AIE: Exceptional individual allowances, a social benefit.
Bac: Short for baccalauréat, the diploma marking the end of secondary schooling in France. The types of bac are L: Arts; ES: Economics and Social Studies; S: Science; STI: Science and Industrial Technologies; STL: Science and Laboratory Technologies; SMS: Medical and Social Sciences; STT: Science and Service Industry Technologies.
CDEFI: The conference of directors of engineering schools and programs.
CEFI: Center for engineering program studies.
CNOUS: The French national student-service agency.
CPGE: Preparatory schools for the grandes écoles.
CTI: National Commission on engineering degrees.
DAEU: University entrance diploma.
DEA: A research-oriented graduate degree; the first step in the path to a doctorate.
DESS: A terminal graduate degree leading directly to professional practice.
DRT: A technological research degree.
ENSI: Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs, a national postsecondary school of engineering.
ESC: Ecole Supérieure de Commerce, a postsecondary school of business.
IUFM: A university-based teacher-training institute.
IUP: A university-based professional institute.
IUT: A university-based institute of technology.
JO: The official journal of the French Republic.
MAE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MBA: Master of Business Administration.
MEN: Ministry of National Education.
ONISEP: National office of information on public education.
UE: Teaching unit, a module in the student’s course of study.
UFR: Education and research unit, a unit of the university, similar to a department.