The good news is that all students who complete the baccalaureate + level 3 (180 ECTS credits) can enter the first year of a university master. If you come from a university degree in the same professional field, entry even has a title. Therefore, between 2020 and 2021, 72.9% of Bachelor's graduates continued to study for a Master's degree, 82.4% of which continued to study in the same specialisation.
Master: what exactly is it?
The Master 1 (M1) is not a degree in itself, but it is the first year of the Master cycle. To be effective in this year, you must have 60 ECTS credits since you entered higher education, i.e. a total of 240 credits. If you wish, you can apply for a master's degree corresponding to this level. However, if there is no m2 leading to a Master after M1, then it does not make sense. However, the passage between two years depends on the selection and opinions of the pedagogical committee. Therefore, the importance of choosing a master's major according to your project and the importance of working hard to maintain a good record and give you an advantage.
Why have a master's degree?
With a Bachelor's degree, it is almost impossible to enter professional life. This is simple, because the content of the first stage is purely theoretical and is not designed to form a certain industry. Therefore, continuing to study a professional Master's programme can focus on a specific field, including internships and even work-study programmes to professionalise. To obtain qualifications for certain studies or professions, you need to obtain a Master's degree one or two, for example, if you want to become a lawyer or notary.
This specialisation linked to teaching and high-level research work gives students a recognised and comprehensive study. You can also do the M1 abroad to gain internationally recognised experience. Please select your university and major carefully to ensure that they can offer you a job.
Research Master: for thesis or work
The Research Master leads a priori into the field of research or teaching. However, the knowledge and skills obtained are very valuable in a professional environment: autonomy, initiative, analytical and global skills...
If you want to continue writing the thesis after obtaining a Master's degree, you should study for a PhD. Three years of research under the supervision of the Master of Dissertation will lead you to the Bac + 8. After that? Many graduates are engaged in higher education and research in public (such as the CNRS), quasi-public or private organisations (applied research, basic research) locally or abroad.
It should not be forgotten that academic institutions tend to 'erase' majors and research majors. In the Master's programme, students will do their best to solve the problem of specialisation as a researcher, and it is they who will naturally enter the labour market or the research market through internships.