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If I remember correctly, it's a sort of co-op degree in France where you spend part of your time in an educational facility, and some time in a company. The ones I've seen last about a year if I'm not mistaken.

There's a bit of a naming confusion going on. First, the title Engineer. In France, many universities propose the title "Ingénieur" (Engineer), but not all have the seal of the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI). If one wants to be an Engineer's Engineer, they must look up the University and see if the CTI sort of recognizes that degree as "Ingénieur", or a "true Scotsman".




Thanks for the information. My initial thought was that a professional degree is a somethng similar to being a chartered accountant, or be admitted to a bar (legal industry). In Australia, the Institute Engineers of Australia had a program of certifying engineers and they become a chartered engineer. Not sure if they are still running it.

They approached me when I graduated many years ago. I don't remember the exact details but I seem to remember that they were catering for engineers doing civil engineering. ie to build bridges that won't fall down when a truck goes across it.


> it's a sort of co-op degree in France where you spend part of your time in an educational facility, and some time in a company

In France this is called “alternance”. I don’t know about OP but you can have a “Licence professionnelle” with or without “alternance”; it depends on your school/university.


Without "alternance" as in full time in school or full time in company? I'd guess the latter since the name is "Licence professionnelle" and not spending time in a company would defeat the purpose.


Full time university. Full time in company getting you degrees is... quite hard in France

The "Professionelle" part is more about the fact that after it you should not continue studying but go for a career.


Oh, okay.. I see now. This category has its own ministry here, neither with "Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique", nor with "Ministère de l'Éducation". They have a "Ministère de la Formation et de l'Enseignement Professionnels".

They get in with a different baccalauréat UFC (Université de la Formation Continue) which anyone can take even without necessarily being enrolled in high-school.

Some of those who are enrolled in high-school hedge their bet and go for regular BAC and UFC BAC. They often fail the regular BAC but succeed at the other and enter UFC which has classes inside "real" universities after hours. Not dedicated classrooms, though.

They came out of class one day and I said I've never seen them around (they didn't look the part) and they informed me who they were and talked about what they were learning, etc.




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