The French maîtrise, a diploma certifying four years of higher education, has officially disappeared from regulatory texts in favor of the master’s degree with the implementation of the LMD framework. This substitution is not merely a change of name: it has redefined the structure of programs, selection methods, and the international recognition of French university degrees.
Master’s Admission Selection: The Legal Break with the Maîtrise
The maîtrise operated on a scheme of almost automatic progression after the license, with potential selection occurring at various levels of the program depending on the universities and disciplines. Some programs filtered at the entrance to the DEA or DESS (bac+5), while others imposed criteria as early as the fourth year, without a unified legal framework.
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The law n° 2016-1828 of December 23, 2016 established a structuring principle: the master’s degree is a continuous program of four semesters, and selection occurs at the entrance to M1 with a defined capacity for each program. No more intermediate filtering between M1 and M2. This shift in the selection point has profoundly altered the access logic compared to the old maîtrise.
We regularly encounter, including in institutional documentation, confusion between the old system (diffuse, sometimes non-existent selection) and the current framework. Understanding the old name of the master’s degree on EtudiActiv allows us to gauge the extent of this regulatory transformation, which is not limited to a question of terminology.
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A direct consequence: the success rate in the master’s program for the 2019-2020 academic year was 43%, a figure that reflects both the demands of the program and the selection made beforehand.
LMD Structure and the Disappearance of DESS and DEA
Before the reform, the post-license pathway was split into two distinct paths at the bac+5 level. The DEA (diploma of advanced studies) paved the way for a doctorate and research. The DESS (diploma of specialized higher studies) directed towards direct professional integration. The maîtrise, at bac+4, was the common prerequisite for these two streams.
The transition to the LMD system, based on ECTS (European Credits Transfer System), merged these pathways into a single master’s degree structured around 120 credits spread over four semesters. The master’s degree retains two orientations (research and professional), but within the same national diploma.
- The license validates 180 ECTS over 6 semesters, corresponding to the old DEUG + license
- The master’s degree validates 120 ECTS over 4 semesters, absorbing maîtrise + DEA/DESS
- The doctorate remains the third cycle, accessible after the research master’s
This overhaul eliminated the intermediate level of the maîtrise as a terminal diploma. The master’s degree at bac+5 has become the European standard recognized in more than 45 signatory countries of the Bologna process.
MonMaster and Admission Procedures: What Changes in 2026
The national platform MonMaster has centralized master’s applications since its inception. Recent procedural adjustments modify the mechanics of appeals, a technical subject that most historical presentations of the diploma overlook.
Since July 2, 2026, being placed on a waiting list no longer automatically blocks the appeal to the regional academic rector. The appeal procedure now dynamically interacts with admissions obtained on MonMaster: if a candidate receives an admission offer, the processing of their appeal ends. In the case of an offer obtained through the rector, the candidate must explicitly choose between this assignment and any new offer received on the platform.
This mechanism illustrates the distance traveled since the time of the maîtrise, where enrollment was a local process with each university, without a centralized platform or formalized appeals.
Master’s Registration Fees: A Tense Issue
Several reports submitted to the government in 2025-2026 consider a substantial increase in registration fees, with one scenario mentioning annual fees of around 1,300 euros for the master’s program compared to the current regulated rate. The executive has indicated that no changes will be applied to the 2026 and 2027 intakes, but the debate remains open.
Master’s Degree and Schools: A Distinction Often Misunderstood
The national master’s degree, awarded by public universities and registered with the RNCP, should not be confused with the “master’s grade” that some private schools obtain for their programs. ISC Paris, for example, has obtained the master’s grade for five years, granting it academic recognition without issuing the national diploma.
- The national master’s degree is awarded only by public institutions authorized by the Ministry of Higher Education
- The master’s grade can be conferred to school diplomas (grande école programs, MSc) after evaluation
- The specialized master’s (MS), label of the Conference of Grandes Écoles, does not confer either the grade or the national master’s degree
This distinction has concrete consequences for pursuing a doctorate, recognition in the public service, and international equivalence of the diploma.
The transition from the maîtrise to the master’s degree has reshaped the landscape of French university education over two decades. The selection at entry, centralization via MonMaster, and debates over registration fees show that this degree continues to evolve well beyond the initial reform. For students in the humanities, history, or any other discipline, the regulatory framework of the master’s degree remains a moving object whose adjustments deserve careful monitoring.