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10 Things About France You Might Not Know

If you’ve been thinking of studying a Masters in France, you might have already purchased that baguette basket and practiced the trill of the ‘r’ a thousand times. What are some other things that make studying in France a unique experience?

Here are 10 interesting facts about France you might be surprised to know.

#1 The 20-point grading system

Unlike many other countries, where you’re graded out of a 100, the French follow a 20-point grading system. So, if you see a score of 17 on your marksheet, don’t worry, you have not failed the module. In fact, a score of 17 is considered to be a high mark in France.

#2 Schools and universities are the same (sort of)

As well as publicly funded universities, France also has a number of specialist schools, known as Grandes Écoles. French universities can be seen as the more mainstream academic institutions, whereas Grandes Écoles are more focused on teaching and training professional qualifications. You could say they’re seen as more elite! So don’t be fooled, if you see mention of a school, it doesn’t mean secondary or pre-undergraduate, it can still be referencing postgraduate education.

#3 Mandatory French music on radios

Want to learn French? Listen to the radio! 35% of music on public and private radios is required, by law, to be French. Even if your postgraduate course is taught in English, it is a good idea to know basic French to make communicating with the locals easy. You also get to broaden your musical horizons at the same time!

#4 Access to some of the best healthcare in the world

Previously named as having the world's "best overall health care” by the World Health Organisation back in 2000, France continues to rank highly over 20 years on. So international students, make sure you’ve got health insurance for while you’re studying so you can take advantage of all the high-quality services available

#5 More Nobel Prizes in Literature than any other country

France has been awarded no less than 15 Nobel Prizes in Literature since 1901, which is more than any other country. If you're interested in studying a Masters in Literature in France then you'll be tracing the steps of some of the most influential writers like René Descartes and Victor Hugo. And did you know that the longest book in the world is French? Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past (A la recherche du temps perdu) is 3,000 pages and 13 volumes!

#6 The French standard of work-life balance

The French get a minimum of five weeks of holiday per year! This is not including any public holidays. Keep this in mind when planning course work and holidays as there will be times when your teachers and supervisors will be on annual leave and not on their emails.

#7 Thank the French for the cinema!

Going to the cinema is the perfect way to take some time off after a long study session. Even better when you are at the birthplace of public film screenings. The first public screening of a movie took place in 1895 in Paris by the Lumiere brothers.

#8 The croissant may not be a French invention

Bear with us on this one…we know! Yes, what we know as the ‘modern’ croissant (buttery and flaky puff pastry) was created in France, the recipe of which was officially written down in 1915 by French baker, Sylvain Claudius Goy. But it was actually based on the Viennese Kipferl originating from 13th century Austria which found it’s way to France in the early 1800’s thanks to August Zang.

#9 Not just writers, inventors too!

The French may not have invented the croissant but they’re entrepreneurship and creative thinking has led to hundreds of other inventions, including the hot air balloon and tin can. The French government continues to support and encourage new research, so take the opportunity to let your imagination run wild and who knows, what starts off as an idea in your lab could be the next big thing!

#10 100+ years of the Tour de France

First started in 1903, the Tour de France is the world’s most famous cycling spectacle. If cycling is your workout of choice, you can take part in this 3,200-kilometre-long race. It usually takes place in July which aligns beautifully with your summer break (usually July-August)! Or if you just fancy a chilled cycle along the promenade or French countryside, then you know you’ll be in good company.

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