University Admission

 

The fourth and final year of the second cycle ends with a national ranking examination and a set of national ranking tests, together known as ECN (‘’Epreuves Classantes Nationales’’), which open the way to residency. Once ranked, the student chooses a university hospital center, one of the 11 specialties listed in the table below, and the units in which he or she will complete a series of specialized 6-month internships.

Graduate Medical specialization in France (Residency training)

 

The fourth and final year of the second cycle ends with a national ranking examination and a set of national ranking tests, together known as ECN, which open the way to residency. Once ranked, the student chooses a university hospital center, one of the 11 specialties listed in the table below, and the units in which he or she will complete a series of specialized 6-month internships.

11 Medical specialities in France: 

1. Anesthesiology and reanimation
2. Medical biology
3. Medical gynecology
4. Gynecology and obstetrics
5. General practice
6. Occupational medicine
7. Pediatrics
8. Psychiatry
9. Public health and social medicine
10. surgery:
    • General surgery
    • Neurosurgery
    • Ophthalmology
    • Otolaryngology and cervicofacial surgery
    • Stomatology
11. Medical specialties:
    • Anatomy and cell pathology
    • Cardiology and vascular disease
    • Dermatology and venereology
    • Endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolic diseases
    • Gastroenterology and hepatology
    • Medical genetics
    • Hematology
    • Internal medicine
    • Nuclear medicine
    • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Pneumology
    • Rheumatology
    • Oncology
    • Radiodiagnostics and medical imaging

Medical Residency training - 3–5 years

During residency, students remain in the hospital setting under the supervision of a senior resident, but they are considered doctors and are authorized to prescribe medications. They receive a gross monthly salary of between 1,300 and €2,000, supplemented by compensation for time spent on call. The residency provides initial professional experience in the doctor’s chosen specialty. It lasts 3 years for general practice and 4 to 5 years for certain specialties (see table). Before receiving the DES (diplôme d’études spécialisées), the resident must complete all of the 6-month internships required in the specialty area, receive academic and practical instruction, and prepare a thesis. Most instruction is practical.

Upon completion of the curriculum and successful defense of their DES (Diplôme d’études spécialisées) thesis, the graduate receives the degree of medical doctor (diplôme d’État de Docteur en médecine).

DES General practice: 3 years of study

DES Medical specialties:
• 4 years of study: Cardiology and Vascular Disease;
- Dermatology and Venereology - Endocrinology, Diabetes, metabolic diseases – Gastroenterology and hepatology - Medical Genetics (clinical, chromosomal and molecular) - Nuclear Medicine - Physical;
   Medicine and Rehabilitation - Nephrology - Neurology;
- Pulmonology - Rheumatology;
• 5 years of study: Anatomy and Cytology - Hematology
- Internal Medicine (10 semesters) - Oncology;
- Radiology and Medical Imaging;

DES surgical specialties:
• 4 years of study: Dentistry;
• 5 years of study: General Surgery – Neurosurgery - Ophthalmology - Ear, Nose and Throat and Neck Surgery;

DES Anesthesia: 5 years of study

DES Medical biology: 4 years of study

DES Gynecology:
• 4 years of study: Medical gynecology
• 5 years of study: Obstetrics and Gynecology

DES Occupational medicine: 5 years of study

DES Pediatrics: 4 years of study

DES Psychiatry: 4 years of study

DES Public health: 4 years of study: Public health and social medicine
 

Specialized Studies of Complementary Medicine

The degrees of Specialized Studies of Complementary Medicine (DESC) can be acquired as part of the third cycle of medical studies and qualify for the specialist qualification corresponding to the title of the diploma:

DESC in 4 semesters:

Addiction - Allergy and Clinical Immunology - Andrology

• Cancer Research - Dermatopathology - Foetopathology
• Hemobiology, transfusion - Pain Medicine and Palliative Medicine - Reproductive Medicine
• Forensic Medicine and medical expertise - Sports

Medicine - Emergency Medicine - Vascular Medicine

• Neonatology - Neuropathology - Nutrition - Dento- Maxillofacial Orthopaedics - Infectious and tropical diseases, clinical and laboratory - Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic evaluation - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

DESC in 6 semesters:

• Surgical Specialties: Pediatric Surgery – Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery - Surgery of the face and neck – Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology - Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery - Thoracic and cardiovascular diseases - Urology - Vascular Surgery – Visceral and digestive
• Geriatrics
• Réanimation médicale