with specific demands: finding an employer, managing an intensive schedule and balancing professional responsibilities with academic work.
Check when professional experience begins
A final-year internship and two years of work-study clearly do not provide the same experience.
In the SKEMA SPS Bachelor in AI & Management, professional experience is integrated into the curriculum from the second year. In France, students can follow a work-study format in Years 2 and 3, while the Dubai pathway includes an alternating internship format.
Support should also be part of your assessment: CV preparation, interview coaching, access to opportunities, meetings with companies and individual guidance. The program provides support from the development of the student’s career plan through to the search for a work-study position.
Read also: Learning by doing and apprenticeships.
Look beyond the promise of an international experience
“International program” is a common expression in higher education. But it can mean very different things.
A genuinely international bachelor’s program may offer several opportunities: courses taught in English, campuses abroad, academic exchanges, international internships, multicultural cohorts or courses addressing international business issues.
Ask specific questions
Before choosing, check:
• which mobility opportunities are actually available;
• when they take place during the program;
• whether they are mandatory or optional;
• the language of instruction;
• any language requirements;
• any additional costs;
• whether professional experience can be completed abroad.
Studying internationally also involves practical considerations: housing, visas depending on the destination, cost of living, mobility and adapting to a new environment.
In the SKEMA SPS Bachelor in AI & Management, the AI & Business Development specialization is offered at the Dubai campus and taught in English. The other three pathways are based in France, at Grand Paris and Sophia Antipolis, where instruction is in French. The Dubai pathway is taught in English.
International exposure therefore becomes a genuine pathway choice rather than simply a communication claim.
Examine career prospects and further study options
A bachelor’s degree can support two objectives: entering the professional world after three years or continuing your studies.
If you are still deciding between the two, look for a program that allows you to make that decision progressively.
Compare tuition, admissions and student support
This final criterion is often decisive, but it should not be considered in isolation.
Two bachelor’s programs with different tuition fees may also offer very different models in terms of work-study, student support, campuses or international experience.
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Consider the complete experience:
• degree recognition;
• academic content;
• teaching quality;
• projects completed;
• length of professional experience;
• work-study opportunities;
• student support;
• international environment;
• professional network;
• career prospects and further study opportunities.
If work-study is available, also check the financial arrangements associated with it.
Tuition benchmarks: public university licence tuition in France is generally regulated and substantially lower than private bachelor tuition, although fees depend on nationality, exemptions and the institution.
For the SKEMA SPS Bachelor in AI & Management, pathways in France list €12,000 for Year 1, with Years 2–3 offered through an apprenticeship funding model, and an application fee of €100. The Dubai pathway lists €21,000. -
Admission procedures vary by program. Some programs recruit through Parcoursup, others accept applications directly through the institution, and some combine several admission routes.
For the 2026 intake, Parcoursup listed more than 25,000 higher education programs, including approximately 11,000 programs available through apprenticeships.
The fact that a bachelor’s program is not on Parcoursup is therefore not, in itself, an indicator of its quality. Return to the criteria above, particularly the exact recognition of the degree.
For the SKEMA SPS Bachelor in AI & Management, the admission route depends on the campus and applicant profile. Applicants holding a French baccalaureate generally use Parcoursup for pathways in France; international applicants may apply directly through MySKEMApply. Check the current admissions page for your specific pathway.
Which bachelor’s degree in France matches your profile?
hese seven criteria will not carry the same weight for every student.
| If your priority is... | Look at this first... |
| Building professional experience quickly | Work-study, internships, projects and the corporate network |
| Continuing to a master’s degree | Degree recognition and master’s admission requirements |
| Specializing in a particular field | The content and depth of the specialization |
| Developing an international profile | Language, campuses, mobility and experience abroad |
| Learning through practice | Projects, real-world cases and teaching methods |
| Keeping several options open | A broad foundation, recognition and progressive specialization |
Your choice should also reflect how you learn best. A highly career-focused program may suit a student who enjoys experimenting and working on projects, while another student may prefer a more theoretical and academic approach.
If you are still deciding between different types of post-secondary programs, start by comparing the available formats. In France, university licences, BUT programs and private-school bachelors have different academic and professional structures. Once you have identified a bachelor’s degree as the right option, the seven criteria in this guide can help you compare individual programs.
Checklist: 10 questions before choosing a bachelor’s degree in France
Before applying, make sure you can answer these ten questions:
1. What exact degree or certification will I receive?
2. What is its official recognition, and how long is that recognition valid?
3. What skills will I actually develop over the three years?
4. How does the program progress from the first to the third year?
5. Which specialization best matches my goals?
6. How much time will I spend gaining professional experience?
7. Can I follow a work-study format, and from which year?
8. What international experience is actually available?
9. Which careers and further study options are consistent with the program?
10. Is the total cost consistent with the experience and support provided?
If you cannot easily find these answers on the institution’s website, ask them at an open day, education fair or admissions interview.
Q&A: choosing a bachelor’s degree in France
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Start with your goals and the way you learn. Then compare degree recognition, curriculum, specializations, work-study and internship opportunities, international exposure, career prospects and further study options. The name of the bachelor’s degree or school alone is not enough to make an informed decision.
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Identify the exact degree or certification awarded. Then check the information with the relevant official organizations, including the French Ministry of Higher Education and France Compétences for RNCP certifications. Do not rely on a generic statement such as “recognized degree.”
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Start with the skills you want to develop and the professional environments that interest you. Marketing, finance, human resources, digital technology, luxury and business development lead to different pathways. Also check whether the specialization develops sufficiently transferable skills to allow your career to evolve.
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Work-study can be particularly relevant if you want to build substantial professional experience during your studies. However, it also involves an intensive schedule and finding an employer. Check when the work-study option begins, how time is divided between school and the company, and what support is available.
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Yes, in many cases, but admission is not automatic. It depends on the degree awarded, its recognition, your academic record and the admission requirements of the master’s program. Check these conditions before choosing your bachelor’s degree if you are already considering further study.
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Look for a program where the international dimension is tangible: courses taught in English, mobility opportunities, a campus abroad, international professional experience or a multicultural environment. Also check whether your chosen specialization matches the sectors and careers you are targeting.
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No. A diplôme visé, RNCP Level 6 certification and grade de licence are distinct forms of recognition. Check the precise award and the admission requirements for any intended master’s program.
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The right bachelor’s degree is not the one that makes the most promises. It is the one whose degree, curriculum and experiences match your goals.
If you want to build professional experience quickly, focus on projects, internships and work-study opportunities. If you are considering a master’s degree, pay particular attention to degree recognition and further study requirements. If you have already identified a sector, compare the depth of the specializations rather than their titles alone.
Finally, cross-check the information available: review the detailed curriculum, verify official recognition, speak with current students and ask the program teams specific questions.
This approach will help you answer the question “Which bachelor’s degree should I choose after high school?” and select a program that is consistent with your profile, ambitions and the path you want to build.
