Medicine and Pharmacy
Medical studies in France are organised in three cycles, and integrated into the European LMD system. They are taught entirely in French: a B2 level is therefore required.
THE CURRICULUM
It takes 9 years of study to become a general practitioner, and 10 to 12 years to become a specialist. The curriculum is organized as follows:
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The PACES
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Years 2 and 3 at university
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Years 4, 5 and 6 as an extern
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Then between 3 and 5 years of internship.
A competition is organised at the end of the Première Année Commune des Études de Santé (First Common Year of Health Studies), or PACES, and conditions the transition to the second year. It is one of the most selective competitions: on average 30% of students obtain it. Only one repetition is allowed.
At the end of the 3rd year, students obtain the DFGSM (Diploma of General Education in Medical Sciences), recognized at the bachelor level.
During the internship (3 years), students have a number of internships to complete. The external students are both students and employees at the hospital to which their university is attached (University Hospital Centre, CHU). At the end of the 6th year, students take the ECNi (computerized national ranking tests), which will determine the specialty (44 specialties in total) to be followed in boarding school as well as the place of study (the highest ranked have priority). Students obtain the DFASM (Diploma of Advanced Training in Medical Sciences), recognized at the Master's level.
The internship lasts from 3 to 6 years depending on the specialty chosen. Interns, recognized as health professionals under the responsibility of the practitioners who train them, must complete at least 6 six-month internships and prepare a thesis. At the end of the internship, they obtain the State Diploma of Doctor of Medicine, which gives them the right to practice in France, together with the DES (Diploma of Specialized Studies) of the discipline followed.
To learn more, visit the Onisep website!
ACCESS TO FOREIGN STUDENTS
The entry into PACES
To access medical studies in France, foreign medical students, whatever their level, must follow the PACES year and pass the competition. He or she may then be assigned in the corresponding year to the level of study originally attained in his or her country of origin.
The PACES application is made via the Etudes en France platform, with a Request for Prior Admission (DAP). To know everything about the procedures and the timetable: consult our tutorial "I am applying to L1 or the 1st year of PACES"
The first year is common to all five fields (medicine, dental surgery, pharmacy, physiotherapy and midwifery). It gives access to the five separate competitions but students may only take a maximum of 2 competitions.
Foreign medical internship competition
For access to the 3rd cycle, a specific competition is open to foreign doctors from outside the European Union. Contest entries are generally open in March of each year. More information on the CNG website.
The Specialised Medical Training Diplomas (DFMS) and Advanced Medical Training Diploma (DFMSA)
This program allows foreign doctors or pharmacists to come to France to follow a specialization program (theoretical teaching and practical training courses).
Applicants for DFMS and DFMSA must necessarily hold a diploma allowing them to practice medicine or pharmacy in their country of origin or residence.
To be able to register in DFMS, the foreign doctor or pharmacist must be in the process of undergoing medical or specialized pharmaceutical training in their country of origin or residence.
To be eligible for registration in the DFMSA, the foreign doctor or pharmacist must hold a diploma as a medical doctor or specialist pharmacist allowing the practice of the specialty in his or her country of origin or the country where the diploma was obtained.
Applications are submitted each year, before 15 January, to the Service de Coopération et d'Action Culturelle (SCAC) of the French Embassy in Singapore. The application form can be downloaded here.
The selected candidates will then have to send a "dossier 2" before 15 May. Candidates can expect a response to their application and assignment from 15 July. They then register at the host university before 31 October and take up their duties at their host hospital on 1 November.
The duration of the training may not exceed two semesters. Candidates are not allowed to practice medicine in France at the end of their training.
An application for a long-stay visa for studies is required. The Etudes en France procedure is therefore mandatory. You will need to prove that you have acquired at least a minimum level of knowledge of the French language (French certification: TCF, DELF/DALF, TEF). All documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation by a sworn translator. See our article below: "Apply on Etudes en France”.
