French engineers are educated in close cooperation with business. These academic-business partnerships introduce graduates to professional life while giving them a solid grounding in their discipline. The close relationship with business distinguishes French engineering education from programs elsewhere.
This training for the social and professional world, which is an integral part of the curriculum, has several aspects:
- Internships and research projects carried out in corporate facilities,
- Visits to production sites,
- Conferences by professionals.
And, for the master “n+” (diplôme d’ingénieur) on top:
- Courses in human and social sciences, as well as an introduction to management.
- Courses in labour and business law.
Some top companies are now associated with “n+i” Network in order to offer grants and scholarships to international students who apply through the “n+i” website for a master degree in France (see scholarships).
Placements and Internships
All engineering programs include internships, typically in a business setting. More than 90 percent require, at least, one internship at some point in the curriculum.