What is Grade de Master? French Degree Explained
Understanding the French higher education system can be challenging, especially when it comes to qualifications like the Grade de Master. In this guide, you will learn what the Grade de Master means, how it differs from a standard Bac+5 qualification, and why it matters for international students.
The French higher education system uses unique terminology that often confuses international applicants. Grade de master is a state-recognised academic level in France corresponding to five years of study after the baccalauréat. This guide explains what it means and how it compares internationally.
What is "Grade de Master" in France?
The grade de master is one of four official academic grades in the French higher education system, positioned between the licence (Bac+3) and the doctorat (Bac+8). It was established through the Bologna Process and France's LMD reform (Licence-Master-Doctorat) in 2002 to facilitate European student mobility and make degree comparisons easier across countries.
This grade is conferred by the French State and overseen by two key authorities: the CEFDG (Commission d'évaluation des formations et diplômes de gestion) evaluates business and management programmes, while the Ministry of Higher Education validates university programmes.
Here's the crucial distinction—holding a grade de master is not the same as holding a specific diploma. Rather, it is a level of academic recognition that the State attaches to various qualifying diplomas at the Bac+5 level, meaning five years of study after the baccalauréat. In other words, different diplomas can confer the same grade, provided they meet the State's quality criteria and align with the LMD System framework.
Crucially, the grade de master is not the diploma itself — it is a label of quality and recognition granted to a diploma that meets strict national standards.
What is "Grade de Master" equivalent to as a French degree?
How does Grade de Master recognition work for international students?
The grade de master aligns with a second-cycle qualification under the Bologna framework, which means it's recognised across countries in the European Higher Education Area. This recognition corresponds to 300 ECTS credits total—180 from your licence (bachelor's) and 120 from your master's programme.
That standardisation opens doors: graduates holding this grade can pursue doctoral studies internationally without needing additional validation. The grade functions as an academic passport that signals to universities and employers worldwide that you have completed an equivalent level of study to a master's degree in their own systems.
How does "Grade de Master" differ from a standard Bac+5 qualification?
Not every Bac+5 programme carries the grade de master. Only programmes validated by the State through the CEFDG (for business schools) or delivered by public universities automatically confer it. Private schools and Grandes Écoles, like EDHEC Business School, must apply for and receive this recognition specifically.
This means two students could both complete five years of study after the baccalauréat, but only one holds a State-recognised grade de master—the other simply has a Bac+5 diploma without the same official standing or automatic international recognition.
| Qualification | Awarding Body | State Recognition | ECTS | International Equivalence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade de Master | State (via CEFDG or Ministry) | Yes | 300 | Second-cycle Bologna degree |
| Diplôme National de Master | Public universities | Yes (automatic) | 300 | Second-cycle Bologna degree |
| Diplôme d'ingénieur | Engineering schools (CTI-accredited) | Yes (confers grade) | 300 | Master of Science and Engineering |
| Private Bac+5 (non-accredited) | Private institutions | No (unless CEFDG-approved) | Varies | Not automatically recognised |
Grade de Master vs. Bac+5: what is the difference?
This is one of the most common sources of confusion in French higher education. All grade de master qualifications are Bac+5, but not all Bac+5 diplomas carry the grade de master.
To earn the "Grade de Master", a programme must be officially validated by the Commission d'Évaluation des Formations et Diplômes de Gestion (CEFDG) or recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. This validation ensures the programme meets strict criteria relating to:
- Academic content and rigour
- Teaching quality and methods
- Faculty qualifications
- Professional orientation and outcomes
A programme can last five years and award a Bac+5-level diploma without ever carrying the grade de master — if it has not gone through this accreditation process.
FAQs about the Grade de Master
A programme carrying the grade de master awards 120 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), typically spread over two years of study following a Licence or equivalent Bac+3 qualification.
This credit framework ensures the qualification is internationally recognized and portable across European universities and beyond.
To check if a diploma carries the Grade de Master, look for the official wording “conferring the Grade de Master” on the programme page or diploma. You can also verify accreditation through the French Ministry of Higher Education, the CEFDG, or the RNCP directory. This distinction confirms a nationally recognised Master’s-level qualification (300 ECTS credits).
A master's degree generally takes one to two years of full-time study, depending on the country and programme structure. In France, the master's follows a two-year academic model, consisting of M1 and M2, which together form the second cycle after the licence (bachelor's). This contrasts with some European countries where one-year master's programmes carrying 60 ECTS are more common, though the two-year format remains the European norm for most disciplines.
Bac+4 refers to four years of study after the baccalauréat and historically corresponded to the maîtrise in France. This qualification sits between the licence (bac+3) and the master (bac+5). However, under the current LMD framework introduced in 2002, bac+4 is no longer a standalone exit point. Universities may still issue a maîtrise certificate at the end of M1 to students who have completed the first year of their master's programme, but this is now an intermediate milestone rather than a terminal degree.
