Standardization across Europe : new programmes

Three programmes of study will standardize higher education across Europe :

licence (six semesters, 180 ECTS credits) :
two years of study per course
+ one year of specialist study
= licence
graduate level (bachelor’s degree)

master’s (licence + four semesters, 120 ECTS credits):
one year of study after the licence (one-year master’s degree)
+ one year of highly specialized study (two-year master’s degree)
= professional master’s degree (formerly the Diplôme d’Études Supérieures Spécialisées or DESS) or research master’s degree (formerly the Diplôme d’Études Approfondies or DEA)
postgraduate level

PhD (master’s + 180 ECTS credits):
three or four years of study
= PhD