Tourism, Hospitality, Management, Food Service and Culinary Arts
France is the world's leading tourist country, with more than 80 million visitors each year. Tourism, hotel and catering and gastronomy are areas where French excellence is internationally renowned. French institutions offer many quality training courses, both in English and French.
STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY
The University offers many diplomas in the fields of tourism, hotel, catering and gastronomy at the professional degree level (Bac +3) and at the master level (Bac +5). They are often found within departments:
Arts, literature and languages
Law, economics and management
Human and social sciences
Note: Institut de recherche et d'études supérieures du tourisme (IREST) of the University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne offers a Diploma of Higher Education in International Tourism (University Diploma - Bac+5), in one year (entry in bac +4).
Don't forget the IAE (Institut d'Administration des Entreprises), which are the public management schools of French universities. For more information, see the article "Business and Management".
All universities (with the exception of Panthéon Assas) are connected to the “Études en France” platform.
STUDY IN A BUSINESS SCHOOL OR A SPECIALIZED SCHOOL
Many private institutions offer training in tourism, hotels and gastronomy: Bachelor (low +3), Diplôme d'établissement (bac +4 or +5), MBA (Master of Business Administration; bac +5), MSc (Master of Science, bac +5) and Specialized Masters (MS - bac +6).
We advise you to give priority to training courses that are recognised by the State and/or by professional organisations.
Some examples of specialized schools: VATEL, Le Cordon Bleu, Ferrandi, Paul Bocuse Institute, Maxim's International School, Savignac School, Bordeaux Ecole supérieure de la table, Institut National de la Boulangerie et de la Pâtisserie...
To learn more about business school training, read our article: "Business and Management"
For the above-mentioned training courses, you must apply directly to the institution
TO BE NOTED
The Reims School of Art and Design offers two degrees in culinary design:
- The Diplôme National Supérieur d'Expression Plastique (DNSEP), culinary design option
- Higher Education in Culinary Design
For more information, feel free to read our article: "Art and Design"
START WITH A BTS OR A DUT
The Superior Technician Certificate
The BTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur) is a two-year diploma prepared in a high school or vocational training centre.
The BTS Tourism prepares for the professions of travel consultant, ticketing consultant, reception agent, guide, etc....
The BTS management in the hotel and catering sector is divided into three specialities:
- Option A: management of the catering
- Option B: management of a culinary production
- Option C: hospitality management
It is only accessible after an Upgrading Class section of senior hotel and catering technician, taught in vocational high schools.
The BTS allows for direct professional integration or further study in a professional degree, business school or specialized school. It is a national diploma that is part of the European LMD system, and confers 120 ECTS upon graduation.
For the BTS, apply on Parcoursup!
The University Diploma of Technology
The DUT (Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie) is a two-year diploma prepared by the IUT (Instituts Universitaires de Technologie), the technology courses of French universities.
There are 2 DUTs in the field of tourism:
- The DUT social careers orientation tourism development orientation (IUT de Bordeaux)
- The DUT in marketing techniques, tourism marketing orientation or hotel and tourism sales representative (IUT de Nice).
They prepare for entry into professional life or for further studies in a professional degree, general degree, business school or specialized school. The training is part of the European LMD system, and confers 120 ECTS upon graduation.
To apply for an IUT, register on “Études en France”.
WARNING: some courses are called work-study courses: the student alternates between periods of courses and periods of work in a company.
