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• Recognition of qualifications
  • Austria
  • Flanders
  • France
  • Germany
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
• Recognition networks

France

The body responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifcations in France is the ENIC-NARIC France. ENIC-NARIC France is a public body and part of the CIEP - The International Centre for Educational Research.

ENIC-NARIC France

CIEP - Centre ENIC-NARIC France
1 avenue Léon Journault
92318 Sèvres Cedex
France

Phone: +33 1 45 07 63 21
Fax: +33 1 45 07 63 02
E-mail: enic-naric@ciep.fr

http://www.ciep.fr/enic-naricfr/

France has signed and ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention (1999).

The higher education institutions are responsible for decisions regarding admissions and the level of admission of holders of foreign qualifications. Additionally, professional recognition is the competence of other ministries.

 

Types of recognition

ENIC-NARIC France is responsible for the recognition of the following qualifications and types of recognition:

School-leaving certificate

• informative academic recognition giving access to higher education programmes
• informative academic recognition for the use of an academic title
• informative and advisory recognition giving access to the labour market
• professional recognition in line with EU directives
• professional recognition

Vocational Education and Training Qualifications

• informative academic recognition giving access to higher education programmes
• informative academic recognition for the use of an academic title
• informative recognition giving access to the labour market
• advisory professional recognition in line with EU directives

Short cycle education (e.g. Associate degree)

• informative academic recognition giving access to higher education programmes
• informative academic recognition for the use of an academic title
• informative and advisory recognition giving access to the labour market
• advisory professional recognition in line with EU directives

First cycle education (e.g. Bachelor)

• informative academic recognition giving access to higher education programmes
• informative academic recognition for the use of an academic title
• informative and advisory recognition giving access to the labour market
• advisory professional recognition in line with EU directives

Second cycle education (e.g. Master)

• informative academic recognition giving access to higher education programmes
• informative academic recognition for the use of an academic title
• informative and advisory recognition giving access to the labour market
• advisory professional recognition in line with EU directives

Third cycle education (e.g. Doctor)

• informative academic recognition giving access to higher education programmes
• informative academic recognition for the use of an academic title
• informative and advisory recognition giving access to the labour market
• advisory professional recognition in line with EU directives

The recognition procedure(s)

No fee is charged for the recognition procedure. The procedure has no specified deadline but the time normally required to process recognition applications does not exceed four months.

Step 1: Application

• All holders of foreign qualifications have access to an assessment of their qualifications
• The receipt of the application is acknowledged
• There is a check whether there are any bilateral/international agreements applicable

Step 2: Verification

• A checklist is used regarding required documents
• Previous cases (i.e. precedents) are referred to in light of the current recognition decisions
• The status, type and accreditation of the awarding higher education institution and the programme leading to the qualification is verified
• The recognition networks/bodies (e.g. ENIC/NARICs) are consulted

Step 3: Assessment

• All predefined criteria are are assessed to detect differences
• Detected differences are checked to see whether they are considered substantial (taking into account the purpose for which recognition is sought)

Step 4: Decision-making

• If there are no substantial differences: full recognition
• In case there are substantial differences:
  • The reasons why the differences are substantial are clearly stated
  • Alternative/partial recognition is suggested
  • Information is provided on the possibilities for appeal
• The case is added to the Inventory of typical recognition cases

Additional elements

• There is a comparative overview of other education systems or qualifications in relation to that of France
• There are special measures for refugees who cannot document the qualification(s) they claim
• There are special measures for the recognition of older (“outdated”) qualifications

Open qualifications area with

At the moment there is no open qualifcations area with another country.

Links
ENIC-NARIC France CIEP

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