The Engineering education (“Grandes Ecoles d’Ingénieur”) that France has to offer is exceptionally good considering the fact that these “Grand Ecoles” of engineering are very picky in selecting and accepting only the top students. The standard of the engineering curriculum in French engineering schools is outstanding – combining training in both theoretical and practical fields of engineering. Before we talk about the engineering degrees in France and what they actually mean let’s first list some of the best engineering Universities in France. 

The reason to pick an engineering University in France is because the quality of engineering education offered in the 250+ selective engineering colleges of France is considered one of the best in the world. Here are our top picks:

1. Grenoble Alpes University
2. Université de Lorraine
3. INSA Lyon
4. Polytech Montpellier
5. Sorbonne University 
6. Université de Lille

Grenoble Alpes University

The Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA, French: meaning “Grenoble Alps University“) is a public research university in Grenoble, France. Its Engineering and Management department is divided into 8 courses. With 55,000 students and out of those 8,500 being international students, Grenobles Alpes University just might be the place for you. It is in association with national research organizations and major international instruments and builds its research and innovation on a global scale. They compete with the best universities in the world thanks to their innovative research and rank in the top 10 French Universities and 100-250 in the world.

Université de Lorraine

The M.S. in Civil Engineering of University of Lorraine offers a program of higher education for students with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or any other related fields to Civil Engineering.The program’s objective is to train students to become future managers by providing essential scientific, technical, and economic resources in order to prepare them for supporting or leading studies in design, sizing, diagnosis and execution of various works in construction companies, engineering offices and research. The main international exchanges concern first and foremost the border universities in the Lorraine: Luxembourg, Liège, Saarbrücke. 

The University of Luxembourg proposes a Master’s degree “Energy and Economic Efficiency” co-authorized with the University of Lorraine.

INSA Lyon

The Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon or INSA Lyon is a Grande École forming multidisciplinary engineers.The five-year curriculum aims at training engineers who possess skills in the primary areas of science and engineering. Students may pursue a PhD after completing the 5-year curriculum. Graduates from INSA Lyon are called Insaliens. 

In addition to language, philosophy and culture lessons, engineering students benefit from training dedicated to business knowledge and management. Research at INSA Lyon consists of 23 laboratories, more than 600 researchers and teacher-researchers, 650 doctoral students and more than a thousand industrial contracts with the socio-economic world.

Polytech Montpellier

Polytech Montpellier is one of the 205 French engineering schools accredited to the 1st September 2019 to issue an engineering degree. The university offers six engineering courses. Their mission is ensuring the training of engineers, under the status of student or apprentice in initial or continuing training, to cultivate international relations, and to contribute to scientific activities by working with the University’s laboratories and to help promote the results, with the aim of raising students’ awareness of innovation and research.

Sorbonne University

Sorbonne University (with 3 campuses) is a public research University in Paris, France. It is one of the world’s most prestigious Universities having won 33 Nobel Prizes, 6 Fields Medals, and one Turing award. One of its divisions is “The Faculty of Sciences and Engineering”. Covering all fields of knowledge in science and engineering, the Sorbonne University  Faculty of Sciences and Engineering supports research at the heart of disciplines, research at interfaces, the development of partnerships with companies, and promotes the emergence of new themes to respond to major challenges of the 21st century.

Université de Lille

The University of Lille is rich in an exceptional cultural and scientific heritage, with its 72,000 students (9,502 of them international), 6,700 staff, 66 research units and a training offer that covers all disciplinary fields. The University of Lille stands out in the region for training, research and innovation and through its commitment to social issues. Thanks to the multiple partners of University of Lille, you have many choices for a study trip abroad: Scotland, Germany, Spain, Austria, Finland, Portugal, Mexico. 

The university’s mission is continuing to help you build your professional project by guiding you in choosing the most suitable training, advising you in finding funding for your training, supporting you in your procedures for validating prior learning to reduce training courses etc.

Types of Engineering Degrees in France 

An engineering degree in France is granted only after completing 5 years of engineering studies. The 5 year engineering degree in France is known as “Diplôme d’Ingénieur” and is the equivalent of Europe’s “Master’s degree”. 

1. Specialized Engineering Degree

About 20 engineering schools in France offer this specialization course in a specific field. 

• 1 year course for engineering students who have studied engineering for 5 years
• 2 year course for students who have pursued only 4 years of higher education in engineering.

2. Specialized Master (MS) 

The Specialized Master (MS) is an accredited and a trademark degree offered only by member engineering colleges of the Conference of Grandes Ecoles (CGE) in France. This degree is for graduates with specialized knowledge and expertise in specific areas. This is a very focused and technically oriented course. 

Engineering degree career options

Engineers are precise and logical. They can follow any type of instructions including design specifications. They’re always prepared for a challenge and a chance to work hard to show off their skills. Engineering graduates have a variety of career options, including different kinds of engineering roles, jobs in related areas such as supply chain and jobs in other industries such as finance and IT.

Skills you can add to your CV after you graduate:

After you’ve graduated and are looking for a job you might not be totally aware of what you have to offer and/or where to direct those offers to. When getting your degree you will have also obtained a lot of useful skills and qualities that will hopefully help you get the career you want. Skills and qualities like: analytical thinking, capacity for details, organizing skills, planning, research skills, teamwork, logical thinking, problem solving, and project management are all what you will be able to add to your CV to help your future employer know you better. 

Alongside your newfound skills, here are some career areas options for you to choose that are within the capacity of your university degree. 

Career areas to choose:

• Mechanical Engineer
• Materials Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Electronics Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Technical sales Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer

What Engineer graduates end up choosing:

If you’re still unsure as to what area of work in engineering to pick or want to choose something that is more popular and easier to get, here is a chart with research conducted by Trendence UK on “what engineers graduates opt for” to help you make a decision or just ease your curiosity. 

Areas of employment	Percentage
Manufacturing	29%
Professional, scientific, and technical	21%
Construction	9%
Information and communication	7%
Education	6%
Wholesale and retail trade	5%