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Vocabulary
Objective: Describe the French university system, discuss degree programmes and training tracks, and evaluate academic credentials using the correct register.
| French | English | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| une université | a university | une grande école | an elite higher-education institution |
| une faculté | a faculty | un institut | an institute |
| un cursus | a course of study | une filière | a programme, a track |
| une mention | an honours distinction | une spécialité | a specialisation |
| une thèse | a doctoral thesis | un mémoire | a master's dissertation |
| un doctorant | a doctoral candidate | un directeur de recherche | a research supervisor |
The phrase un diplôme de licence is redundant, since licence is already a diploma. The origin of the degree is expressed with the preposition de, producing de l'université de Lyon.
The standard construction is s'inscrire en master, with no article before the degree name. The field of study is introduced by de.
A degree is expressed with the indefinite article, and de lettres names the field of study.
S'inscrire en master takes no article before the degree name, and de droit names the field.
The verb obtenir is used for receiving a diploma. The mention très bien is the highest grade in the French system.
Poursuivre un doctorat describes continuing to the doctoral level. The ENS Ulm is one of the French grandes écoles.
Soutenir une thèse is the standard expression for the doctoral defence. The passive places the thesis in the subject position.
7 exercises · about 11 minutes
| une bourse | a scholarship | une allocation | a research grant |
| une note | a grade | une évaluation | an assessment |
Passer un examen means to sit for it, and obtenir un diplôme means to be awarded it. The mention follows the result, so the verb must be obtenir.
The noun phrase faculté de lettres is fixed and takes no article before the field of study.
Bénéficier de takes the preposition de. The bourse sur critères sociaux is granted on the basis of family income.
Allocation de recherche names the doctoral research grant. Its standard duration is three years, renewable once.
Recruter sur concours means to admit through a competitive examination. The informal term prépa stands for classes préparatoires.