Diplôme d'ingénieur recognized as master's

Diplôme d'ingénieur recognized as master's degree in engineering

Standards in the higher education industry have normally validated the diplôme d'ingénieur as the equivalent to a Bachelor's of Science in American universities and higher education institutions. This presented several obstacles for students trying to have an academic exchange at the graduate level in the USA and for recent graduates looking to begin their career in positions asking for a minimum qualification of a master's degree.

In the past, Arts et Métiers ParisTech had to reach out individually to each American university to validate the level of ENSAM students at a master's level, in order for the students to be admitted at the master's degree level.

This may no longer be necessary thanks to a new discussion about the requirement and US equivalent of the diplome d'ingenier.

In 2012 two influential organizations were involed in the discussion and revision of the equivalent to the diplome d'ingenieur:

• The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is a professional membership organization that tasks itself with validating, translating, and admitting higher education credits, degrees, and enrollment.

• CAMPUSFRANCE, the French national agency that promotes international student mobility to French higher education institutions.

Revisiting the length of study, European Credits (with the equivalent US semster hours) allowed for this new placement recommendation.

Following the new dialogue between AACRAO and CAMPUSFRANCE, in 2013 the International Education Standards Council (IESC) used this information to change the credential advice for the diplome d'ingenieur to the "attainment of a level of education comparable to a master’s degree in engineering in the United States."

More information:

Source: [In French] - Higher Education Accord