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In France, there are two types of educational regimes: « formation initiale » (initial training) and formation continue (continuing professional education). While the registration status and obligations of students differ from one regime to another, the courses are exactly the same within each curriculum. You must keep in mind that applying for one regime or another is not a choice. Depending on your situation, it is an obligation to apply for the regime that corresponds to your situation.

Formation initiale: what is it?
«Formation initiale» corresponds to the classic educational system from kindergarten to university. However, «formation initiale» is a term that is more commonly used in higher education. It corresponds to people with a student status who are already enrolled in a school program to learn the basics of a profession or a field.

At the end of the «formation initiale», students have the necessary skills and knowledge to apply for the profession they were aiming for.
A diploma is awarded at the end of the program to validate the student’s courses and skills. Only those with school or university status have access to this training regime. In «formation initiale», the student pays tuition fees and the student life and campus contribution (CVEC).
In order to meet these costs, some students receive a scholarship exempting them from certain fees and sometimes paying them an amount to cover other expenses related to student life. The student status allows you to obtain discounts, particularly in sports halls or at the movies.

«Formation continue»: what is it?
The «formation continue» regime is aimed at people who are already working or have a professional experience and more generally people who have interrupted their studies no matter what they are currently doing. It concerns people who currently are: employees, self-employed, liberal professions, jobseekers, retirees, but also students enrolled in a cooperative training/day release training program (« formation en alternance »).

In that case, the training is used to consolidate previously acquired knowledge, to complete a «formation initiale», to develop new knowledge and skills, or to prepare a professional career change project. The «formation continue» regime is not free of charge.
It can be financed either by the student, by the candidate’s employer or by special schemes such as the personal training account called CPF (for French citizens only).

If you belong to the « formation continue » regime, you must contact your current employer to find out if they would be ready to finance your studies or check your CPF to find out how much could be financed. Otherwise, you must pay for yourself.
Check the « tuition fees » section on the application page. Conclusion: «formation initiale» is aimed at students who have not left the education system, while «formation continue» is aimed at any person who is out of the university system (whether it is because the person is working, left to travel around the world, etc…).

Once the person is out of the university system, the person most likely belongs to the « formation continue » regime if the person wants to register in an educational program. When you apply on our website, you will have to mention whether you are applying for « formation initiale » or « formation continue ».