Maîtrise (degree)

The degree of Master of Arts traces its origins to the teaching license or Licentia docendi of the University of Paris, designed to produce "masters" who were graduate teachers of their subjects.^[3]

The origin of the term ‘maîtrise ès arts’ comes from the University of Paris, where a degree known as the maîtrise was awarded on completion of studies in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Paris. Unlike the baccalauréat and licence (bachelor's degree), which existed in all four faculties of Paris (arts, medicine, theology and law), the maîtrise existed only in the Faculty of Arts. The maîtrise ès arts was obtained after the licence ès arts (Bachelor of Arts) and, unlike the licence, which was conferred by the chancellor of Notre-Dame and gave the right to teach, it was a rather honorary degree indicating the graduate's recognition within the university community and opening the way to studies in the higher faculties.

In 1966, the ‘Fouchet’ reform abolished the preparatory postgraduate certificates (certificats d'études supérieures préparatoires or certificats propédeutiques) and replaced them with the university diploma in scientific studies and the university diploma in literary studies. In addition, the maîtrise complements the licence in the second cycle of humanities faculties.^[4] It is a level II qualification according to the old 1969 nomenclature (level 6 in the National Professional Qualifications Register).^[5]

Since the implementation of the Licence-Master-Doctorat reform between 2003 and 2006, students with a licence can continue their studies to obtain a French master's degree, a two-year course. Universities accredited to award the Master's degree are also accredited to award, at the intermediate level, the maîtrise diploma "in the relevant field of study", once the student has successfully completed the first year.^[6][7]

• Education in France
• List of universities and colleges in France
• Bologne Process
• Master's degree (France)