The bac + 6 does not correspond to any official university degree in France. The national classification of certifications, managed by France Compétences, categorizes diplomas into levels ranging from 3 to 8, never mentioning a “bac + 6” tier. What exists at this level falls under private labels, institutional diplomas, or hybrid programs whose clarity remains vague for both candidates and recruiters.
Understanding what this additional year after a bac + 5 truly entails requires distinguishing between what falls under regulatory frameworks, professional certification, and the marketing positioning of schools.
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Bac + 6 and RNCP classification: what the regulatory framework says
The National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) structures French diplomas into qualification levels. The level 7 corresponds to bac + 5 (master’s degree, engineering diploma, accredited MBA). Level 8, the highest, corresponds to a doctorate, or bac + 8.
Between the two, there is no intermediate level. Therefore, bac + 6 does not have its own category in this grid. A diploma positioned at bac + 6 remains, from France Compétences’ perspective, a level 7 title, on par with a traditional master’s degree.
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This lack of specific recognition has a direct consequence: to better understand bac + 6 and its specificities, one must look towards labels and institutional diplomas rather than the national framework of degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate).
Mastère Spécialisé of the CGE: the main bac + 6 diploma in France
The Mastère Spécialisé (MS) is a label created and awarded by the Conference of Grandes Écoles (CGE). It is the most recognized post-master training at bac + 6 in the French market.
Its legal nature deserves clarification. The MS is a private label institutional diploma, not a national degree. It does not confer the master’s degree (already obtained beforehand) nor the doctorate. It overlays an existing bac + 5 diploma to provide sectoral or functional specialization.
Access conditions and eligible profiles
Standard access to the Mastère Spécialisé requires a bac + 5 diploma. However, some programs accept candidates holding a bac + 4, provided they can demonstrate significant professional experience.
More surprisingly, some institutions open their MS to candidates without a minimum diploma through the VAPP (validation of professional and personal acquired skills), subject to around ten years of experience. This derogatory mechanism allows access to a bac + 6 positioned training without having followed the traditional LMD pathway.
Positioning relative to the MBA and traditional master’s degree
| Criterion | Master (national degree) | Mastère Spécialisé (CGE) | Accredited MBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| RNCP Level | Level 7 | Level 7 (no specific bac + 6 level) | Level 7 |
| Type of diploma | National degree awarded by the State | Institutional diploma, CGE label | Institutional or certified diploma |
| Duration after bac + 5 | – | 1 year (approximately) | 1 to 2 years |
| Derogatory access by experience | VAE possible | VAPP possible | Varies by school |
| Main objective | Degree-awarding academic training | Sectoral or technical specialization | General management |
The table highlights a point often misunderstood: these three diplomas share the same RNCP level. What differentiates them lies in their purpose, their mode of recognition, and the nature of the issuing body.
University diplomas and private certifications: the other side of bac + 6
The Mastère Spécialisé is not the only format claiming a post-master year. Several universities offer university diplomas (DU) or institutional diplomas positioned after a bac + 5, particularly in specialized fields such as wine law, risk management, or applied artificial intelligence.
These programs share a characteristic with the MS: they do not confer a new degree. A post-master DU remains a private institutional diploma without automatic registration in the RNCP. Its value entirely depends on the reputation of the university that issues it and the recognition of the targeted professional sector.
How to verify the recognition of a bac + 6 diploma
- Consult the RNCP on the France Compétences website to check if the certification is registered and at what level it is classified (most bac + 6 programs remain classified at level 7)
- Check if the institution is recognized by the State, which is distinct from the recognition of the diploma itself (a recognized private school can issue a non-certified institutional diploma)
- Identify any potential label: Mastère Spécialisé (CGE), ministerial visa, or professional certification registered in the Specific Directory
- Distinguish the RNCP title from the national degree: only the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate are considered university degrees under the Education Code
This verification is particularly useful in a context where some schools use names similar to the Mastère Spécialisé without holding the CGE label.
Bac + 6 in the job market: real value of the diploma
The absence of a dedicated RNCP level does not mean that bac + 6 lacks professional value. In several sectors (market finance, auditing, specialized engineering), a Mastère Spécialisé from a grande école constitutes a strong signal to recruiters.
The nuance lies in the source of this recognition. It comes from the network and reputation of the school, not from the regulatory framework. An MS awarded by a lesser-known institution will not have the same impact as an MS from a well-ranked school, even if both have the same duration of studies.
For public service competitions, bac + 6 does not provide any specific advantage over bac + 5: the diploma conditions rely on RNCP levels, and level 7 covers both the master’s and the Mastère Spécialisé.
Bac + 6 exists in practice, but not in the official nomenclature. Its most common designation, the Mastère Spécialisé, is based on a private label from the CGE. Any training claiming this positioning deserves verification on the RNCP before enrollment, because the number of years of study does not determine the level of certification.