The French educational system
Apart from the classical Université, which are somehow similar to the German Pendant, there is another system of so-called Grandes Écoles. It refers to small thematically focussed universities with a relatively small amount of students, who are focussed not only on the specialized education but also on the general-education subjects such as languages or management. Both ENSCR and ECPM belong to this type.
The French students, who want to study at Grande École, have to study two years at the Classe préparatoire before entering the Grande École, which is affiliated at Gymnasium (Lycée). The following studies at Grande École last three years and can be accomplished with the Diplôme. The counting of the French study years is therefore postponed for a period of two years so that the first year in France corresponds to the third year in Germany.
The promotion was not common in the past. Although it becomes more and more popular in the last years, only 15% of the vintage year receive a promotion.
The studies at the Grande École is organized more school-like than the German university. Usually, the study plan and the study order are pre-defined completely (at least during the first year) and the possibility to choose the courses appears only during the second study year. The attendance of the lectures is obligatory. Yet this close-meshed organization of the studies is very helpful at the beginning, in order to get used to the French university life.
Further information about French study system can be found on the page of the central department of the foreign study system of the conference of education ministers.