University Admission

Even if France is one of the world's most popular study abroad destinations, the access to medical studies for foreign students is very competitive and limited. Transfer student must pass by first year medical exam.  

Regardless of their level of medical training, international students wishing to obtain a medical degree in France must pass the examination given at the end of the first year of medical study (PACES).  Students who pass the exam may then transfer to their appropriate level in the curriculum.

A medical residency competition governs entry into the third (doctoral-level) stage of medical education.  Registration for the competition must be completed by the end of March. Eligibility tests are administered in September by France’s embassies (cultural office) and consulates. Admission tests are given in December. In 2012-13, a total of 17 residencies were offered in the 11 specialties.

Physicians (general practitioners or specialists) who have received their medical degree abroad may earn a specialized or advanced specialized diploma in France. The forms needed to register for the DFMS (Diplôme de formation médicale spécialisée: Specialised Studies Diploma ) or DFMSA (Diplôme de formation médicale spécialisée approfondie: Further Specialized Studies Diploma) are available from the cultural office at France’s embassies. The number of places available is limited by discipline and specialty for each region of the world.

Universities and Faculties of medicine in France

France is one of countries in Europe and beyond with a lot of medical Universities even if only less than 20 % of French medical students can go till second year of medical schools and has high need of physicians.

List of Medical Universities and Faculties in France

Centre Hôpitalier Universitaire, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Bourgogne, U.F.R. de Médecine ;
Université Caen Basse-Normandie, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Catholique de Lille, Faculté Libre de Médecine (FLM) ;
Université Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine de Lyon-Sud ;
Université Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine de Lyon-Nord ;
Université Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine Grange-Blanche ;
Université Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine Laënnec ;
Université d'Aix Marseille - Université de la Méditerranée, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille ;
Université d'Angers, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université d'Auvergne, Faculté de Medicine Clermont-Ferrand ;
Université de Bretagne Occidentale, École de Médecine de Brest ;
Université de Limoges, Faculté de Medicine ;
Université de Lyon 1, Faculté de Médecine Alexis Carrel ;
Université de Nice - Sophia Antipolis, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université de Poitiers, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie ;
Université de Reims at Champagne-Ardenne, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Denis Diderot, Faculté de Médecine Lariboisiere Saint-Louis ;
Université Denis Diderot, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat ;
Université du Droit et de la Sante, Faculté de Medicine Henri Warembourg de Lille ;
Université Franche-Comté, U.F.R. des Sciences médicales et pharmaceutiques ;
Université Francois Rabelais, Faculté de Medicine ;
Université Henri Poincaré (UHP) - Nancy I, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Jean Monnet - Saint Etienne, Faculté de Médecine Jacques Lisfranc ;
Université Joseph Fourier, Faculté de Medicine de Grenoble ;
Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Montpellier I, Faculté de Médecine de Montpellier –Nîmes ;
Université Nantes, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Paris Nord, U.F.R. de Médecine et de Biologie Humaine "Leonard de Vinci" ;
Université Paris Val de Marne, Faculté de Médecine de Créteil ;
Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Medicine ;
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Faculté de Médecine Broussais Hotel-Dieu ;
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpêtrière ;
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Faculté de Médecine Saint-Antoine ;
Université René Descartes, Faculté de Médecine Cochin Port-Royal ;
Université René Descartes, Faculté de Médecine Paris Ouest ;
Université René Descartes, Faculté Necker-Enfants Malades ;
Université René Descartes, U.F.R. Biomédicale des Saints Pères ;
Université Rennes I, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Rouen, U.F.R. Médecine ;
Université Scientifique et Medicale de Grenoble, Faculté de Médecine ;
Université Toulouse III - Université Paul Sabatier, Faculté de Médecine Toulouse - Rangueil ;
Université Toulouse III, U.F.R. Sciences Médicales de Toulouse-Purpan ;
Université Victor Segalen, U.F.R. 1 - Faculté de Médecine Paul Broca ;
Université Victor Segalen, U.F.R. 2 - Faculté de Medicine Hyacinthe Vincent;
Université Victor Segalen, U.F.R. 3 - Faculté de Médecine Victor Pachon;

Admission to Medical Study in France 

Medical studies in France are divided into three cycles (PCEM, DCEM and general medicine residency or other specialties) leading to a State Doctor of Medicine Diploma. The procedure to apply to medical university studies in France depends on where he is from

The first cycle (First cycle of Medical studies: PCEM: Premier Cycle d'études Medicales”) last two years. By a competitive examination (Numerous Clauses) at the end of the first year, only about 15 to 20 % of first year students go into second year. The first two years are common for student of Medicine, Pharmacy, Odontology, Nursing and Physio-kinetotherapy in French medical study system.

The maximum number of foreign students from outside the European Union accepted by each medical faculty or department is limited to 8 percent of total admissions, with the condition that the rank of the last foreign student is equal to or higher than that of the last French student admitted. The competitive examination is common to medicine, odontology (dentistry) and midwifery. It is not possible to enroll more than twice in the first-year program.

The second cycle (Second Cycle of Medical Studies: DCEM : ‘’ Deuxième Cycle des Etudes Médicales’’) last four years. In order to go on to the third cycle, fourth-year students must have successfully completed the second cycle and passed the theoretical course exams, validated all in-hospital training periods and participated in required seminars. A nationally ranked examination gives access to a specialty, the choice of which is determined by the rank obtained.
The third cycle includes two programs of study, general medicine or other specialties, both of which lead to a Diplôme d’Études Spécialisées (DES: Specialised Studies Diploma “Diplômes d' Études Spécialisées ”).

The internship for general medicine lasts three years and includes hospital service as well as a six-month placement with a practitioner. The Residency (internship) for other specialties lasts four to five years, depending on the field.

DES programs may be followed by a further specialized training program leading to the Diplôme d’Études Spécialisées Complémentaires (DESC, Further Specialized Studies Diploma) after another twelve to eighteen months of study. The DESC, combined with a short thesis in medicine, leads to a nationally state diploma of Doctor in medicine (MD).

Application for admission to medical study in France

The procedure to apply to medical university studies in France depends on where he is from.
Anyone from an EU /EEA (European Economic Area) member state won’t need a visa to study, and can apply directly to the university or graduate school of their choice.

Otherwise, non- EU /EEA member state need a student visa and can get one either at a French consulate or via Campus France.

During the first year of studies,international student only need to show his visa as proof of his residency status. However, he still needs to register with the immigration office within 30 days of his arrival and undertake a medical examination to validate your visa. From his second year of studies onwards, he must apply for a residency permit (‘’ Carte de Séjour’’).